A magnitude 5.2 earthquake struck Southern California Monday morning, causing widespread alerts—including for guests at Disneyland Resort—though most people in the Anaheim area reported feeling little to no shaking.
Earthquake Rattles Near Julian, Prompts Warnings Across the State
The quake occurred at 10:08 a.m. PT on April 14, with the epicenter located near Julian, a small community east of San Diego. According to the Seismological Laboratory at Caltech, the quake originated about 8 miles beneath the Earth’s surface and appears connected to the Elsinore fault system.
Earlier, a 3.3-magnitude foreshock had been recorded the night before.
Emergency response teams were briefed at the state level, and Governor Gavin Newsom’s office released a statement confirming that damage assessments were underway as a precaution.
Disneyland Resort Guests Received Emergency Notifications
Guests spending the day at Disneyland Park, Disney California Adventure, and Downtown Disney may have received an emergency alert on their phones urging them to “Drop, Cover, and Hold On.”
The notification came from California’s ShakeAlert early warning system, which detects seismic activity and provides seconds of warning before shaking begins. Fortunately, this time, it seems those few seconds weren’t needed.
No Noticeable Impact at the Parks
While the alert certainly caught some guests off guard, there was no significant impact on park operations. Visitors reported continuing their day without interruption, and there were no evacuation orders or ride closures due to the quake.
“We were eating breakfast when the alert came through,” one visitor told a local reporter. “Everyone paused, looked around, and just kind of shrugged. No one seemed to feel anything.”
A Reminder of the Region’s Seismic History
Disneyland, built in the heart of Southern California, has weathered several significant earthquakes since its opening in 1955. The region’s history includes quakes that did result in more dramatic moments for the theme park:
The 1994 Northridge Quake
The Northridge earthquake (magnitude 6.7) led to temporary closures of multiple attractions at Disneyland while structural inspections were conducted. The park resumed normal operations later that day.
The 1987 Whittier Narrows Earthquake
Measuring 5.9 on the Richter scale, this quake was felt more strongly in Anaheim, causing guest evacuations and ride stoppages as a precaution.
The 1971 San Fernando Quake
Though Disneyland escaped damage, the event led to revised earthquake response procedures for the resort, many of which remain in effect today.
Earthquake Safety at Disneyland
Disneyland Resort has robust earthquake response protocols in place. Many of the rides are programmed to automatically pause or shut down when seismic activity is detected. Cast Members are also trained to assist guests during emergencies.
For visitors in the parks during any seismic event, the recommended action is:
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Drop to the ground
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Cover your head and neck
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Hold On until the shaking stops
A Low-Impact Reminder
Though Monday’s earthquake didn’t result in any damage or significant disturbances in Anaheim, it served as a reminder that Southern California’s fault lines are still active—and that emergency systems, especially in high-traffic areas like Disneyland, are functioning as intended.
As of now, park operations remain fully normal, and the only disruption to guests’ day may have been a surprising phone notification.
