Credit: Inside the MagicThings went horribly wrong during a recent performance of Fantasmic! at Disneyland, again.
For decades, Disneyland Park guests have marveled at the dazzling nighttime spectacular, Fantasmic! This captivating display of fireworks, water effects, pyrotechnics, music, and live performers has painted the Rivers of America with vibrant scenes of Disney magic.
Fantasmic! takes audiences on a whimsical journey through Mickey Mouse’s imagination. Classic Disney heroes like Aladdin, Ariel, and Peter Pan come alive alongside iconic villains such as Maleficent and Ursula, all orchestrated by Mickey’s dreamscape. The grand finale pits Mickey against the forces of evil, culminating in a triumphant display of good conquering darkness.
Debuting at Disneyland Park in California in 1992, Fantasmic! quickly captured the hearts of guests, becoming a cornerstone of the park’s nighttime offerings. Its enduring popularity is evident in its presence at multiple Disney parks, consistently drawing large crowds eager to witness the magic unfold.
However, a recent incident in April 2023 cast a temporary shadow on Fantasmic!’s future. During a performance, the Maleficent animatronic unexpectedly caught fire. Thankfully, Anaheim Fire & Rescue swiftly extinguished the flames, ensuring the safety of cast members and guests. However, there were 6 cast members who did have to be medically treated for the fumes.
The cause remains under investigation, with smoke and wind impacting nearby attractions that were cleared for safety precautions.
While the incident caused damage to the lighting and stage, Fantasmic! has returned. Now, the dragon is no longer part of the show, but has been replaced with a battle against Maleficent in her human form.
This is not the only time that fire has been an issue at Disney.
Not only has Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World caught on fire in the past, leaving firetrucks rushing down the center of Main Street, U.S.A. while surrounded by guests, but the Maleficent dragon float in the Festival of Fantasy parade has caught on fire as well. Speaking of castle’s on fire, Sleeping Beauty Castle in Disneyland Paris has also recently sustained fire damage from its fire usage during the nighttime fireworks.
In 2014, a small fire broke out at Disneyland’s “It’s a Small World” attraction due to fireworks debris, causing minor damage and no injuries.
In 2015, a fire at Disneyland’s Toontown was caused by an electrical malfunction. The area was evacuated, but there were no injuries.
In 2027, a tree caught fire at Disneyland near Sleeping Beauty Castle during a fireworks show. The blaze was quickly extinguished, with no injuries reported.
Now, a new fire report has been made.
TikTok user bibbidibobbidibalyson shared a video of yesterday’s Fantasmic! performance at Disneyland, where we can see that the fireworks which shoot from Mickey’s hands did not stop when they were supposed to.
@bibbidibobbidibalyson Hope Mickey is okay🫶🏼 #fantasmic #disneyland #mickeymouse #fireworks #pyro #malfunction #foryoupage #fyp #foryou ♬ original sound – alyson🩷
As Mickey was making his way to the stairs, fireworks unexpectedly started shooting from his hands, surrounding him in sparks. The performer quickly ran to the top of the stairs, extending their arms to avoid the sparks.
Normally, the fireworks are supposed to go off once Mickey reaches the top, stands in the middle of the stage, and extends his arms. By the time Mickey reached his mark, the fireworks had already finished. Fortunately, there have been no reported injuries from last night’s performance.
Many comments on the TikTok video stated that they were happy and thankful to not have seen Mickey Mouse go up in total flames.
One person commented, who seems to work at the show, stating, “Yeah they are fine, its something that happens from time to time. We have people standing by to check on them”, pointing out that this is an ongoing issue at the parks, which could endanger the lives of the performers who are in the costumes.
Related: Disneyland Slammed for “Incredibly Unsafe” Conditions, No Changes Planned
Disney performers are not allowed to remove their costumes in front of guests, so even if things went sideways, the cast member would be obligated to make it backstage in order to be removed from the Mickey Mouse costume, which would require an extra set of hands to undo.
Thankfully, that was not necessary.
Other comments stated that there is a tech cast member who sets off the fireworks from Mickey’s fingers at Disneyland, and that they must have accidently sent them too early. Mickey played off the incident well, however, and the show continued.
Disneyland Resort cast members employed in the park’s Parades and Characters departments are inching closer to forming a union, per MSN. The Actors’ Equity Association (Equity), a labor union representing professional actors and stage managers, has filed an election petition with the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) seeking official recognition as the bargaining representative for these employees.
This development marks a significant step for the cast members, who have historically been non-unionized since Disneyland’s opening in the 1950s. In contrast, other employee groups within the park have already established union representation.
The news follows a campaign launched by Equity in February 2024, during which volunteer organizers within the cast member ranks, known as “Magic United,” collected signed union authorization cards from a supermajority of eligible employees. This overwhelming support prompted the filing of the formal petition with the NLRB.
Equity President Kate Shindle expressed her support for the cast members’ efforts, highlighting their dedication and the potential benefits of unionization.
“These performers, and the Hosts, Leads and Trainers who create magic alongside them, know that their lives – as well as the Guest experience at Disneyland – can be improved through collective bargaining,” Shindle stated. “They deserve a voice in their workplace, and meaningful negotiations over wages, benefits and working conditions.”
Magic United echoed these sentiments in a joint letter sent to Disneyland Resort’s Labor Relations department. The letter emphasizes the cast members’ desire for collaboration, believing that “improving our collective working conditions will have a direct impact on not only cast members’ lives, but the caliber of entertainment we offer at Disneyland Resort.”
The NLRB will now oversee the election process, allowing eligible cast members to vote on whether or not to formally recognize Equity as their bargaining representative. The outcome of this vote will determine the future of unionization efforts within these specific departments at Disneyland Resort.
Do you think Disney will remove fire from performances due to the safety of cast member?