Guest Behavior Is the Reason These Popular Disney Rides Close Often

There's a few attractions at both Disneyland and Walt Disney World that are notorious for ride breakdowns.

These attraction breakdowns are different than scheduled refurbishments and are breakdowns that happen without warning in the theme park and often cause a ride to close for an unknown period of time.

This leaves many of us to wonder, what is the cause of these ride breakdowns? Well, for some rides in particular, guest behavior is often the main cause!

Why Guests Need to Secure Loose Items at Disney

When riding certain Disney park attractions, you've probably heard a Cast Member or pre-ride announcement asking guests to remove or secure loose items, such as hats or glasses. Although most Disney rides don't seem that intense, you'd be surprised to learn that there are many unsuspecting scenes where guests frequently lose valuables.

Securing loose items isn't merely a suggestion, but a rule that can actually lead to ride closures if not followed. You probably assume that this is only true of intense roller coasters, however there are also several less-intense Disney attractions that often close due to guests ignoring this rule.

Why such stringent measures? It all comes down to safety. Loose articles like hats and glasses can become dangerous projectiles on both fast and slow moving attractions. They might fly off, potentially injuring other guests or becoming lodged in the ride's machinery. In some cases, if guests refuse to comply or if items are repeatedly lost on the tracks, park officials may have no choice but to temporarily shut down the attraction for safety checks and clearance.

Big Thunder Mountain Railroad

One of my favorite pre-ride announcements is at the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad rollercoaster, located at multiple Disney parks including Disneyland, Disney World, Tokyo Disneyland, and Disneyland Paris. If you've ridden this coaster before, you probably remember the iconic pre-ride announcement which states, “If any of you folks are wearin' hats or glasses, best remove 'em, 'cause this here's the wildest ride in the wilderness!”.

Not only does this rollercoaster reach speeds of up to 36 mph, but it is also pretty bumpy and jerky! On one trip to Disney World, my cell phone actually fell out of my pocket on this ride! Thankfully the cast members were able to retrieve it from the ride vehicle, but I was definitely nervous that it had fallen out of the ride based on how bumpy the attraction can get. I was also relieved that my error didn't cause the ride to close. I can clearly see why guest behavior can cause this popular Disney attraction to close if guests do not secure their loose items. Definitely make sure you put hats, glasses, Minnie ears, and cell phones in a zipped bag or use the pouch located within your ride vehicle when riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad.

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance

Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance is one of the most immersive Disney attractions located at both Hollywood Studios and Disneyland. Riders are taken through a sequence of events, from being captured and interrogated by the First Order, to nearly escaping Kylo Ren with the help of Finn and other iconic Star Wars characters, and much more! Although many guests probably don't think they need to secure loose items on this dark ride, you'd be very surprised!

There is one part of the ride when you will board an escape pod vehicle after being recused by the Resistance. If you are wearing a hat or glasses, Cast Members will instruct you to remove them. This is very important because there are several scenes in which these items can easily fly off your head, both take place near the end of the ride. In one scene with Kylo Ren, a burst of wind will blow into the escape pod, which can very easily cause loose items to fly away. There is also a small drop towards the end of the ride which may take some guests by surprise and also cause hats to fly off.

Therefore, although you might not expect it, there are several scenes during Rise of the Resistance where guest behavior could cause ride closures!

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Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway

Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway is a family-friendly trackless dark ride that takes guests on an fun adventure through the cartoon world of Mickey and Minnie. I think many guests are surprised to learn that they must absolutely secure their loose items, including hats, when experiencing this attraction. There is one scene during the attraction where it feels as if you are caught in a tornado with Mickey and Minnie! Your vehicle will jerk back and forth, and you'll even feel the strong winds that simulate a tornado!

Unfortunately, this part of the attraction is where many lose their hats or Minnie ears due to the unexpected winds. Although this attraction is a relatively slow-moving ride for the most part, it is super important to secure loose items during this scene as it could not only cause ride closures, but lost items as well!

Space Mountain

Test Track

It's probably not too surprising that guests are required to secure loose items on Test Track, which is the fastest ride at any Disney park! At the end of the ride, guests reach top speeds of up to 65 miles per hour! This segment takes place outside, meaning if you lose a hat or other items, they will probably be gone forever.

Test Track is currently closed due to the attraction receiving a retheme and upgrade. The reimagining of Test Track was first announced at Destination D23 in Fall 2023. Imagineers and teams from Chevrolet will be “reaching back in history for inspiration” to the original World of Motion ride to inspire the reimagining of this popular EPCOT attraction. Although it was first announced that Test Track would reopen in spring or early summer 2025, we recently learned that this date has been pushed back.

If you get a chance to experience Test Track when it re-opens next year, definitely be sure to adhere to Cast Members when instructing guests to remove hats and glasses.

