After more than a three month hiatus, trash cans are back on the ferryboats that transport guests from the Ticket and Transportation Center to the Magic Kingdom (and back) at the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.
The trash cans were removed following a July 30th, 2025 crash on the General Joe Potter ferryboat that sent 19 Disney World guests to the hospital. The vessel was transporting a crowd from the Magic Kingdom back to the Ticket and Transportation Center when it suddenly slammed into the dock, allegedly turning the trash cans into dangerous projectiles. We covered the details of the incident in a report here at That Park Place.
The incident reportedly sent passengers “flying,” resulting in multiple injuries, including to children in strollers who were thrown from their seats. One of the guests affected was reportedly a pregnant woman who fell on her stomach. There were also reports that a child was either struck or pinned by a dislodged trash can as the boat slammed into the dock.
Disney has maintained complete and ongoing silence on the matter, with no official statement, apology, or outreach to affected guests that has been reported to the public.
Trash Cans Are Now Secured
In what appears to be a direct response to this incident, the trash cans on the Disney World ferryboats are now bolted to the floor.
The newly secured trash cans on Walt Disney World Ferry Boat – Photo Credit: That Park Place
The newly installed waste receptacles are painted a plain dark green on one boat and dark red on the other, and designed with small “feet” that jut out from the base of the cans just far enough to secure them with bolts to the floor.
The newly secured trash cans on Walt Disney World Ferry Boat bolted into the floor – Photo Credit: That Park Place
This upgrade appears to address a valid safety concern, making a voyage to the Magic Kingdom far less dangerous.
Safe “D” And Me
Every cast member trained for their role at Disney learns “the five keys”: basic tenets of working at the Walt Disney Company, the highest priority of these principles being safety.
Deemed “safe ‘D’ and me,” cast members must know the ins and outs of safety “best practices” for whatever their respective role requires. Safety was once absolutely at the forefront of operations.
The 2020 lockdown era park closures were a result of the safety key. When the parks reopened multiple temporary safety measures were in place, such as distancing marks in ride queues and even plastic barriers to apparently keep guests separate from other parties. However, since 2021 a number of safety concerns have arisen at both Walt Disney World and the Disneyland Resort.
Failing Lamp Posts, Fires, Falling Ceilings, and Fights
In November of 2023 a leading headline out of SFGATE read “Fallen Disneyland Light Pole Injures Three, One Severely.”
That incident is barely the tip of the iceberg when it comes to failing safety standards, once held in such high regard at “The House of Mouse.”
A section of collapsed ceiling in Soarin’ at Epcot’s Land Pavillion in Walt Disney World – Photo Credit, M. Montanaro
Back in January we reported that a section of the ceiling fell in The Land Pavilion at EPCOT. There have also seen numerous fires around the parks and fights among guests breaking out, and in the worst cases, tragic deaths at the Disney resorts.
Flames stretch up from a recent fire in Epcot at the France Pavilion in Walt Disney World – Facebook, Angela Santos
While it’s certainly understandable while serving millions of guests each year that some accidents may not be entirely preventable, Disney once had a stellar safety reputation. With the number of incidents piling up over the last several years that reputation, and likely guest trusts in safety at the Disney Parks, is slipping.
A Step In The Right Direction With Hopefully More To Come
Disney was once ahead of the curve when it came to safety protocols. After parks closed for the day, night crews would check everything, from ride mechanics to even paint upkeep on objects as simple as guard rails.
The secured trash cans on Walt Disney World Ferry Boat – Photo Credit: That Park Place
With these new trash cans bolted down in place on the boats, guests can ride with confidence that these objects will remain secure, even if the boat makes a sudden shift in movement or a quick stop.
This is a good move on the part of Disney, and we hope to see more of this. Safety builds guest’s trust, and keeps guests returning. It may be something as simple as bolting down a trash can, properly maintaining a light post, or just checking ceiling tiles, but simple should never be overlooked. Especially when it comes to keeping guests out of harm’s way.
Do you think the Disney World ferryboats are safe? Sound off in the comments and let us know!
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This will only get worse the more people they let go. Safety is boring, expensive, and not much bang for the buck. Even the occasional lawsuit can be cheaper than maintaining the highest safety standards.
And that’s what Disney is about these days, and so many other companies; how to monetize their customers more and more with as little increase to spending as possible. Making sure the event is safe, like old-school safe, isn’t the path to ever higher profits and Josh D’mero’s ascension to CEO.
Correction: It’s the Transportation and Ticket Center, not the Ticket and Transportation Center.