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A routine ride on Kilimanjaro Safaris at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park turned into an unexpected evacuation after a rare vehicle malfunction forced Disney cast members to assist guests off the truck mid-ride.
Unexpected Breakdown Stops Kilimanjaro Safaris
Kilimanjaro Safaris has been a staple of Disney’s Animal Kingdom since the park’s grand opening in 1998, offering guests an up-close look at African wildlife across the 110-acre Harambe Wildlife Preserve. Every ride is unique, with the possibility of seeing elephants, giraffes, lions, cheetahs, and rhinos in a setting designed to mimic their natural habitat.
Credit: Disney
Despite the unpredictable nature of a real safari experience, actual ride breakdowns are rare. Since the attraction uses repurposed trucks rather than traditional coaster mechanics, it rarely encounters technical failures. When issues arise, they’re usually due to animals wandering into the ride path, temporarily pausing the experience until they move.
But this time, the issue wasn’t caused by the animals.
Guests Assisted Off Safari Truck
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Redditor u/beeeees shared their unusual experience of being evacuated from Kilimanjaro Safaris after their ride vehicle stalled. The breakdown happened right at the start of the ride, meaning their truck had barely moved past the loading platform before it became inoperable.
The Walt Disney World Resort guest posted a photo of the evacuation process, showing cast members helping guests disembark the raised truck:
evac first ride of the day
“Our safari vehicle broke down right at the beginning,” they wrote. “They’re gonna have to tow it, we disembarked and loaded onto another truck. Luckily the road isn’t completely blocked by the broken truck.”
Once safely removed from the stalled vehicle, the guests were placed on another safari truck and allowed to continue their journey through the Harambe Wildlife Preserve.
A Rare Evacuation on Kilimanjaro Safaris
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While ride evacuations are common on high-tech attractions like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance or Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, Kilimanjaro Safaris rarely experiences mechanical failures that require guests to be removed from their vehicle. Even the Walt Disney World Resort cast members assisting with the breakdown acknowledged how unusual the situation was.
“The cast member driving said it was her first time in 8 years of working there,” the guest wrote.
Guests in line and surrounding vehicles had to wait for the stalled truck to be cleared before the ride could resume normal operations.
What Happens During a Ride Evacuation?
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While Kilimanjaro Safaris guests were lucky to be evacuated in a safe area, ride evacuations at Disney parks can vary significantly depending on the location and circumstances. Some attraction evacuations involve walking along hidden backstage pathways, while others—such as Tiana’s Bayou Adventure or Pirates of the Caribbean—may require guests to be assisted off boats using special walkways or rafts.
Fortunately, this evacuation was quick, and guests were able to continue their safari experience.
What unique animal encounters have you had on the Kilimanjaro Safaris? Share your memories with Disney Tips in the comments!
