Guests Save Disney Park Character After Stage Show Fire

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Mickey Mouse at Red Carpet Dreams at Disney's Hollywood Studios

Credit: Disney

The Disney Parks are typically some of the safest places anyone can visit on vacation, but accidents happen. Even with all of Disney’s protocols in place, sometimes disasters can strike, and not even Disneyland is immune from the occasional tragedy.

Moana on stage
Credit: Hong Kong Disneyland

Many stage shows at the parks consist of elaborate costumes, massive set pieces, and extensive use of pyrotechnics, often leading to hazardous environments for the performers. Although accidents are a rarity, one disaster resulted in an iconic character catching fire at the performance’s climax.

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In April of 2023, the Maleficent Dragon animatronic (known to fans as Murphy) burst into flames during the Fantasmic Nighttime Spectacular and has since been removed from the show. As a Disneyland icon, her absence has been felt by many, and one Disney influencer is gathering supporters on a crusade to bring the character back.

Help Save the Disneyland Dragon

@fastpassfacts

Disney MUST Rebuild This Animatronic #animatronics #disneyanimatronics #disney #disneyparks

♬ Suspense, horror, piano and music box – takaya

As pointed out in the video above, the loss of the Maleficent dragon essentially took a massive piece of Fantasmic’s identity away. While the figure can still be seen in the current version running at the Walt Disney World Resort, the Disneyland original has remained absent since the infamous fire in 2023.

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Since Maleficent remains a prominent fixture in the plot of the show as well as the promotional art for Fantasmic!, removing her from the final act definitely won’t bode well with longtime fans. However, the petition shared by FastPass Facts (seen here) could encourage Disney rebuild her when the new run opens May 24, 2024.

Remembering the Fantasmic! Fire

Last year’s Disneyland disaster absolutely rocked onlookers as the dragon accidently caught fire during the final performance of Fantasmic!. CNN’s footage shared the terrifying image of smoke and fire melting the flesh off the animatronic’s frame, forcing an evacuation before the show could end.

An official statement from Disneyland at the time stated the following:

“During the final showing of Fantasmic at Disneyland park on Saturday evening, the dragon caught fire. Anaheim Fire & Rescue quickly responded and the fire was extinguished. All cast members were evacuated from Tom Sawyer Island. Due to smoke and wind, attractions near the island were safely cleared of any guests, and the cause of the fire remains under investigation at this time.”

A later update shared that the cause of the accident was believed to have been a leak in the fuel line in Maleficent’s machinery, causing the structure to catch fire when the dragon’s effects ignited. While guests and cast were evacuated from the scene, the iconic Fantasmic! fixture suffered extensive damage.

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At the time of writing, it’s currently unknown whether she will make a return to the show or not, but fans like those previously mentioned have already voiced their concerns to Disney. As of now, the petition to have the dragon repaired has reached 162 signatures out of the 200 it needs for its current trajectory. With any luck, the fans will continue to come to her aid and Disney will take notice.

Do you remember Maleficent catching fire? Tell Inside the Magic about it in the comments below.

 

 

 

 

 

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