Disneyland has spoken out after a 13-year-old boy reportedly exited a ride before it had come to a stop, and ended up falling down a 50-foot waterfall.
The previously reported incident took place on Sunday (June 21) at Tiana’s Bayou Adventure in Anaheim, California.
Officials at the themepark confirmed the teenager was taken to a hospital as a precaution but was later released.
A 13-year-old boy got off a moving Disneyland ride and tumbled down its 50-foot waterfall. Credit: Gary Hershorn / Getty
Boy seen tumbling down the ride’s steep drop
A clip obtained by TMZ appears to show the boy twisting and sliding down the attraction’s waterfall section moments behind a ride vehicle carrying other guests.
Witnesses described a scary scene as park staff responded to the incident.
Park visitor Paul, who asked to be identified only by his first name, told NBC News he heard someone scream and immediately turned to check on his grandson.
According to Paul, his grandson said he watched the teenager tumble down the ride’s drop “like a rag doll.”
Paul later photographed guests gathered near the bottom of the ride looking up toward the waterfall after the incident.
Another person claiming to have witnessed the aftermath wrote on Reddit: “I saw a kid fall down the hill.”
They added: “When we got off there were about six Disney police and a mother and two kids were with them all soaked.”
A third individual, who claimed to know someone employed at the theme park, alleged the boy had “slid backwards” down the incline and “sustained a lot of cuts and scrapes”.
Fortunately, they added that “luck was on his side” because “he didn’t hit his head”.
Disneyland and safety officials respond
The California Division of Occupational Safety and Health launched an investigation into the attraction.
The agency, which regulates, inspects, and issues permits for amusement park rides, later confirmed it found no evidence of a mechanical problem.
Spokesperson Katherine Wzorek said via email that inspectors “did not find any operational issues”.
Disneyland also confirmed the attraction was cleared to reopen and was operating again by Tuesday.
The13-year-old was medically evaluated after prematurely exiting Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Credit: Gary Hershorn / Getty
Why the ride doesn’t have seatbelts
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure is inspired by Disney’s 2009 animated film The Princess and the Frog and opened at Disneyland in November 2024, replacing Splash Mountain after the former attraction closed the previous year.
Like many log flume rides, it does not use seatbelts or lap bars.
While some guests have questioned the lack of restraints after the incident, the ride’s boats are designed with a low centre of gravity that helps keep passengers safely seated throughout the attraction.
Safety experts have also noted that restraints could create additional risks in the unlikely event that the ride overturns in water.
