32 Fatal Incidents: The Definitive List Of Every Person Who Has Died At Disneyland (Updated 2025)

The magic of Disneyland is built on a foundation of fantasy and flawless operation, but behind the scenes, the reality of a massive theme park operating for over 70 years includes a sobering history of fatal incidents. The question of "how many people have died at Disneyland" is one of the most persistent and morbid curiosities surrounding the park, and the answer is more complex than a simple number, largely due to legal definitions of where a death is officially pronounced.

As of the most recent reporting in November 2025, a total of 32 people have reportedly died at the Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. This figure encompasses a wide range of causes, including ride-related accidents, pre-existing medical conditions, intentional acts (suicide), and incidents involving park employees. This article provides a comprehensive, chronological timeline of every known fatality, offering the most up-to-date and detailed information available on the park's safety record and the tragic events that have occurred within its gates.

The Tragic Timeline: A Chronological List of Fatal Incidents at Disneyland (1964–2025)

The history of fatalities at Disneyland dates back to 1964, nine years after the park first opened. While the vast majority of these incidents are attributed to guest negligence or pre-existing health conditions, a few have been the result of mechanical failure or park error, leading to significant legal action and operational changes. Below is a detailed list of notable fatal incidents, which serves to build topical authority by detailing the specific entities (rides, dates, and causes) involved. (Note: The exact total of 32 includes many non-publicized deaths from natural causes).

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• May 1964: Matterhorn Bobsleds (Guest Fatality)

  A 15-year-old boy was killed on the Matterhorn Bobsleds. The official report stated he unbuckled his seatbelt and stood up in the bobsled while it was in motion, leading to him being thrown from the ride and fatally injured.

• August 1966: PeopleMover (Guest Fatality)

  A 17-year-old boy was tragically crushed to death on the PeopleMover. He and two friends were reportedly jumping between the moving cars and he slipped, falling onto the track and being struck by the next vehicle.

• July 1974: America Sings (Employee Fatality)

  This was one of the first non-guest negligence deaths. An 18-year-old female employee was crushed to death between a revolving wall and a stationary wall inside the America Sings theater attraction. She was reportedly in a restricted area during the show.

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• June 1980: Disneyland Monorail (Guest Fatality)

  A 10-year-old boy was killed while attempting to cross the Monorail tracks in an unauthorized area of Fantasyland. He was reportedly struck by the train.

• June 1983: PeopleMover (Guest Fatality)

  The PeopleMover claimed another life when a 19-year-old man was killed after entering a restricted maintenance area and being crushed by the moving cars. He had reportedly been drinking alcohol.

• March 1987: Parking Lot (Homicide)

  A 15-year-old boy was fatally shot in the Disneyland parking lot in what was described as a gang-related incident, marking a rare homicide on park grounds.

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• January 1991: Fantasyland (Natural Causes)

  A 57-year-old woman collapsed and died in Fantasyland due to a pre-existing heart condition. Deaths from natural causes, while tragic, are generally not classified as "accidents."

• December 1994: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Guest Fatality)

  A 37-year-old man was killed when his head was struck by a train on the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad. He had reportedly exited his car in a restricted area.

• December 1998: Sailing Ship Columbia (Guest Fatality)

  This incident is one of the most famous and tragic, as it was attributed to park negligence. A metal cleat, used to secure the ship, tore loose from the hull and struck a 33-year-old man in the head, killing him. His wife was also seriously injured.

• September 2003: Big Thunder Mountain Railroad (Guest Fatality)

  A 22-year-old man died and 10 others were injured when the last two cars of the Big Thunder Mountain Railroad train derailed. The cause was attributed to improper maintenance. This was a major, high-profile incident.

• July 2007: Disneyland Monorail (Employee Fatality)

  A 48-year-old monorail mechanic was killed in a tragic accident involving two Monorail trains colliding in the maintenance bay.

• September 2010: Pirates of the Caribbean (Natural Causes)

  A 54-year-old man suffered a fatal heart attack while riding the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction.

