Orlando Fire Department Rescues 70 Stranded Riders at Universal Orlando This Past Weekend

70 Guests Evacuated from Race Through New York After Power Outage at Universal Studios Florida

A routine day at Universal Studios Florida took an unexpected detour this weekend when guests riding Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon were evacuated following a power outage at the resort.

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According to the Orlando Fire Department, approximately 70 guests were on the attraction when it lost power on Saturday, July 18. Riders remained seated in the attraction’s motion simulator vehicles, which stayed in an upright position while Universal Team Members worked to assess the situation.

One guest told local media that the ride came to a sudden stop before repeated announcements assured riders that the attraction would resume shortly. As time passed, those updates eventually changed, and guests were informed that an evacuation would be necessary instead.

The evacuation was carried out with assistance from the Orlando Fire Department. Videos shared on social media show firefighters using harnesses, safety ropes, and ladders to safely escort guests from the ride platform.

Thankfully, no injuries or medical issues were reported during the incident.

Universal later confirmed that the attraction stopped operating because of a resort-wide power outage. While ride evacuations are uncommon, attractions are designed with procedures to safely remove guests whenever an unexpected shutdown occurs.

Related: Universal Orlando Resort Celebrates National Ice Cream Day on July 19th

Race Through New York Starring Jimmy Fallon opened at Universal Studios Florida in 2017 and combines motion simulation with large projection screens to send guests racing through the streets of New York City alongside Jimmy Fallon and characters from The Tonight Show.

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