You’d think the calmest ride at EPCOT would be free of chaos. But lately, Living with the Land is starting to feel more like a reality TV show than a slow-moving boat ride through sustainable agriculture.
Let’s start with the towel incident. A now-viral TikTok captured a guest leaning over the side of the boat and dipping his cooling towel straight into the water. Not his hands. Not his refillable bottle. His towel. In ride water.
@kates_takes_ “Please keep your hands, arms, legs, and cooling towels insude the boat at all times. “ #epcot #livingwiththeland #fyp #disneytiktok #wdw #whywouldyoudothat ♬ original sound – _Kates_Takes_
While some online were grossed out, others were more concerned. Ride water at Disney isn’t something you want to interact with—it’s filtered, sure, but it’s also full of ride mechanisms and supports a carefully monitored ecosystem. It’s not a swimming pool, and it’s definitely not a public sink.
And just when you thought that was bad…
A second video, shared shortly before the towel incident, showed a completely different guest jumping out of the boat to retrieve a dropped phone. Yep, he actually splashed into the water mid-ride, got soaked, and then jumped back in like nothing happened. The video only lasts a few seconds, but it was long enough to send theme park fans into a frenzy.
Here’s the problem: Living with the Land isn’t just a boat ride. It’s a working greenhouse. There are moving parts beneath the water, electrical systems that power the attraction, and real food being grown for use at EPCOT restaurants. So when someone hops in or even dips something into the water, they risk contaminating the area—or worse, getting hurt.
There are also very real safety consequences. Disney doesn’t take kindly to guests breaking rules on attractions, especially when it endangers others. People have been banned for far less, and in this case, the guy who leapt in for his phone may now be banned for life.
Bottom line: the Cast Members are there to help. If you drop something in the water, flag someone down after the ride. There are tools, systems, and people trained to handle exactly this. But when you take it into your own hands—literally—it could mean the end of your Disney experience altogether.
Let the greenhouse grow. Keep your cooling towels dry. And stay in the boat, people.
