The industrial hazmat emergency unfolding just a few miles from Disneyland Resort has many guests wondering if the theme parks are open at this time, prompting a response from Disney.
Disneyland Issues Statement on Garden Grove Hazmat Incident
Disney has posted the following on the Disney Parks Blog:
As of Sunday, May 24, there is an ongoing chemical incident at an industrial facility in Orange County, California, in the neighboring Garden Grove. The incident, which began on May 21 at an aerospace facility, has triggered evacuation orders for thousands of residents across parts of Garden Grove, Anaheim, and nearby communities.
Disneyland Resort is approximately five miles from the incident and at this time, is not inside the evacuation zone. While the situation remains fluid and we may see road closures and minor traffic disruptions, there is no direct impact on park operations at this time.
Here’s what guests need to know right now about park operations and current safety conditions.
Is Disneyland closed as a result of the Garden Grove chemical situation?
No. At this time, there is no impact to Disneyland Resort due to this situation and the resort remains open to guests. We are actively monitoring the situation and taking guidance from local authorities.
Will Disneyland be evacuated as a result of the Garden Grove chemical situation?
The Disneyland Resort is approximately five miles from the incident and is currently not in the identified evacuation zone.
How close is the chemical incident to Disneyland?
The incident is occurring in Garden Grove, a neighboring Orange County city. The Disneyland Resort is approximately five miles from the incident and is currently not in the identified evacuation zone.
Will the hazmat incident affect travel to Disneyland?
Check local guidance before travel. Road closures, detours, or traffic disruptions in surrounding areas may impact how guests get to and from the resort.
How will guests learn more information about the ongoing situation in Garden Grove?
Updates about the Garden Grove chemical situation can be found by following the Orange County Fire Authority on social media:
The Disneyland Resort will continue to provide information about any resort impacts as it becomes available.
The incident began Thursday, May 21, at GKN Aerospace on Western Avenue, where authorities responded to a chemical issue involving a large storage tank containing methyl methacrylate, a flammable chemical used in plastics, resins, and aerospace manufacturing.
The affected tank is a 34,000-gallon vessel, though officials said roughly 6,000 to 7,000 gallons of methyl methacrylate remained inside. Fire officials said the tank overheated, released vapor, and triggered cooling systems at the facility. Compromised valves and other malfunctioned systems raised concerns about pressure and temperature.
Despite the best efforts of responders, the call has been made that the tank cannot be secured, and preparations are underway to mitigate the dangers of catastrophic failure.
Evacuation orders were first issued on Thursday for areas closest to the aerospace plant, including nearby homes and businesses. Some of those orders were lifted after conditions appeared to improve, but the situation worsened on Friday, May 22, leading officials to reissue and expand evacuation orders.
The larger evacuation zone eventually affected about 40,000 people across Garden Grove, Anaheim, Buena Park, Cypress, Stanton, and Westminster. You can view and explore the affected area on Google Maps above, with the evacuation boundaries noted courtesy of Orange County Register’s Kevin Sablan.
As shown on the map, Disneyland Resort itself is not under evacuation orders, though the resort is in relatively close proximity to the affected area. The closest point between the two is just 4 miles apart. Disney has not officially commented on the emergency or the evacuation order at this time. It is unclear if any further developments would affect operations at the Disneyland Resort, but we are monitoring the situation.
Residents in the affected area are encouraged to seek shelter at one of three evacuation centers located at Savannah High School in Anaheim, the Garden Grove Sports & Recreation Center, and the Cypress Community Center.
Health officials warned that methyl methacrylate vapors can irritate the eyes, skin, nose, and respiratory system, and exposure may cause more serious symptoms depending on concentration and duration.
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