Guests booted from Disney World after diving into Epcot ride waterway
Park officials removed a group from Disney World last week following an unauthorized dip at Epcot. The removal followed at least one visitor leaping from a boat into a ride channel.
The incident was captured on video at the Gran Fiesta Tour Starring the Three Caballeros. An individual in the boat directly behind the party shared footage online on Oct. 7.
One clip showed a person in a light T-shirt standing beside the channel. That person then plunged head-first into the water. Another traveler cheered from the vessel. A second clip showed the same person back in the seat. Two riders appeared to be wet.
Witness Mike Collantes shared the clips to Instagram under the handle @ChefMike_Collantes.
“So this was the second kid who jumped in and they stopped the ride for about 15 minutes,” Collantes wrote.
Collantes wrote that he expected security at the exit. He said the group simply walked right off.
Another witness offered a different account online. She said staff escorted the individuals out. Security put them into cars.
Resort representatives confirmed the ejection from the property.
“This behavior was unsafe and a clear violation of our park rules,” a spokesperson said. “The guest and his party were trespassed.”
The spokesperson did not state if the group received a lifetime ban. Officials also did not specify the exact rules breached. Disney World forbids unsafe actions, entering unauthorized zones, and disrupting operations.
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office stated deputies were not called to deliver a trespass warning. Past incidents involved official bans. One man was banned for jumping off a bridge into an Epcot lagoon. A former worker was barred for sampling decorative fountain water.
Theme parks enforce visitor guidelines to maintain patron safety on attractions. Property managers can issue trespass orders that remove visitors from private grounds without refunds.
The resort conduct policy allows management to remove anyone for unsafe or offensive behavior. Disney World retains complete discretion over visitor removals.
