Best Places to Get Stuck at Disney

Do you ever watch theme park ride fail videos? I gotta admit I’m a sucker for them.

A YouTube channel called TPMVids has posted dozens, possibly even hundreds of them.

I confess that I’ve watched at least 20, and I’m captivated every time.

Of course, I’ve also experienced my fair share of ride fails, those times when Disney must evacuate the attraction.

Here are the best places to get stuck at Disney, which I’m basing on personal experience.

DINOSAUR

I’m going to miss DINOSAUR when it’s gone. No, that’s not the popular opinion, but I mean it.

The ride’s phenomenal, and I experienced my most memorable ride shutdown ever here.

To appreciate the moment, you should watch this ride video.

Our ride tore up right after the scientist screamed, “WE’RE NOT GONNA MAKE IT!!!”

Life imitated art in a hysterical way, and the people on the ride that day busted up at the hilariousness of it.

For once, that scientist was right. We didn’t make it! But that’s just one aspect of being stuck here.

Most of the time, you’ll stop in plain view of the dinosaurs, allowing you to appreciate the remarkable realism of these creatures.

Haunted Mansion

That thought process applies to Haunted Mansion as well.

You’ve noticed the spectacular details that populate every scene on this attraction.

Well, when your Doom Buggy freezes in place, you’ll get to admire them for much longer.

I’ve been stuck at more than 20 spots on this ride, and each one was fascinating…except the creepy bat eyes.

When you’re just sitting there staring at this wallpaper, it gets freaky fast.

Conversely, the best ones are The Attic and the cemetery, as both spots allow you to appreciate the characters.

Disney has put so much thought into each one, and you’ll appreciate this rare opportunity to study them.

That’s the thing about when a Disney ride gets stuck. Ordinarily, you zoom through each sequence.

When the ride’s not moving, you can savor the greatness of Imagineering.

“it’s a small world”

I’ve got a love/hate with this one, as my answer often depends on whether the song keeps playing.

Sometimes, when “it’s a small world” shuts down, the music cuts off, and I know what you’re thinking.

That sounds better, right? For some folks, the thought of an endless loop of “it’s a small world” is The Bad Place.

However, I can assure you that a silent room composed of smiling dolls quickly grows unsettling.

On the other hand, when the music’s on, everyone’s having a good time while appreciating Mary Blair’s artistry.

Every puppet on display tells a story, and you’ll have plenty of time to gaze at the beauty.

Kilimanjaro Safaris

This one happens more often than you think, as it’s the most chaotic of all Disney rides.

That’s the thing about live animals. They don’t tend to follow the script, which can lead to shenanigans.

If one creature stands in the road, your Jeep isn’t going anywhere until someone can persuade the creature to move.

In the interim, you can breathe in the fresh air and study the true residents of Disney’s Animal Kingdom.

These are the creatures who are living your dream. Their home is a Disney theme park, and they never leave!

So, they’re perfectly comfortable hanging out in their natural habitats, whether you’re stuck or not.

You’ll want to grab your phone and take lots of pictures during this rare opportunity.

Pirates of the Caribbean

If I mention “the waders,” I can tell whether this has ever happened to you by your look of recognition.

Those of you who have one are already smiling, while those who don’t are confused.

When Pirates of the Caribbean goes way wrong, Disney Cast Members must come and get you.

That’s a problem because you’re on a boat ride, and you’re in the water. The Cast Members are on land.

I think it’d be an OSHA violation if they’re not! This isn’t Deadliest Catch, and they’re working at Disney.

Still, anyone who works at Pirates of the Caribbean knows the drill. Sometimes, they must put their waders on.

Then, they have to stomp into the water and push the Pirates of the Caribbean boats back on track.

This becomes a show within the show, and if you’re especially lucky, the lights will come on! Check this out:

Isn’t it wild watching the Audio-Animatronics robotically move even though the ride’s not moving?

Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure

Here’s one that’s happened to me that fundamentally changed my perception of ride breakdowns.

That’s a clip from DLP Welcome, a great YouTube channel I highly recommend.

We share the same experience here in that we were both admiring the splendid Pixar visuals.

Then, the ride got stuck, and everything changed. Once Disney tracks a malfunction, the scenery changes.

At this point, you better understand just how artificial Ratatouille is. Virtually everything is fake.

So, when the ride gets frozen, you’re just looking at a wall playing fuzzy video.

It’ll change your worldview if it ever happens to you.

Space Mountain

Here’s a particular favorite of mine, and I don’t even need to be on the ride to enjoy it.

Disney will never emphasize this point, but Space Mountain is old and rickety at this point.

The ride turned 50 in January 2025, and it’s never been the easiest attraction to maintain.

Nowadays, when something goes especially wrong, Cast Members must come get you. And it’s an ordeal.

Disney turns on the lights at Space Mountain, totally ruining the illusion and changing your perception.

Suddenly, you’ll realize how basic this roller coaster is, which speaks to the genius of the concept.

When you’re in the moment on Space Mountain, you’d swear it’s a revolutionary ride experience.

But when the lights are on, it looks oddly like an abandoned military installation:

Spaceship Earth

Every scene on this attraction is basically an art installation by another name.

Imagineers have dutifully recreated memorable moments from the history of civilization.

So, when your ride cart pauses, you’ll enjoy a rare opportunity to study the visuals and characters in detail.

Great places to get stuck on the Fall of Rome scene due to the fiery smell, the printing press, and the computer lab.

I’m less fond of the hieroglyphics one because it annoys me how the tool never touches the tablet.

It’s like watching a pro wrestling match where the fake punch misses by a foot.

Yes, these are the things I think about when Disney rides get stuck.

Toy Story Mania!

Finally, let’s close with the ride where you’ll have the most fun getting stuck.

On Toy Story Mania!, you get to keep playing when the ride isn’t working!

When Disney pauses the ride, the characters appear and tell you that you should practice.

So, some of the same interactive ride elements appear on the digital displays.

You won’t get any points during the downtime, but who cares? We all really play for fun anyway.

What could possibly be more fun than unlimited playing time on Toy Story Mania!?

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Feature Photo: Disney