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On Friday, Fantasmic! returns to Disneyland Park after a year-long hiatus. The show paused in 2023 when a devastating fire engulfed the beloved show’s Maleficient dragon figure, totaling the pricey animatronic.
Unfortunately, Maleficient’s return won’t be as triumphant as her departure. Sorcerer Mickey Mouse still battles the Sleeping Beauty (1959) villain, but the iconic “Murphy” animatronic won’t appear in the reimagined Maleficient scene. For now, Walt Disney World Resort is the only United States Disney park with a functional Fantasmic! dragon.
Credit: Hailey Manligiis
Days ahead of Fantasmic! ’s premiere, Disneyland Resort revealed a few sneak peeks at the reimagined show–and Maleficient isn’t the only change. According to a report from The Los Angeles Times, Walt Disney Imagineers replaced Pirates of the Caribbean characters with a formerly classic scene inspired by Peter Pan (1953).
Fantasmic! ’s Temporary Closure
Before diving into the new Peter Pan sequence, let’s look back at the fire that changed the Disney parks forever. Guests reported seeing hydraulic fluid dripping from the Maleficient animatronic moments before it burst into flames. Within minutes, the dragon was engulfed and clearly destroyed.
Disney quickly cast members evacuated guests from Disneyland Park, and no one was injured. Disney parks suspended pyrotechnics worldwide in the wake of the Disneyland Resort fire, including those in Fantasmic! at Walt Disney World Resort’s Disney’s Hollywood Studios. All fire special effects have since returned.
The incident eerily resembled a 2018 fire in Magic Kingdom Park at Walt Disney World Resort. A Maleficient parade float caught fire during Disney’s Festival of Fantasy Parade, sending terrified guests running from Liberty Square.
Bye Bye, Pirates of the Caribbean
Credit: Disney
The return of Peter Pan, the Lost Boys, Wendy Darling, and Captain Hook means that Captain Jack Sparrow will have to walk the plank. The iconic Johnny Depp character joined Fantasmic! in 2017, replacing the original Peter Pan sequence.
The change comes amidst ongoing controversy about the Pirates of the Caribbean attraction at Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort. The 56-year-old Adventureland ride has undergone numerous changes throughout the years, including the addition of Captain Jack Sparrow. In 2018, Walt Disney Imagineers removed a sexist bride auction scene and turned the women into female pirates bartering stolen goods.
Despite the changes, certain guests find Pirates of the Caribbean outdated and offensive. Some call for Disneyland Resort and Walt Disney World Resort to permanently close the ride.
Credit: Ed Aguila, Inside the Magic
“I just think this is kind of a weird ride,” one guest said, stating that she felt “ogled” by the animatronics. “I don’t know… It’s just a little bit rapey.”
Welcome Back, Peter Pan
Walt Disney Imagineering didn’t publicize its reasons for replacing the Pirates of the Caribbean scene with Peter Pan. It’s unclear whether the new sequence is the same as the one retired in 2017 or if Imagineers updated it.
“With the Lost Boys in tow, Peter and Wendy will take on Captain Hook, climaxing with a swashbuckling battle,” The LA Times writes.
Credit: Disney
But Peter Pan isn’t without controversy–it even features a cultural sensitivity warning on Disney+. Native American activists have long criticized the film’s treatment of Tiger Lily and other indigenous characters. When Imagineers designed Fantasmic! for Walt Disney World Resort, they didn’t include a Peter Pan sequence.
Still, it would seem that Disneyland Resort decided it’s better for kids to admire a Lost Boy than a rogue pirate.
Credit: Disney
Fantasmic! returns to Disneyland Park on Friday, May 24. Check out the Disneyland Resort website for information on the Fantasmic! dining packages available at Blue Bayou, River Belle Terrace, and Rancho del Zocalo Restaurant.
Do you prefer Pirates of the Caribbean or Peter Pan in Fantasmic!? In the comments, share your thoughts about the updated Disney Park show with us.
