‘Hop Out of Your Buggy’: A Chaotic Haunted Mansion Evacuation Has Disneyland Fans Stunned

A rare Haunted Mansion evacuation at Disneyland on May 27 saw riders climb out of their Doom Buggies and free fellow guests after cast members announced they could no longer assist, following an electrical malfunction on the track. A viral video of the scene left longtime fans and former cast members questioning the unusual self-evacuation.

A trip through the Haunted Mansion took an unexpectedly real turn at Disneyland when riders were told to climb out of their Doom Buggies and help free fellow guests during a highly unusual evacuation — a scene that left longtime fans and former park employees shaking their heads.

What Happened Inside the Haunted Mansion

Disneyland cast members began evacuating the Haunted Mansion on May 27 after a small electrical malfunction on the track, according to park officials. Out of an abundance of caution, cast members gave verbal instructions and were deployed to help guests off the attraction. All riders were safely evacuated and no injuries were reported.

The video told a more chaotic story. “At first, the cast members advised people to remain seated and to wait to be escorted off the ride,” McKenny wrote. “After about 10 minutes, the message changed, stating that the cast members could no longer assist us.” Footage showed guests squeezing past lap bars, unlatching the clamshell doors on their ride vehicles to free other passengers, and walking through the cemetery set amid moving animatronics. “We ask that you hop out of your buggy and find the nearest exit,” a cast member said over the intercom. “If you can, there is a latch on the left hand side that you can press down to open the clamshell.”

Why This Evacuation Was So Unusual

Disneyland’s standard evacuation procedure typically involves employees walking along the track to unlock ride vehicles one by one and escorting riders out. Former cast members familiar with the attraction’s protocols described the kind of self-evacuation seen in the video as something normally reserved for serious emergencies — and voiced disbelief at guests being asked to free themselves. Their concerns centered on the obvious risks: what happens if someone falls, gets lost in the dark, or if a frightened child is riding alone?

What Riders Should Actually Do

For context, Disneyland visitors are expected to follow all instructions from employees during an evacuation and to refrain from taking photos or videos inside an attraction. Ride stoppages on dark rides like the Haunted Mansion are routine and almost always end with a calm, escorted walk-out — which is what makes this particular incident stand out.

Why Fans Are Buzzing

The Haunted Mansion is one of Disneyland’s most beloved and meticulously controlled attractions, so footage of guests wandering the show building on their own struck a nerve with a fan base that prizes the park’s reputation for safety and polish. While Disney maintained that everyone exited safely, the episode has reignited conversation about how the company communicates during ride breakdowns — and what guests should expect if the magic pauses mid-ride.