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Disneyland Resort is known as The Happiest Place on Earth, and for good reason. Being there is truly a magical experience that is sure to put a smile on your face. There are fun rides for children of all ages, delicious food, incredible character meet and greets, stunning nighttime spectaculars, and so much more. Each and every trip to Disneyland is a memorable experience. However, some are more memorable than others. And, some Guests recently had a Disneyland experience that they will not forget any time soon.
Credit: Disney
On April 22, Guests watching Fantasmic! along the Rivers of America in Disneyland Park were shocked to see something unimaginable happen. During Mickey Mouse’s epic battle with Maleficent in her dragon form, she is supposed to shoot fire at Mickey. However, there was some sort of malfunction, and the fire didn’t shoot out properly. The dragon’s head quickly burst into flames, and before you know it, the entire dragon was fully engulfed. Guests were told to leave the area as the Orange County Fire Department was called in to extinguish the blaze.
While the massive fire was shocking to those on the ground, it was even more surprising to some other Guests. Twitter user Leviathan (@LeviathanPop) was riding Splash Mountain that night. The people in the group had no idea that a fire had broken out. That is, until they reached the top of the hill and saw the flames and smoke right before they plunged into the Briar Patch. The group is shocked and confused by what they see at that moment.
Imagine going down the big drop on Splash Mountain and seeing this… (via @LeviathanPop).
Imagine going down the big drop on Splash Mountain and seeing this… (via @LeviathanPop). pic.twitter.com/6MmR0M9aPB
— Scott Gustin (@ScottGustin) April 23, 2023
Thankfully, no Guests or Cast Members were injured due to the fire. However, it has been reported that several Cast Members had to be treated for smoke inhalation. Because of the wind, Disneyland Cast Members also evacuated Guests from nearby attractions just as a safety precaution.
Not long after the fire, Disney officials shared that they would be suspending certain pyrotechnic elements being used in shows at Disney theme parks around the globe. Disney is still investigating to try to find out exactly what caused the malfunction in the first place. At this time, all Fantasmic! performances have been suspended until Friday, April 28.
