Yesterday during the 3:00PM Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade, the head of the Maleficent dragon float burst into flames while passing through Liberty Square, causing the parade to end abruptly. Liberty Square and Frontierland were closed to guests while the float was moved backstage and debris was cleaned up.
Today, the Festival of Fantasy parade returned but obviously missing the Maleficent dragon float. In place of the fire-damaged dragon, Princess Aurora and Prince Phillip appeared on a gazebo float repurposed from the Easter parade.
Other than pictures from yesterday, we currently have no further information as to the extent of damage from the fire and if or when the float will return.
We’ve also learned that the Maleficent dragon float in the Disneyland Paris version of the parade will not have its fire effect operating for the next several days pending an evaluation of the system and the outcome of the investigation into yesterday’s accident.
Also possibly related, the Jack-Jack fire effect in yesterday’s Pixar Play Parade at Disneyland was not operating.
Here’s a video clip from today’s 3:00PM Festival of Fantasy Parade where the Maleficent dragon float would’ve been.
I can’t foresee them having the float “not return” pending diagnosis and treatment. It’s been operational for four years, symbolic and innovative. On the other hand, Disney is in the business of getting rid of innovative things these days as they got rid of the most innovative thing on property, the meet-n-greet with talking Mickey, so who the crap knows!
AMEN!
I think they need to see if this was simply some sort of tech/mechanical failure (that could arise again, even with other floats worldwide that use fire)… or is this simply an incident unique to this situation.
Considering the dragon was a major part of the marketing for this parade (and MK entertainment) in promos, I have a feeling the float could (and should) return…but with less, or no, fire. According to pics, it seems the float itself is ok, it’s the head and partial upper neck that that need replacement. Perhaps they will have the company who manufactured do a new piece, and at a later date, will replace the burned portion of the unit. I could also see them replacing the fire with something like heavy steam and smoke, to still give a theatrical element to the float, but that is ultimately safer.
Personally, I would rather have the Maleficent dragon unit in the parade, than nothing at all. It’s a beautifully designed unit as a whole, and with a little staging rework, can still work even without the fire.