How Close California Fires Are to Disneyland & Universal Studios Hollywood

Wildfires are raging across Southern California, causing the closure of Universal Studios Hollywood and readers to ask if Disneyland Resort will close or be impacted by the fires. This post addresses the current status of the parks, the company’s fire response efforts, plus everything else you need to know if you’re visiting Los Angeles or Anaheim soon. (Updated January 23, 2025.)

As you’ve likely seen on the news, deadly wildfires have broken out across coastal areas of Southern California due to a confluence of circumstances. These wildfires have proliferated due to atypically powerful Santa Ana winds plus low humidity plus virtually no rain over the course of the last 8 months.

We are locals living just south of Disneyland who visit the parks regularly. Although not directly impacted by the active wildfires, we are closely watching the news, anxiously awaiting the forecast to improve and for rain to finally enter the forecast (like pretty much everyone else in Southern California). We’re keeping readers apprised of what we’re learning and experiencing until that happens. To be notified of future updates about the fires or all things Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and beyond, sign up for our free Disney Parks email newsletters.

Thousands of firefighters from across the United States, Canada and Mexico are battling wildfires across 63 square miles of Southern California. At least 28 people are dead, and more than another dozen are unaccounted for. At one point there were close to 200,000 Californians under evacuation orders, but that number has dropped to under 80,000 with another 90,000 in evacuation warning zones. Thankfully, firefighters are starting to gain the upper hand on the active fires, and have even achieved total containment on a few.

Here’s the current status of the major fires in Southern California as of January 23, 2025:

• The Palisades Fire has burned through more than 23,448 acres and is 73% contained . It had damaged or destroyed more than 5,300 structures.
• The Eaton Fire has burned through more than 14,021 acres and is 95% contained, and it is estimated that more than 7,000 structures have been destroyed.
• The Hughes Fire has burned 10,176 acres and is 14% contained. This new fire broke out Wednesday, and has put more than 50,000 people under evacuation orders and warnings in the northern Los Angeles and Ventura Counties.
• The Laguna Fire has burned through 50 acres and is 0% contained.
• The Sepulveda Fire has burned through 45 acres and is 60% contained.
• The Clay Fire has burned through 39 acres and is 70% contained.

Those are just the major active wildfires in Southern California. The Lidia, Archer, Woodley, Sunset, Kenneth, Hurst and Auto fires are 100% contained and no longer considered active, according to Cal Fire. Between them, those fires scorched 2,399 acres.

In total, there are 255 wildfires accounting for 50,683 acres burned, and over 16,118 structures destroyed according to the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection, or Cal Fire as of 10 a.m. Pacific on Thursday, January 23, 2025. However, CalFire notes that assessments are still underway and data is typically delayed–so these are almost assuredly underestimates.

As these firefighters work to contain the above blazes, the risk of additional fast-moving and wind-driven wildfires will persist through at least Friday, January 24, 2025. This comes as new Red flag warnings are being issued for portions of Southern California as conditions are expected to once again worsen.

Universal Studios Hollywood is located north of Los Angeles, and is much more impacted by the current conflagrations. Due to extreme winds and fire conditions, Universal Studios Hollywood was closed January 8-9.

It makes sense that USH would close, as it’s essentially dead-center between the Palisades Fire and Eaton Fire. Universal Studios Hollywood is about 10 miles away from the California wildfires, and even closer to the evacuation zones.

Universal Studios Hollywood resumed regular operating hours on Friday, and has been operating as normal since then. There are no current or planned upcoming closures at USH. Of course, that’s always subject to change based on conditions.

Other popular tourist destinations, including but not limited to the Getty and Getty Villa, Los Angeles Zoo, and Griffith Observatory have reported closures due to the fires, winds, and smoke conditions. Closures have been mostly confined to the north side of Los Angeles County–we’ve yet to hear of anything in Orange County, California that has closed due to the fires. We’d recommend checking the official websites and social media channels of any such destinations before planning visits.

