Disneyland Explosion Clears Toontown; Dry Ice `Bomb’ Shuts Attraction after explosion; No Injuries

A Disneyland explosion cleared Toontown yesterday after a dry ice “bomb” exploded in a trash bin. The Disneyland explosion shut the popular attraction for about two hours. No injuries were reported.

Police officials had to evacuate the popular Toontown attraction at Disneyland for several hour after a blast rocked the theme park at about 5:30 p.m. Visitors were allowed back into the attraction at about 7:30 p.m. Police said that the dry ice appeared to have been placed in a plastic bottle that was left in a trash can and the explosion was confined to the can.

Sgt. Bob Dunn of the Anaheim Police Department said “Unfortunately, it's an all too-common experience." The dry-ice device appeared similar to other devices that have exploded in Anaheim neighborhoods in recent months. Police are investigating whether yesterday’s incident is related to the other blasts in the area.

Investigators will review video surveillance footage and will examine Internet postings and social media to find clues as to who was responsible.

Disneyland posted that Toontown said was evacuated "in an abundance of caution" on its Twitter account. Disneyland officials called the explosion "a small bang," and posted "in an abundance of caution, the area was evacuated."

Disneyland officials are were working with local authorities to determine the origin of the device.

Vistors to Disneyland said they were shocked that someone would leave an explosive device at the "The Happiest Place on Earth."

West Covina resident Jonathan Rosario, who was at the theme park with a toddler said, "You wouldn't expect situations like that coming to a place like this. That is crazy, that's wild. It reminds us we all need to do our part to be safe."

Cristina Garcia of Napa, Calif., who also witnessed the blast said "I wish there were a way to control stuff like that. When you have kids you want it to always be safe." Her husband Hugo Garcia, added "it might be good to have more security in times like this. We want Disneyland to keep its good reputation."

The Disneyland website says Mickey's Toontown is designed to make visitors feel like they've entered an old-fashioned cartoon. Toontown "is an interactive metropolis full of topsy turvy architecture and screwy sculptures."