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Credit: Inside the MagicBy now, 350,000+ have witnessed the surreal moment captured by TikTok user @aubzbri, where a Disneyland firework misfire appears to rain down from the sky—not onto a castle or Main Street USA, but directly in front of an SUV barreling down California’s I-5 Freeway, just outside the park. The brief but jaw-dropping video shows what looks like a fireball descending from the night sky, landing on the freeway pavement mere feet from a moving vehicle.
In the video, you can hear bystanders gasping as the firework shell descends. The SUV, seemingly caught completely off guard, drives through the aftermath of what appears like a mid-road explosion. Although no one was hurt, the emotional intensity of the moment is undeniable, and the internet is sounding off.
@aubzbri Disneyland Fireworks 🎆 #jet2holiday #disneyland #disneyfireworks #disneyworld #disneylandcalifornia
“I Know That Driver Thought the World Was Ending”
As one comment on the video humorously—but truthfully—states:
“I know that driver thought the world was ending.”
The footage plays out like a scene from an apocalyptic movie, except it’s real life, and the fireball came courtesy of the “Happiest Place on Earth.” While it’s unclear whether the SUV driver has seen the video yet, another viewer urges:
“I hope the driver of that SUV finds and saves this footage and do what they need to do… because emotional damage.”
Another commenter took it a step further:
“I would be suing Disney so fast if I was driving that car wheeeeeeew.”
Pyrotechnic Error, Not Wind
One user claiming to be a “part-time pyrotechnic” offered insight into what might have gone wrong:
“What happened was Disneyland firework shells each have their own chip in them so they go off at a programmed millisecond. For some reason, this one only got launched by the air cannon but it never gave the signal to ‘go off’ like the others. It looks like it just burned up on its way down. Wind played no factor.”
This explanation aligns with Disney’s usual firework operations, which are tightly controlled and choreographed to the millisecond using advanced technology. Still, as another TikTok user pointed out:
“Not the first time, won’t be the last. It’s fallen in my yard many times.”
And in perhaps the most chilling response:
“We indeed got hit by a shell about a decade ago on the 5. It was wild.”
A Pattern of Firework-Related Accidents
Disney’s firework shows are world-renowned and a signature part of their park experience, but incidents like this underscore a long-standing debate: how safe are these dazzling displays when done near highways, crowded areas, and in open air?
Consider a few disturbing precedents:
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March 13, 2023 – Disney World, Florida: A 7-year-old boy was reportedly struck in the eye by a red-hot ember from a fireworks display near Cinderella’s Castle. His family filed a lawsuit in August, alleging he sustained permanent scarring and vision damage. Their attorney stated:
“We will hold Disney and other parties involved accountable for their negligence… and hopefully prevent another child from getting injured.”
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2014 – Disney’s Hollywood Studios: A woman was left permanently blind in one eye after being hit by smoldering debris during a summer fireworks show. She later settled a lawsuit with Disney for an undisclosed amount.
These are just the major incidents that made headlines. Given that the State of Florida only requires Disney to report on-site injuries if the individual is hospitalized for over 24 hours, it’s possible many similar events have gone unreported.
The Risk Beyond the Park Gates
The recent near-miss on the I-5 Freeway adds a new dimension to the risk: it happened off Disney property, in a public roadway, where drivers and their passengers have no reason to expect airborne pyrotechnics. Had the SUV driver swerved in panic, this could have escalated into a serious, even fatal, accident.
As one TikTok user aptly observed:
“Honestly maaaad props to the driver for not swerving and causing an accident. This could’ve been so much worse.”
So… Should Disney Be Held Accountable?
The video reignites a debate around corporate responsibility, public safety, and the limits of entertainment. If a firework can veer off course and land feet away from a moving vehicle on a public interstate, who’s liable?
While pyrotechnic shows inherently carry risk, the public often assumes that companies with Disney’s scale and resources have airtight safety procedures in place. But as the TikTok video shows, even the most sophisticated systems can fail—or misfire.
Legal experts might argue that incidents like the I-5 firework could fall under negligence, especially if Disney’s firework systems fail to contain explosives within a defined safety radius. In past legal cases, plaintiffs have cited Disney’s failure to consider weather conditions or miscalculations in firework trajectories.
Magic Meets Mayhem
Disneyland is famous for its magic—but when that magic crosses into real-world danger zones like freeways, the results are anything but enchanting. While no one was injured in this particular case, it serves as a sobering reminder that even the happiest places can have explosive consequences.
As one final TikTok commenter wryly put it:
“Aaaaaand that’s why you hear that announcement ‘due to winds at high elevations, pyrotechnic elements will not be performed’ then everyone groans in disappointment.”
Maybe those announcements are more important than we think.
Have you ever experienced falling fireworks near Disneyland or Disney World? Let us know your story.