Walt Disney World visitors were evacuated from the monorail between Epcot and the resort’s Transportation and Ticket Center on Tuesday morning.
“This morning, the monorail experienced a flat tire near the Epcot parking lot toll plaza. No guests or cast members have reported injuries, and all passengers were safely evacuated,” according to an official Disney statement distributed to the media.
Photographs posted online show emergency vehicles and workers positioned beneath the rail and the halted yellow-striped train that was en route to Epcot.
An evacuated passenger told Fox 35 News that he had smelled burning rubber, heard a loud bang and saw a flash of light before the monorail stalled.
The monorail system has been a staple of Disney World since opening in 1971 when it connected the TTC with Magic Kingdom and resorts around the Seven Seas Lagoon. It expanded to include Epcot when the theme park debuted in 1982. The areas are also accessible by Disney World buses.
dbevil@orlandosentinel.com
