Wildfires are raging throughout Southern California, inflicting the closure of Common Studios Hollywood and readers to ask if Disneyland Resort will shut or be impacted by the fires. This publish addresses the present operational standing of the parks, plus all the things else you could know when you’re visiting Los Angeles or Anaheim quickly. (Up to date January 15, 2025.)
As you’ve doubtless seen on the information, lethal wildfires have damaged out throughout coastal areas of Southern California attributable to a confluence of circumstances. These wildfires have proliferated attributable to atypically highly effective Santa Ana winds plus low humidity plus nearly no rain over the course of the final 8 months.
Hundreds of firefighters from throughout the US and Mexico are battling wildfires throughout 45 sq. miles of Southern California. About 92,000 individuals stay below obligatory evacuation orders and one other 89,000 are below evacuation warnings. At the least 24 individuals are lifeless, and greater than one other dozen are unaccounted for, as greater than 12,000 buildings have burned and greater than 60,000 buildings stay threatened with robust winds persevering with to fan flames in densely populated components of Los Angeles County.
Let’s begin with a rundown on the main fires in Southern California:
- The Palisades Fireplace has burned by greater than 23,713 acres and is 14% contained . It had broken or destroyed greater than 5,300 buildings.
- The Eaton Fireplace has burned by greater than 14,117 acres and is 33% contained, and it’s estimated that greater than 7,000 buildings have been destroyed.
- The Hurst Fireplace has burned by greater than 799 acres and is 95% contained.
- The Kenneth Fireplace burned by greater than 1,000 acres and is 100% contained. All evacuation orders and warnings issued for the Kenneth Fireplace have been lifted.
- The Lidia Fireplace burned by greater than 395 acres and is 100% contained. All evacuation orders and warnings have been lifted.
- The Sundown Fireplace is contained with no buildings destroyed and all evacuation orders have been lifted.
These are simply the main wildfires in Southern California. In complete, there are 124 lively wildfires accounting for 40,588 acres burned, and over 12,3000 buildings destroyed in keeping with the California Division of Forestry and Fireplace Safety, or Cal Fireplace as of 1 p.m. Pacific on Monday, January 13, 2025. Nevertheless, CalFire notes that assessments are nonetheless underway and information is often delayed–so these are virtually assuredly underestimates.
As these firefighters work to include the above blazes, the danger of further fast-moving and wind-driven wildfires will persist by not less than Wednesday, January 15, 2025. This comes as new Pink flag warnings are being issued for parts of Southern California as situations are anticipated to as soon as once more worsen after a weekend reprieve that allowed firefighters to realize floor on battling the blazes.
Common Studios Hollywood is situated north of Los Angeles, and is way more impacted by the present conflagrations. Because of excessive winds and fireplace situations, Common Studios Hollywood was closed January 8-9, 2025.
Common Studios Hollywood resumed common working hours on Friday, and has been working as regular since then. There are not any present or deliberate upcoming closures at USH. After all, that’s all the time topic to alter based mostly on situations.
Different fashionable vacationer locations, together with however not restricted to the Getty and Getty Villa, Los Angeles Zoo, and Griffith Observatory have reported closures because of the fires, winds, and smoke situations. Closures have been principally confined to the north facet of Los Angeles County–we’ve but to listen to of something in Orange County, California that has closed because of the fires. We’d suggest checking the official web sites and social media channels of any such locations earlier than planning visits.
Disneyland has not made any bulletins about operational modifications and none are anticipated going ahead on January 14-15, 2025.
Disneyland and Disney California Journey didn’t shut beforehand. It needs to be enterprise as traditional, for essentially the most half, because the closest main fireplace to Disneyland continues to be roughly 30 miles away.
The map above from CalFire reveals the proximity of the parks to the 5 fires, in addition to the smoke and haze forecast (yellow) and crimson flag warnings. Disneyland has a Smoke and Haze Forecast of 0-3 PPM (the bottom of 5 tiers, and what applies to most of SoCal exterior the rapid space of the fires) and is below a crimson flag warning.
