Cast Members are being informed that “Fantasmic!” is suspended at Disneyland through at least the end of May following the catastrophic fire late last month.
A notice was sent out to Disneyland Resort Cast Members today regarding the status update:
Performances of “Fantasmic!” are now paused until at least May 28. Leaders will be contacting affected Cast Members.
As the investigation continues into the April 22 incident, fire effects similar to those in “Fantasmic!” are temporarily suspended out of an abundance of caution.
We previously had reported on rumors of its return as quickly as last weekend with a B-mode dragon, though those whispers were quickly quashed by Disney. The previous timeline for the show’s return was believed to be May 14, but now the Disneyland Resort calendar has indeed been cleared through May 28 for “Fantasmic!”
Maleficent Fire
During the second performance of “Fantasmic!” on Saturday, April 22, the iconic Maleficent dragon used in the climactic nightmare sequence (lovingly known by fans as Murphy for its tendency to break down, a la Murphy’s Law) caught fire during the show and was completely destroyed. The show was cancelled as the blaze continued for several minutes.
The Maleficent dragon was completely destroyed by the fire, so when “Fantasmic!” does return, the show will likely be performed in “B-Mode,” with the dragon projected on a mist screen. Other pyrotechnics could also be suspended, but this has not been confirmed.
“Fantasmic!”
“Fantasmic!” is a nighttime spectacular which first debuted in Disneyland on May 13, 1992. The show stars Mickey Mouse as he explores the possibilities of his imagination, but the Disney Villains team up in an attempt to create an unstoppable nightmare for him. Featuring characters and music from Disney films including “Fantasia,” “The Jungle Book,” and “Pirates of the Caribbean,” the show incorporates projections on screens of water, pyrotechnics, and both the Sailing Ship Columbia and Mark Twain Riverboat as they sail past guests on the Rivers of America.
“Fantasmic!” went into an extended hiatus as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, and finally resumed performances in late May of 2022. Since then, the nighttime spectacular has performed with minimal incident in Disneyland, though it was unexpectedly shut down for just over two weeks this past January. MagicBand+ interacts with “Fantasmic!” as the center puck changes colors and flashes in sync with the show.
Over at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World, the show, which premiered at the park in 1998, underwent a longer break, returning last November with new scenes inspired by “Mulan,” “Frozen II,” and “Moana”.
A third version existed at Tokyo DisneySea from April 2011 to February 2020, set on the waters of Mediterranean Harbor and featuring more representation from that park’s characters like the Genie. The show closed permanently at the outset of the COVID-19 pandemic.
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