Disneyland staff rush to halt log flumes after 13-year-old climbs out and slides down 50-foot drop mid-ride, report says
Dramatic video footage shows the moment the teen appears to climb out the ride
By Graig Graziosi
A 13-year-old boy was sent for a hospital evalutation after he allegedly climbed out of the ride vehicle on Disneyland’s Tiana's Bayou Adventure — formerly known as Splash Mountain — and fell down the ride's iconic 50-foot waterfall drop.
Dramatic footage, obtained by TMZ, appears to show the boy climbing out of the back of the log ride as it reaches the apex of the drop before plunging down the 50-foot, water-covered track.
The ride was immediately shut down after the incident Sunday, according to KTLA. The teenager was taken for examination at a local hospital and was later released, without serious injuries, Disneyland told the broadcaster.
The park re-opened Tiana's Bayou Adventure on the next day following an inspection by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health.
“A 13-year-old guest riding Tiana’s Bayou Adventure exited the ride vehicle prior to the end of the attraction,” Disneyland said in a statement, per KTLA. “A cast member immediately stopped the attraction.”
The attraction is a log flume-style ride, meaning passengers ride in an open-top boat and travel along a water-filled trough for the duration of the experience. Many classic log flume rides culminate with a large drop into a pool of water that causes a dramatic splash — hence the ride's original name of "Splash Mountain."
There are version of the ride at both Disney World in Florida and Dinseyland in California. The former features lap bars, while the latter does not, according to NBC News.
“At least they should have some seat belts, something to keep them secure while they’re going down that ride, especially for kids who sometimes can’t sit still,” a guest told KTLA.
Incidents involving guests have become an issue at Disneyland, prompting the company to enact a strict "Guest Code of Conduct" earlier this year, according to The Travel.
During a February 19 Disneyland Resort Business Update event, the park's Director of Attractions Engineering Services, Natalie Katzka, revealed that in 2025, 13 percent of ride shutdowns were caused by guest behavior, a rise in 3 percent on average.
Rides are often shutdown anytime a guest exits a vehicle prematurely, if an incident breaks out between guests during a ride, or if someone drops an item onto the track.
The latter issues has become a problem on some rides, according to Disney officials, largely due to riders holding their phones up to record themselves. Disneyland has prohibited phone use on some attractions as a result.
The parks also added to its prohibited item list this year. Guests cannot bring vapes, loose ice, or selfie-sticks and hand-held extension poles onto rides now. They will also face increased scrutiny if they're carrying oversized bags.