Disneyland Abruptly Ends Fantasmic! As Mickey Appears To Be Engulfed in Flames

In April 2023, Disneyland was forced to shut down its nighttime Fantasmic! show after Maleficent’s Dragon was engulfed in flames. Disneyland shut down the show, which performed on Rivers of America, for 13 months while some of the issues with the show were resolved.

However, while Fantasmic! was down at Disneyland, a version of the show that ran at Disney’s Hollywood Studios in Walt Disney World without any significant incidents. However, in September, that show was abruptly stopped without explanation. The show has since returned to its regular operating hours at Hollywood Studios.

It appeared that both shows were back in their regular order, that is, until last night at Disneyland. In the middle of Fantasmic, the show suddenly stopped without explanation.

Fantasmic! just abruptly ended the second show in the middle of the show at Disneyland pic.twitter.com/uaUrmTYA2D

— Matt Desmond (@DisneyScoopGuy) December 21, 2024

A video posted on X shows Fantasmic suddenly coming to a stop. A voice comes onto the PA and announces:

Can I have your attention, please? Due to foreseen circumstances, this performance of Fantasmic cannot continue. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause and hope you enjoy the rest of your evening here at Disneyland. 

While Disneyland did not offer any explanation for the show’s cancellation, some commentators seem to think they figured out what happened. Just moments before the show was canceled, Sorcerer Mickey was alone on the stage when he was engulfed by a giant ball of flames just before he was set to fall through a trap door.

The video clearly shows Mickey Mouse dancing on stage just before the ball of flame overtook the exact place where he was standing. Shortly after that, the show ended.

Disneyland did not state why the show was suddenly halted or if the cast member playing Mickey Mouse was harmed. According to Disneyland’s website, Fantasmic is still on the schedule for this weekend, including shows on Saturday and Sunday nights.

Throughout the fall, Disneyland reduced the number of Fantasmic performances to mostly weekends and planned to continue doing so into early 2025. The Friday night performance was the first of the daily performances that were to continue through the holiday season at Disneyland.

Being a cast member in Fantasmic is one of the most dangerous jobs at Disneyland and Disney World, and because it is unsafe, it is also the highest-paying job at the parks. Hopefully, the cast member playing Mickey Mouse will be okay, and the show will continue today.