Though it’s often considered the “happiest place on Earth,” tragedies do occur at Disney World.
According to a report by The Travel, there have been 68 fatalities at Disney World from its opening in 1971 through October of last year. While most were related to medical emergencies or self-inflicted injuries, some also involved accidents or alleged negligence.
When it comes to Kilimanjaro Safaris, Disney’s East Africa–themed safari ride, safety rules are especially strict because guests are brought close to live animals. The attraction includes rhinos, hippopotamuses, cheetahs, zebras, crocodiles, and other wildlife.
A former Disney World worker recently shared on TikTok one rule he says drivers are trained to follow strictly while operating the ride. Viewers were shocked.
What Should Disney Drivers Do If Someone Falls In The Crocodile Pit At Kilimanjaro Safaris?
In a viral clip that has garnered over 8.9 million views, TikTok creator William Rath (@william.rath) responded to a viewer’s question about safety procedures on Disney World’s safari ride.
“Is it true that the safari drivers are trained to immediately drive off if someone falls into the crocodile pit at the safaris at Disney?” he reads aloud from a comment stitched into the video.
“So yes,” he answers. “There’s a reason for this, though.”
Rath explains that the crocodile area is one of the ride’s most stressed safety concerns during training.
“We are trained during training a lot about the crocodile pit,” he says. “Because there’s a bridge that goes right over the crocodiles and there’s no fence on top.”
He says drivers are instructed to minimize the time spent on the bridge as much as possible.
“We’re basically told to be on that bridge as little as possible,” Rath explains. “So if there’s an animal stopped there, don’t stop on the bridge… Stop beforehand in case someone jumps up or starts looking down.”
‘We Are Trained To Dive…’
According to Rath, drivers are specifically trained to keep moving if someone falls into the enclosure.
“So if someone falls out of the bus or the safari vehicle into that, that’s not good,” he says. “And we are trained to drive off as soon as possible.”
He says the reasoning behind the rule is to prevent additional people from putting themselves in danger.
“If there’s like a baby or something or a person that falls into the crocodile pit, they’re not making it,” he says. “And so we’re told to drive off to limit the amount of victims.”
Rath says parents may feel the urge to jump in and try to save their child if something like that happens.
“If they jump in, they’re not getting saved either,” he adds. “That’s just how it is with crocodiles.”
“So yes, we are instructed to drive off,” he concludes.
Disney does not list this protocol anywhere publicly. BroBible reached out to the company via email to request more information.
Commenters Weren’t Happy
In the comments section, viewers thought the alleged rule is especially harsh.
“Disney said, “We only paying out one lawsuit,” one commenter wrote.
“‘OH MY GOD! MY BABY!,’” one user illustrated. “The Safari Driver: ‘anyways let’s keep this bus moving!’”
“That’s not very magical of Disney!” chimed in a third.
Others were curious about how the alleged rule came about. “How many times did this happen in order to have a protocol??” one asked.
Has Such An Event Ever Happened At Disney World’s Kilimanjaro Safaris?
There are no reports of anyone ever falling into the crocodile enclosure at the Kilimanjaro Safaris ride at Disney World.
Smaller incidents do happen from time to time in the safari. For example, late last year, two rhinos chased an ostrich and narrowly missed a safari truck full of guests as they ran past, a Disney news site reports. No guests or staff were injured.
Guests have also reported safari vehicles breaking down during the ride, though staff managed those situations safely, and no injuries were reported.
@william.rath Replying to @chychydenney … #disney #castmember #disneyworld #disneycollegeprogram #disneyland
BroBible has contacted William Rath via email to request a comment.