Southern California’s Disneyland and Disney California Adventure experienced an unexpected interruption to the magic on Monday night when a 3.5-magnitude earthquake struck the city of Fullerton in Orange County, just 2 miles from the theme parks.
Just after 8 p.m., the quake prompted the temporary closure of 35 rides, leaving visitors surprised and inconvenienced.
Earthquake Update: Aftershock Hits Following Initial Quake
According to the US Geological Survey, the earthquake was followed by a lighter aftershock around 8:30 p.m., with more than 2,800 people reporting feeling the seismic activity.
Fortunately, there were no initial reports of damage or injuries at either Disneyland or Disney California Adventure.
However, the earthquake caused disruptions for park guests hoping to enjoy popular attractions such as Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Matterhorn Bobsleds.
Even holiday-themed experiences like It’s a Small World’s festive versions and the new Adventureland Treehouse were temporarily shut down. By 9 p.m., the majority of rides were closed, according to the Disneyland app. Only the Jungle Cruise and the Mad Tea Party remained open at Disneyland.
At the same time, Disney California Adventure had limited operational attractions, including Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind, Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl, and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree.
Beloved rides like the Incredicoaster, Toy Story Midway Mania, and Radiator Springs Racers in Cars Land were temporarily closed. Guests, sharing their experiences on social media, recounted being in line at various attractions when the quake hit, with some reporting evacuations from rides as a safety precaution.
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Disneyland Safety Protocols as Rides Close
Photographer Elise Delamare from Napa shared on Instagram: “3.5 earthquakes hit when we were in line at Winnie The Pooh, and everything is down. They are telling us they’ll open them back up after safety protocols are passed.”
Workers at the park quickly put safety precautions into place, pulling visitors off rides to make sure they were safe. As of Tuesday afternoon, most rides were reported to be functioning again, though some, like Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and the Jungle Cruise, experienced temporary closures.
The incident serves as a reminder of the unpredictable nature of Southern California’s seismic activity, even within the enchanting confines of Disneyland.