Whereas the forecast improved over the weekend, the Nationwide Climate Service has issued a uncommon “Significantly Harmful State of affairs” crimson flag warnings for components of Ventura and Los Angeles counties (this does not embody Anaheim or Disneyland, that are to the south). That is the very best stage of crimson flag warning, with a forecast of 45-70 mph wind visitors
The NWS is warning that prime winds might trigger “explosive fireplace development” attributable to gusty winds combining with very dry air and the continuing drought to exacerbate situations for firefighters battling to extend containment of the conflagrations. The “Significantly Harmful State of affairs” is in impact from Tuesday at 4 a.m. till midday on Wednesday.
That’s along with the “Important Fireplace Climate” alert issued by the Storm Prediction Heart that features greater than 8 million individuals. Areas of the vital fireplace climate space throughout Southern California contains Anaheim, which might see winds of 20-40 mph with remoted greater gusts together with very dry air. Throughout this space, gusts might exceed 50 mph.
These alerts anticipate worsening winds beginning afterward Monday, with the warnings in place by midday on Wednesday, January 15, 2025. These winds alone can have operational impacts for Disneyland, if nothing else.
Suffice to say, Disneyland is not going to be immediately impacted by any of the present wildfires, there could possibly be oblique impacts. The largest of those is the wind. These robust Santa Ana winds might trigger cancellations and closures. To the extent that they’re even scheduled (Fridays by Mondays), “Mickey’s Combine Magic with Fireworks” will most likely be offered with out pyro till these situations die down dramatically. They’re regularly nixed in a lot calmer situations.
We’ve heard experiences from readers about sure out of doors character meet & greets attributable to climate, in addition to the Superb Spider-Man present at Avengers Campus in Disney California Journey (that includes the Spider-Man “Stuntronics” determine that’s flung above the buildings).
One other chance is the cancellation of World of Coloration – ONE. Apparent candidates for closure are Golden Zephyr and Foolish Symphony Swings at Disney California Journey. There could possibly be different oblique impacts attributable to air high quality if that worsens, though that isn’t a priority at this level.
It’s additionally value reiterating that all the above pertains to the present wildfires.
New wildfires are doable, because the situations are conducive to them. That’s exactly how SoCal ended up with 5 separate main wildfires within the first place. It’s additionally why there’s a Pink Flag warning for many of Southern California, from north of the present fires all the way in which all the way down to the southern border of the state (minus the shoreline).
The excellent news is that Anaheim is often not deemed a excessive threat for wildfires within the first place. Nevertheless, in every single place in Southern California is at heightened threat proper now because of the distinctive set of circumstances–see above alerts from the NWS and SPC. Once more, these ongoing blazes didn’t happen concurrently by coincidence. Whereas there’s no hazard of the Palisades or Eaton fires spreading to Anaheim, there may be concern about blazes in a lot nearer canyons.
Above is a take a look at the present air high quality map, courtesy of the the South Coast Air High quality Administration District. This improved dramatically over the weekend, even in areas to the north the place the wildfires are burning. Anaheim is in an space of fine air high quality, with some average zones to the east and west.
Air high quality might worsen because the wildfires proceed to burn however the winds die down. The smoke situations for all the South Coast AQMD jurisdiction, which incorporates Los Angeles, San Bernardino, Riverside, and Orange counties, may also be seen right here.
Native governments have issued reminders to have a 5-minute evacuation plan in place. With how shortly these fires have been transferring and the way sluggish visitors was by some obligatory evacuation areas, that’s good recommendation–so we figured we’d share this 5-minute plan & guidelines for different Californians needing one.
Southern California Edison has made a number of Public Security Energy Shutoffs (PSPS) and in addition suggested that PSPS are “into consideration” for many others. Anaheim will not be amongst these areas.
For our half, we dwell to the southwest of Disneyland (principally the mirror picture of Pacific Palisades by way of location) and we’re below all the similar warnings, plus a PSPS into consideration attributable to being in a better threat location (usually, not because of the present wildfires).
