Portable charger fire forces evacuation of Disney ride

A small fire caused by a guest's portable phone charger forced the evacuation of the "it's a small world" attraction at Walt Disney World's Magic Kingdom in Orlando, Florida, on Wednesday, July 1, 2026. The incident occurred as a boat was near the loading platform, prompting a swift response from park staff and resulting in no injuries.

According to multiple witness accounts shared on social media, the fire began when a portable battery pack, described by some as a new magnetic charger, ignited inside a guest's bag. One witness, Kate Braggs, a tourist from Texas, said her group had just boarded their boat when passengers in the vessel ahead stood up abruptly. She then saw flames and smoke. Park employees, known as cast members, quickly intervened with a fire extinguisher to douse the small blaze before local emergency crews arrived. Video from the scene showed a thick haze lingering near the ride's entrance, likely from the extinguisher.

Guests were evacuated from the ride boats and the surrounding queue. A Disney spokesperson confirmed the attraction safely reopened later the same day. The company has not publicly confirmed the cause of the fire, but online commentary,...