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Storm Halts Disney World Monorail, Skyliner and Boats, Swamping Bus System

The shutdown exposed how severe weather can overwhelm Disney World’s bus-only fallback.

Overview

  • A Sunday night thunderstorm with lightning suspended the Monorail, Disney Skyliner and watercraft across Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
  • With multiple modes offline, thousands were funneled to buses, with reported waits approaching two hours as Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party crowds exited at once.
  • EPCOT guests relying on the Skyliner had to walk from International Gateway to the front-entrance bus depot, a trek of more than a mile in heavy rain.
  • Disney’s reserve drivers could not meet demand, and guests reported third-party charter buses later arrived at Magic Kingdom to help clear queues.
  • All systems were operating normally by publication, and Walt Disney World had not issued a public statement about the disruption.