This post Pirates of the Caribbean Officially Removed From Disneyland, Replacement Confirmed appeared first on Inside the Magic.
I love Pirates of the Caribbean. People are just too dramatic about things. Pur aside your personal crap and enjoy the animation, the work that goes into these rides. You are there to enjoy yourself not pick apart things that don’t concern you. Enjoy the ride, the story, time away from reality. Disney is the best way to enjoy life cleanly and full of joy.
If you don’t like Pirates of the Caribbean, then don’t go on it. Simple as that. It is a great ride and one that my kids always wanted to go on over and over again. Face it pirates were sexist…deal with it. Disney giving in to all this woke ass crap is gonna help finally put them out of business. That and the astronomical ticket prices.
Love Pirates of the Caribbean. Leave it alone.
I love Pirates of the Caribbean and I know so many other people that love it too. It’s the 1st ride we head to when visiting Disneyland!!!!
As a one time former employee, and former frequent enjoyer of the disney park, I always enjoyed the pirats as puesented, my vote is to keep the priats intacked, if any changes need to be made, id say tell the guest to leave there woke, anti history attitude at the front gate and just have fun as Walt Disney intended, stop changing things to molify thr few.
Pirates ride is my husbands favorite! Hopefully it won’t close to soon so he can get one last ride 😢
I have always enjoyed pirates of the Caribbean as well as my family. To many changes being done to the best of the original Disneyland. Now talking about removing the hall of president’s. What next? I guess me and my family will find something else to visit as a family. Probably less expensive too. SO LONG DISNEYLAND WE WILL MISS YOU 😢
Disney wants to remove Pirate’s 0f the Caribbean because of a few neurotic park goers? Please, 57 years of visitors to Disneyland is going to be thrown into the trash because someone gets creeped out from anamtronomic puppets? Please.
People really do need to be more concerned about other things in this world these days than a ride at Disney! Leave them alone, too much change had already occurred so to not offend anyone. Geez, feelings are hurt way to easily these day, grow up people!!
I really hope they don’t close the ride! It’s iconic and one of the 1st rides we go on! People need to calm down and leave it as it is! Don’t listen to the haters, if they close it People will boycott and stop going to Disneyland!
Leave the ride alone. It’s the best in the park. You neurotic people need to get a life. It’s all about ANIMATION. GET IT!!!!!
Leave Pirates of the Carribean alone! It’s my favorite ride and it brings me back to my childhood and couldn’t wait to take my kids to enjoy. Now I can’t wait to take my grand babies. If it offends you, don’t go to that ride and quit being a crybaby. Most of us love it as is. Why are people expecting to throw a tantrum in order to get their way? They need discipline and no Disneyland for you!!!!
I love potc. Leave it alone. Walt wouldn’t be happy about replacing it.
Myfamily loves the Pirates ride. Too many changes by Disney tryibng to be politically correct. They aren’t meant to be sexist or racist. Just good fun. I am 70 years sold and I for one am not happy with the changes to the rides. You are taking away memories.
Why do you want to change or get rid of Pirates of the Caribbean to satisfy a small percentage of people who are always looking for something to be offended by? Do a poll – I’m betting 90% of Disneyland visitors love Pirates of the Caribbean while 5% have an issue with it. If you’re offended by the ride – go ride something else! And stop taking away historical rides because a handful of visitors have found something to be offended by. Whatever you replace it with, those same people will find an issue with that ride as well.
POC RIDE AT WDW & DISNEYLAND has been and continues to be one of the BEST & MOST POPULAR RIDES OF ALL TIME
If you woke people are
Offended by it then don’t go on it that will save room for others no one is forcing you to go on the most popular ride for decades
Disney needs to stop listening to you cry babies whose feelings are offended by the smallest sight stay home don’t go you will definitely not be missed so do us all a favor shut up!!!!!
Pirates is set on the 16-1700’s. It’s a spoof on history. That’s the way it was back then. Leave it alone so us un woke folks can enjoy it. Disney is starting to suck.