Disneyland was forced to close temporarily and evacuate its employees after a 3.5-magnitude earthquake hit California.
According to the Orange County Register, a minor earthquake in Fullerton, which is around 2 miles north of Disneyland, forced the closure of dozens of rides and left visitors at the Anaheim theme park.
“Felt like it was right under our table at Jolly Holiday,” wrote Shanna Fogelman on Instagram. “Shook things up more than you would think.”
The quake was centered near Chapman and Raymond Avenues in Fullerton, according to the U.S. Geological Survey. A smaller aftershock struck around 8:30 p.m, as per the outlet.
“Damage is very unlikely but guests will be inconvenienced while rides are inspected,” MiceChat posted to Instagram.
No injuries or damage on the rides were reported at Disneyland or Disney California Adventure. By Monday evening, the majority of the attractions were still closed.
The list of temporarily closed rides at Disneyland included “Big Thunder Mountain,” “Indiana Jones Adventure,” “Matterhorn Bobsleds,” “Pirates of the Caribbean,” “Rise of the Resistance,” “Space Mountain,” “It’s a Small World,” and the new “Adventureland Treehouse.”
The closed attractions at Disney California Adventure included Radiator Springs Racers, Web Slingers, Toy Story Midway Mania, Soarin’ Around the World and the Incredicoaster.
“All rides are down, all lines are closed and they are telling us after safety protocols are passed they’ll open them back up,” Napa photographer Elise Delamare wrote on the social media platform.
Disneyland’s earthquake procedure indicates that rides and attractions must go through a checkup that is similar to the daily inspections carried out before the park opens. Workers are required to cycle the ride vehicles, walk the track, and check the ride systems for any possible damage or issues.
Employees would then clear each ride queue and typically give re-entry passes during those post-quake inspections. After a mild earthquake, rides may be closed for up to an hour. Reopening dates for attractions depend on when they are made safe for riders to use.
“When rides reopen, they likely will do so with empty queues and fewer people in the park,” according to Theme Park Insider. “If you can wait out the inspection time after a minor quake, you might find some prime riding time on the other side.”
