While an ongoing dispute with Republican Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has threatened Walt Disney World’s future success in that state, the company’s theme park in California was recently impacted by a more natural event.
According to reports, operations at Disneyland were temporarily disrupted late Monday when an earthquake originated only about two miles to the north.
#BREAKING: A 3.5-magnitude earthquake hit the Fullerton area Monday night, according to the U.S. Geological Survey.
The quake was even felt at the Downtown Disney District at Disneyland, according to a park visitor. https://t.co/XNCNshaZiC pic.twitter.com/727RHjDGqo
— ABC7 Eyewitness News (@ABC7) December 5, 2023
Although the tremor registered a relatively low magnitude of 3.5, its proximity to the park resulted in significant concern among staff and attendees. A short time later, an aftershock rumbled the ground again.
One guest shared her thoughts in a social media post, writing: “Felt like it was right under our table at Jolly Holiday. Shook things up more than you would think.”
Fortunately, there were no initial reports of injuries, but many rides were immediately evacuated and shut down across the park. Disneyland employees conducted an inspection of all rides before they could reopen.
As of about 9 p.m., the park confirmed that most of the rides and attractions at both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure had been shut down for inspection.
One Disney-themed Instagram account explained: “Damage is very unlikely but guests will be inconvenienced while rides are inspected.”
Reports indicate normal activity commenced before the park closed for the night.
While some guests were sympathetic to the park’s decision to shut things down, others were clearly peeved when their outing was interrupted by a quake that many said they did not even feel.
“We were 45 minutes into the hour wait for the Rise of the Resistance,” one upset guest wrote. “We’d been waiting for the perfect time all day. It was in Fullerton. Didn’t feel a thing in line!”
With prices for admission and other associated expenses skyrocketing in recent years, it is understandable that guests want to get the most out of their time at the park.
In 2019, an earthquake about twice as powerful rocked the area, causing chaos across the park and in surrounding areas.
The park was also closed for inspection following that incident, as with a 6.7-magnitude quake that struck nearby in 1995.
