Sixty Guests Evacuated by Ladder After Disneyland Monorail Loses Power

Thursday evening at Disneyland took an unexpected turn when the resort's beloved Monorail system experienced a complete power failure, leaving approximately sixty guests stranded on two trains near the entrance to Disneyland Park. What should have been a leisurely ride above Tomorrowland became a two-hour ordeal that required Anaheim Fire Department crews to rescue passengers by ladder.

The incident began just before 5 p.m. when the Monorail beam lost power, bringing both trains to an immediate halt near Space Mountain. For guests aboard, the next several hours would test their patience—and their trust in the emergency response teams racing to help them.

The Rescue Operation

Anaheim Fire Department hook and ladder trucks arrived on scene within minutes of the power failure. The challenge was significant: the Monorail travels on an elevated beam, meaning there was no simple way to walk passengers to safety. Instead, firefighters positioned ladders against the stalled trains and began the methodical process of helping each guest descend to ground level.

According to aerial footage captured by local news helicopters, the evacuation was a careful, orderly operation. Firefighters assisted passengers one by one, with the entire process taking until approximately 7 p.m. to complete. Remarkably, despite the extended stranding at height, no injuries were reported among any of the sixty affected guests.

One Passenger Takes Matters Into Their Own Hands

In what has become one of the more talked-about moments of the incident, video circulating on social media shows one impatient rider who decided not to wait for the official evacuation. The guest climbed through an emergency hatch and sat on the roof of Monorail Blue before firefighters arrived.

While the impulse to escape a stalled vehicle is understandable, Disney and emergency responders strongly advise against such actions. The Monorail's elevated track puts passengers at significant height, and attempting self-rescue without proper equipment could lead to serious injury. The official evacuation, while slower, ensured everyone's safety.

Disney's Response

Disneyland Resort moved quickly to address the situation and take care of affected guests. According to posts from several passengers who shared their experience on TikTok, Disney compensated those stuck on the Monorail with snacks and drinks, Lightning Lane passes for expedited attraction access, and vouchers for food and merchandise.

The resort issued a statement confirming that the Monorail beam had lost power Thursday afternoon and that they worked with assistance from the Anaheim Fire Department to conduct an evacuation of the impacted guests. As of Friday, there was no word on the specific cause of the power failure or a timeline for when Monorail service would resume.

The Monorail's Unique Place at Disneyland

For many guests, the Disneyland Monorail is more than simple transportation—it's an attraction in its own right. The system has been part of the Disneyland experience since 1959, when it became the first daily operating monorail in the Western Hemisphere. Walt Disney himself viewed it as a statement about the future of transportation, and generations of guests have made riding the Monorail a non-negotiable part of their visits.

The elevated track offers scenic views across the resort while providing a practical transit option between the Downtown Disney District and Tomorrowland. During busy periods, the Monorail helps guests bypass the congestion of ground-level walkways, making it particularly popular for families managing park-weary children or guests with mobility concerns.

When the system functions normally—which is the overwhelming majority of the time—the complex electrical and mechanical systems keeping those sleek trains gliding along the beam are invisible to passengers. Thursday's incident served as a stark reminder of just how dependent the attraction is on continuous power supply and how quickly things can change when that power disappears.

What Guests Should Know

If you're planning a Disneyland visit and wondering whether the Monorail is running, your best bet is to check the Disneyland app for real-time attraction status. Power failures of this magnitude are rare, and the system typically operates with remarkable reliability.

Should you ever find yourself stuck on a ride at any Disney park—whether the Monorail, an attraction, or another transportation system—the advice from both Disney and emergency services is consistent: stay calm, remain in your vehicle, and wait for trained Cast Members or emergency responders to assist you. The evacuation procedures in place are designed to get everyone to safety, even if the process takes longer than anyone would prefer.

For the sixty guests who spent their Thursday evening watching the Disneyland lights from an unusual vantage point, the experience was undoubtedly memorable—if not in the way they'd planned. Thanks to the professional response from Anaheim firefighters and Disney Cast Members, that memorable evening ended safely, with everyone back on solid ground and clutching vouchers for their next visit.

Here's hoping their next Monorail ride is considerably less eventful.

Until next time, keep believing in magic.

— Behind the Wish