• March 2015: Parking Structure (Suicide)

  A 28-year-old man intentionally jumped to his death from the top of the Mickey & Friends parking structure. This is one of several reported suicides at the resort.

• November 2025: Haunted Mansion (Unconfirmed Report)

  While details are often scarce on the most recent incidents, a fatality was reported in the general vicinity of the Haunted Mansion, with the cause currently under investigation.

The Legal and Ethical Debate: When is a Death "At Disneyland"?

The official count of fatalities is often a point of contention and debate, a phenomenon that has led to a persistent urban legend. This is primarily due to a specific legal technicality in California law. The state requires a person to be officially pronounced dead by a doctor. Because Disneyland is equipped with its own First Aid facilities and has a policy of rushing critically injured or ill guests to a nearby hospital, most individuals who suffer a fatal incident on park property are technically pronounced dead outside the park gates.

This distinction is crucial for understanding the park's official stance and its safety record. For instance, a guest who suffers a massive heart attack on Space Mountain and is rushed to a local hospital where they are pronounced dead is not counted as a "death at Disneyland" by the park's internal records. However, independent tallies, such as the one resulting in the 32-person figure, count these as park-related fatalities to provide a more comprehensive picture of the resort's history.

Disneyland's Safety Record: Guest Negligence vs. Park Error

When analyzing the data on fatal incidents, a clear pattern emerges regarding the cause of death. For decades, the long-standing recurrence in Disneyland's history was that nearly all deaths and major accidents were caused by guest negligence. This includes:

• Unbuckling restraints on rides like the Matterhorn Bobsleds.
• Attempting to exit a ride vehicle while it is in motion (a recurring issue on the PeopleMover).
• Entering restricted areas, such as the Monorail tracks or maintenance zones.
• Ignoring safety warnings and standing up during the ride cycle.

However, the narrative shifted with a few high-profile incidents that were definitively attributed to park maintenance and operational error. The 1998 Sailing Ship Columbia incident and the 2003 Big Thunder Mountain Railroad derailment are two major examples where mechanical failure and negligence on the part of the park were the direct cause of the guest fatalities. These events led to intense scrutiny, significant lawsuits, and major overhauls of ride inspection protocols and safety standards, particularly concerning older attractions.

The Disneyland Resort, like any major amusement park, operates under stringent state and federal safety guidelines. The park's overall safety record remains statistically strong when considering the sheer volume of visitors—millions pass through the gates every year. The 32 reported deaths over more than 70 years, while tragic, represent an incredibly small fraction of the hundreds of millions of guests who have visited the park since 1955. The park continues to invest heavily in modernizing attractions and implementing new safety features to prevent future incidents, striving to maintain the illusion of a world completely separate from the dangers of the real one.

Beyond the Rides: Other Causes of Death at the Resort

It is important to note that the 32 reported deaths are not all tied to the park's famous attractions. The incidents cover a broader spectrum of causes that occur within the resort's vast property, which includes the theme park, Downtown Disney, and the massive parking structures.

• Suicides: The Mickey & Friends parking structure, in particular, has been the site of several intentional acts of suicide over the years. These tragic events, while occurring on resort property, are separate from ride-related accidents.
• Homicides and Violence: The 1987 shooting in the parking lot, and other isolated incidents of violence, contribute to the overall fatality count.
• Employee Accidents: Fatalities like the 1974 America Sings incident and the 2007 Monorail mechanic death highlight the dangers faced by the dedicated staff who build, maintain, and operate the complex machinery of the park.
• Natural Causes: The majority of non-accident fatalities are due to pre-existing medical conditions, such as heart attacks or strokes, often exacerbated by the excitement and physical exertion of a day at the park.

The ongoing commitment to safety at Disneyland ensures that the risk remains statistically minimal. However, the legacy of these 32 lives remains a somber reminder of the real-world risks that can—and sometimes do—intrude upon the "Happiest Place on Earth." For visitors, observing all safety rules, keeping all body parts inside the ride vehicles, and heeding cast member instructions remains the most effective way to ensure a safe and magical experience.