Earlier this year, the Animatronic evil dragon in the “Fantastic!” show to Disneyland caught fire unexpectedly after some malfunction occurred mid-performance.
Workers rushed to put out the fire and Anaheim Fire Department confirmed no injuries from the incident. However, several Cast Members were treated for smoke inhalation following the incident.
disney released a statement following the incident, stating that the cause of the fire is still under investigation and that they are “temporarily suspending fire effects similar to those used at Disneyland Park’s Fantasmic at select shows and entertainment experiences worldwide as a precaution after the Fantasmic! Propeller Fire at Disneyland Park”.
One of these fire effects included the one used in the Fantasy Festival Parade To Walt Disney World. However, this effect has now returned.
Walt Disney World brings back the fire effect
The Evil Dragon Parade Float in the Festival of Fantasy Parade at Walt Disney World usually blows fire from its mouth as part of the performance. Due to the Disneyland fire earlier this year, the company stopped using this effect. Now the fire effect has returned to the parade float weeks later.
According to reports from Disney World cast members, the effect is still suspended in certain areas of the park due to proximity to flammable materials.
In 2018, the Festival of Fantasy Parade Maleficent Dragon parade float caught fire during the show. Fortunately, it was quickly extinguished and no one was injured.
“Fantastic!” Fire at Disneyland
On April 22, Disneyland guests saw Mickey’s nightmare come true as the evil animatronic dragon in “Fantasmic!” show caught fire and caught fire.
A Disneyland guest and a TikTok user were at the park when the incident happened, capturing everything on film. In a video shared on the social media platform, viewers watch as the iconic evil dragon animatronic bursts into flames, lighting up the entire night sky.
“Thank you DFD for protecting us today here at Disneyland,” they said.
@cruzdownmainstreet Thank you DFD for keeping us safe today here at Disneyland. #disneyland #fyp #firefighter #happiestplaceonearth #disneyfire #disneyadult #murphy
♬ Keep Calm _ Fire Drill _ Michael Scott – The Office
Although pyrotechnics are part of the show, something went wrong when the dragon’s head went up in smoke and flames burst into the air. According to Disney fan site WDWNT, a reporter, who was at the scene, witnessed fire falling from the dragon’s mouth on Tom Sawyer Island below. According to their report, the cause “appears to be a leak of flammable liquid, seen flowing from the mouth moments before the fireball effect was triggered.”
The Anaheim Fire Department confirmed there were no injuries as a result of the incident, although several cast members were treated for smoke inhalation following the incident. .
At this time, future performances of “Fantasmic!” at Disneyland have been removed from the show schedule until at least May 26, 2023, but that is subject to change. The Walt Disney World version of the show, which takes place at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, is still on the schedule, and Disney has confirmed that no changes will be made to its version of the show.