Contestant Loses Disney Trip Over Major Puzzle Mistake

Los Angeles, California — A contestant made a costly mistake on Wheel of Fortune, forfeiting a trip to Disney World and allowing his competitor to win a total of $67,000 during the Bonus Round. James Mulaney, from New York, faced off against Elsie Pierce of Secaucus, New Jersey, and Aerial Turner from Detroit, Michigan, on Friday, April 25, 2025.

Mulaney, a professional drag entertainer, played in memory of his late grandmother, who was an avid Wheel of Fortune fan. ‘She used to yell at anyone who called during the show,’ he said. Mulaney felt compelled to audition for a Disney-themed episode after seeing a casting call just a week after her passing.

Throughout the game, Mulaney struggled, often landing on Bankrupt and failing to score initial points. However, things seemed to turn around when Mulaney approached the Prize Puzzle, which had the category of ‘Fun & Games.’ The puzzle was ‘_L_ING ON A MAGIC CARPET.’

With only two letters remaining, Mulaney incorrectly guessed ‘B.’ Host Pat Sajak quickly told him there was no ‘B’ in the puzzle. Pierce seized the opportunity and successfully solved it with ‘FLYING ON A MAGIC CARPET.’

Fans expressed sympathy for Mulaney on social media. ‘Come on man! Prize puzzle Friday today. I just can’t!’ wrote one viewer. After the puzzle, Pierce earned a vacation to Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.

Mulaney’s luck finally changed during the final puzzle, ‘Be our Guest! Be our Guest!’, where he earned $3,000. However, pierce’s total by the end of the game was $27,427, along with a Wild Card, giving her the opportunity to advance to the Bonus Round.

Pierce selected ‘What are you doing?’ for her Bonus Puzzle. After receiving the letters R, S, T, L, N, and E, she added P, M, F, O, and H. The puzzle appeared as ‘FLO_N_ER_N_ _ _O_T.’ Before time elapsed, Pierce solved it as ‘Floundering About,’ winning an extra $40,000 and a total of $67,427.

Emotion overwhelmed Pierce as she clapped and jumped with joy, exclaiming, ‘I’m so happy!’ as host Ryan Seacrest congratulated her.