Disney has released a statement after a false active shooter report at Magic Kingdom on Thursday night led guests to stampede down Main Street in fear and hide in stores and backstage areas.

Disney Releases Statement After Panic at Magic Kingdom

In a statement, a Disney spokesperson said, “We appreciate the immediate response of the Orange County Sheriff’s Office to quickly assess and clear the situation. Normal operations have resumed and the park is now closed for the evening.”

Magic Kingdom closed at 10 p.m. on August 29, 2024, and the incident occurred around that time on Main Street or near the Monorail station. After guests shared eyewitness accounts on social media, the Orange County Sheriff’s Office posted on X (formerly Twitter) that a “popping” sound was heard during a fight at the park, which caused guests to panic and spread the rumor of an active shooter. Read the original post below:

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

We are glad that the situation was handled swiftly and everyone visiting the park this evening is safe.

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