Disney World monorail riders removed the windows to get air

A lightning-related power loss stopped an EPCOT-bound monorail on Sept. 8 and left passengers aboard for about 90 minutes. The video went national a week later, and Disney has not commented.

Three men are pulling a window out of a Walt Disney World monorail in a video that spread across national news this week.

The train was heading to EPCOT from the Transportation and Ticket Center on the evening of Tuesday, Sept. 8, when it lost power during storms. Passengers sat on the elevated beam for roughly 90 minutes.

It got warm enough inside that the driver talked riders through removing a window for ventilation.

Nobody was hurt.

What happened on the monorail?

Tanya Lee, who spoke to Storyful, said the train stopped after a power outage and that guests were told crews were working to restore power and bring a tow vehicle to push the train. Onboard announcements referenced a second option if the tow failed, involving emergency responders and an evacuation.

Lee said she was uneasy about it. “I was nervous as I do not like heights,” she said, adding that the mood in her car stayed upbeat because there was not much anyone could do.

A second rider, posting as Coastin’ with Dan, filmed his own version, including the aftermath.

Power was eventually restored, the train was moved to a station, and passengers got off. Emergency vehicles were waiting when they did.

Why is this going viral a week later?

Because the video got licensed, and that is the actual answer.

The incident happened Sept. 8. It circulated in theme park circles that week and then mostly sat there.

Then Storyful, a news agency that licenses social video, picked up Lee’s footage, and on Sept. 14 the national weather outlets ran it. Fox Weather and The Weather Channel both posted segments. Local stations followed.

So anyone seeing this today as breaking news is a week behind. The train was fixed last Tuesday.

What did Disney give the passengers?

This is where accounts differ slightly, and the difference is small but real.

Lee said Disney guest relations met riders as they got off with cold bottled water, $50 in gift cards, and a Lightning Lane pass.

That’s more than the Editor got on Monorail Blue. She said they were given drinks and FastPasses with limitations.

Other reporting drawing on passenger accounts describes the same $50 arriving as two $25 cards, with a Lightning Lane Multi-Pass valid only on select attractions rather than the whole park.

I believe the second account based on the “select attractions” part.

Same dollar figure either way. The Lightning Lane detail is the part that matters to anyone who lost an evening, since a pass limited to select rides is a different thing from a pass that covers the headliners.

Has Disney said anything?

No.

A week on, the company has not issued a statement about the stoppage, and every detail in circulation comes from passengers rather than from Disney.

That is not unusual. Disney rarely comments on transportation delays, even long ones, and there is no injury or investigation forcing a response here.

How often do Disney monorails stop?

The monorail moves tens of thousands of people a day between the resorts, the Transportation and Ticket Center, Magic Kingdom and EPCOT. Weather stops it regularly. Extended stoppages with passengers aboard on the beam are rare, which is precisely why one produces a national news segment.

Disney suspends monorail service, along with the Skyliner, boats and outdoor attractions, when lightning is detected within a set distance of property. Those pauses are the system working.

Central Florida storms in September arrive most afternoons and evenings, and they arrive fast.

The same storms that Tuesday evening turned deadly a few miles away in Celebration, where a 20-year-old Disney College Program participant was killed by a lightning strike. We covered that separately.

For riders, the practical takeaway is small and boring. Build slack into an evening park plan in storm season, keep water on you, and understand that when Disney stops the monorail it is not being cautious for fun.

The window came out. Everybody got to EPCOT eventually, about two hours late.

Article compiled with the help of the Pirates & Princesses newsroom.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• WFLA, reporting Tanya Lee’s account via Storyful (September 2026), the timeline, the onboard announcements and the compensation described by the passenger

• Fox Weather and The Weather Channel (Sept. 14, 2026), the national pickup and the confirmation that power was restored and the train towed

• KennythePirate (Sept. 10, 2026), the two-card breakdown and the limited Lightning Lane detail

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