Featured Image Credit: YouTube/ Xochitl Balderas
Topics: Disneyland, Disney, US News
Ali Condon
Disneyland guests who visited Anaheim's resort this weekend got a whole lot more than they bargained for, after a 45ft tall animatronic dragon appeared to burst into flames.
During a performance of Disney's 'Fantasmic!' on Saturday (22 April), Mickey Mouse takes on an enormous dragon, based on Sleeping Beauty's Maleficent, but things took a turn when the dragon started breathing fire.
At first, when fire and smoke started to billow out of the dragon's head, it looked as though it was part of the performance.
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But it wasn't long before the fire started to spread, and staff had to act rapidly.
Cast members and visitors were quickly evacuated from Tom Sawyer Island, where the show takes place.
It wasn't long before video footage of the incident started circulating online.
In some footage, a loudspeaker can be heard telling guests that the 'Fantasmic!' performances 'cannot continue due to unforeseen circumstances'.
Footage taken from later on shows the typically terrifying dragon engulfed in flames from top to tail.
Although 'Fantasmic!' does usually end with Mickey casting a spell to defeat the Maleficent dragon, this isn't how she's supposed to go down.
A description of the show from Disneyland reads: "Daring heroes and epic villains do battle on a grand scale in an incredible nighttime show - starring Mickey Mouse."
It tells the story as Mickey as the Sorcerer's Apprentice, and includes scenes from classic Disney films like The Lion King and Aladdin.
At one point in the show, the Evil Queen from Snow White casts a spell to summon Disney's most evil villains, including Maleficent, to take on Mickey and his band of heroes.
According to the Anaheim fire department, no injuries were reported, though the extent of the damage has not yet been confirmed.
Teams are also working to investigate the cause of the fire - a first for Disneyland, which puts on the spectacular performance multiple times per week.
Park residents who witnessed the incident told ABC that, although it was quite a shocking thing to witness, staff got to work instantly, making for a much smoother response.
Speaking to the publication, one guest recalled: "We saw some small explosions coming out of the head, and then, all of a sudden, the whole dragon was just engulfed, and then, all of a sudden, the worker started coming around escorting everybody out for safety."
UNILAD has approached Disneyland representatives for comment.