13-Year-Old Hospitalized After Exiting Ride Vehicle at Disneyland
A 13-year-old boy was transported to a local hospital for evaluation after he climbed out of a log ride vehicle on Tiana's Bayou Adventure at Disneyland before the attraction ended — and slid down the ride's 50-foot drop on his own.
The incident occurred on Sunday, June 21. Disneyland confirmed the details in an official statement, saying the teen "exited a ride vehicle on Tiana's Bayou Adventure before the attraction ended." The ride was immediately stopped by a cast member. After being assisted by resort staff, the boy was taken to a local hospital as a precaution, evaluated and later released. Tiana's Bayou Adventure has since reopened and is currently operating.
What Witnesses Described
Eyewitness accounts posted to Reddit shortly after the incident described a significant security and medical response at the attraction's exit around 6 p.m. The ride remained closed for several hours, including through the park's evening fireworks show.
One user who was inside a log vehicle on the ride at the time wrote that they briefly saw the boy fall as their log passed the drop point. After exiting, riders reportedly encountered multiple Disney security officers near the attraction's exit, along with a woman and two children who appeared to be drenched.
Disneyland's statement confirmed the incident and the outcome but did not address how the teen came to exit the vehicle, where on the ride it occurred, or whether the incident has been reported to California's Division of Occupational Safety and Health, which requires notification of certain guest injury incidents at state-regulated theme parks.
About the Ride
Tiana's Bayou Adventure opened at Disneyland on Nov. 15, 2024, replacing Splash Mountain, which closed in May 2023. The attraction is based on the 2009 Disney animated film The Princess and the Frog and takes riders through a bayou-themed log flume experience that concludes with a 52.5-foot plunge into water below.
Like most log flume rides, Tiana's Bayou Adventure does not use seat belts or lap bars. Guests ride single-file in log-shaped vehicles, and the ride is designed with the assumption that guests remain seated throughout — particularly through the final drop. The same attraction operates at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Florida with the same log vehicle format and drop.
Disneyland has not released additional information beyond its initial statement.
Curious for more stories that keep you informed and entertained? From the latest headlines to everyday insights, YourLifeBuzz has more to explore. Dive into what’s next.