A 3.5-magnitude earthquake led to temporary closures at the happiest place on Earth, but the attractions were swiftly restored and operational.
Tourists at Disneyland and Disney California Adventure in Southern California had a startling experience when 35 rides were temporarily halted due to a minor earthquake in the vicinity.
The seismic event, registering at 3.5 magnitude, occurred in the city of Fullerton in Orange County, approximately 2 miles from the parks, just after 8 p.m. on Monday night, as reported by the U.S. Geological Survey. A milder aftershock ensued around 8:30 p.m., with over 2,800 people confirming they felt the earthquake, according to USGS.
Although there were no immediate reports of damage or injuries at either theme park, the quake caused disruptions for guests eager to enjoy popular attractions such as Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Matterhorn Bobsleds. Even the holiday-themed versions of the It’s a Small World attraction and the new Adventureland Treehouse were temporarily closed.
By 9 p.m. on Monday night, as per information from the Disneyland app, most of the attractions had been shut down. At Disneyland, only the Jungle Cruise and the Mad Tea Party remained open. Simultaneously, at the adjacent California Adventure, the following attractions were the only ones operational: Mickey’s PhilharMagic, Inside Out Emotional Whirlwind, Luigi’s Joy to the Whirl, and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree.
Beloved attractions at Disney California Adventure, including the Incredicoaster, Toy Story Midway Mania, and even Cars Land’s Radiator Springs Racers, were among the rides that experienced temporary closures.
Napa photographer Elise Delamare shared her experience on Instagram, stating, “A 3.5 earthquake hits when we were in line at Winnie The Pooh, and everything is down now. They are telling us after safety protocols are passed, they’ll open them back up.”
As a safety measure, employees had to evacuate guests from rides, as reported by the Orange County Register.
As of Tuesday afternoon, most rides are operational, according to the app, with the exception of temporary closures for Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and the Jungle Cruise.
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