A Disneyland guest recently died after riding the Haunted Mansion, though authorities initially indicate the death was not ride-related. Concurrently, Universal Orlando is facing a lawsuit alleging significant injury on its new Epic Universe Stardust Racers coaster, an attraction where another guest also died recently, signaling increasing scrutiny on theme park safety and potential liabilities for major operators in the leisure industry.
Disneyland visitor dies in hospital after riding Haunted Mansion The woman was reportedly taken to a local hospital for medical treatment on Oct. 6. A Disneyland guest has died after riding the park’s Haunted Mansion attraction, local officials have confirmed to Yahoo. “Anaheim Fire & Rescue responded to the Disneyland Resort for an unresponsive woman in her 60s who had just finished riding the Haunted Mansion attraction,” Matt Sutter of the Anaheim Police Department told Yahoo. “Disneyland security personnel provided CPR until paramedics arrived.” The woman was then “transported to a local hospital, where she was later pronounced deceased,” per the statement. Sutter told Yahoo that while the woman’s death does not appear to be linked to the park ride, the Orange County sheriff-coroner will determine the official cause of death at a later time. A representative for the Disneyland Resort confirmed to Yahoo via email on Wednesday that a guest required medical treatment on Oct. 6 and was taken to a local hospital. Yahoo also reached out to the Orange County Sheriff-Coroner but did not receive an immediate response. A spirited Disney attraction The Haunted Mansion at Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., first opened on Aug. 9, 1969. Its original opening was delayed, despite being built between 1962 and 1963, in part due to Walt Disney’s death in 1966. Located in the park’s New Orleans Square, the Haunted Mansion is recognized as one of the last rides that Disney had influence in designing and reflects his desire for an attraction that was more entertaining than terrifying. Guided by a disembodied voice, the ride takes guests through the haunted estate, visiting a series of ghostly residents along the way. Various stops on the tour include a casket-riddled conservatory, Madame Leota’s eerie séance room and a ghoulish graveyard. From late August through the first week of January, the Haunted Mansion is transformed into a Nightmare Before Christmas-themed seasonal overlay called Haunted Mansion Holiday. Nearly identical versions of the Anaheim, Calif., attraction opened in Walt Disney World in 1971 and Tokyo Disneyland in 1983. Disneyland Paris opened Phantom Manor, a more Western interpretation of the original attraction, in 1992, while Hong Kong Disneyland unveiled Mystic Manor, a completely separate ride that is thematically more lighthearted, in 2013. Woman allegedly injured on Epic Universe ride; sues Universal Orlando Amusement parks have come under scrutiny recently. News of the Disneyland guest’s death comes two weeks after a woman by the name of Sandi Streets filed a lawsuit against Universal Orlando after claiming to have suffered injuries while riding Stardust Racers, the new rollercoaster at the recently unveiled Epic Universe theme park. Stardust Racers is a dueling roller coaster attraction located in the Celestial Park region of Epic Universe. In her negligence claim filed on Sept. 24, Streets alleges that her “head shook violently and slammed into her seat’s headrest throughout the duration of the ride.” Streets, who also claims to have ridden the attraction as a “business invitee” ahead of the park’s official opening on April 30, says she suffered permanent injuries from the incident. Streets’s lawsuit was filed a week after Epic Universe guest Kevin Rodriguez Zavala died on Sept. 17, after he became unresponsive while also riding Stardust Racers at the Universal Orlando theme park. Zavala’s death was ruled an accident resulting from “multiple blunt impact injuries,” according to officials. A recent incident at Disneyland involved the death of a guest in her 60s after riding the Haunted Mansion attraction on October 6th. Anaheim Police Department reports suggest the death does not appear to be ride-related, pending an official determination by the Orange County sheriff-coroner. This event, while currently unlinked to mechanical failure, introduces a negative narrative for Disney (DIS) and the broader theme park industry, as reflected in the -0.6 sentiment score for DIS. This incident occurs amid heightened scrutiny of theme park safety, exemplified by recent events at Universal Orlando. A lawsuit was filed on September 24th against Universal alleging severe injuries on the new Epic Universe Stardust Racers coaster, an attraction where another guest died on September 17th due to "multiple blunt impact injuries." These combined events contribute to a "mildly negative" general sentiment score for the sector and emphasize burgeoning "Legal & Litigation" risks. The confluence of these high-profile safety incidents across major operators could presage increased regulatory oversight or public pressure on the travel and leisure segment. While the immediate market impact for DIS might be contained if the death is confirmed unrelated to the ride, the broader trend underscores potential liabilities and operational challenges for companies reliant on theme park revenue.
AI-powered research, real-time alerts, and portfolio analytics for institutional investors.
Request a DemoOverall Sentiment
mildly negative
Sentiment Score
-0.15
Ticker Sentiment
