An emergency situation has reportedly broken out at Magic Kingdom Park, as thousands of guests were thrown into chaos this evening. The situation has unfolded rapidly and left guests scrambling for answers as conflicting reports circulate about a potential threat.
The trouble began when a fight erupted near the monorail station, leading to a commotion that saw a flurry of activity and fear among park-goers. According to reports from a Reddit thread on the subject, the initial disturbance was followed by a loud shout of “gun,” which led to immediate fears of an active shooter situation.
Related: Magic Kingdom CLOSED After Suspected Gunman Enters Park
Guests Scramble as Shocking Situation Unfolds
The monorail was reportedly shut down as guests were advised to take cover and seek safety in nearby stock rooms and other back areas of the park. One commenter reports:
“I am seeing posts on FB about people running and hiding in stock rooms and other back rooms and police running to areas. This widespread confusion was compounded by a lack of clear information from park officials and the ongoing presence of law enforcement.”
Dozens of comments share fear over this situation. Another visitor close to the initial disturbance shared their experience, saying,
“There was a fight near the monorail and someone yelled gun. They closed down the monorail. Everyone panicked and went running and took cover. Lots of police here now. We are still unclear as to what happened. I did not hear any gun shots I was fairly close.”Â
Eyewitnesses on the scene provided varying accounts of what transpired. One observer described the panic, stating,
“We were standing by Casey’s and saw hundreds of people start running at once. The girl at Casey’s said there was a gunman and he was detained by police. That is not confirmed, just what I heard.”
Orang County Sheriff’s Office Releases Statement
In the wake of the event, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office released a statement to shut down the massive amount of misinformation regarding this case. According to the statement, there was a fight at Magic Kingdom Park, but no gunfire occurred.
ALERT: There is NO active shooter at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom. A fight occurred, and a “popping” sound was heard that we believe was a balloon. Guests began running and that’s how the active shooter rumor started. There is no active shooter.
ALERT: There is NO active shooter at @WaltDisneyWorld’s Magic Kingdom. A fight occurred, and a “popping” sound was heard that we believe was a balloon. Guests began running and that’s how the active shooter rumor started. There is no active shooter. pic.twitter.com/TRKLs3NglC
— Orange County Sheriff’s Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) August 30, 2024
For many guests, the experience was a distressing reminder of the importance of safety and security measures in public spaces, as well as how misinformation can quickly be spread in tense times. A Disney spokesperson also responded to the issue, saying:
“We appreciate the immediate response of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office to quickly assess and clear the situation. Normal operations have resumed and the park is now closed for the evening.”
Despite there being no active shooter, a large portion of the guests at Magic Kingdom Park were running and hiding as if there was one. The incident at Magic Kingdom underscores the importance of clear communication and preparedness in managing emergencies at major public venues. As the situation develops, guests and park officials alike are left grappling with the impact of this unsettling occurrence.
Nicely written and titled.