NEWS: Disneyland Issues Statement Regarding Nearby Hazmat Situation

On Thursday, May 21st, a hazmat incident and potential chemical leak began in Garden Grove, California, located just five miles from Knott’s Berry Farm and Disneyland.

Pixar Pier at Disney California Adventure

Neither park is in the identified evacuation zone, and both are currently still open. Disneyland has now released an official statement regarding the incident. Here’s what you need to know if you’re planning a visit to the Happiest Place on Earth right now.

UPDATE: As of 9 AM PDT on Monday, May 25th, Garden Grove officials have confirmed that the GKN Aerospace chemical tank is no longer a threat of catastrophic explosion. Crews said that a crack has formed in the tank, which is reducing pressure, the Orange County Register has reported. The temperature inside the tank has also decreased from at least 100 degrees to 93 degrees. The evacuation of thousands of residents in Garden Grove and nearby communities remains intact.

A hazmat incident at GKN Aerospace on Western Avenue in Garden Grove occurred on Thursday, May 21st, and has since worsened over the weekend. The crisis involves a malfunctioning chemical tank that threatens to explode and release a toxic cloud, which would affect hundreds of thousands of people in the area and for miles around, including Disneyland.

Sleeping Beauty Castle

As of now, Disneyland is not in the identified evacuation zone, but many are wondering whether it’s safe to visit the parks. Disney officials have now put out a statement advising that, at this time, ” there is no impact to Disneyland Resort due to this situation and the resort remains open to guests.”

Disney said that they are actively monitoring the situation and taking guidance from local authorities.

Disneyland

The statement goes on to say, “The Disneyland Resort is approximately five miles from the incident and is not in the identified evacuation zone. Updates can be found by following Orange County Fire Authority on social media.”

Disney is advising people to check the local guidelines before travel. Road closures, detours, or traffic disruptions in the surrounding area may impact how people get to and from the resort.

Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge at Disneyland

So, while Disneyland isn’t in the evacuation zone and the parks remain open, travel to and from Disneyland could be impacted due to the chemical incident.

Disneyland

Currently, the situation has forced 40,000 people to evacuate in an impact zone, which includes parts of Garden Grove, Anaheim, Cypress, Stanton, and Westminster. When speaking about the situation, a Knott’s Berry Farm employee spokesperson said, “The safety and well-being of our guests and team members is a cornerstone of our business. We are working closely with our partners at the Orange County Fire Authority to actively monitor the situation. At this time, the park has not been impacted.”

Disney California Adventure

As of the evening of Saturday, May 23rd, the Disneyland union instructed Cast Members who feel unsafe and are affected by the chemical leak to stay home. We also know that while Disneyland itself isn’t in the potential blast zone, many Disneyland guests stay in the Garden Grove area, and others travel through it on their way to the park. The governor has also declared a State of Emergency.

During the afternoon on Sunday, May 24th, Orange County Fire Authority Interim Chief TJ McGovern said firefighters did “a recon mission on the tank” late Saturday night, during which they discovered a crack, which could be relieving some of the pressure, ABC7 has reported.

Disney California Adventure

This is an ongoing situation, and we will update you as we learn more. Stay tuned to the Disney Food Blog for the latest updates.

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