Disneyland has not made any announcements about operational changes and none are expected going forward.

Disneyland and Disney California Adventure did not close previously. It should be business as usual, for the most part, as the closest major fire to Disneyland is still approximately 30 miles away.

This still remains true, even following the newer Hughes and Clay fires. Those are 75 and 40 miles away, respectively. There’s been some confusion about this since they’re along the same highways that are near Disneyland, but they’re nowhere near the parks.

The map above from CalFire shows the proximity of the parks to the fires, as well as the aforementioned red flag warnings. Disneyland is under the same red flag warning that applies to much of Southern California, aside from the coast and westside of Los Angeles. A positive development, as it should ensure the Palisades Fire doesn’t spread south, even in the PDS conditions (see below).

According to the National Weather Service, fire risks are high on Thursday, January 23, 2025 throughout Southern California. Forecasters expect winds to continue escalating throughout the morning and humidity to remain at a concerning low.

“This is a DANGEROUS fire day TODAY,” wrote the NWS office in Los Angeles, captioning a map on social media that illustrates fire weather conditions in the region due to low humidity and powerful wind. As the map shows, much of Los Angeles and Ventura Counties are covered with red flag warning areas.

“Any new fire can grow rapidly,” the NWS service indicated. Similarly, Anaheim remains covered by a red flag warning, which is currently scheduled to expire at 10 a.m. on Friday, January 24, 2025. This has been extended repeatedly, but that may soon end thanks to some long-overdue precipitation!

The good news is that a storm from northern Canada will work its way down the west coast and bring the chance of rain to Southern California starting Friday night. Orange County could see .34 inches of rain, Los Angeles could get .25 inches of rain, and the Inland Empire could get .40 inches of rain, per KCAL News Meteorologist Paul Deanno.

Suffice to say, Disneyland will not be directly impacted by any of the current wildfires, there could be indirect impacts. The biggest of these is the wind. These strong Santa Ana winds could cause cancellations and closures.

To the extent that they’re even scheduled (Fridays through Mondays), “Mickey’s Mix Magic with Fireworks” will probably be presented without pyro more frequently until these conditions die down dramatically.

They’re frequently nixed in much calmer conditions. Note that the fireworks are still currently scheduled and have been shown once since the fires started, which should further underscore the comparative lack of risk of wildfires in the City of Anaheim.

In addition to this, certain outdoor character meet & greets have been cancelled at times due to weather, as well as the Amazing Spider-Man show at Avengers Campus in Disney California Adventure (featuring the Spider-Man “Stuntronics” figure that’s flung above the buildings).

Another possibility is the cancellation of World of Color – ONE. Obvious candidates for closure are Golden Zephyr and Silly Symphony Swings at Disney California Adventure. There could be other indirect impacts due to air quality if that worsens, although that is not a concern at this point. As you can see from AirNow, the quality in Anaheim is teetering between good and moderate, which has been the case for the last several days.

For the last few days, all entertainment has been presented as normal. That could change again, but we’re expecting largely business as usual at Disneyland beyond that. This weekend is the start of Lunar New Year at DCA, and it’s likely everything will be back to normal by then, barring surprises in the weather forecast.

It’s also worth reiterating that all of the above pertains to the current wildfires.

New wildfires are possible, as the conditions are conducive to them. That’s precisely how SoCal ended up with several separate major wildfires in the first place. It’s also why there’s a Red Flag warning for most of Southern California, from north of the current fires all the way down to the southern border of the state (minus the coastline).

The good news is that Anaheim is typically not deemed a high risk for wildfires in the first place. However, everywhere in Southern California is at heightened risk right now due to the unique set of circumstances–see above alerts from the NWS and SPC. Again, these ongoing blazes didn’t occur simultaneously by coincidence. While there’s no danger of the Palisades or Eaton fires spreading to Anaheim, there is concern about blazes in much closer canyons.

Southern California Edison has made several Public Safety Power Shutoffs (PSPS) and also advised that PSPS are “under consideration” for many others. Anaheim is not among those locations.

