Credit: Jesse James, FlickrA routine trip aboard the Walt Disney World Monorail turned into a much longer and more stressful experience after lightning reportedly knocked out power while a train was heading toward EPCOT.
Instead of arriving at the park within minutes, passengers found themselves stuck aboard the monorail for nearly two hours. As the delay continued, conditions inside the train became uncomfortable enough that guests were instructed to remove windows to help with ventilation.
TikTok videos shared after the incident captured parts of the unusual situation, showing what passengers experienced while waiting for Disney to resolve the problem.
And once guests were finally able to get off the monorail, Disney reportedly provided them with a $50 gift card.
Lightning Reportedly Knocks Out Power
The incident happened on September 8, 2026, as guests traveled aboard the monorail toward EPCOT.
According to TikTok user Tanya, lightning knocked out power somewhere along the system, leaving the monorail unable to continue its trip.
@soaringwithtanya 9/8/26 Lightning knocked out the power somewhere so here we are stuck on a monorail. Disney is full of adventures! Been coming here since a kid and this is a first! #disney #disneyworld #waltdisneyworld ♬ original sound – Tanya🦅❌🐝
At first, passengers may have expected the interruption to be relatively short. Temporary transportation delays aren’t unheard of at Walt Disney World, especially when severe weather moves through Central Florida.
However, this delay kept going.
What should have been a relatively short ride between the Transportation and Ticket Center and EPCOT eventually turned into an ordeal lasting close to two hours.
Guests remained aboard the stopped monorail while Disney worked to deal with the situation.
Florida thunderstorms can appear quickly, particularly during the warmer months. Lightning can affect outdoor attractions, transportation systems, entertainment, and other operations across Walt Disney World.
Most of the time, guests simply have to wait for an attraction to reopen or adjust their plans until the weather improves.
This group experienced something much different.
Their transportation wasn’t just delayed. The monorail became stuck while passengers were still inside.
Guests Were Told to Remove the Windows
As the wait continued, another issue became apparent.
Conditions inside the monorail were becoming uncomfortable.
One of the TikTok videos shows passengers removing windows from the train while it remained stopped on the way to EPCOT. According to the video, guests were instructed to take out the windows to help with ventilation.
That’s certainly not something most Disney World visitors expect to do when boarding the monorail.
The trains are enclosed, air-conditioned vehicles designed to move guests around the resort. Under normal circumstances, passengers would never have any reason to think about the windows.
But after the monorail lost power and remained stopped for an extended period, the situation became very different.
The TikTok footage shows guests working around one of the windows while they wait inside the train.
For anyone familiar with Disney World’s monorail system, it’s a strange scene.
Most passengers board expecting an easy ride to their destination. Families might be heading toward a park reservation, a meal, an attraction, or simply the next part of their vacation.
These guests suddenly had to deal with a transportation problem that stretched well beyond an ordinary delay.
Passengers Were Stuck for Nearly Two Hours
The length of the incident made the situation especially disruptive.
Guests reportedly remained stuck aboard the monorail for nearly two hours before they were finally able to get off.
That’s a significant amount of time during any Disney World vacation.
A short delay might mean arriving at EPCOT a few minutes later than expected. A delay approaching two hours can completely change someone’s day.
@coastinwdan Wow so much fun #monorail #disneyworld #waltdisneyworld #disney #florida ♬ Star Tunnel (From Disney’s Space Mountain) – C13
Guests may have had dining reservations, Lightning Lane plans, entertainment they hoped to see, or other experiences scheduled inside EPCOT.
Even visitors without reservations lost a major portion of their park time.
There’s also an important difference between spending two hours exploring EPCOT and spending nearly two hours inside a monorail that isn’t moving.
As the situation continued, passengers had limited options. They couldn’t simply leave the train and change transportation methods.
They had to wait for Disney to resolve the problem.
The fact that guests were eventually instructed to remove windows shows just how unusual the circumstances became.
This wasn’t simply a case of sitting aboard the train for a few extra minutes while waiting for another monorail to clear the track.
It became an extended interruption that required additional action while passengers remained onboard.
TikTok Videos Show the Unusual Incident
The incident gained attention after videos from the monorail began circulating on TikTok.
One video gives viewers a look inside the stopped train and shows passengers dealing with the windows.
The footage helps put the situation into perspective.
Hearing that a Disney World monorail experienced a lengthy delay is one thing. Seeing guests removing windows while the train remains stuck makes it much easier to understand how different this incident was from a normal operational interruption.
A second TikTok continued the story after passengers finally made it off the train.
Together, the two videos offer a look at both the delay itself and what happened afterward.
They also give guests who weren’t there a rare glimpse at what happens when something goes seriously wrong during a monorail trip.
Disney Reportedly Gives Guests a $50 Gift Card
After passengers were finally able to leave the monorail, Disney reportedly provided affected guests with a $50 gift card.
The gift card doesn’t restore the time passengers lost, but it appears Disney offered some compensation following the lengthy ordeal.
For guests trying to make the most of a Disney World vacation, time can be extremely valuable.
Park tickets aren’t inexpensive, and many families plan their days carefully. Losing nearly two hours unexpectedly can affect everything from dining plans to attraction priorities.
Depending on when the incident happened during someone’s visit, it could have forced guests to completely rearrange their EPCOT plans.
The $50 gift card gave passengers something back after an experience none of them expected when they stepped aboard the train.
The EPCOT Monorail Is Usually Part of the Fun
Disney World’s monorail isn’t simply a transportation system for many visitors.
It’s part of the resort experience.
The system connects Magic Kingdom, several nearby Disney resorts, the Transportation and Ticket Center, and EPCOT through different routes.
For some families, riding the monorail is something they look forward to during a trip.
The EPCOT route is especially recognizable because the train travels through part of the park before arriving at the station.
Guests get an elevated view of EPCOT as the monorail makes its approach, making the ride feel more like part of the arrival experience than a typical form of transportation.
Most rides happen without anything unusual occurring.
Passengers board, make the trip, and continue their day.
That’s what makes this particular incident so memorable.
Guests boarded expecting a quick ride to EPCOT. Instead, lightning reportedly knocked out power, leaving them stranded aboard the train.
The delay stretched close to two hours. Passengers were instructed to remove windows for ventilation, and Disney eventually provided a $50 gift card after they made it off.
Severe Weather Can Change Disney Plans Quickly
Anyone who regularly visits Walt Disney World knows weather can change plans quickly.
Central Florida thunderstorms often arrive with little warning. Heavy rain and lightning can lead Disney to temporarily close outdoor attractions or modify operations across the resort.
Guests frequently head indoors, grab something to eat, or wait for the storm to pass.
Transportation can also be affected depending on the conditions.
Still, becoming trapped aboard a monorail for nearly two hours is far outside the typical weather interruption.
Based on what passengers shared through TikTok, this group dealt with a rare and frustrating situation.
Their ride toward EPCOT came to a stop after a reported lightning-related power problem. They waited inside the monorail as the delay continued, eventually removing windows to improve ventilation.
Nearly two hours after the ordeal began, they were finally able to get off.
Disney then reportedly provided guests with a $50 gift card following the incident.
For everyone who stepped aboard expecting an ordinary trip to EPCOT, the monorail ride became an unexpected part of their Disney World vacation — and probably one they won’t forget anytime soon.
