Disney Cruise Turns to Chaos When Child Falls Overboard and Dad Jumps In

What was meant to be a magical return from paradise quickly turned into a high-stakes emergency aboard the Disney Dream after a child reportedly fell overboard on June 29, and her father jumped in after her.

The incident occurred as the ship was cruising back to Fort Lauderdale from a four-night Bahamian voyage that included a stop at Disney’s private island, Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point.

Mid-journey, the onboard intercom blared a code no cruise guest wants to hear: “Mr. M.O.B.” signaling a man overboard, The Street reported.

According to a statement from Disney Cruise Line to USA Today, the crew acted within minutes. Life preservers were thrown, a rescue boat was deployed, and both passengers, the young girl and her father, were pulled safely back onto the vessel.

“We commend our Crew Members for their exceptional skills and prompt actions,” Disney said, adding that the company remains committed to the safety of all guests. “This incident highlights the effectiveness of our safety protocols.”

One passenger, Kevin Furuta, wrote on Facebook that the child had fallen from Deck 4, which features a jogging track and is lined with plexiglass safety barriers. Despite those precautions, she somehow made it overboard.

“Her dad went in after her,” Furuta wrote. “Thankfully the DCL rescue team was on it immediately.”

At the time of the fall, the ship was still en route, nowhere near port. Social media reports confirmed the rescue took place while the Disney Dream was moving through open water between The Bahamas and Florida.

Cruise ships like the Dream are equipped with overboard detection systems designed to immediately alert crew members when someone enters the water. In this case, it appears those systems, coupled with rapid response from the staff, prevented what could have been a devastating tragedy.

The identities of the father and daughter have not been released. Both were said to be in stable condition following the incident.

What began as a dream vacation nearly turned into a nightmare, but thanks to the fast-acting crew and a father’s instinct, this story ended with everyone safely back on board.

Related: Disney Just Made Family Vacations Way Cheaper With This Free Dining Deal

Disney Cruise Turns to Chaos When Child Falls Overboard and Dad Jumps In first appeared on Men's Journal on Jun 30, 2025