LAKE BUENA VISTA, Fla. – A black bear was reportedly stuck in a tree at Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom in Florida on Monday morning, forcing more than a dozen attractions and rides to temporarily close.
According to a report from FOX 35 Orlando, the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWC) said that it was aware of a black bear reported in a tree at the Magic Kingdom and that biologists with its bear management program and law enforcement officers were on scene.
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“In most cases, it is best for bears to be given space and to move along on their own, but given this situation, staff are working on capturing and relocating the bear,” the FWC said in a statement to FOX 35 Orlando.
FOX 35 said it reached out to Disney and Walt Disney World for comment but did not immediately hear back.
While it’s not unusual for an attraction or ride to go down unexpectedly throughout the day – whether for maintenance, weather, refurbishment or some other reason – it is unusual for so many attractions to be closed at once – and shortly after the theme park opened for the day.
Several of Magic Kingdom’s popular rides were listed as “temporarily closed” in the My Disney Experience app, including Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Haunted Mansion, and Pirates of the Caribbean.
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Magic Kingdom’s hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m., according to Disney’s website.
This is a developing story.