Every evening at Disneyland, as the sun sets over the Rivers of America, an iconic spectacle takes place. Fantasmic!, the beloved nighttime show, has long been a highlight of the park, drawing crowds who gather along the water’s edge to witness the magic unfold.
Featuring Mickey Mouse as the Sorcerer’s Apprentice, a parade of magical Disney moments, and thrilling confrontations with legendary villains, the show is a cornerstone of the Disneyland experience. For decades, it’s been a perfect way to cap off a day at the park, leaving guests with memories that last a lifetime.
Related: A Sudden Halt: Disney’s Fantasmic! Show Abruptly Cut Short — What Happened?
However, in recent years, Fantasmic! has faced unexpected challenges that have left many fans disappointed. A dramatic fire during a performance in 2023 destroyed the animatronic dragon, Murphy, which was a major part of the show’s grandeur. Since then, the show has been altered, and the absence of the dragon has made a noticeable impact. Still, that wasn’t the only disruption during the nighttime show.
Recently, guests witnessed an unprecedented change that one Disney influencer described as “G-Mode,” a term that quickly caught on as people shared their frustrations on social media.
Five Fires, a well-known Disney influencer, was among those who experienced the altered version of Fantasmic!.
The current state of fantasmic At Disneyland 😭 G-Mode pic.twitter.com/07Utde0gyy
— 🔥 FIVE FIRES 🔥 (@thecalibae) June 26, 2025
Related: Disneyland’s Fantasmic! Is Barely Holding On—for How Much Longer?
The show’s grand finale, which traditionally features a grand procession of Disney characters aboard the Mark Twain Riverboat, was instead performed with characters standing on Tom Sawyer Island, waving at the audience. The change, while perhaps a minor one in terms of logistics, left many visitors feeling underwhelmed by the performance.
For fans who had eagerly awaited the magical conclusion, this shift felt like a far cry from what they had come to expect from one of Disney’s most iconic nighttime shows.
The absence of Murphy, the fire-breathing dragon, has been one of the most significant changes to the show since the fire. When the dragon malfunctioned during a performance in April 2023 and caught fire, Disney was forced to halt the show and evacuate the audience.
😳 OMG the Fantasmic Dragon has caught on fire at Disneyland!! pic.twitter.com/vOhGVCRX9V
— Peter Sciretta (@PeterSciretta) April 23, 2023
Related: Aladdin’s Stunt Goes Wrong and Stops Fantasmic! Mid-Show
Since then, Fantasmic! has been altered in a way that many feel diminishes its impact. The lack of the dragon, which has been a fan-favorite for years, is a glaring omission that has not gone unnoticed by Disneyland’s regular visitors.
In addition to the missing dragon, other technical issues around the park have surfaced in recent weeks. During the Wondrous Journeys show, which was also introduced in 2023 to celebrate Disneyland’s 70th anniversary, the castle projections were reportedly malfunctioning.
These technical difficulties have become a common thread in the park’s recent offerings, leading some fans to wonder if Disney is cutting costs to the detriment of their beloved experiences. For many, these repeated issues are a sign that something is off with the park’s once-reliable nighttime shows.
The fire that took out Murphy was a devastating blow to Fantasmic!, but it wasn’t the only factor contributing to the show’s decline. Since the fire, rumors have swirled about whether Disney will invest in building a new animatronic dragon, but no official word has been given. Rebuilding the dragon would cost Disney more than $1 million, a significant investment.
However, after the fire incident, Disney may be hesitant to make such an expenditure without ensuring that the show is safe and secure for future performances.
What’s your take on the current state of Fantasmic!? Do you think it’s still worth seeing, even without Murphy and the original finale? Or is it time for Disney to retire the show and focus on something new? We want to hear from you! Share your thoughts in the comments below and join the conversation.
