'Nothing short of a miracle': Reactions after girl falls off Disney cruise ship

Isabel Rivera, Miami Herald on Jun 30, 2025

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A magical Disney cruise experience turned nightmarish after a young girl fell overboard — and her dad leaped off the ship, too.

The Disney Dream ship was en route to dock Sunday at Port Everglades following a four-day sail to the Bahamas and a stop at Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point, the cruise line’s private island, when the fall occurred, Miami Herald news partner CBS Miami reported.

The names and ages of the father-daughter duo haven’t been confirmed by the cruise line and neither has how the young girl toppled overboard despite the ship’s plexiglass barriers. What is known is that the successful rescue effort happened “within minutes” of the fall and followed standard procedure.

“The Crew aboard the Disney Dream swiftly rescued two guests from the water. We commend our Crew Members for their exceptional skills and prompt actions, which ensured the safe return of both guests to the ship within minutes,” a Disney Cruise Line spokesperson told the Miami Herald in a statement Monday. “We are committed to the safety and well-being of our guests, and this incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols.”

Passenger Kevin Furuta, who witnessed the fall, said the girl fell from the fourth deck and that a loud-speaker announced “MOB Port side” shortly after on a Facebook post.

Now, onlookers are flocking to social media with footage of the rescue and praise for both the father and Disney team.

“Today while on the Disney Dream, we witnessed nothing short of a miracle,” shared one TikTok account. “Disney acted quick as they tossed out multiple life preserver rings and slowed the ship and began turning as they prepared the small boat to go out for a rescue.”

According to user cmd.91, who describes herself as a “mama of 4” and “Disney lover,” the girl was 5 years old and her father, who jumped in immediately after she fell, spent 20 minutes keeping her afloat while the rescue team responded.

Another TikTok video posted by user noeayala32 shows onlookers applauding as the yellow lifeboat, holding four adults and the young girl, is carried up by responders.

Meanwhile, commenters on the Disney Cruise Line’s Reddit thread are wondering how the young girl fell overboard despite safety railings.

Some speculate the father balanced her on the railing moments before the fall for a photo, eliciting sharp criticism from some and understanding from others.

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