Malfunction Aboard Disney’s Splash Mountain Strands Riders in Sinking Boats

By Orlando Personal Injury Attorney on August 6, 2020

It has only been a month since Disney World executives reopened “The Happiest Place on Earth” and welcomed back long-awaited visitors & vacationers since the coronavirus pandemic forced the park’s closure back in March. Unfortunately, the theme park had another setback over the weekend when one of its most popular water rides suffered a minor malfunction which sent riders scrambling to find safety.

After completely retooling and reworking the logistics of how to safely open and operate Disney World, the beloved amusement park opened up the gates to Magic Kingdom, Epcot, and all the additional attractions that we know so well. However, the fun quickly came to a screeching stop on Sunday, August 2^nd, 2020, when park goers aboard Splash Mountain were forced to “abandon ship” after the log flume transportation cars they were riding in started sinking into the water below. The entire event was captured by cellphone video and has since been shared thousands of times across Twitter, Facebook, and other social media platforms.

The now-viral video which has been viewed over 200,000 times, was recorded by a park visitor who was aboard the ride when it broke down. According to this eyewitness, riders were allegedly instructed by Disney employees to remain seated, even though it was evident that the iconic attraction was malfunctioning. “So we got out of our boat because it was sinking while we were stuck there and the Disney World employee decided to tell us that we should’ve stayed in the boat but it went under as soon as we all stepped out…” she said. Other passengers who were at Splash Mountain at the same time have shared similar experiences on their social media accounts, corroborating her story. It is important to note that no one was injured in this incident. According to Disney World representatives, Splash Mountain has since been repaired and is fully operational, although they did not disclose the source of the problem.

This isn’t the first time that Splash Mountain has made headlines this year. Back in June it was announced that the entire attraction would be receiving a complete overhaul due to the fact that it’s current theme is dated and racially insensitive. Once construction is finished, it will feature Princess Tiana – Disney’s first African-American princess – and her wonderful Mardis Gras-themed world from their 2009 animated movie The Princess and the Frog.

Sources:

• Splash Mountain Log Flume at Disney World Sinks Under Water During Ride in Viral Video
• Disney World’s Splash Mountain boat sinks in viral Twitter video, guest claims they were told to remain inside

James O. Cunningham

Since 1977, personal injury lawyer James Cunningham has provided effective legal advocacy to people who are injured through the negligent actions of another person or entity throughout the Central Florida area. He fights to obtain recoveries for his clients’ physical and emotional pain and suffering and pursues his clients’ personal injury cases with a commitment to excellence and impeccable preparation.