Police responded to an incident in Magic Kingdom at Disney World as the park was closing this evening.
Magic Kingdom gate
Multiple posts on social media starting at about 10:15PM on August 29th indicated that Magic Kingdom visitors were being guided through stores to backstage areas and in some instances being held backstage before they could exit the park. Those traveling to the Ticket and Transportation Center were being led to buses — the monorail and ferry boats are apparently closed at the time of this post.
Donna Vivino, who was visiting Magic Kingdom at the time of the incident, told us she was escorted through a backstage exit, and there were “tons of cops” on the scene.
BREAKING: Police respond at Magic Kingdom. Guests were sent out through backstage exits. pic.twitter.com/Ku2BbtnFHD
— Disney Food Blog (@DisneyFoodBlog) August 30, 2024
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office said there was a fight at the Magic Kingdom, as well as a “popping sound” that caused guests to start running, believing there was potentially a shooting incident. The Sheriff’s Office said in a Tweet that “there is no active shooter” at Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.
ALERT: There is NO active shooter at @WaltDisneyWorld’s Magic Kingdom. A fight occurred, and a “popping” sound was heard that we believe was a balloon. Guests began running and that’s how the active shooter rumor started. There is no active shooter. pic.twitter.com/TRKLs3NglC
— Orange County Sheriff's Office (@OrangeCoSheriff) August 30, 2024
Vivino said that Disney World Cast Members were keeping people away from an area in front of the Main Street Confectionery, and that some people were “very shaken up” because they believed they heard gunshots. Again, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office has said this was not a shooting incident.
Vivino went to the Contemporary Resort to wait for an Uber, and she said that all the music was turned off in the park and is turned off at the resort — making the whole scene more eerie feeling.
Another DFB reader in the park tonight said they were walking near Tomorrowland Terrace when they encountered “a herd of people running for their life.” They said that many people did not know what they were running from — they just started running because others were.
Keep following DFB for more.
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
The post BREAKING: Large Police Presence Reported at Magic Kingdom, Park Locked Down While Guests Evacuated Backstage first appeared on the disney food blog.
