A 13-year-old boy fell approximately 50 feet from Disneyland's Tiana's Bayou Adventure on Sunday, June 21, after exiting the ride vehicle mid-ride. The incident occurred at the Anaheim, California park, prompting an investigation by the California Division of Occupational Safety and Health (Cal/OSHA). The ride was inspected and cleared to reopen the following day.
Incident Details
The boy, whose name has not been released, was riding the log flume attraction when he climbed out of the boat before the ride ended. Eyewitnesses reported seeing him fall backwards down the 50-foot drop. He was taken to a nearby medical facility as a precaution and was later discharged without critical injuries, according to Disneyland officials.
One eyewitness on Reddit wrote, "I saw a kid fall down the hill. When we got off there were about six Disney police and a mother and two kids were with them all soaked." Another visitor said their grandson "saw a kid tumbling down the water slide." A third person, claiming to know a park employee, said the boy "slid backwards" and sustained "a lot of cuts and scrapes," but "luck was on his side" as he apparently did not hit his head.
Ride Safety Concerns
Tiana's Bayou Adventure, which opened in November 2024 replacing Splash Mountain, does not have seatbelts or lap bars—a common feature on log flume rides worldwide. The absence of restraints is designed to prevent drowning risks if a boat overturns, as restraints could trap riders underwater. However, the incident has reignited debate over ride safety.
One park visitor said, "When I loaded my four-year-old into the Tiana ride boat, I was panicked when it occurred to me that the boat didn't have restraints." Another commented, "I'm surprised they haven't installed lap bars/seatbelts to prevent such a thing from happening in the first place. Almost every other ride has a safety restraint in place." A third added, "Rapids rides have [seatbelts], so why not flumes?"
Previous Incidents
This is not the first time a guest has exited the ride mid-ride. A viral TikTok video from last year showed a man stepping out to retrieve his hat after it flew off during the same drop. In another incident, a man and his son jumped out after the ride malfunctioned, leaving them stranded for 10 minutes. The man grew frustrated and refused to reboard for 30 minutes before being escorted out. Neither incident resulted in injuries.
Industry Response
Disney blogger Inside the Magic called the incident "serious," stating, "It raises immediate questions about how a guest ended up outside a ride vehicle at one of the most dangerous points on an attraction." Cal/OSHA's inspection cleared the ride to reopen, but the debate over safety measures continues.
