SouthernWorldwide.com – Guests at Walt Disney World experienced a disruption on Monday afternoon as several popular attractions were temporarily closed. This occurred after a rare earthquake near Cuba sent tremors across Central Florida.
Visitors at Magic Kingdom observed that numerous well-known rides ceased operation. These included Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, TRON Lightcycle Run, Space Mountain, Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, and The Barnstormer. This information was reported by the Disney-focused site BlogMickey.
The temporary closures of these attractions happened shortly after tremors were reportedly felt throughout the resort. The blog indicated this occurred around 2 p.m.
Some of the affected rides were later reopened as the afternoon progressed. These included Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Space Mountain, and TRON Lightcycle Run.
However, other attractions remained unavailable for a more extended period. It was not immediately clear if these ride closures were a direct consequence of the earthquake or if they were part of routine operational procedures.
These disruptions followed a magnitude 6.1 earthquake that occurred near northwestern Cuba. The seismic event was strong enough to be felt in parts of Florida, hundreds of miles away, according to FOX Weather.
Officials confirmed that there was no tsunami threat associated with this particular earthquake. The event was noted as unusual for the region.
In fact, the quake was reported by FOX Weather as the strongest recorded within Gulf waters since 1959. This highlights the rarity of the seismic activity.
The interruptions to the rides quickly became a significant talking point among Disney fans online. Social media platforms buzzed with discussions about the unexpected event.
“I didn’t feel anything, but there [are] a ton of rides down right now,” one Reddit user shared. “Most coasters.”
Another guest provided a firsthand account of the shutdown. They were in line for Big Thunder Mountain when operations were suspended.
“We are in line at Big Thunder Mountain, and they just suspended operations,” the user wrote. “So much is down around the park!”
Speculation arose that Disney might be conducting precautionary safety checks. This would be a standard procedure before allowing guests to resume rides after such an event.
“I would imagine it’s [standard operating procedure] to double-check the tracks and everything before letting guests back on,” one commenter suggested.
Another Disney enthusiast echoed this sentiment, finding the cautious approach understandable. Given the unusual nature of an earthquake in the area, a thorough inspection seemed logical.
“I guess if it’s the first quake in a very long time, it makes sense to check every ride out before resuming,” the commenter added.
