Guests at Disneyland were left shaken after the Paint the Night parade came to an abrupt stop when the Little Mermaid float began smoking on Wednesday evening. Videos posted to TikTok and X show smoke pouring from the elaborate float, forcing Disney cast members to intervene quickly and clear guests from the area. The float, themed around Ariel and King Triton, appeared to suffer a mechanical or electrical malfunction mid-route, causing confusion and alarm among parkgoers.
“The Little Mermaid float in Paint the Night at Disneyland started smoking tonight and the parade had to be stopped and guests were removed from the area,” reported DisneyScoopGuy on X, alongside a viral video clip.
Witnesses described the scene as chaotic but praised cast members for their swift response. One user wrote, “Yikes! I hope everyone is okay. Major props to the CMs for handling everything calmly and getting people away from the area.” Someone else chimed in, calling it an “absolutely crazy night.”
Another added concern for performers, tweeting, “Oh my goodness, I hope they got the Ariel performer safely away.” Still, some parkgoers noted a troubling trend. “What is it with Disneyland and fire these days,” one person commented, while another said, “Between this and the ferry crash I feel like Disney isn’t really safe anymore.”
Disney Parks Safety Under Fire After Ferry Crash Injures Dozens
The smoking float comes just weeks after a separate incident at Walt Disney World in Florida, where a ferryboat crashed into the moorings at the Transportation and Ticket Center on July 30. Dozens of guests were reportedly injured, and while details remain scarce, the accident has sparked growing safety concerns across the Disney Parks community.
It’s not the first time Disney has dealt with fire-related incidents either. In 2023, an animatronic dragon dramatically caught fire during the final showing of Fantasmic at Disneyland. “During the final showing of ‘Fantasmic’ at Disneyland park on Saturday evening, the dragon caught fire,” Disney officials told CNN at the time.
Anaheim Fire & Rescue rushed to the scene and extinguished the blaze. As a precaution, all cast members and guests were evacuated from Tom Sawyer Island, and nearby attractions were cleared due to smoke and wind.
