Credit" Edited by Inside the MagicThe Walt Disney World Monorail is one of the resort’s most famous icons—sliding above walkways, gliding to the gates of Magic Kingdom, and delivering guests straight into the heart of the magic without a single step on the pavement.
For many, it’s as much a part of the Disney experience as the rides themselves. But for one group of passengers, a recent trip was anything but smooth. It turned into a stranded, high-above-the-ground ordeal that played out for the world to see on TikTok.
About the Disney World Monorail
First introduced in 1971 alongside the opening of Magic Kingdom, the monorail system has become a beloved part of the resort’s identity. It offers sweeping views of Seven Seas Lagoon, Cinderella Castle, and the surrounding resorts, all while zipping along its elevated beam at speeds up to 40 miles per hour.
The system currently operates three separate lines: the Resort Line (which circles through Magic Kingdom, the Contemporary, Polynesian, and Grand Floridian resorts), the Express Line (which runs directly between the Transportation and Ticket Center and Magic Kingdom), and the EPCOT Line (which connects EPCOT to the Transportation and Ticket Center). Combined, these routes help transport tens of thousands of guests daily—especially during peak hours when buses and boats can get crowded.
Disney upgraded its fleet in the 1980s with the Mark VI monorail trains, which are still in use today, though they have been refurbished many times. And while they’ve held up impressively well over the years, fans have long hoped for a major update—or even an entirely new fleet.
A Monorail Ride Gone Wrong
In the viral clip, guests can be seen stuck mid-route, sitting inside a stopped monorail with no clear sign of when things would start moving again. What’s normally a quick, breezy trip between parks and resorts had turned into an extended waiting game.
A calm voice came over the loudspeaker, asking riders to “please notify us through the phone system how many guests are in the car.” While this might sound like a standard procedure to account for passengers, the tone made it clear that the delay was more than just a short stop.
Shortly after, the monorail driver addressed the passengers directly—revealing that a “tow truck” was on its way to try to push the monorail along the track. Yes, even Disney’s sleek transportation system has moments where it needs a bit of roadside (or in this case, trackside) assistance. The driver also added that if the tow truck method failed, they would have to call in the fire department to evacuate guests from the elevated train.
You can see the video below:
@mamabear.brand Literally so scared… if the “tow truck” can’t push us back then we have to be evacuated by the fire dept #disney #disaster #scared #epcot #monorail #florida
Not the Kind of “High” You Want at Disney
For seasoned Disney guests, the thought of being stuck high above the ground in one of the monorail cars is enough to make the heart race—especially when evacuation would involve walking along the narrow emergency pathways beside the track or climbing down with firefighter assistance. While these scenarios are rare, they do happen, and Disney has well-rehearsed safety protocols in place when they do.
The video doesn’t capture exactly how the situation ended or how long guests remained inside. Whether they eventually felt the slow, awkward push of the tow truck or experienced a more dramatic rescue, it’s safe to say this was a Disney transportation story that will be told for years to come.
Disney has not released an official statement about the malfunction, but long-time visitors know the monorail system is generally reliable, even with its decades-long history. Still, moments like this are a reminder that even at “The Most Magical Place on Earth,” technology sometimes needs a helping hand—and the magic occasionally takes the scenic (and slower) route back to the station.