Woman Wades in ‘it’s a small world’ Water, Pulls Four Children Out of Boat at Disneyland Paris During Unexpected Downtime

TikTok user georgiataylor2199 recently shared footage of a woman and four children disembarking “it’s a small world” at Disneyland Paris during an unexpected stoppage of the ride, despite Cast Members asking that guests remain seated.

The video begins showing a woman already in the water of the finale scene in “it’s a small world,” having taken off her shoes and deposited her belongings on the section of set to her right.

The woman pulls out a small child, from the boat to the set.

The woman stands in the water, pants rolled up to her knees, and encourages the four children with her to step onto the side of the boat so she can lift them out and over to the other side.

The woman holds the other child back, as she prepares to lift a third child from the boat.

As she lifts out the first two children, an overhead announcement can be heard in French and English, asking that guests “please remain seated” while the attraction is “temporarily interrupted.”

Guests are required to remain in ride vehicles when attractions are stopped for any reason for their safety. They should never leave the vehicle without a Cast Member present, as they are trained on safe and appropriate evacuation methods. Not only are there legitimate safety concerns, such as being barefoot in the middle of a water-based ride with electrical components and other unseen obstacles in the water, but an unauthorized evacuation could also lead to damage to the ride and its scenery.

The woman gathers her belongings and leads the four children away from the ride path.

A Cast Member then takes to the mic and speaks in French and English, telling guests to remain in the boat. The woman responds, but it is difficult to understand what she is saying.

The woman continues her own evacuation and wades further down the boat to get the final two children out. Once all four children are removed from the boat, the woman gets back up onto the set, grabs her belongings and shoes, and leads the group barefoot around the finale scene of the attraction, seemingly toward an exit.

The group walks through the "it's a small world" set to find an exit.

At this point, the Cast Member on the overhead speaker can be heard speaking loudly to the group, and two of the children run back onto the set, seemingly confused about where to go. It is here where the video ends.

You can watch the TikTok in full for yourself below:

A guest handling their own ride evacuation is just the latest guest incident to take place at Disney Parks. Just last week, an unattended child pushed a Stormtrooper and tried to take their blaster in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Last month, one guest yelled at another in a Disneyland Resort bathroom for speaking Spanish; Disneyland security reportedly dismissed the victim’s concerns. Back at Walt Disney World, a man verbally accosted guests after cutting the line and accused other guests of using racial slurs. In May 2023, an angry guest slapped a tablet out of a Cast Member’s hands at Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure in EPCOT, which caused the tablet to hit her rib cage and sent her to the hospital.

EIGHT New Dining Venues Coming To ONE Disney Park Later This Year!

Eight (yes, eight!) new restaurants are coming to one Disney Parks Resort, expanding the resort’s selection of dining venues and bringing a new palette of flavors to guests.

On Monday, Disney Parks shared some exciting news about new dining venues coming to Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, and the best part of the announcement is that there are EIGHT (yes, eight!) new dining venues set to open later this year!

Disneyland Resort is already home to dozens of fan-favorite dining venues, including Cafe Orleans, Uva Bar and Cafe, Splitsville, Blue Bayou at New Orleans Square, Tiana’s Palace, Goofy’s Kitchen, Steakhouse 55, Jolly Holiday Bakery on Main Street, Mint Julep Bar, Trader Sam’s, La Brea, Catal Restaurant, and many others. But this year, the resort will debut eight new venues sure to fit any taste and preference.

Parkside Market will open soon as part of the expansion on the west end of the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland Resort. Parkside is a curated collection of four different culinary concepts created by Levy Restaurants. All four will be under one roof.

The venues include:

  • Seoul Sister, a casual modern venue serving Korean-forward food based on Korean rice bowls (also known as bibimbap)
  • Sip & Sonder, an exciting venue serving lattes, fresh treats, frozen drinks, and Caribbean-inspired bites
  • GG’s Chicken Shop, serving fresh chicken sandwiches, salads, and classic dinner table sides
  • A second-story bar, offering guests great views of the district below and a relaxing spot to enjoy craft cocktails, mocktails, and appetizers.

As Disney Parks has previously shared, an all-new Earl of Sandwich location will also open later this year. The venue has been relocated from its previous spot.

The brand-new, two-story location will feature a quick-service Earl of Sandwich shop on the ground level and a table-service gastropub on the upper level.

While guests wait for the arrival of the sandwich shop, they can watch for a temporary pop-up location near the Star Wars Trading Post. The pop-up location will offer select Earl of Sandwich specialties available for pick-up, including The Original 1762, The Full Montagu, and the Holiday Turkey, as well as salads and sweets, among other items.

