Old school ‘Fantasmic’ returns to Disneyland with massive crowds

Disneyland took “Fantasmic” fans to Yesterland with an old school version of the nighttime spectacular that reached back more than a decade to pull some classic scenes off the shelf for a massive crowd that was happy to take a nostalgic stroll down memory lane.

“Fantasmic” returned to the Rivers of America at the Anaheim theme park on Friday, May 24 after a yearlong hiatus caused by a towering inferno that engulfed the show’s signature fire-breathing audio-animatronic dragon in April 2023.

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The not-so-new scenes in the returning show included Peter Pan, Captain Hook and a band of scurvy pirates on the Sailing Ship Columbia last seen in 2017 and a 35-foot-tall Maleficent on a cleverly disguised scissor lift not seen on a regular basis since 2009.

The “Fantasmic” faithful came out in droves for the first show in 13 months and overwhelmed the viewing area along the Rivers of America in front of New Orleans Square for the first of two shows at 9 p.m. and 10:30 p.m.

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The what’s-old-is-new-again version of “Fantasmic” was like seeing an old friend for the first time in more than a year for many in the crowd Friday night. For them, it was equal parts familiar, comfortable and easy.

But after Memorial Day weekend, “Fantasmic” will seem new, fresh and spectacular to the summer tourists who haven’t seen the show in years and even more so for the next generation of fans who are experiencing it for the first time.

Traffic was backed up on Ball Road at 7 p.m. as annual passholders streamed in for the show only to find Disneyland directing traffic to the Toy Story parking lot because the Mickey and Friends and Pixar Pals garages were filling up quickly to capacity.

Disneyland cast members in front of the River Belle Terrace were telling guests at 8 p.m. that viewing areas were full and to come back for the later show — or on another day.

Those who found a spot were primed and ready when the lights fell at 9 p.m. Friday as hoots, hollers and screams filtered across the 10,000 people gathered along the waterfront.

Soon enough the marching broomsticks from “The Sorcerer’s Apprentice” were tossing buckets of water on the mist screens and the potato chip-like flower petals were parading onto the Tom Sawyer Island stage ahead of the slithering segments of Kaa the snake.

A cheer rose through the crowd as the glow-in-the-dark dancing monkeys floated past on barges and the performers responded with joyful pent-up energy after a year away.

After being bottled up for 13 months, Genie summed up the feeling of the crowd as he emerged from the magic lamp: “Wow, does it feel good to be out of there.”

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The imagery on the mist screens and the Fantasmic stage looked sharp and crisp thanks to the state-of-the-art projectors installed during the downtime.

Fists were raised in the air amid the crowd by the time Columbia rounded the bend and Peter Pan came into view in his triumphant return after seven years of exile.

Cue the princesses, the Magic Mirror and the forces of evil and before long Maleficent was back at the top of the scissor lift like it was 2009 all over again.

Soon enough, the Mark Twain Riverboat was in sight and melancholy began to set in. It couldn’t be over already. When would we see it again? Fortunately, there was another show in an hour. And every night throughout summer.

As the lights came up, the crowds headed for the exits whistling the familiar “Fantasmic” theme song melody with a classic Disneyland “kiss goodnight” on their cheeks.