Overview
- A small fire and heavy smoke inside the indoor boat ride prompted a controlled evacuation of riders and the temporary shutdown of It’s a Small World on Wednesday, July 1.
- Multiple eyewitness videos and passenger accounts identified a guest’s portable lithium‑ion phone charger or MagSafe‑style power bank in a bag as the likely ignition source, though Disney has not issued an official cause statement.
- Cast members used portable fire extinguishers to douse the device and followed established evacuation and offloading procedures, and no guests or staff were reported injured.
- Park maintenance and safety teams cleared smoke, cleaned fire‑retardant residue, inspected ride systems and scenery, and reopened the attraction by mid‑afternoon after safety checks.
- The event underscores a broader safety issue: high‑capacity consumer batteries can enter thermal runaway from defects, damage or heat, and their rising use in parks could prompt renewed scrutiny of screening, guest guidance and staff training.