Credit: Harsh Light, FlickrDisney is finally updating millions of guests on its beloved Fantasmic! experience, which went down some time ago. But is the show back in its full glory?
Disney Gives Surprising Update on Fantasmic!
It was March 17, 2025. As fireworks lit the night over Disneyland’s Rivers of America, fans eagerly watched Fantasmic! unfold—until, suddenly, the show came to an unexpected halt. No final burst of pyrotechnics. No triumphant return of Mickey Mouse. And most tellingly, no towering Maleficent rising above the cider mill, cloaked in flames.
Since that night, something had been missing. For nearly four months, Disneyland fans noticed the absence of one of Fantasmic!’s most spine-tingling visuals: Maleficent’s dramatic ascension. Her imposing presence—once a show-stopping highlight—was replaced by something… less.
What happened to this powerful moment in the show? And why did it take so long to bring it back?
Maleficent Grounded: The Long Road from A-Mode to C-Mode
To understand the moment’s significance, you have to rewind even further—to the infamous dragon fire in 2023. When Fantasmic! returned in 2024, Maleficent’s full dragon form was gone. Instead, a live performer in costume appeared on a lift as a stand-in for the fire-breathing beast. Fans dubbed this setup “B-mode.” While not as thrilling as the dragon, the effect still offered spectacle and scale.
B-Mode Rising Maleficent Returns to ‘Fantasmic’ at Disneyland, Mickey Disappearing Effect Still Not Active – @dlnt on X
B-Mode Rising Maleficent Returns to ‘Fantasmic’ at Disneyland, Mickey Disappearing Effect Still Not Activehttps://t.co/lQCJlBFFSi
— Disneyland News Today (@dlnt) July 9, 2025
Then came March 17, when Maleficent dropped into what many now call “C-mode”: no lift, no fire, no drama. For weeks, she merely paced back and forth on the porch of the cider mill, stripped of the power and presence that had defined her role.
This reduction left fans puzzled and disappointed. The show’s energy felt off, and Fantasmic!—a staple of Disneyland magic—wasn’t living up to its name. For many, it symbolized a broader concern: Was Disneyland struggling to maintain its nighttime shows post-pandemic and post-budget cuts?
The Fourth of July Comeback—Sort Of
At long last, on July 4, 2025, Maleficent rose again.
The lift effect, dormant for months, finally came back online. Now back in “B-mode,” the human Maleficent once more towers over Mickey, restoring at least part of the show’s theatrical gravitas. But fans hoping for a complete return to form still have reasons to temper expectations.
The grand finale—where Mickey vanishes from the cider mill rooftop in a burst of fireworks and reappears onstage in his tuxedo—remains broken. That crowd-pleasing sleight of hand has been absent since February 7. Currently, Mickey stays in his Sorcerer form on the roof until the final moment, robbing the climax of its usual punch.
Other Subtle Shifts: What Guests May or May Not Notice
In addition to the missing finale effect, there’s another quiet change. As of May 16, the Magic Mirror scene has been slightly reworked. Rather than beginning on the mill’s roof, Mickey now starts the scene from the porch. It’s a minor staging difference—but long-time fans may feel something’s off.
On the flip side, the same May update brought fresh lighting to the show’s intro, part of Disneyland’s 70th anniversary enhancements.
So what does this all mean for guests?
Why It Matters: The Battle for Show Quality at Disney
The prolonged downtime of key effects in Fantasmic! isn’t just a technical hiccup—it’s a reflection of how challenging it’s become for Disney to maintain show consistency in an era of frequent refurbishments, budget realignments, and behind-the-scenes changes. For guests paying top dollar and often visiting only once or twice a year, these shifts can be the difference between “magical” and “mediocre.”
While Maleficent’s partial return is certainly a step in the right direction, many are still asking: When will Fantasmic! be truly back to its former glory?
For now, at least, the Mistress of All Evil rises again—flames or not.