This week, Disneyland became the scene of a heartbreaking incident that stunned park visitors during what was expected to be a routine evening.
The event occurred on Monday evening, October 6, when a woman in her sixties experienced a medical emergency while enjoying one of the park’s renowned attractions.
After completing her ride, staff noticed she was unresponsive and promptly contacted emergency services at approximately 6:30pm local time.
This unfortunate event took place on the Haunted Mansion ride, a long-time favorite for those who appreciate Disney’s more eerie offerings. The attraction has been entertaining guests for over fifty years with its leisurely pace, spooky ambiance, and family-oriented design.
The ride offers guests a journey through shadowy rooms filled with spectral illusions and dramatic effects, making it one of Disneyland’s most iconic experiences. Notably, it is among the few rides that have maintained their original form since the park opened in the 1960s.
Despite the Haunted Mansion’s focus on atmosphere rather than intensity, its dark hallways and slow-moving vehicles have a somber past.
Constructed in 1969, the ride was the site of a tragedy in 1974 when a teenage boy fell and suffered a fatal neck injury. Authorities later verified that the ride itself was not at fault, marking one of the park’s earliest tragedies.
Now, over half a century later, another heartbreaking incident has occurred.
On Monday, Disneyland security administered CPR until paramedics arrived, as reported by the Anaheim Police Department. The woman was taken to a nearby hospital, where she was declared deceased shortly after.
Matt Sutter, a spokesperson for APD, stated: “This appears to be an unfortunate medical episode, and our thoughts go out to the family.”
The LA Times reported that the official cause of the woman’s death has not been determined yet. Police clarified that the attraction was free of mechanical issues and reopened shortly following the incident.
Disneyland has not yet released an official statement concerning the woman’s passing.
Currently themed around The Nightmare Before Christmas for the Halloween and holiday seasons, the Haunted Mansion is still described on Disneyland’s website as a ‘slow-moving’ ride suitable for children. The website notes that “the ride itself is gentle, but young children may be frightened by the special effects.”
This incident follows just weeks after another tragic event at Universal’s Epic Universe theme park in Florida, where a man lost consciousness on a roller coaster, occurring less than four months after the park’s inauguration.