Guests at Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa were forced to evacuate last night after an emergency alert prompted a swift response from Anaheim Fire & Rescue.
The incident, which took place at approximately 6.50 p.m. on February 14, saw firefighters arrive on the scene, only for the situation to be quickly resolved. According to reports from guests on Reddit, the evacuation was short-lived, with many only waiting outside for a brief period before being allowed back in after what appears to have been a false alarm.
The Grand Californian is no stranger to evacuations, with past incidents leading to similar temporary displacements. In October, guests were evacuated in the early hours of the morning due to another false alarm. One frequent visitor noted, “I swear Grand Californian has like a 50% chance of being evacuated when I’m there. Wonder why they always have so many false alarms.”
While many of these incidents turn out to be precautionary, the hotel has experienced a more serious emergency in the past.
The 2005 Fire at the Grand Californian
In December 2005, a fire broke out in the hotel’s lobby when a Christmas tree caught fire at approximately 3 a.m. Electric maintenance workers were replacing the tree’s lights when the blaze ignited, prompting the evacuation of over 2,000 guests within four minutes.
The hotel’s sprinkler system, aided by the Anaheim Fire Department, quickly brought the fire under control. Two guests were treated for minor injuries, and all evacuees returned to their rooms by 7 a.m.
Disney’s Grand Californian Hotel & Spa is the largest and most luxurious hotel at Disneyland Resort, designed in the style of early 20th-century California craftsman architecture. Opened in 2001, it offers direct access to Disney California Adventure Park, along with high-end amenities such as the award-winning Napa Rose restaurant, a full-service spa, and multiple pools.
Its latest evacuation comes at a time when Southern California is still dealing with the aftermath of a series of wildfires that swept through the region in January. The Palisades Fire, which burned for 24 days before being fully contained on January 31, was the most severe, impacting areas including the Pacific Palisades, Topanga, and Malibu.
Other fires forced the temporary closure of Universal Studios Hollywood and displaced multiple Disneyland Resort cast members. In response, Disney has offered complimentary Heroes Tickets to California firefighters, law enforcement personnel, and emergency medical technicians who played a role in combating the wildfires.
Have you ever been evacuated from your Disney resort?
My family was evacuated from Wilderness Lodge last spring at 5:00 a.m. After having just spent extra magic hours at Magic Kingdom and getting to bed about 2:00 a.m.
No cast member in sight for at least 30 minutes to instruct, advise, apologize…something?! People eventually just started going back on their own. But come on. There were families with INFANTS. I did leave a comment about my stay and that very poorly handled experience and never got a response. Surprised, no. Hugely disappointed, yes. Unfortunately, even I believe all they care about is the almighty dollars made.There are certainly specific cast members who can really make for a great experience (Timothy at Whispering Canyon Cafe comes to mind almost a year later!), but the upper ranks…no comment.
For my kids though, I will STILL make the sacrifice.