Coming to the center of the district later this spring is a trio of venues: the new Paseo and Céntrico and announcing Tiendita! Featuring menus created by Michelin-starred Chef Carlos Gaytán, the Paseo upstairs dining room and the first-floor Céntrico courtyard bar and restaurant will offer guests a selection of delicious upscale Mexican cuisine and tequila-based cocktails.

disneyland restaurants

Tiendita will be a quick-service venue where guests will be able to order from a Michelin-starred chef-inspired menu that features Mexican heritage flavors in Mexican street-food staples that everyone will enjoy on the go.

tiendita at downtown disney

This list of new restaurants at Disneyland has 2024 looking delicious already!

Brother of Young Man Who Took His Own Life at Disney Park Speaks Out

The brother of a young man who ended his life at a Disney Park before the Thanksgiving holiday has spoken out about who his brother was, his loss, and about the comfort his faith has brought him since his brother’s untimely death.

The apparent suicide of a 24-year-old man at the Disneyland Resort in Southern California on Wednesday evening, November 15, has left an empty place in the lives of those who knew him and loved him best and resulted in unspeakable grief and emotional pain for his family and friends.

At approximately 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday evening, officers with the Anaheim Police Department responded to a call at 1100 West Magic Way about someone having jumped from the Pixar Pals parking structure at Disneyland Resort, according to a spokesperson for the department, Sgt. Jon McClintock. Upon their arrival, officers found a man at the scene. He was deceased following an apparent jump or fall from the parking structure.

disneyland castle storm

According to the police officers, the death of the young man, later identified as 24-year-old Jonah Alexander Edwards by the Orange County Coroner’s Office, is being investigated as a suicide.

News of the tragedy at Disneyland Resort spread quickly, though details were few about the young man who lost his life on that Wednesday evening. Most media outlets only reported briefly on the incident, and many included his name.

But since the time of his passing, very few, if any, outlets have reported about who the young man was, and such an approach to this tragedy threatens to continue an already egregious problem in the world today–and especially in the United States: a lack of open conversations about depression, anxiety, mental wellness, and self-harm.

The first step in opening the door to communication about these topics is exactly that: opening the door.

The young man who lost his life on the 15th of November this year was 24-year-old Jonah Alexander Edwards, and, according to a post on Instagram from Micah Edwards, Jonah’s brother, he was a beautiful and kind person with a vibrant smile.

Several days after Edwards’ passing, his brother, Micah Edwards, took to Instagram to share news of the loss of his brother and to ask that his friends and family keep the Edwards family in their prayers. He shared the grief of his loss and talked about the “privilege” of knowing Jonah.

“We lost our beautiful brother this week,” Micah Edwards wrote in a post on Instagram. “Jonah Alexander took his own life on Wednesday, November 15. He was a pure light to everyone who had the privilege of knowing him, and I miss him so much.”

jonah alexander edwards

“In the last few days,” Micah Edwards continued, “the love and comfort of Jesus has been overwhelming through the hands of our community. If I could find any sliver of hope, it’s that his suffering is no more.”

“Words can’t begin to describe the pain I’m feeling right now,” Micah said. “Please keep our family and friends in your thoughts and prayers.”

Jonah Alexander Edwards’s passing is the ninth reported suicide at Disneyland Resort, the first of which took place on September 3, 1994, and the third to have taken place in less than one year.

There have now been 13 people take their lives at Disneyland Resort and the Walt Disney World Resort, leading to questions about whether The Walt Disney Company has a responsibility to take steps to help deter individuals from committing suicide on Disney property, perhaps by hiring more security personnel and the implementing physical barriers in areas where individuals have jumped to their deaths from high structures, thus making those areas less accessible, which, according to University of California at Irvine psychiatrist Dr. Aaron Kheriaty, could mean the difference between an act carried out and ideation upon which no action is taken.

Our deepest condolences go out to the family of Jonah Alexander Edwards during this difficult season of grief, and our prayers continue to be with all of those who loved him and find themselves in the midst of the emotional pain of loss at this time.

If you or someone you care about is struggling with depression or thoughts of suicide, there is helpThere is hope at the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

The crisis center provides free and confidential emotional support 24 hours a day, seven days a week, to civilians and veterans. Please call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 or text HOME to 741-741 (Crisis Text Line). Those searching for help can also dial 988 to be relayed to the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline.

Disney’s New Genie+ Decision Leaves Fans Feeling Angry

New news regarding Disney’s Genie+ service at Disneyland Resort has received mixed emotions from fans since being announced.

Two highly-anticipated attractions at Disneyland Resort are poised to make their debut on the Genie+ platform, bringing even more excitement and adventure to visitors. However, one of these announcements has left fans feeling less than magical due to the fear of this decision raising wait times.

