A number of major accidents, injuries, deaths, and similar significant occurrences have taken place at the Disneyland Resort complex and its predecessors in Anaheim, California, United States. While most of these incidents are required to be reported to regulatory authorities for investigation, attraction-related incidents usually fall into one of the following categories:
Wrongdoing on the guest's part. This can be refusal to follow specific safety instructions, or deliberate intent to violate park rules. The result of a guest's known or unknown health issues. Negligence on the park's part, either by the ride operator or maintenance. A generic accident (e.g. slipping and falling) that is not a direct result of an action by any party.
In 1985, Time magazine reported that nearly 100 lawsuits are filed against Disney each year for numerous incidents.
Disneyland Park
Alice in Wonderland
On December 21, 2000, a 15-year-old boy from Mesa, Arizona, suffered a broken leg after his left foot became stuck between a guardrail and the car in which he was riding. Police claimed that the boy might have dangled his leg outside of the car, causing the injury. The attraction reopened in less than six hours after an investigation.
America Sings
On July 8, 1974, 18-year-old Deborah Gail Stone, a new employee who had just graduated from Santa Ana High School, was crushed to death after slipping between a revolving wall and a stationary platform inside the America Sings attraction. She was in the wrong place during a ride intermission; it was unclear whether this resulted from inadequate training or a misstep, as the ride had opened about a week earlier. The attraction was closed for two days while crews cleaned up and installed new carpeting, and installed warning lights and breakaway walls to prevent further incidents.
Big Thunder Mountain Railroad
On March 10, 1998, a 5-year-old boy was seriously injured when his foot became wedged between the passenger cart's running board and the edge of the platform after the train temporarily paused before pulling into the unloading area. All of his left toes required amputation. Disneyland then made improvements to the ride, though the family claims that the park would not acknowledge the accident as the reason for doing so. On September 5, 2003, 22-year-old Marcelo Torres was killed and 10 other riders were injured after Big Thunder Mountain Railroad derailed. The fatal injuries occurred when the decorative locomotive at the front of the train became airborne and fell on top of the first passenger car, crushing the victim. The cause of the accident was determined to be improper maintenance. The derailment was the result of a mechanical failure that occurred due to omissions during a maintenance procedure. Some people blamed the new cost-conscious maintenance culture brought in by then-Disneyland president Paul Pressler and consultants McKinsey & Company in 1997, which included reliability-centered maintenance.
On July 8, 2004, a moving coaster train collided with another train parked at the station, injuring three riders from Telluride, Colorado. A lawsuit was later filed alleging the park did not follow proper safety procedures and the ride was shut down for three weeks.
Costumed characters In 1976, a woman sued Disney Parks Corporation because she claimed that a cast member dressed as one of the Three Little Pigs at the "It's a Small World" attraction grabbed her and fondled her breast while shouting in distress. She claimed to have gained as a result of the incident and sued Disney for $150,000 in damages for assault and battery, false imprisonment, and humiliation. The plaintiff dropped charges after Disney's lawyers presented her with a photo of the costume, which had only inoperable stub arms, a common feature among its shorter characters that was eliminated in later years.Koenig 1994: 206–207 In 1978, it was alleged that a cast member playing Winnie the Pooh slapped a 10-year-old girl and caused bruising, recurring headaches, and possible brain damage. The worker testified that the child was tugging at his costume from behind and that when he turned around, he accidentally struck the girl in her ear. At one point, the employee entered the courtroom after a recess wearing the Pooh costume and responded to questions while on the witness stand as Pooh would, including dancing a jig. Appearing as Pooh showed the jury that the costume's arms were too low to the ground to slap a girl of the victim's height. The jury acquitted the worker.
Disneyland Railroad
On the night of April 4, 2004, at Tomorrowland Station, accumulated diesel fumes in the firebox of the DRR's No. 3 Fred Gurley locomotive exploded after its fire suddenly went out. The explosion ejected the engineer from the locomotive's cab and inflicted serious burns on the fireman. Between the night of December 28 and early morning of December 29, 2022, a fire broke out in the New Orleans Square section, damaging the freight depot. Disney characterized the fire as causing "minimal disruption and no injuries". Construction was later seen on the 'radio house' portion of the building, in which the fire had started.
Fantasmic!
On April 22, 2023, during the 10:30 p.m. performance of the show, the Audio-Animatronic Maleficent dragon caught fire. The fire started at its head and rapidly spread across the animatronic. It became engulfed in flames, and resulted in its destruction. Cast members reported seeing a leak of hydraulic fluid dripping down from the dragon's mouth movements, moments prior to the fire. The Frontierland, and New Orleans Square area was evacuated, with no injuries being reported according to the Anaheim Fire Department. The fire had been caused by a technical malfunction. The show returned in 2024, without the dragon.
