Fantasmic! returns to the Disneyland Resort with “exciting new magic” next year — but the nighttime show will be without the Maleficent dragon that caught fire during a performance in April. Months after Disney Parks temporarily suspended fire effects at select shows and entertainment experiences across all its theme parks worldwide “out of an abundance of caution,” Disney says Fantasmic! performances will remain paused until the show returns in “spring 2024.” But the 45-foot tall, fire-breathing dragon, inspired by a climactic sequence in 1959’s Sleeping Beauty, won’t be towering over the Rivers of America.
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“Our goal is to always deliver the best possible show for ourguests,” a Disneyland spokesperson said in a statement. “With that in mind, we areplanning the return of Fantasmic! with exciting new magic in spring2024. As teams continue work on the show, we have launched nightlyentertainment on the Rivers of America this summer and we are working oneven more exciting entertainment offerings for our guests later thisyear.”
Fantasmic! has performed nearly 11,000 shows it opened in 1992 at Disneyland, with the dragon that malfunctioned operating since 2009. An alternate “B-mode” version of the show projects Maleficent’s dragon form onto water when the physical prop is unavailable.
“During the final showing of Fantasmic atDisneyland park on Saturday evening, the dragon prop caught fire.Anaheim Fire & Rescue quickly responded, and the fire wasextinguished. All cast members were safely evacuated from Tom SawyerIsland,” a Disney spokesperson said in April. “Due to smoke and wind,attractions near the island were safely evacuated of any guests, and thecause of the fire remains under investigation at this time. We aretemporarily suspending fire effects similar to those used at Disneyland Park’s Fantasmic at select shows and entertainment experiences globallyout of an abundance of caution following the Fantasmic prop fire atDisneyland Park. The continued safety of our cast and guests is of theutmost importance.”
In the original show, during Mickey Mouse’s climactic showdown with the mistress of evil, Maleficent rises to a height of 45 feet in17 seconds before transforming into a dragon. Fully animated with athree-dimensional design that replicates Maleficent’s dragon form inWalt Disney’s animated classic Sleeping Beauty, the 45-foot tall, 28-feet wide, 18,000-pound dragon breathes flames to light the Rivers of America on fire for 25 seconds.
At Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort, afire-breathing Maleficent dragon float in the daytimeDisney Festival of Fantasy Parade similarly burst into flame during a live performance in May 2018.
