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Credit: James N, FlickrA visit to Walt Disney World’s EPCOT this morning started with anything but magic, as a surprise power outage threw key operations into disarray—leaving guests confused, frustrated, and stuck in lengthy delays before the park had even officially opened.
Multiple guests took to Reddit and social media to report that upon arriving at EPCOT on the morning of August 31st, they encountered unusual congestion, long security lines stretching all the way back to the transportation area, and no clear communication from Disney about what was going on.
The cause? A reported electrical failure that temporarily knocked out critical infrastructure at the park, including security checkpoints, ticketing systems, and even the iconic Disney monorail.
“We Were Parked in an Empty Lot With No Info”
One Reddit user described the scene vividly:
“Spent a lot of time to get up early, drive to the park just to be parked way out in an empty parking lot. Then walk up to a huge security line all the way back to the buses, and told the power was out.”
According to their post and other guest reports, security scanners and metal detectors were completely offline, meaning all guests had to wait in a slow-moving manual screening process. Compounding the problem was the outage of the ticket entry system, which further delayed guests from entering the park even after passing through security.
But perhaps the most disruptive impact for many? The Disney monorail was down—a rare and troubling scenario for a park known for its high-functioning transportation system. As one of the main arteries connecting EPCOT to other resorts and Magic Kingdom, the monorail’s outage left guests scrambling for alternate options via buses and walking paths.
Attractions Up and Running—Eventually
The good news is that the outage appeared to be limited to park entry systems and did not extend into attraction control or operations. By late morning, the My Disney Experience app was showing live wait times, indicating that rides had powered back on and resumed regular service.
Popular attractions like Spaceship Earth, Soarin’, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, and Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind were all accepting guests again by midday. Still, for those who arrived early expecting a rope-drop advantage, the opportunity had already slipped away.
Communication Breakdown Frustrates Guests
Many visitors expressed disappointment not just in the technical failure, but in how Disney handled the situation. With the My Disney Experience app acting as the hub for real-time updates, wait times, and alerts, guests say they were shocked that no push notifications or warnings were sent out through the platform.
“It would be nice if Disney could actually give you a heads up in their app,” the original Reddit poster added. “We had no idea what was going on until we got all the way up to security.”
Given the extent of Disney’s digital integration—from mobile food orders to Lightning Lane reservations—guests are wondering why systemwide issues weren’t at least acknowledged in the app or through signage at parking and transportation hubs.
More Cracks in Disney’s Premium Experience?
This incident may seem like a fluke, but for many longtime Disney fans, it’s part of a growing list of frustrations tied to rising prices and decreasing reliability. With park tickets, hotel stays, and even line-skipping features like Lightning Lane becoming increasingly expensive, guests are holding Disney to a higher standard.
In recent years, Disney has eliminated several complimentary services—such as Magical Express and FastPasses—replacing them with paid alternatives. The shift to a more à la carte pricing model has made Disney vacations harder to plan and more costly for the average family.
Earlier this year, even Disney’s internal leadership was reportedly concerned that they may be pricing out a key part of their customer base. A Wall Street Journal report claimed the company has grown “addicted to price hikes” and may be reaching the limit of what most Americans can realistically afford.
When breakdowns like this morning’s power outage occur—without warning or clear communication—it’s no surprise that guests feel shortchanged.
Is This Just the Beginning?
While Disney has yet to issue an official statement regarding today’s EPCOT power issues, guests and fans alike are hoping that the company learns from the breakdown. Beyond the technical fix, what many are calling for is transparency and communication.
It’s not unreasonable to expect technical glitches now and then at a property as vast as Walt Disney World. But with guests paying premium prices and planning trips months in advance, the expectation is that Disney will meet those moments with professionalism and real-time updates—not silence.
Today’s EPCOT outage may not have lasted long, but it left a lasting impression on guests who sacrificed time, energy, and money to be there early. The monorail going offline, the breakdown of security and ticketing systems, and the lack of communication only served to heighten tensions during what should have been a seamless start to a magical day.
If Disney wants to maintain its reputation as the gold standard in theme park operations, moments like this can’t be brushed off. In a world where guests are asked to pay more for every added convenience, reliable infrastructure and guest communication aren’t luxuries—they’re obligations.