Disneyland Announces Fantasmic Comeback Date Without Maleficent Dragon Post-Fire

In 2024, Disneyland enthusiasts will rejoice as the beloved Fantasmic! show is slated to make its grand return to the Disneyland Resort. However, there’s a twist in the tale – or rather, the lack thereof – as the iconic Maleficent dragon will be notably absent from the performance. This decision follows a dramatic incident during a show in April when the Maleficent dragon unexpectedly caught fire, leading Disney Parks worldwide to temporarily suspend the use of fire effects in select shows and entertainment experiences.

While fans eagerly anticipate the return of Fantasmic!, they will have to exercise patience until spring 2024, when the show is set to make its triumphant comeback. The anticipation is further heightened by the promise of “exciting new magic” that Disneyland is conjuring up for the beloved nighttime spectacle. In the meantime, visitors can still enjoy nightly entertainment on the Rivers of America throughout the summer, with even more thrilling entertainment offerings in the pipeline for later in the year.

Fantasmic! has been an integral part of Disneyland’s entertainment landscape since its debut in 1992. The Maleficent dragon, which experienced the mishap, has been an integral part of the show since 2009. However, when this physical prop is unavailable, an ingenious “B-mode” version of the show comes to the rescue, projecting Maleficent’s menacing dragon form onto the water surface.

Recalling the incident in April, a Disney spokesperson noted, “During the final showing of Fantasmic at Disneyland park on Saturday evening, the dragon prop caught fire. Anaheim Fire & Rescue quickly responded, and the fire was extinguished. All cast members were safely evacuated from Tom Sawyer Island.” As a precautionary measure, attractions near the island were also evacuated of guests due to smoke and wind conditions. The cause of the fire is still under investigation.

Disney’s commitment to safety is evident in their swift response and the subsequent suspension of fire effects similar to those used in Disneyland Park’s Fantasmic! across various shows and entertainment experiences worldwide. Ensuring the safety of both cast members and guests remains of paramount importance to Disney.

For those unfamiliar with the show’s climax, during Mickey Mouse’s showdown with the nefarious Maleficent, the malevolent sorceress ascends to a staggering height of 45 feet in just 17 seconds before her jaw-dropping transformation into a fearsome dragon. This fully animated, three-dimensional dragon design faithfully replicates Maleficent’s iconic form from Walt Disney’s animated classic, Sleeping Beauty. As if that weren’t impressive enough, this colossal 45-foot tall, 28-feet wide, 18,000-pound dragon exhales flames, momentarily igniting the Rivers of America to create a breathtaking spectacle that lasts for 25 seconds.

Interestingly, this is not the first time a Maleficent dragon has made headlines for an unexpected fiery display. In May 2018, a fire-breathing Maleficent dragon float in Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort’s daytime Disney Festival of Fantasy Parade similarly caught fire during a live performance.

As we eagerly await the return of Fantasmic!, one thing is certain – when it finally graces the Rivers of America once again in 2024, it will do so with renewed magic and the timeless enchantment that Disney is renowned for, albeit without the fiery presence of the Maleficent dragon that once lit up the night sky with its dramatic flames.

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