ANAHEIM, Calif. — Visitors hoping to catch Fantasmic! at Disneyland this summer will have to wait until at least Labor Day to watch Sorcerer Mickey take on Disney villains.


What You Need To Know

  • Fantasmic! show at Disneyland will remain shutdown until at least Labor Day

  • During a performance last month, the 45-foot Maleficent dragon caught fire, forcing Disney officials to evacuate cast members and guests while Anaheim Fire extinguished the flames

  • Fantasmic! is one of Disneyland's most popular nighttime spectaculars and runs twice a night

  • Fantasmic’s Maleficent Dragon has gained an infamous reputation over the years as a source of mishaps, and fans have nicknamed it ‘Murphy’ after Murphy’s Law

After a fire engulfed the 45-foot Maleficent robotic dragon prop during a showing last month and forced the evacuation of cast members and guests, Disney decided to shut down the nighttime spectacular and temporarily suspended the fire effects of other entertainment shows at Disneyland and Disney theme parks worldwide.

No one was injured.

Disneyland officials previously said the 27-minute nighttime spectacular would resume sometime this month. 

But earlier this week, Disneyland officials extended the suspension of the popular show until September.

“Our goal is to always deliver the best possible show for our guests,” a Disneyland Resort spokesperson said in a statement to Spectrum News. “With that in mind, we’ve made the difficult decision to put ‘Fantasmic!’ on hiatus through at least Labor Day.”

The Disneyland spokesperson said they are exploring alternate entertainment offerings for Disneyland visitors this summer. 

“We look forward to sharing more soon,” the spokesperson said.

The Disneyland rep declined to comment on the fire’s cause or the fire investigation’s status. An Anaheim spokesperson did not return a request for comment.

The enormous robotic Maleficent dragon from Fantasmic has gained an infamous reputation for being a source of mishaps. Over the years, fans have deridingly nicknamed it “Murphy,” after Murphy’s Law, ‘Anything that can go wrong will go wrong.

 

Fantasmic! is a 27-minute nightly show at Tom Sawyer’s Island and the Rivers of America. The show, which features special effects, water screens, and pyrotechnics, focuses on Mickey Mouse and the power of his imagination.

Viewers watch Mickey turn into Sorcerer Mickey and battle against Disney villains. The show culminates with Mickey battling “Sleeping Beauty’s” Maleficent, who transforms into a 45-foot animatronic dragon that breathes fire across the Rivers of America.

The nighttime spectacular, which usually runs twice a night, debuted in 1992.