Disney’s Magic Kingdom Abruptly Shuts Down Rides After Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl Celebration
Introduction
Amidst the jubilant celebrations of the Philadelphia Eagles’ Super Bowl victory at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, an unexpected incident unfolded, causing widespread disruption within the park. Almost all rides abruptly shut down, leaving guests stranded and the park plunged into momentary chaos.
Official Reports and Social Media Accounts
Local news outlets such as WKMG News 6 and WOFL confirmed the occurrence. Social media platforms also buzzed with reports from guests directly experiencing the shutdown.
Social Media Posts
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"My brother is at Disney World right now & everything just stopped," tweeted @MelissaElrod20. "People are stuck in rides everywhere [and] all the lights inside the rides are on. He said it’s pandemonium in the streets at the Magic Kingdom."
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A Reddit user in the Walt Disney World subreddit exclaimed, "This is crazy. Several ride queues emptied out in front of me. [I] go to the next ride, and it’s being emptied."
Scope of the Shutdown
Hours before the scheduled park closure at 10 p.m. local time, the official My Disney Experience app indicated that 18 out of 40 attractions were "temporarily closed." By 8 p.m., only five rides remained operational.
Available Attractions
According to News 6, the following attractions remained open to guests:
- "Seven Dwarfs Mine Train"
- "Space Mountain"
- "Tomorrowland Speedway"
- "Mad Tea Party"
- "Peter Pan’s Flight"
Cause of the Shutdown
The exact cause of the widespread ride shutdowns remains unclear. Speculations circulated online about a potential power outage, but no official confirmation has been provided.
Aftermath
As of Tuesday afternoon at 1:40 p.m. ET, most of the rides that had been temporarily closed were back in operation, with wait times visible on the My Disney Experience app. Only the Haunted Mansion and the Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh remained closed, though it’s uncertain if their closures were related to the previous night’s events.
Impact on the ‘Disney After Hours’ Event
The park was scheduled to host a ticketed "Disney After Hours" event from 10 p.m. to 1 a.m., but the ride closures potentially affected the experience. However, by 10 p.m., only three rides remained shut down.
Philadelphia Eagles’ Visit
The Philadelphia Eagles, fresh from their Super Bowl triumph, were also present at the Magic Kingdom on Monday. A video shared on Walt Disney World’s Instagram showcased Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts participating in a parade with Mickey and Minnie Mouse.
Current Status
As of Tuesday at 1:40 p.m. ET, two of the rides that were closed and later reopened on Monday night were again listed as "temporarily closed" on the theme park app. However, the reason for these new closures is unknown.
Further Notes
- Three rides were previously closed for refurbishment before Monday night’s shutdown: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Splash Mountain, and Tron Lightcycle / Run.
- Julia Gomez, a trending reporter for USA TODAY, authored the original article.
