Disneyland Fantasmic Dragon Engulfed in Flames

[TP2000]

Lol I love that you think an “official Disney tour guide” will have firsthand knowledge.

Wasn't that great?!?

That strata of CM is nothing more than a Toy Story bus driver with a better spiel and a cuter uniform. They're also the rare CM that can accept cash tips, so they are happy to say or do anything that will get them a better tip from their "guest".

But sure, assume that the 23 year old kid from Brea in the polyester plaid vest has the inside scoop on executive strategy.

 

[CaptinEO]

Is it possible lack of maintenance (or rushed maintenance) could cause a safety feature on an attraction to fail? Maybe not...after all, I'm no engineer. But for the first time ever I'm concerned about safety on Disney attractions.

Yes. It has sadly happened before and caused fatalities. Sadly history seems to be repeating itself. The constant ride breakdowns and new issues like pirates, splash, and jungle cruise having sinking issues in the last year or so shows Disneyland is cheapening out on maintenance. Lets hope no one gets hurt this time.

Death in Disneyland: The most turbulent era at the park

Death in Disneyland: Remembering the park's most turbulent era

www.sfgate.com

Pressler’s reliability-centered maintenance strategy once again came under scrutiny. OSHA probed the recommendations of consultant McKinsey & Company, which Pressler had tasked with finding places to cut costs. One former mechanic recalled watching his supervisor being quizzed by a McKinsey consultant. When the consultant asked why the mechanics bothered checking the lap bars on Big Thunder daily when records showed they had never failed, the supervisor reacted with disbelief. “The reason they don’t fail,” he said, “is because we check them every night.”

 

[flynnibus]

So I've been asking around about how this happened. The answers I've gotten points to DL management forcing the show to go on despite push back from the entertainment techs. It seems to be a maintenance failure, but one due to poor staffing and untenable timelines forced from DL Management.

I find this sus… because they could run the show without the effect.

There is no need for the techs to be pushed to run the show… the show could run… even without murphy… or just without the effect too.

 

[Emmanuel]

Checked the entertainment calendar on the DLR website again.

Fantasmic is cancelled for the next 3 weekends

April 28-30th
May 5th-7th
May 12th-14th

Currently its scheduled on May 19th but depending on whats going on, can be cancelled too

 

[SplashJacket]

I find this sus… because they could run the show without the effect.

There is no need for the techs to be pushed to run the show… the show could run… even without murphy… or just without the effect too.

Because their whole comment is total bull.

 

[jrhwdw]

Checked the entertainment calendar on the DLR website again.

Fantasmic is cancelled for the next 3 weekends

April 28-30th
May 5th-7th
May 12th-14th

Currently its scheduled on May 19th but depending on whats going on, can be cancelled too

I believe one of the early reports were that F! Was off till Memoral Weekend and it would open with B Mode Dragon.

This can change of course.........



Also no word on if MSEP is covering for F! Or DL even was planning MSEP before last weekend......

 

[Disney Analyst]

 

[PiratesMansion]

Yes. It has sadly happened before and caused fatalities. Sadly history seems to be repeating itself. The constant ride breakdowns and new issues like pirates, splash, and jungle cruise having sinking issues in the last year or so shows Disneyland is cheapening out on maintenance. Lets hope no one gets hurt this time.

Death in Disneyland: The most turbulent era at the park

Death in Disneyland: Remembering the park's most turbulent era

www.sfgate.com

I was under the impression that every single 'sunken ride vehicle' mishap was at WDW.

 

[SuddenStorm]

I was under the impression that every single 'sunken ride vehicle' mishap was at WDW.

Didn't a Pirates boat sink at Disneyland a couple months ago? It wasn't widely talked about.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Didn't a Pirates boat sink at Disneyland a couple months ago? It wasn't widely talked about.

Huh. Looked it up and looked like that is indeed the case.

I don't remember seeing anything here about it. Odd that it wasn't more discussed.

 

[SuddenStorm]

Huh. Looked it up and looked like that is indeed the case.

I don't remember seeing anything here about it. Odd that it wasn't more discussed.

Yeah, I think there was maybe one or two posts if that. I can't remember where I saw it.

Regardless, Disneyland maintenance has really plummeted, and doesn't seem to be getting better.

 

[wdrive]

Also no word on if MSEP is covering for F! Or DL even was planning MSEP before last weekend......

I’d be surprised. To get MSEP running again from scratch will take a few months, need to audition, hire and rehearse performers and get all the other back of house stuff in line. I presume it would be quicker for them to clean up the Fantasmic stage and get it running again with no dragon.

 

[DLR92]

What concerns me is Disney putting real effort to maintain the show and safety!? If I were the Mickey performer, I would left pronto!

 

[Figments Friend]

Hope Mickey had some consoling and counciling after the mishap.
He was calm and a pro, but man….he knew what was happening.

Something like this can really mess with your head.
Sometimes it only really hits you later on when you see the scope of what happened from the video footage.
Hope he is doing okay.

-

 

[TP2000]

I was under the impression that every single 'sunken ride vehicle' mishap was at WDW.

Are you kidding? Disneyland invented the concept over 25 years ago!

R.I.P Mike Fink Keelboats, 1956-1997

Huh. Looked it up and looked like that is indeed the case.

I don't remember seeing anything here about it. Odd that it wasn't more discussed.

I posted the news article about that one over in the Miscellaneous Thoughts thread about 3 months ago. I like to track any sunken vehicle at any Disney theme park, and this one was no exception.

The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

Just came back from Frozen at the Segerstrom and dare I say I liked parts of the DCA production more? So many filler songs ("Hygge" was a huge bust with my group) though the lighting and costume design were mostly on point. Saw this before the 2020 shutdown and yeah it was the worst musical we...

forums.wdwmagic.com

Yeah, I think there was maybe one or two posts if that. I can't remember where I saw it.

Sadly, this latest "sinking" in 2 feet of water didn't have any cell phone video or pictures of Dockers-clad managers wading around in the water fishing ladies purses and hats out of the water, so it just sort of seemed minor enough for me to throw out as an aside in the Misc. Thoughts thread.

But if we could have had an action photography shot like this, or dramatic cell phone video with tourists saying "Duuuuuude!" a lot in the background, it could have warranted its own thread.

Regardless, Disneyland maintenance has really plummeted, and doesn't seem to be getting better.

Yes, that is quite clear now. I just wonder how high up the food chain the concern about it actually goes. It doesn't seem like there is anyone in TDA doing anything to fix it. Or do they even care?

 

[TP2000]

Hope Mickey had some consoling and counciling after the mishap.
He was calm and a pro, but man….he knew what was happening.

Something like this can really mess with your head.
Sometimes it only really hits you later on when you see the scope of what happened from the video footage.
Hope he is doing okay.

-

Great point!

With his limited vision, he may not have been able to realize what was happening, and the scale that it was happening at, until it was over.

Thank goodness all involved were safe!

 

[J.E.Smith]

From the looks of things the Mickey performer didn't notice the fire until he looked up to slay the dragon, and you can't see it in most videos but they lowered him back under the stage right before the show stopped.

You can see Mickey get lowered in this video:

 

[Emmanuel]

Fantasmic page has been updated.

Fantasmic which was showing showtimes starting May 19th has now been cleared. No showtimes can be seen going up to June 11th

 

[Phroobar]

Why can't the People Mover track catch on fire? At least then they would demo it.

 

[shambolicdefending]

Why can't the People Mover track catch on fire? At least then they would demo it.

No way! That would put an end to PeopleMover returning rumors, which is my favorite Disneyland internet trope.