A rollercoaster expert has made a safety claim about Disney's Haunted Mansion Holiday after a woman tragically died after going on the ride.
As previously reported, a Disneyland visitor, who was in her 60s, lost her life after experiencing a medical emergency at the theme park on Monday evening (October 6).
The incident occurred at approximately 6:30PM, and Anaheim Police confirmed that fire and rescue units responded to the scene. Disneyland security performed CPR on the woman until paramedics arrived, according to Anaheim Police Sgt. Matt Sutter.
She was then transported to Orange County Hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The Orange County Sheriff-Coroner is investigating the cause of death, but authorities have stated that there is no indication that the ride malfunctioned.
No indication of ride malfunction
The Haunted Mansion, a slow-moving dark ride in Disneyland’s New Orleans Square, features “Doom Buggies” that carry guests at about one mile per hour through spooky scenes.
During the fall season, the ride is transformed into Haunted Mansion Holiday, combining the original attraction with characters from Tim Burton’s The Nightmare Before Christmas.
Despite the tragic incident, no operating issues with the ride have been reported. "This appears to be an unfortunate medical episode, and our thoughts go out to the family," said Sgt. Sutter.
The incident was first reported by Disneyland influencer Matt Desmond, who stated on Instagram that the guest "had a heart attack on Haunted Mansion Holiday" and did not respond when it was time to leave the ride. Desmond's post further fueled rumors about the cause of death, though authorities have refrained from offering any details until their investigation is complete.
Theme park expert comments on the incident
Dennis Speigel, founder of International Theme Park Services Inc., which specializes in leisure and attractions consulting, spoke about the rarity of such incidents.
“I have to say that if you picked a ride at Disney, this or Small World would be the last type of ride you would expect to see something like this to happen,” he said, per LA Times. “These are the rides for great-grandmothers.”
Speigel explained that theme park deaths are uncommon, though not impossible. “Transparency comes at the highest level for Disney,” Speigel added. “It’s much safer to ride Space Mountain or any ride at Disneyland for a month straight than to drive one day on the 405 Freeway.”
Despite the unfortunate event, experts maintain that theme parks like Disneyland remain among the safest recreational options for visitors. However, they stress the importance of proper communication between medical staff and park personnel, especially when unexpected incidents occur.