Earthquake Temporarily Shuts Down 35 Disney Rides in Southern California

Southern California’s Disneyland and Disney California Adventure experienced a brief disruption when a 3.5-magnitude earthquake struck Fullerton in Orange County, just 2 miles from the parks. The quake occurred around 8 p.m. on Monday night, with a subsequent aftershock at 8:30 p.m. Despite over 2,800 people reporting feeling the tremors, no initial damage or injuries were reported at the popular theme parks.

However, the seismic activity led to the temporary closure of 35 rides, affecting beloved attractions like Space Mountain, Pirates of the Caribbean, and the Matterhorn Bobsleds. Even festive versions of attractions such as It’s a Small World and the Adventureland Treehouse were temporarily shut down.

By 9 p.m., the majority of attractions had closed, leaving only the Jungle Cruise and the Mad Tea Party operational at Disneyland. In Disney California Adventure, only a select few rides, including Mickey’s PhilharMagic and Mater’s Jingle Jamboree, remained open.

Guests shared their experiences on social media, with one Napa photographer mentioning, “3.5 Earthquake hits when we were in line at Winnie The Pooh, and everything is down now.” The theme park assured visitors that rides would reopen once safety protocols were passed.

As a precautionary measure, employees evacuated guests from rides. By Tuesday afternoon, most rides were operational again, although Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance and the Jungle Cruise faced temporary closures.

Despite the inconvenience caused by the earthquake, the theme parks resumed normal operations, providing a reminder of the unpredictable nature of Southern California’s seismic activity.