Getting a photo with Winnie the Pooh during your visit to Disney World is practically a must. But when the bear is real, the fun turns into panic in an instant. This is exactly what happened, quite literally, at the Florida amusement park. A bear managed to get into Magic Kingdom and caused panic in the park.
Early yesterday morning, a Disney World employee reported to their superiors that they had spotted a bear in the park. This sighting occurred specifically on Tom Sawyer Island—where else would a bear be?—which is accessed by boat in the Frontierland area. Immediately, park security went into action, closing down up to a dozen attractions while they searched for and attempted to capture the bear.
Relax, everything turned out fine
For a few hours, Disney World closed the Frontierland and Adventureland areas to the public until the issue was resolved. In the end, the bear was captured by the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission and relocated to a wooded area within Ocala National Forest.
It’s important to note that all the necessary protocols were followed to ensure the bear was unharmed. “In most cases, it’s best to give bears their space and let them move on their own,” the Commission explained. “But given this situation, staff captured the bear and is relocating it outside the park to an area within or around Ocala National Forest.”
Ultimately, the day continued as usual for all visitors, and hopefully, for the bear as well. As for Disney, they learned once again that animals aren’t always as they depict them. But at least the workers had a memorable story to share with their families.
