Man Trapped 60 Feet Up at Disney World as Storm Partially Shuts Down Park

Most Walt Disney World vacations get planned around sunshine, park hopper strategies, and dining reservations, not the possibility of getting stuck dangling above the resort in a gondola during a tropical storm. That’s exactly what happened to one guest recently, and the video he shared afterward has quickly become one of the more unsettling storm stories to come out of Central Florida in a while. Combined with a fire alarm evacuation at EPCOT during the same storm, yesterday turned into a genuine reminder of how quickly Florida weather can upend even the most carefully planned Disney day. Here’s what happened, how guests reacted, and what you can actually do to prepare for severe weather on your next trip.

Stuck on the Skyliner Mid-Storm

Guest Luke O took to X to share footage of his experience getting stuck on the Disney Skyliner while a tropical storm rolled through the resort. He described the moment plainly, writing, “Yesterday’s experience – Stuck on the Disney Skyliner whilst in a tropical storm… not for the feint hearted.” The video captured exactly the kind of moment that makes clear just how seriously Disney’s weather protocols need to be taken, since the gondola system relies on cables strung high above the ground, making it one of the first things Disney shuts down once lightning enters the area.

Yesterday’s experience – Stuck on the Disney Skyliner whilst in a tropical storm… not for the feint hearted pic.twitter.com/6cfLs9SDaj

— Luke O (@EagleLuke12) August 23, 2026

For context on just how intense the storm actually was, this wasn’t an isolated Skyliner closure. The same system that stranded guests above the resort also triggered fire alarms at EPCOT and eventually led to a full evacuation of one of the park’s largest indoor buildings, all while the storm was still actively passing through.

Outdoor Rides Across Every Park Ground to a Halt

When severe weather hits Central Florida, Walt Disney World follows strict safety protocols that kick in the moment lightning is detected within a set radius of the parks. Yesterday’s storm triggered exactly that response, as a massive, dark weather system settled directly over the resort. Guests posting updates on X described fast moving, ominous clouds that turned a normal afternoon into something that looked closer to midnight.

Major attractions across every park were forced to shut down almost immediately, including Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom, Slinky Dog Dash at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Expedition Everest at Disney’s Animal Kingdom. Even Test Track at EPCOT, a ride already known for closing at the slightest hint of rain, went down quickly as the storm intensified.

Guests caught mid-wait in outdoor standby lines had to abandon their spot entirely and scramble for shelter. Merchandise locations like the Emporium on Main Street, U.S.A., and Creations Shop in EPCOT filled up almost instantly with soaked guests buying up whatever ponchos remained in stock. Heavy rainfall also caused temporary flooding along several walkways, turning sections of Adventureland and Tomorrowland into makeshift streams. While Florida storms typically move through within an hour, this one lingered considerably longer, creating a real logistical challenge for thousands of guests trying to salvage the rest of their day.

Fire Alarm Forces an Evacuation at EPCOT’s Land Pavilion

The most chaotic single moment of the entire storm played out at EPCOT. As the rain intensified, hundreds of guests naturally gravitated toward The Land Pavilion in the World Nature neighborhood, a massive indoor building home to Soarin’ Across America, the Living with the Land boat ride, and the sprawling Sunshine Seasons food court. Its size and indoor layout make it one of the most popular shelter spots during any serious Central Florida storm.

That shelter turned into confusion fast. According to a post on X from user @TheMobilityGuru, right as the pavilion filled with guests seeking refuge, a fire alarm suddenly went off, accompanied by flashing strobe lights and automated announcements ordering an immediate evacuation. The timing couldn’t have been worse. Hundreds of guests, many mid-meal or standing in line for Soarin’, had to leave the building entirely and walk right back out into the pouring rain. Cast members reportedly handled the situation quickly and professionally, guiding the large crowd through emergency exits without incident.

Walt Disney World has not released an official statement detailing exactly what triggered the alarm. In a large commercial building like The Land Pavilion, alarms can be set off by a range of relatively harmless causes, from a kitchen incident at Sunshine Seasons to a system glitch caused by a nearby lightning strike, or even a guest accidentally bumping a pull station. There were no reports of an actual fire or any injuries, and guests were allowed back inside once the fire department gave the all clear. Still, getting evacuated directly into a torrential downpour is the kind of vacation memory that tends to stick with people.

How to Actually Prepare for Severe Weather at Disney

Storms like this one are a good reminder that Florida weather doesn’t check anyone’s Park Hopper ticket before deciding to show up. A few practical habits can make a real difference if you find yourself caught in similar conditions. Pack disposable ponchos from home ahead of time rather than paying premium prices for Disney branded ones once the rain starts, and toss an extra pair of dry socks in a sealed bag, since walking around World Showcase in soaked shoes is a fast track to blisters.

Once outdoor rides shut down, shifting toward longer indoor attractions is your best strategy. At Magic Kingdom, that means options like Mickey’s PhilharMagic, The Hall of Presidents, or Pirates of the Caribbean. At EPCOT, The American Adventure, Awesome Planet, or Spaceship Earth all work well. Disney’s Hollywood Studios offers Walt Disney Presents or Star Wars, Rise of the Resistance, while Animal Kingdom guests can turn to Finding Nemo, The Big Blue, and Beyond, or Festival of the Lion King.

If the forecast looks rough for the afternoon, locking in a table service dining reservation ahead of time is worth considering, since riding out a storm inside somewhere like Sci-Fi Dine-In Theater or San Angel Inn beats standing under an awning. Without a reservation, the My Disney Experience app makes it easy to place a mobile order at a quick service spot with plenty of indoor seating instead.

Keeping the My Disney Experience app open throughout a storm is genuinely one of the most useful things you can do, since it shows real time wait times and ride status across the resort. Just remember that outdoor attractions typically need a safety cycle before reopening once a storm clears, so don’t expect an instant return to normal operations the second the rain stops. And if it’s just steady rain without any lightning in the area, it can actually be worth embracing the wetter conditions, since crowds tend to thin out considerably and indoor ride wait times often drop once the initial rush settles down.

Staying Flexible When the Weather Turns

Yesterday’s storm, and the chaos it caused at both the Skyliner and EPCOT’s Land Pavilion, is a solid reminder that even a well planned Disney trip needs room for flexibility when severe weather rolls through. A good poncho, a flexible mindset, and a plan for pivoting toward indoor attractions can turn a potentially miserable afternoon into just a minor bump in an otherwise great trip.

Were you at Walt Disney World during yesterday’s storm, or caught up in the Skyliner delays or the EPCOT evacuation? Share your experience in the comments, we’d love to hear how you handled the chaos and what you’d do differently next time.