Disneyland Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railway

At Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, two attractions are set to join the Genie+ service. Among these soon-to-be additions, we have the much-loved Mickey and Minnie’s Runaway Railway, an immersive experience that takes Disney Park guests on an exhilarating journey through the whimsical world of these beloved Disney characters. Disneyland Park will soon add Genie+ to this magical attraction, which invites guests to embark on a thrilling adventure with Mickey and Minnie themselves.

The other ride getting Genie+ is the delightful underwater escapade, The Little Mermaid ~ Ariel’s Undersea Adventure, located at Disney California Adventure Park. This enchanting attraction is set to join the Genie+ Service lineup on the Disneyland app in the coming month. While some fans are eagerly anticipating the opportunity to experience this beloved ride through the convenience of Genie+, there is also a sense of concern among some enthusiasts.

The decision to incorporate Ariel’s Undersea Adventure into the Genie+ platform has sparked a wave of mixed emotions within the Disney fan community. While many are thrilled about the added convenience and benefits that come with utilizing Genie+ for this popular attraction, there are some who worry that the introduction of the service may inadvertently lead to longer wait times.

Understandably, fans who have grown fond of Ariel’s Undersea Adventure and cherish the memories made within its fantastical setting express concerns that the inclusion of Genie+ could potentially result in increased demand and, subsequently, longer queues. However, it’s important to note that Disney strives to strike a delicate balance between maximizing guest satisfaction and optimizing the overall visitor experience.

Dozens of fans left comments expressing their dissatisfaction over this decision. Many of them are concerned that this ride will become overly busy after this change is implemented. Some compare this situation to that of the Indiana Jones and Monsters Inc. attractions.

While it’s normal for any change in attraction management to elicit diverse reactions, it’s crucial to remember that Disney consistently evaluates and fine-tunes its services to ensure guests have memorable and enjoyable experiences. With the introduction of Genie+, Disney aims to provide visitors with a more streamlined and efficient way to navigate the park, ultimately enhancing their overall enjoyment.

Only time will be able to tell if this decision will end up being a smart one for Disney. Hopefully, Disney will be able to utilize Genie+ and individual lightning lane selection on these rides without greatly raising the wait time for low-wait attractions like Ariel’s Undersea Adventure.

Disney Mandates an End of Decades Old Theme Park Tradition

This was undoubtedly a bold move for the Disney Parks to make!

One of the reasons that fans love the Disney theme parks is because of the community that the parks provide. At Disney, strangers can quickly become friends because of their shared passion and love for the Disney theme park and the Disney movies. Fans can also find a community through collecting Disney memorabilia. One of the most popular pieces to trade and collect are Disney pins.

At Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California, Disney pin trading has taken up a lot of space at the park for years. Now, what that looks like will change in a big way.

Disneyland Park Sleeping Beauty castle

Disneyland Resort made some important updates on its website early today, specifically addressing the guidelines for pin trading within Disneyland Resort. This initiative aims to enhance the overall pin-trading experience for guests while ensuring that specific measures are put in place to maintain the integrity of this beloved hobby. One of the notable changes highlighted in these guidelines is the official ban on utilizing benches as pin display structures within the park premises.

The newly implemented guidelines clearly state that benches or any other structures designated for the exclusive purpose of pin display are strictly prohibited. Instead, these structures are intended solely for seating purposes, ensuring that guests have comfortable places to rest and enjoy their time at the park. This decision aligns with Disneyland Resort’s commitment to maintaining a safe and organized pin trading environment while prioritizing the overall guest experience.

The prohibition of the use of benches for pin display serves multiple purposes. Firstly, it helps prevent any potential overcrowding or congestion that may arise from excessive pin trading displays. By reserving benches for their intended purpose, guests can comfortably find a place to relax without feeling overwhelmed or restricted due to excessive pin displays.

For years, these benches have been monopolized by Disney pin traders, and Disney seeks to see these benches return to their intended purpose once more.

By introducing this ban on bench displays, Disneyland Resort hopes to foster an environment where pin trading thrives with creativity and interaction while also not hogging up valuable seating areas. The vibrant atmosphere of each Disney park is truly accentuated when guests interact and engage with each other, sharing their Disney trading pin collections and stories. With the focus shifting away from seated areas, many fans hope to see this hobby become more organized.

Several other guidelines have been implemented. Disneyland pin trading will be restricted to happening outside Disneyland Park near Westward Ho Trading Company from opening to 3:00 pm. Those who wish to trade pins will also only be allowed to bring in one trading bag.

Disneyland Resort has updated its website with comprehensive guidelines for pin trading within the theme parks; all further questions can be answered there.