Government officials have encouraged people to stay calm after sightings of wild monkeys at and around one Disney resort.
While Disney’s theme parks are built with immersive magic in mind, there are some things beyond even the power of Mickey Mouse. We’ve seen proof of that on multiple occasions this year, with Hurricane Milton shuttering Walt Disney World Resort in October and multiple typhoons forcing temporary closures at Hong Kong Disneyland.
Just last year, we got an even more unexpected reminder that Disney isn’t beyond the reach of Mother Nature, as a wild bear found its way into the heart of Magic Kingdom Park. The black bear temporarily shut down parts of the theme park after being spotted in a tree in Frontierland.
“In most cases, it is best for bears to be given space and to move along on their own,” said Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission spokesperson Lisa Thompson at the time, “but given this situation, staff have captured the animal and are relocating the bear out of the park to an area in or around the Ocala National Forest.”
This followed previous sightings of a black bear at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground months earlier. Other wild animals that have been spotted at Disney theme parks in the past include alligators (because, well, Florida) and raccoons, with the latter previously alarming guests at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa.
This week, even more wild animal sightings emerged from another Disney resort.
According to The Japan News, wild monkeys have been spotted in Urayasu, Chiba Prefecture—the area on the outskirts of Tokyo that houses Tokyo Disney Resort.
Around 6 a.m. on Monday, a monkey was first seen at Hinode Kita Park in the city. By 7.50 a.m., local police received an emergency call reporting a monkey wandering near Urayasu South Prefectural High School. The following morning, another sighting was reported of a monkey walking along a street near a local bus company.
Then, on Tuesday at around 12.15 p.m., a monkey appeared in a restricted employee area within Tokyo Disney Resort grounds, south of JR Maihama Station.
With the area in question off limits to guests, TDR operator Oriental Land Company (OLC) informed employees but chose not to make a public announcement. The city government of Urayasu has since called for caution.
Theoretically, while Japan is home to wild monkeys known as Japanese macaques or snow monkeys, Tokyo is not typically populated by them. What makes the sightings potentially alarming is that these monkeys are known to be aggressive and have attacked humans.
Tokyo Disney Resort—home to two world-renowned parks, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea—offers a unique blend of Disney’s signature attractions, Japanese culture, and exclusive experiences found only at this resort.
From thrilling rides like Journey to the Center of the Earth to classic attractions such as Pirates of the Caribbean and newer attractions, such as Fantasy Springs at Tokyo DisneySea, Tokyo Disney Resort is often regarded as the gold standard of Disney’s theme parks.
Most recently, the resort permanently closed its versions of Space Mountain and Buzz Lightyear’s Astro Blasters at Tokyo Disneyland. While the former will be replaced with a newer, bigger version of the iconic indoor roller coaster, the latter is set to be replaced with a Wreck-It Ralph (2012) ride.
Have you ever spotted a wild animal at a Disney park?
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