Disneyland Resort guests were in for a surprise earlier this month when wild animals appeared near the Fantasmic! Dining Package viewing area. Disney Park guests watching the nighttime spectacular were caught off guard when they found themselves surrounded by these unexpected, tiny visitors.
Fantasmic!, the iconic nighttime show at Disneyland Park and Disney’s Hollywood Studios, invites audiences into Mickey Mouse’s dreams, where he battles the forces of evil. Recently, the show was modified following a fire that destroyed the Maleficent animatronic in April 2023. The show’s reopening in May 2024 brought a new version of Fantasmic!, sans the dragon animatronic.
However, this latest surprise had nothing to do with the show itself. Instead, guests were shocked by the appearance of countless cockroaches in the Fantasmic! Dining Package viewing area. Redditor u/birbybirble shared their experience in a post:
Fantasmic dining package with cockroaches!
Fantasmic dining package with cockroaches!
byu/birbybirble inDisneyland
“I didn’t get a pic of them but my family was sat by a drain and we had to put our backpacks by it to block the cockroaches from crawling out,” the Redditor wrote. “It was pretty gross! Disappointing that we’re paying extra to sit on the hard ground among cockroaches…”
This prompted several comments from other Disneyland Resort guests who had encountered similar pests throughout Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure Park, and Downtown Disney.
“It’s that time of year for the good’ol Anaheim Cockroach to rear its ugly head..,” u/chiangku commented. “Always beware sitting on the ground at Disneyland, and keep distance from drains, trash cans, and trees when doing so!”
“Yup! Remember my first time seeing them at the trash cans by it’s a small world,” u/Corgi_Infamous replied. “Haven’t tried to sit there for a parade since!”
Disneyland Resort does try to control pests throughout the park, though the surrounding environment near waterways and sewer drains can sometimes make it difficult to fully eliminate such issues. If any guest notices issues with sanitation or pests, they are encouraged to speak with Guest Services or the nearest custodial cast member.
Would you have complained about the roaches in the Fantasmic! viewing area at Disneyland Park? Share your thoughts with Disney Fanatic in the comments!
