Walt Disney World Resort recently gave its guests an unexpected and rare opportunity to explore the Haunted Mansion in a way few could ever imagine: as a walk-through attraction. On June 5, 2025, several visitors experienced an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at the iconic Magic Kingdom Park ride when the attraction was temporarily shut down. Guests were evacuated from their Doom Buggys and escorted through the Haunted Mansion with the lights on—a rare occurrence in the history of this beloved ride.
The Haunted Mansion has been a fixture of Magic Kingdom Park since it opened in 1971, captivating guests with its not-so-spooky atmosphere. Like any Disney Park attraction, mechanical glitches and operational pauses can sometimes disrupt its usual flow. This rare event was no exception.
On June 5, TikTok user @the.lingerers found themselves stuck in their Doom Buggys near the ballroom scene, with the lights still off. The Magic Kingdom Park guest shared their once-in-a-lifetime experience in a video:
@the.lingerers almost a once in a lifetime event. #orlando #wdwresort #disneyworld #disney #wdw #magickingdom #disneyresort #hauntedmansion #fyp
“What?! Are we getting walked off of The Haunted Mansion? No!” the guest exclaimed, as a Disney cast member informed them that the attraction would be shutting down and work lights would be turned on.
As the evacuation began, Disney cast members guided guests through several iconic parts of the Haunted Mansion, including the Madame Leota scene, the library, and the hallway with its famous stretching portraits. The group even got to see the new Hatbox Ghost animatronic and a maintenance area typically concealed in darkness.
“This is better than finishing the ride,” the TikToker said in their video. “This is awesome.”
While some guests would have preferred to finish their ride, many who were lucky enough to experience the walk-through were enthusiastic about the rare behind-the-scenes look. Disney Parks fans were envious, flocking to the video in droves.
“How does it feel to live my dream?” @beepboopbags asked.
“I would have touched everything I could,” said @grimtravels_.
Although the exact cause of the shutdown remains unclear, the Haunted Mansion attraction resumed normal operation shortly after the incident last week. Walt Disney World Resort did not release an official statement regarding the disruption.
Have you ever evacuated an attraction at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Share your story with Disney Dining in the comments!
