Fantasmic Show to Return Spring 2024: Maleficent's "Murphy" Omitted After Fiery Dragon Drama

Disneyland's Fantasmic show is poised to make a return next year, with one significant change --the iconic Maleficent dragon, which caught fire during a performance in April, will no longer be part of the spectacle. However, the battle between Mickey Mouse and the dragon will reportedly remain a focal point, but not as the giant physical character that has been in recent shows, as reported by Theme Park Insider.

"Our goal is to always deliver the best possible show for our guests," a Disneyland spokesperson said. "With that in mind, we are planning the return of Fantasmic with new magic in spring 2024. As teams continue work on the show, we have launched nightly entertainment on the Rivers of America this summer and we are working on more exciting entertainment offerings for our guests later this year."

Yahoo Entertainment is reporting that more information has come out regarding the original fire, including that Disneyland suspended the use of pyrotechnic effects at select parks globally. The resort will now exclude the fire-breathing beast--also known as "Murphy"--when Fantasmic returns in spring 2024.

Fantasmic, as one of Disney parks' most popular shows, is also a hit at Disney's Hollywood Studios in Florida and Tokyo DisneySea in Japan. Despite the dragon's recent misadventure, it's not the first time such an incident has taken place. In 2018, a different version of the Maleficent dragon also caught fire during a parade at Florida's Disney World resort.

After the fire in April, attributed to a fuel leakage from the dragon animatronic and resulting in no injuries, Fantasmic was initially planned to resume operations by Labor Day. However, Disney officials have yet to disclose the reason for the extension of the closure at Disneyland.

Image credit: Christian Thompson/Disneyland Resort