Overview
- The medical emergency occurred during the Festival of the Lion King at Animal Kingdom’s Harambe Theater, a theater-in-the-round venue that makes mid-show exits challenging.
- The two-year-old suddenly became unresponsive, stopped breathing, and turned blue before cast members called 9-1-1 and assisted the parent providing first aid.
- Cast members formed a privacy barrier, guided firefighters to a back entrance for faster access, retrieved the family’s belongings, and gave the child a Simba plush for comfort.
- After paramedics arrived, the mother and child traveled by ambulance while staff arranged a Kilimanjaro Safaris truck to get the father to his car; Guest Experiences refunded Lightning Lanes and issued complimentary replacements.
- The account was first shared on Reddit on December 15 by the visiting UK parent, who later thanked staff in person, with current coverage based on the family’s report.