Cal Edison really did make a PSPS in our neighborhood on Thursday evening for a number of hours. No wildfire was close by, however the measure of final resort was however undertaken as a result of situations have been conducive to the short unfold of a fireplace if one have been ignited. (Simply to underscore how this public security protocol works.)
In the end, this can be a historic prevalence and it’s inconceivable to say the way it’ll develop. My guess is that the most important impression on Disneyland is that the parks will likely be far much less busy by not less than January 17, 2025, as locals to the north have larger issues to take care of and most locals to the south are anxious about comparable circumstances arising round their properties, and never eager to be within the parks in consequence.
For those who’re a vacationer, you might need comparable issues about smoke and ash within the air. It’s additionally doable that flights out of Bob Hope Airport will likely be delayed or cancelled, however I can’t think about many Disneyland visitors flying into Burbank. Past sharing that it’s principally enterprise as traditional at Disneyland and possibly will stay that manner, I’m unsure what actionable recommendation to supply.
The largest factor that involves thoughts is being particularly courteous to Solid Members and granting them grace. Hundreds of properties have already been destroyed, with important impacts past these north of Los Angeles. Disneyland frontline Solid Members are unlikely to dwell within the areas which have burned, however locals are on edge, regardless, anxious about their households and associates, and whether or not the following fireplace to interrupt out is likely to be nearer to house. Our ideas exit to all of these affected by the wildfires, and our honest thanks to these courageous people out on the frontlines combating the fires and aiding in evacuations.
That is underscored by current social media posts from Disney CEO Bob Iger surveying the devastation in Pacific Palisades and legendary Imagineer Joe Rohde sharing heartfelt ideas on the loss in Altadena (each are effectively value studying). It’s doubtless that a number of the firm’s leaders in Burbank misplaced their properties within the Palisades or Sundown fires, and Glendale-based groups misplaced theirs within the Eaton fireplace.
For its half, the Walt Disney Firm has introduced that it’s donating $15 million for preliminary and rapid response and rebuilding efforts. Disney will likely be supporting important organizations providing important companies on the bottom, together with the American Pink Cross, Los Angeles Fireplace Division Basis, Los Angeles Regional Meals Financial institution, and extra.
Moreover, Disney has been working across the clock to make sure the protection and wellbeing of Solid Members, lots of whom have been impacted by these fires, and the corporate intends to supply additional sources to our Worker Aid Fund to assist these going through hardship on account of this disaster. Past vital aid efforts, Disney will likely be working intently with the enterprise neighborhood to search out methods to assist necessary rebuilding efforts within the area.
“As this tragedy continues to unfold, The Walt Disney Firm is dedicated to supporting our neighborhood and our staff as all of us work collectively to get well and rebuild from this unbelievable devastation,” mentioned Bob Iger. “Walt Disney got here to Los Angeles with little greater than his limitless creativeness, and it was right here that he selected to make his house, pursue his goals, and create extraordinary storytelling which means a lot to so many individuals all over the world. We’re proud to supply help to this resilient and vibrant neighborhood on this second of want.”
Planning a Southern California trip? For park admission offers, learn Ideas for Saving Cash on Disneyland Tickets. Study on-site and off-site accommodations in our Anaheim Lodge Opinions & Rankings. For the place to eat, try our Disneyland Restaurant Opinions. For distinctive concepts of issues that’ll enhance your journey, try What to Pack for Disney. For complete recommendation, seek the advice of our Disneyland Trip Planning Information. Lastly, for guides past Disney, try our Southern California Itineraries for day journeys to Los Angeles, Laguna Seaside, and lots of different SoCal cities!
Your Ideas
Ideas to share in regards to the Palisades, Eaton or different wildfires? Any further on-the-ground experiences to share from Disneyland or round Southern California? Do you agree or disagree with our evaluation? Any questions? Listening to your suggestions—even while you disagree with us—is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!