Two major characters were seemingly removed from one of Disney’s biggest shows recently, leaving fans wondering what happened and why these characters were removed from the production.
Credit: Disney
For more than 30 years, Disneyland Park has been dazzling audiences with its nightly spectacle, Fantasmic!. The show combines pyrotechnics, water effects, fireworks, music and live performances to transport guests to an enchanting world of Mickey Mouse’s imagination. From classic Disney heroes to iconic villains, Fantasmic! weaves together a tapestry of beloved characters and thrilling encounters, culminating in a battle where good triumphs over evil.
Fantasmic! has always been a beloved Disneyland staple, but the show has faced various challenges. In April 2023, Maleficent’s dragon animatronic caught fire, forcing the show to be temporarily suspended and several performers to receive medical treatment after being exposed to smoke. While the cause of the fire is still under investigation, the incident caused extensive damage to the lighting and stage, forcing show creators to recreate the iconic dragon scene.
Maleficent’s dragon incident is not an isolated incident. Disneyland has experienced multiple fire-related incidents throughout its history. From castle fires to parade float failures, the park has faced a variety of issues related to its pyrotechnics and electrical systems. These incidents have disrupted operations and caused temporary closures, but Disney has consistently demonstrated its commitment to the safety of its guests and the restoration of its beloved attractions.
Credit: Disney
Recently, a technical malfunction occurred during a performance of Fantasmic!, highlighting the complexity of the show’s pyrotechnics. A sudden burst of fireworks during the climax of the Mickey Mouse performance highlighted the potential risks involved with large-scale fireworks shows. Fortunately, no injuries were reported and the show continued to completion.
Despite these setbacks, Fantasmic! remains a beloved and iconic part of the Disneyland experience, and Disney’s commitment to preserving the magic of the show while prioritizing Guest safety is evident in its ongoing efforts to enhance the show and address potential hazards.
Now, there’s a different issue with Fantastic.
Disneyland guest Matt D.H.E. revealed that Belle and the Beast were removed from last night’s performance of Fantasmic! at Disneyland Park. The float and characters appear to have been removed entirely, but the “Old Tale” music continued to play. Meanwhile, other Disney romance characters Rapunzel and Flynn, and Ariel and Eric, continued to dance during the Beauty and the Beast section so that the show would not be interrupted.
The Beauty and the Beast float did not appear during the first showing of Fantasmic! at Disneyland tonight, with other floats instead dancing to the song.
The Beauty and the Beast float did not appear during the first showing of Fantasmic! at Disneyland tonight, with other floats instead dancing to the song. pic.twitter.com/C20l727Aep
— Matt DH (@DisneyScoopGuy) July 28, 2024
Disney hasn’t explained why the character wasn’t in the show, but there could be a variety of reasons for this. It could be that there were technical issues with the float or costumes, or the performers weren’t available for the show yesterday evening. Whatever the case, it was clear that something hadn’t gone right, and changes were made at short notice to keep the show going as planned, with four other characters filling the vacancy.
This probably won’t be a permanent change, as “Beauty and the Beast” is one of Disney’s most popular IPs and there hasn’t been any major controversy surrounding the story.
Credit: Disney
When the live-action film was released, there were some issues with people who were not happy about LeFou being part of the LGBTQ+ community.
The remake of the classic film, directed by Bill Condon, caused such a stir that drive-in theaters in Alabama boycotted the film, the Russian government considered a boycott, and the Malaysian film censorship board asked Disney to cut gay scenes from the film, which Disney refused. It’s notable that an Alabama movie theater, the Russian government, and Malaysian censors all spoke out against a Disney film. The Alabama movie theater became part of a national debate about LGBTQ tolerance.
The Henagar Drive-In in Henagar, Alabama, was at the center of this controversy: in 2017, a representative from the theater posted a now-deleted Facebook message declaring that they would not screen the film because LeFou was gay and homosexuality was incompatible with the Christian faith.
“If companies continue to force their views on us, we need to take a stand,” the March 2 Facebook post said. “We all make choices. I make choices too. If I can’t watch a movie to the end with God or Jesus sitting next to me, then we don’t deserve to screen it. I know there will be some who don’t agree with this decision, and that’s OK. We are Christians first and foremost, and we will not compromise what the Bible teaches.”
Perhaps the most visible impact of the boycott was a petition by the American Family Association, a fundamentalist “family values” group that supported the boycott, which said that “Disney wants to normalize homosexuality in its films” and garnered more than 50,000 signatures — more than 20 times the population of Henagar, Alabama, which is 2,300 people (according to the 2010 census).
Credit: Disney
In the new Beauty and the Beast, Gaston and LeFou do not have a sexual relationship, but LeFou reminisces about a time when the two bonded during a certain war. LeFou has a crush on Gaston throughout the film, but eventually realizes he is gay and that Gaston does not reciprocate his feelings. The film’s gayest moment comes when Condon and company perform the “Gaston” number, using Ashman’s original lyrics.
A Gaston and LeFou spinoff was planned, but has yet to materialize.
Disney also had to settle a lawsuit over the film, which you can read more about here.
Despite this “woke” upset, a criticism Disney has received many times, the Walt Disney Company has made it clear that inclusivity is their goal, from their movies to their theme parks, and they have no intention of deviating from it (the removal of Splash Mountain and the addition of Tiana’s Bayou Adventure being a good example of this).
Additionally, the live-action Beauty and the Beast grossed over $1.2 billion worldwide, making it the second highest-grossing film of 2017 and the 10th highest-grossing film of all time in 2017, so Disney probably has little to worry about when it comes to promoting Belle and the Beast in its theme parks.
Have you ever noticed characters disappearing from Disney shows and performances?