Radiator Springs Racers

Radiator Springs Racers is a similar ride to Test Track and is located in Cars Land at Disney California Adventure. This ride offers a thrilling combination of storytelling and high-speed racing, immersing guests in the world of Pixar's Cars films. The journey begins with a scenic, leisurely drive through Ornament Valley, where riders experience beautiful desert landscapes, waterfalls, and familiar characters from the movies.

Midway through, the ride transitions into a more interactive storyline as guests enter Radiator Springs and prepare for an exciting race. After a pit stop for new tires and a fresh coat of paint, the cars line up side by side for a head-to-head race. The high-speed portion features sharp turns, hills, and straightaways, with cars accelerating up to 40 mph. This part of the ride also takes place outside, so be sure to secure all loose items in case they fly away forever!

Incredicoaster

The Incredicoaster at Disney California Adventure is another ride where it's probably not too surprising to hear that guests are required to secure hats, glasses, and loose items.  As one of the fastest rides at the Disneyland Resort, it offers an exhilarating experience that combines rapid acceleration, sharp turns, and inversions. The ride launches from zero to 55 mph in just a few seconds, simulating the feeling of being shot forward by Dash's super speed. Riders zoom through loops, drops, and steep climbs as they help the Incredibles family chase after baby Jack-Jack. With a 108-foot drop and a full 360-degree loop, the Incredicoaster provides an adrenaline-pumping rush, all while offering stunning views of Pixar Pier.

Be sure to listen to Cast Members advising guests to secure hats, glasses, cell phones, change, and other items that could cause ride closures whenever you ride the Incredicoaster!

Tiana's Bayou Adventure

Tiana's Bayou Adventure is a newly reimagined attraction found at both Magic Kingdom and Disneyland. Previously Splash Mountain, the ride track is exactly the same, just with a Princess and the Frog theme. The ride follows Tiana and her friends on a musical journey through the Louisiana bayou, celebrating the vibrant culture and sounds of New Orleans. Guests will join Tiana as she prepares for a special Mardi Gras celebration, meeting favorite characters like Louis the alligator, Princes Naveem, Mama Odie, and new animal critters along the way.

Soarin' Around the World

Another iconic quote related to asking guests to remove loose articles can be found at Soarin' Around the World, located at EPCOT and Disneyland. Actor Patrick Warburton tells guests, “When the doors to your flight open, please take a seat and store all carry on items in the under seat compartment. This includes cameras, purses, hats, and of course… these little beauties.” If you've experienced Soarin' before, you know that Patrick is referring to Mickey Mouse ears when he says “these little beauties.”

Soarin' is a popular Disney ride located at EPCOT and Disneyland that simulates the sensation of flying over some of the most iconic landmarks and natural wonders of the world. Riders are seated in a hang glider-like ride vehicle, which is lifted into the air in front of a massive concave screen. As the ride begins, guests are “soaring” over breathtaking landscapes, with smooth, gliding movements that create the illusion of flight. The journey takes riders to various destinations around the world, such as the Great Wall of China, the Eiffel Tower in Paris, the Pyramids of Egypt, and the African savanna. The ride also enhances the experience with subtle wind effects, smells like fresh grass and ocean breeze, and gentle shifts in motion that mirror the gliding path across the screen.

Although most see Soarin' as a very calm ride, it is important to listen to Patrick and secure all loose items before taking flight! Loose items may drop from the hang glider and cause ride closures as well as lost items.

Tower of Terror

Hollywood Studio's iconic attraction, Tower of Terror, is a thrilling drop ride which is themed after the haunted Hollywood Tower Hotel. Guests board a service elevator, which takes guests through various haunted floors, featuring ghostly apparitions. The elevator moves unpredictably, both forward and upward, before reaching the iconic free-fall sequence.

As expected, if guests do not remove and secure loose items on Tower of Terror, it can cause many issues on this attraction, which could even lead to the closure of the ride for a period of time.

Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout!

At Disney California Adventure, guests can find a very similar ride to Tower of Terror called Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout!. In fact, this attraction used to be the Tower of Terror before it was reimagined to fit the nearby Avengers Campus theme. The ride is themed after Marvel's Guardians of the Galaxy movies, placing guests in the middle of an exciting mission to help the Guardians escape from the clutches of the Collector, Taneleer Tivan. Once aboard, the elevator-like lift rockets upward and begins a series of thrilling, unpredictable drops and launches. As the ride moves, guests experience a mix of high-speed rises and plunges, with the lift moving in time to one of six randomly-chosen classic rock songs from Guardians of the Galaxy's iconic soundtrack.

In addition to all of the Disney rides mentioned above, guests should always secure loose items on Guardians of the Galaxy: Mission Breakout! to avoid potential ride closures as well as lost valuables!

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