Disneyland fans are buzzing with anticipation as the beloved nighttime spectacular “Fantasmic!” returns after a yearlong break. However, the question on everyone’s mind is whether the show’s iconic dragon will make a comeback.
Following a frightening blaze that destroyed the dragon, Disneyland officials announced that the show would return without the massive animatronic. Instead, new special effects would enhance the battle scene between Sorcerer Mickey and Maleficent.
Dragon’s Absence Sparks Speculation
The “Fantasmic” show made its comeback on Memorial Day Weekend, featuring a 35-foot-tall Maleficent on a scissor lift, a change from the original 45-foot-tall dragon that first appeared in 2009. Despite the return of the show, Disneyland has remained tight-lipped about whether the problematic dragon, known as Murphy, will ever return.
Disneyland has a history of turning setbacks into opportunities. The pandemic closure allowed the park to rethink its future, resulting in the $1.9 billion DisneylandForward proposal, outlining four decades of growth.
Murphy, nicknamed after Murphy’s Law due to its troubled history, has been a constant source of headaches for Disneyland. Given the issues, why spend millions to bring back a problematic animatronic if visitors aren’t complaining about its absence?
Financial and Practical Considerations
Disneyland saved significant money by keeping “Fantasmic” dark for a year. Costs for performers, backstage crew, pyrotechnics, and other special effects were avoided, making it a financially savvy move.
Moreover, the dragon-free show provides Disneyland with a fresh promotion at the start of the summer, a time when the park usually has fewer new attractions. Nighttime spectaculars like “Fantasmic” are crucial for Disneyland, encouraging visitors to extend their stay and spend more in the parks. The “Fantasmic” dining packages, which bundle a meal with a reserved viewing spot, likely cover the cost of staging the show.
The funds saved from not replacing Murphy can be redirected to other projects, such as the final push to transform Splash Mountain into Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, set to open in late 2024.
Cost of Animatronics
Creating a new animatronic dragon would be a costly endeavor. According to Garner Holt Productions, animatronics can range from $10,000 to over $1 million, depending on their complexity. The original “Fantasmic” dragon was one of the largest and most intricate animatronics ever built, featuring 60 microprocessors to synchronize its movements and special effects for fire, mist, and lights.
Garner Holt described the dragon as an extreme and complex creation, with an equally significant show payoff. The question remains whether Disneyland will invest in reviving such a complicated figure.
As “Fantasmic” continues to captivate audiences without the dragon, Disneyland faces a pivotal decision: bring back the legendary animatronic or let it remain a part of the park’s storied past.