> At a Glance
> – A mechanical power outage left 60 passengers stuck on two Disneyland monorail trains near Space Mountain
> – Anaheim firefighters evacuated all riders by 5 p.m.; no injuries reported
> – The outage lasted roughly two hours before the last guest reached the ground
> – Why it matters: The 1959-vintage monorail is a flagship Disney attraction, and mid-day breakdowns can disrupt park operations and guest confidence
A routine Disneyland monorail ride turned into a two-hour aerial standstill on Thursday, Jan. 8, after a mechanical failure cut power to two trains and left 60 guests suspended above the park.
The Incident
The outage struck near Space Mountain shortly after 3:30 p.m., according to a rider who spoke with KTLA. Anaheim police confirmed to News Of Los Angeles that a mechanical issue triggered the shutdown.
- 60 passengers across two trains were affected
- First responders positioned ladders near the park entrance
- Evacuation began around 5 p.m. and finished two hours later
Anaheim Police Department stated:
> “There were no injuries from the incident.”
Historic Transit System
Disneyland’s monorail, launched in 1959, was the first daily transportation system of its kind in the United States. Today it runs:
- 2.5 miles of track
- 13-minute round-trip journey
- Service every 10 minutes from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m.
The route links Tomorrowland, Downtown Disney, Disney California Adventure Park, and several resort hotels.
| Timetable Event | Time |
|---|---|
| Power outage reported | ~3:30 p.m. |
| Firefighters arrive | ~5:00 p.m. |
| Final guest removed | ~7:00 p.m. |
Broader Context
Power-related ride stoppages are not unique to Disneyland:
- April 2022: 11 riders stranded on Universal Studios Hollywood’s Transformers attraction
- January 2023: Ferris wheel at Orlando’s ICON Park halted for three hours, requiring 80 firefighters
Key Takeaways
- 60 guests were safely removed after the mechanical outage
- Disneyland’s monorail remained closed the rest of the evening
- Anaheim PD and fire crews coordinated the ladder evacuation
Disneyland Resort did not immediately respond to an inquiry from News Of Los Angeles about any operational changes following the incident.