Haunted Mansion Holiday
On October 6, 2025, a woman in her 60s was found unresponsive after riding Haunted Mansion Holiday. She was taken to a local hospital and pronounced dead later that day.Krikorian, Kyle. "Woman dies of apparent medical episode after riding Disneyland's Haunted Mansion", NBC News, October 8, 2025. Retrieved October 8, 2025.Campa, Andrew J. "Disneyland visitor dies after riding the Haunted Mansion. Expert says theme park deaths are rare", Los Angeles Times, October 8, 2025. An autopsy was not performed, but no problems were found with the ride.Thayer, Colson. "Cause of Death Will Not Be Revealed for Disneyland Guest Who Died After Riding Haunted Mansion — Here's Why", People, October 9, 2025. Retrieved October 10, 2025.
Indiana Jones Adventure
On June 25, 2000, a 23-year-old woman exited the Indiana Jones ride complaining of a severe headache. She was hospitalized later that day and discovered to have a brain hemorrhage. She died on September 1, 2000, of a cerebral aneurysm. Her family's subsequent wrongful death lawsuit against Disney alleged that the victim died because of "violent shaking and stresses imposed by the ride." In an interlocutory appeal, the California Supreme Court held that amusement parks are considered "common carriers" similar to commercially operated planes, trains, elevators, and ski lifts. This ruling imposes a heightened duty of care on amusement parks and requires them to provide the same degree of care and safety as do other common carriers.Gomez v. Superior Court (Walt Disney Co.), 35 Cal. 4th 1125 (2005). Disney settled the lawsuit for an undisclosed sum after the interlocutory appeal, but before a decision was rendered on the case's merits. The victim's medical costs were estimated at more than $1.3 million.
It's a Small World
On the night of February 28, 2015, a small fire broke out in a backstage area of the park relatively close to the attraction. The flames were reported around 9:20 p.m. PST and were said to have been caused by the fireworks show. A park spokeswoman said that the flames were contained by around 9:48 p.m. PST, and no injuries were reported. The attraction reopened the following day.
It's a Small World Holiday
On November 27, 2009, the ride broke down while a guest with quadriplegia was on the ride. The guest was stuck in the ride's "Goodbye Room", the final setting of It's a Small World Holiday, for 30–40 minutes before being evacuated. As he suffered from medical conditions that were aggravated by the "blaring Christmas carols" and was unable to exit the ride, the guest sued Disney for its inadequate evacuation procedures for disabled guests, and for not providing proper warnings for those who could not evacuate during a ride stoppage. On March 26, 2013, a jury awarded the man $8,000. On November 26, 2023, a 26-year-old Canadian man exited a boat, removed several pieces of his clothing, walked over several props and entered the flume, resulting in a ride stoppage. The man eventually wandered to one of the outside entrances in which he was seen fully nude. The guest was arrested and removed by the Anaheim Police Department.
Jungle Cruise
On August 22, 2021, a 66-year-old woman broke her leg attempting to exit the Jungle Cruise ride. Her daughters filed a lawsuit against Disney claiming that workers were laughing at their mother, who was visiting the park in a wheelchair, and that she was told she could ride despite a lack of wheelchair-accessible boats. She was rushed to the Anaheim Global Medical Center where she was treated for 10 days before being transferred to a rehabilitation center, and she died on January 29, 2022, due to an infection and subsequent septic shock.
Main Street, U.S.A.
On April 16, 1981, a woman collapsed while standing in line to purchase popcorn at the park's hub at the end of Main Street near Sleeping Beauty's Castle. She later died at Palm Harbor General Hospital."Disney Visitor Stricken, Dies at OC Hospital," Orange County Register, April 17, 1981, page A1 On September 30, 1984, a fight broke out between a 30-year-old employee from Anaheim and a picketer before the employee attempted to ram the picketer with his vehicle. He was taken into custody shortly afterward with misdemeanor charges. On November 20, 2023, a gust from the seasonal Santa Ana winds toppled a light pole in Town Square that provides lighting for parades and shows, injuring three park guests, one of whom was taken to a local hospital with serious injuries.
Matterhorn Bobsleds
On July 3, 1959, a 24-year-old Disneyland machinist from Anaheim, California was seriously injured while working on the ride after a bobsled filled with passengers came down the track, knocking him off the mountain and causing him to fall 100 feet.
In May 1964, a 15-year-old boy from Long Beach, California named Mark Maples was injured after he stood up in the Matterhorn Bobsleds and fell out. It was reported that his ride companion undid his restraint. He died three days later as a result of his injuries. This was Disneyland's first fatal incident. On the evening of October 30, 1971, a fire broke out in the upper level of the attraction. Three people were injured, and the ride closed for the weekend.
On January 3, 1984, at about 3:30 p.m., a 47-year-old woman from Fremont, California was decapitated after she was thrown from a Matterhorn bobsled car and then struck by the next oncoming bobsled. An investigation found that her seat belt was not buckled. Since she was seated in the back, no one noticed her absence. It is unclear whether the victim deliberately unfastened her belt or if the seat belt had malfunctioned.
Mickey's Toontown
On February 14, 1993, a chandelier fell in the Goofy's Bounce House attraction, injuring two children. The chandelier was removed, and the attraction was reopened shortly after.