A recent Space Mountain delay had guests scratching their heads. The ride just… stopped. There was no announcement, no weather issue, no apparent reason for the breakdown. Just a lot of waiting, confused whispers near the entrance, and growing frustration as the minutes ticked by with no update.
Eventually, the truth came out—but not from Disney. It surfaced online, thanks to a guest who caught the whole thing on TikTok.
A Ride Known for Reliability
Space Mountain has been thrilling guests since 1975. It’s one of the most iconic rides in Magic Kingdom, known for its indoor darkness, flashing stars, sudden dips, and surprisingly sharp turns. Even today, it holds its own against newer attractions like TRON Lightcycle / Run.
It has a pretty solid reputation and reliable track record, rarely experiencing unexpected closures. So when the ride suddenly paused without warning, guests were left scratching their heads. The mystery in the air made the situation feel stranger to those waiting in line.
Meanwhile, EPCOT Has Its Own Issues
Elsewhere, Disney’s been having trouble with ride reliability. EPCOT’s Test Track reopened recently after a major update—but the first week was rough. Guests dealt with frequent downtimes, long waits, and uncertain reopening times. Many left the queue disappointed after standing in line for over an hour, only to find the ride unexpectedly closed again later in the day.
When Disney rides go down, there’s usually a clear reason—mechanical, weather, or staffing. But Space Mountain’s recent interruption was far from typical and had guests wondering what could be going on.
A Squirrel? Really?
The real reason for the shutdown was captured in a video by TikTok user @alimarie1183. Her footage shows a squirrel running around inside the Space Mountain boarding area—literally on the platform where guests load the ride.
The furry intruder wandered around like it was part of the show. It wasn’t scared, either. It walked across the ride equipment, then darted into a small opening near the tracks. Based on the layout, it probably ended up underneath the ride.
Of course, Cast Members had to stop operations. They couldn’t send a ride vehicle flying through space while a squirrel might be loose underneath. It caused a lengthy delay, and the guests who saw it all unfold got a story they’ll never forget.
@alimarie1183 We got stuck on Space Mountain… because of a curious squirrel… caused a long delay after this. Sandy go back to @Universal Orlando Resort SpongeBob is over there 🙈🐿️ #magickingdom #spacemountain #wdw #squirrels #disney ♬ original sound – Alicia Marie
Nature Meets Disney Magic
After some time, the ride resumed, and guests finally got their turn. But the moment lives on through TikTok, where thousands watched the now-famous squirrel’s surprise appearance.
In a place where almost everything is planned perfectly, wild moments like this remind you that anything can happen—even at Disney World.
And in this case? The most magical moment of the day didn’t come from the fireworks or the castle—it came from a squirrel stealing the show.
