Theme Park Scope

I am going to tell you something that is probably not shocking if you spend time in Orlando: nothing makes me feel like I live in the future quite like watching a car with no one in the driver’s seat glide past a Starbucks near a theme park. It is equal parts amazing and slightly unnerving.

So when a video of a Waymo driving through a red light near Universal Orlando went viral, I paid attention. Here is what we know, based on reporting from WKMG News 6, and what it means if you are heading to the parks.

A video posted to Threads on Sunday has been viewed more than 670,000 times, according to News 6. It appears to show a Waymo self-driving van inching into the intersection of Kirkman Road and Carrier Drive while the traffic light was red. The van then continues through the intersection, despite cross traffic, and changes lanes in the middle of the intersection as the light turns green. A lot of people commented on the video with concerns about safety, and about how they would feel if they were riding inside.

News 6 also reported that this is not the only recent post drawing attention. Another social media user shared a photo of what appeared to be the same Waymo van, with the same license plate number, stopped at a green light on Sand Lake Road a few days earlier, and it did not seem to move. And a different video appeared to show a similar Waymo van running a red light across Kirkman Road at the same intersection last week.

I want to be fair here, because it is easy to let a viral clip tell the whole story. While driving around the tourist district, the News 6 crew spotted several Waymo cars and vans operating normally. None of them had the same license plate as the van in the viral video, and they appeared to be following traffic signals safely.

News 6 reached out to Waymo several times, asking whether any vehicles in Central Florida had been recalled, removed from service, or pulled from circulation. Waymo responded that it was investigating the issue and working to answer the station’s questions. As of the report, we did not see any information about an injury or a crash, and we did not see an explanation of what happened. News 6 said the story could be updated, so we will be watching for that.

It is also worth knowing the company’s recent history. Waymo’s most recent round of recalls came in June, when thousands of vehicles were pulled from roads nationwide, including in Central Florida, because they were struggling in construction zones and unusual traffic situations. Waymo says trust and safety are paramount to the company.

If you are visiting Orlando, you may have wondered whether you can ride one, so here is a little context. Waymo launched its ride-hailing service in Orlando on February 24, 2026, and opened it to everyone through its app in April. Waymo’s service area covers about 60 square miles, and it includes Universal Orlando Resort, SeaWorld, ICON Park, many attractions along International Drive, and parts of Walt Disney World. Local reports around the launch said Waymo vehicles in Orlando did not drive on freeways, which meant no Interstate 4 and no airport access at the time, but that may have changed, so check the Waymo app for the latest map and rules before your trip.

I am not going to tell you to panic, and I am not going to tell you it is nothing. A red-light video is the kind of thing that should get a real answer from a company that is asking the public to trust it with their lives, and I would love to hear what Waymo finds. At the same time, one viral clip, even a scary one, is not the same as a pattern, and the News 6 crew saw other Waymos driving the way they should.

If you are a visitor, my honest advice is to treat it the way you would treat any busy Orlando intersection near the parks. Look both ways before you step off the curb, even with a walk signal, and assume that everything from a rental car to a rideshare to a robotaxi might do something unexpected. And if you are considering a Waymo for your trip, it is your call. It might be a great, calm way to get around, but if watching that video made you nervous, a traditional ride or shuttle is a perfectly good choice too.

The thing I keep coming back to is how fast all of this is changing. A year ago, a driverless car in Orlando was a novelty. Now it is a regular part of the traffic around our theme parks, and the rules, the technology, and our comfort levels are all trying to keep up with each other. I am curious to see how Waymo responds, and I think we all deserve a clear answer.

We will keep watching for updates from Waymo and local officials, so come hang out with us at Theme Park Scope for more news that affects your Orlando trip, and tell us in the comments whether you would ride one.