Teen falls – A 13-year-old climbed out of Disneyland’s Tiana’s Bayou Adventure log flume on Sunday at about 6 p.m., fell roughly 50 feet, was taken to a local hospital and later released. A California state inspection found no operational issues, and the ride reopened afte
On Sunday evening. about 6 p.m. Disneyland’s Tiana’s Bayou Adventure log flume was moving guests through the attraction’s channel when a 13-year-old climbed out of the boat before the ride finished. Then he fell headfirst down a waterfall roughly 50 feet tall—an abrupt moment that left the ride stopped immediately and the theme park closed until Monday.
Park officials said Disneyland employees quickly shut down the ride after the incident. and it stayed closed while the situation was handled. The teen was taken to a local hospital and later released. the park said. adding that he was evaluated “as a precaution.” The park did not provide details on the cause of the exit. and it was not clear why the teenager tried to get out early.
After the weekend incident. California’s Division of Occupational Safety and Health—the agency tasked with inspecting theme park rides—sent its Amusement Ride & Tramway Unit to the attraction. The unit inspected Tiana’s Bayou Adventure and found no operational issues. The agency approved the ride to reopen, according to the agency and Disneyland officials.
A dramatic video reportedly obtained by TMZ shows the boy falling down the 50-foot-tall waterfall just behind the flume channel he had exited.
The teen’s fall has renewed attention on how log flume rides are built. The logs that carry guests through Tiana’s Bayou Adventure do not have safety belts or lap bars. Disneyland officials did not answer questions sent by email from The Times about whether the park is considering adding additional safety measures to the ride.
Safety experts say the absence of belts or lap bars is common on log flume-style attractions because of the risk that boats could overturn in water and trap riders. Brian Avery. who specializes in operational safety. risk management and amusement ride safety. said “people have gotten out before. ” sometimes in panic and sometimes due to “a cognitive issue or behavioral factor.” He said the underlying industry belief has been that leaving the flume is less likely to result in severe injury.
Avery also said the Sunday incident could spur additional safety measures. He has long advocated for lap belts or safety harnesses on theme park rides. Another possible approach. Avery suggested. would be staffing the top of the lift hill with an attendant dedicated to monitoring each rider and stepping in if someone appears to be trying to get out of the vessel.
Park officials said the teen’s medical status following the fall was limited to the precautionary evaluation and later release, but it remains unclear whether he was injured Sunday.
There is also precedent for dangerous exits from log-flume attractions. In 2000, a 37-year-old man died after he climbed out of the Splash Mountain ride at the Magic Kingdom in Florida and was struck by another passenger boat.
Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. for years known as Splash Mountain. was reimagined in 2024 and now runs with the storyline inspired by the film “The Princess and the Frog.” Disneyland employees stopped the ride after the Sunday incident. it remained closed until Monday. and it reopened only after the state inspection approved it—leaving the unanswered question for many guests to linger: if riders can get out. what should be in place to stop it before anyone falls.
Disneyland Tiana’s Bayou Adventure California Division of Occupational Safety and Health amusement ride safety log flume safety belts 50-foot fall