“Fantasmic!” resumed performances at Disneyland Park one year after a sudden pause due to a fire that destroyed the show’s Maleficent dragon figure.
“Fantasmic!” Returns
“Fantasmic!” is mostly the same as it was prior to the April 2023 fire but there are two major changes, which Disney previously announced.
The “Peter Pan” sequence using the Sailing Ship Columbia was restored. In 2016, the original “Peter Pan” section was replaced with a Pirates of the Caribbean sequence, which ran until the 2023 hiatus.
The other big change is with the show’s climactic sequence. Mickey still battles Maleficent, however, she stays in her humanoid form instead of transforming into a dragon.
Maleficent is lifted 35 feet into the air by a rising tower, putting her approximately at the same height as her dragon figure.
The exit music that plays after the show is the original from 1992.
Watch our video of the updated “Fantasmic!” at Disneyland below.
“Fantasmic!” History
“Fantasmic!” debuted at Disneyland Park on May 13, 1992. Another version opened at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Florida on October 15, 1998. A third version ran at Tokyo DisneySea from April 28, 2011, to February 29, 2020.
During the climactic sequence of “Fantasmic!” at Disneyland on April 22, 2023, the Maleficent dragon burst into flames. The dragon already tended to break down, leading to fans aptly naming it “Murphy” after Murphy’s Law: “Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.”
Murphy was destroyed by the fire and six Cast Members were treated for smoke inhalation. The show was temporarily suspended as were similar fire effects at Disney Parks worldwide. Disney ultimately announced the show would not return until spring 2024 and that Maleficent would not appear in her dragon form.
Disneyland replaced “Fantasmic!” with temporary entertainment on Rivers of America, including “The Heartbeat of New Orleans — A Living Mural.” In November 2023, they announced the return date for “Fantasmic!” In April 2024, they released “Fantasmic!” showtimes. Earlier this month, reservations opened for “Fantasmic!” dining packages. Days before “Fantasmic!” returned, Disney shared a few clips and photos of the updated show.
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