A gun scare sparked a stampede among guests at Walt Disney World, who were sent into a panic when the sound of a “popping” balloon echoed through the Florida theme park.
The chaos unfolded inside Magic Kingdom Thursday night around 10 p.m., according to a statement from the Orange County Sheriff’s Office. The “Happy Ever After” fireworks show had just ended and park employees were gearing up to close for the night.
“We were walking down Main Street, heading out of the park, when we — my family was in one of the stores, and then all of a sudden, people came rushing into the store,” said Glenn Brady, a pastor visiting with his family from Kansas, told Fox 35 Orlando.
His family opted to shelter-in-place, Brady recalled, adding that people nearby were “praying” and “quite upset.”
The Orange County Sheriff’s Office was quick to dispel rumors about an active shooter on the grounds of Magic Kingdom, writing in a post on X that there was no danger to guests at the park.
“There is NO active shooter at @WaltDisneyWorld’s Magic Kingdom,” the post said.
“A fight occurred, and a ‘popping’ sound was heard that we believe was a balloon,” it continued. “Guests began running and that’s how the active shooter rumor started. There is no active shooter.”
Videos and images shared on social media show the aftermath of the panic. In one clip, a large crowd of people can be seen attempting to exit the park while first responders mill about the scene. Another shows the inside of a store, where chairs and shelves were toppled amid the chaos.
A Disney World spokesperson later issued a statement thanking the sheriff’s office for its immediate response and said normal operations have since resumed at the park.
No arrests have been made in connection with the incident.