A hazmat incident at Disneyland in Anaheim, California, sent multiple employees to the hospital on Tuesday after a chemical reaction in a backstage area produced an unknown odor that left workers dizzy and short of breath. Emergency responders were dispatched to the theme park around 12:30 p.m. on March 10, 2026, after cast members reported the strange smell near the Star Tours attraction in Tomorrowland, according to CBS Los Angeles.
Disneyland officials said building materials being used by a contractor produced a reaction in the backstage area, triggering the emergency response. A Disneyland spokesperson confirmed the cause to multiple outlets, though the park did not publicly specify what building materials were involved or the precise nature of the chemical reaction, as Fox Business noted in its reporting.
Affected employees reported symptoms including dizziness, shortness of breath, and minor pain. Several cast members were treated on-site by paramedics and released without needing hospital transport, while others required further medical attention. The exact number of workers hospitalized remained unclear, with reports varying across outlets. CBS Los Angeles, citing Anaheim Fire and Rescue spokesperson Matt Sutter, reported five employees were transported to a local hospital. NBC Los Angeles and several other outlets put the figure at seven, while E! News published a direct statement from Disneyland officials citing eight cast members who were transported to local hospitals.
The incident took place in a backstage area not accessible to general park visitors. That detail proved critical — no park guests reported symptoms or were affected, according to Anaheim police. Sutter emphasized that the situation had no impact on guests visiting the park that day.
Still, the response was significant. First responders wore hazmat suits while evaluating the affected backstage area, and aerial footage captured by news helicopters showed the scale of the emergency operation unfolding behind the scenes of the popular theme park. The Anaheim Fire Department served as the primary responding agency for the hazmat incident.
As an abundance of caution, Disneyland officials cleared adjacent onstage areas of guests, according to ABC7 Los Angeles, which disclosed that Disney is the parent company of ABC7. A large portion of the Tomorrowland area, including several attractions, was shut down while authorities investigated. The Orange County Register reported the hazmat incident was located near both Star Tours and Space Mountain.
Sergeant Mark Sutter of the Anaheim Police Department confirmed to KTLA that officers responded to the unknown odor near the Star Tours backstage area around 12:30 p.m. The temporarily closed Tomorrowland section was reopened to guests on Tuesday night, KTLA reported, suggesting the investigation and cleanup were resolved relatively quickly.
Meanwhile, firefighters indicated that overall park operations were not significantly disrupted by the incident, according to FOX 11 Los Angeles. Guests in other areas of Disneyland Park and the broader Disneyland Resort continued their visits largely unaware of the backstage emergency unfolding in Tomorrowland.Disneyland employs thousands of cast members who work in backstage areas that remain hidden from the public, maintaining rides, managing logistics, and supporting the guest experience. Construction and maintenance projects are a constant presence in these areas.
However, the lack of specifics about the building materials involved left some questions unanswered. Disneyland did not elaborate on the nature of the contractor’s work or what substance caused the reaction that sickened workers. It remained unclear whether any regulatory investigation would follow the incident.
The hospitalized employees’ conditions were not immediately disclosed beyond the initial symptoms reported at the scene. Disneyland officials said the affected areas were expected to reopen soon after the incident was contained, and the park appeared to resume normal operations by Tuesday evening.
