Not a single day goes by without an incident happening in one of Disney’s many parks. A few days ago, visitors had to queue for hours to get a full refund after a storm ruined Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. In addition, Disney Cruise Line recently made the news after postponing its Disney Adventure Cruise launch by nearly three months, forcing families to replan their Christmas at the last minute.
Today, we’re here to discuss yet another incident that recently occurred at Magic Kingdom. This time, Disney employees successfully managed to deal with the situation quickly and effectively. Here is what happened.
Disney Employees Praised For Quick Response To Disastrous Oil Spill
Early on Friday, September 19, a small incident occurred at the Haunted Mansion in Magic Kingdom. Visitors noticed an oil spill spreading at the entrance of the popular attraction, The Haunted Mansion. Yet, park employees acted promptly and fixed the issue.
Cast members quickly rerouted guests through the ride’s exit archway and closed the stand-by and Lightning Lane entrances. A visitor who witnessed the incident reported what happened in an article published by WDW News Today. According to the guest:
When we stopped by the ride at 8:15 a.m., we saw Cast Members putting mats down in the entrance archway. We initially thought it could be related to recent pavement work, but then heard that there was an oil spill.
Luckily, cast members managed to fix the issue in less than two hours, and by 9:45 a.m., the spill had been cleaned up, so that the entrance could be reopened. Yet, visitors reported that while the spill was no longer there, the smell of oil surely was.
What Is The Haunted Mansion At Magic Kingdom?
The Haunted Mansion is a popular attraction at Magic Kingdom. Guests get to ‘climb aboard a gloomy Doom Buggy for a grave journey through a labyrinth of haunted chambers.’
The Ghost Host guides guests through the cadaverous realm within this eerie estate, full of ‘ghosts, ghouls, and supernatural surprises.’ Visitors will pass a graveyard of singing specters, Madame Leota’s chilling séance room, and many other fascinating sites.
This dark ride attraction is present in several Disney parks, including Disneyland, Magic Kingdom, and Tokyo Disneyland. It was first opened in August 1969 at Disneyland and added to the Magic Kingdom a couple of years later due to its popularity. Today, the Haunted Mansion remains a must-visit for everyone wanting to make the most of the Halloween vibes typical of these theme parks in the fall.
Why Did The Incident Occur?
While Disney didn’t directly address the issue on its social media pages, some have speculated that the ongoing construction in the area may have caused the problem. Rivers of America has now been drained, and the park will soon welcome a Cars expansion. While there is no official announcement yet, people have reported rumors of a possible new walkway that may forever change the popular Liberty Square.
A Recurrent Problem
Unfortunately, this is not the first time visitors hoping to enter the Haunted Mansion have encountered an oil spill. On September 25, 2024, a guest shared several videos in a Facebook post showing a similar emergency. User Cassie Oregel wrote:
When I got here at 8am this morning I guess there was a giant oil spill and the gates didn’t open until 8:15am. Then we weren’t allowed on the street and had to funnel through Fantasyland to get to Haunted Mansion and New Orleans. They’re still cleaning up now at 9:47am. bless the custodial crew here omg.
Thousands of passengers were refused entry to Disneyland, even though the incident only resulted in a ten-minute delay. According to a Disney construction worker, the spill was caused by a mobile lift leaking hydraulic fluid. Luckily, this time, Disney employees quickly addressed the issue and managed to minimize the disturbance caused by guests wanting to visit the Haunted Mansion.
