An incident disrupted Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios last night, as two of the show’s signature floats collided mid-performance.
Fantasmic! has long been a favorite at both Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland Resort, pulling in huge crowds with its immersive story that follows Mickey Mouse as he dives into a dream world where he faces down iconic Disney villains.
Although the West Coast version – which takes place on the waters of the Rivers of America and on a small stage on Tom Sawyer Island – lacks the animatronic dragon in its finale after a dramatic fire in 2023, the shows generally share the same storyline, featuring villains like Maleficent and Ursula who challenge Mickey in a thrilling battle of good versus evil.
A unique version also previously existed at Tokyo DisneySea, where it ran from 2011 to 2020, adding dazzling technology to bring the performance to life in its own unique way before being replaced with Believe! Sea of Dreams.
Since opening in 1998, Disney’s Hollywood Studios version has continuously evolved, with updated scenes and effects and the removal of more outdated sections—such as the lengthy Pocahontas (1995) segment—though core moments like the appearance of beloved Disney princesses and princes remain central to the experience.
Last night, however, a mishap occurred during this iconic sequence when Ariel and Prince Eric’s float collided with the one carrying Belle and the Beast.
Video footage captured by Instagram user @the.worden.fam shows Belle being knocked to the ground, only to quickly regain her footing with the Beast’s help, as the crowd erupted in supportive cheers.
2 boats crashed during Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
📸: The Worden Fam
2 boats crashed during Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
📸: The Worden Fam pic.twitter.com/xAxJHqTjAe
— Matt Desmond (@DisneyScoopGuy) October 26, 2024
“We hope Belle was ok! The Disney Cast Members were absolute professionals and recovered so well!” the account wrote, adding that the crowd cheered her on for the rest of her performance.
Thankfully, it seems like the incident was minor, and the rest of the show continued smoothly.
Fantasmic! has weathered its share of mishaps over the years, from pyrotechnic glitches to unexpected performer slips. Just months after the dragon fire last year, a pyrotechnic effect misfired from Mickey’s hands during a Disneyland performance, briefly halting the show.
In 2023, Aladdin missed his mark when swinging on a rope. That same year, Snow White’s barge struck a wall during a performance.
Most famously, in 2016, Dopey—one of the dwarfs from Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs (1937)—lost his footing on the steamboat during the show’s finale, slipping onto the level below and landing on top of Goofy, of all people. Fortunately, both performers were okay, but it still remains one of the more dramatic videos to emerge from Disney over the years.
What’s the wildest thing you’ve ever witnessed at a Disney park?