Local governments have issued reminders to have a 5-minute evacuation plan in place. With how quickly these fires have been moving and how slow traffic was through some mandatory evacuation areas, that is good advice–so we figured we’d share this 5-minute plan & checklist for other Californians needing one.

If you’re wondering how to help, the non-profit KCRW put together this helpful list of places to donate and volunteer. Most of those are in Los Angeles County, so if you’re looking for options closer to Disneyland, this post from the City of Anaheim lists a few options.

Ultimately, this is a historic occurrence and it’s impossible to say how it’ll develop. My guess is that the biggest impact on Disneyland is that the parks will be less busy until the fire risk is diminished, as locals to the north have bigger concerns to attend to and some locals to the south are anxious about similar circumstances arising around their homes.

If you’re a tourist, you might have similar concerns about smoke and ash in the air. It’s also possible that flights out of Bob Hope Airport will be delayed or cancelled, but I can’t imagine many Disneyland guests flying into Burbank. Beyond sharing that it’s mostly business as usual at Disneyland and probably will remain that way, I’m not sure what actionable advice to offer.

The biggest thing that comes to mind is being especially courteous to Cast Members and granting them grace. Thousands of homes have already been destroyed, with significant impacts beyond those north of Los Angeles. Disneyland frontline Cast Members are unlikely to live in the areas that have burned, but locals are on edge, regardless, worried about their families and friends, and whether the next fire to break out might be closer to home. Our thoughts go out to all of those affected by the wildfires, and our sincere thank you to those brave individuals out on the frontlines fighting the fires and assisting in evacuations.

This is underscored by social media posts from Disney CEO Bob Iger surveying the devastation in Pacific Palisades and legendary Imagineer Joe Rohde sharing heartfelt thoughts on the loss in Altadena (both are well worth reading). It’s likely that some of the company’s leaders in Burbank lost their homes in the Palisades or Sunset fires, and Glendale-based teams lost theirs in the Eaton fire.

In a new interview with the New York Times, Bob Iger shared that at least 64 Disney employees have lost their homes in the wildfires. They include the president of Disney Branded Television and the president of Walt Disney Music. Hundreds more remain evacuated from their homes, including Iger himself. These evacuations remain ongoing, even after Disney reopened its Burbank offices on Tuesday.

For his part, Iger wants Disney to be part of the solution in the recovery of greater Los Angeles. “We want to help rebuild,” he said in the interview. “Can we help in setting up temporary schools? Can our Imagineers help design new town centers? Rebuilding is not just about money. It’s about ingenuity and determination.”

In terms of immediate employee assistance, about 100 displaced Disney workers — from assistants to the company’s general counsel — have been staying in hotel rooms at Disneyland Resort. The company’s employee relief fund provides up to $1,500 for basic household necessities, but Disney is also giving some employees an additional $2,500 as a lump sum for incidental expenses.

For anyone at Disney who cannot immediately return home when the evacuation orders are lifted due to destruction or repairs being needed, the company is providing two months of free furnished housing, among other benefits. Disney has also opened its studio wardrobe warehouses to employees who need clothes and shoes.

The Walt Disney Company isn’t just helping its own employees, either. The company has announced that it is donating $15 million for initial and immediate response and rebuilding efforts. Disney will be supporting vital organizations offering essential services on the ground, including the American Red Cross, Los Angeles Fire Department Foundation, Los Angeles Regional Food Bank, and more.

Additionally, Disney has been working around the clock to ensure the safety and wellbeing of Cast Members, many of whom have been impacted by these fires, and the company intends to provide further resources to our Employee Relief Fund to help those facing hardship as a result of this crisis. Beyond critical relief efforts, Disney will be working closely with the business community to find ways to support important rebuilding efforts in the region.

“As this tragedy continues to unfold, The Walt Disney Company is committed to supporting our community and our employees as we all work together to recover and rebuild from this unbelievable devastation,” said Bob Iger. “Walt Disney came to Los Angeles with little more than his limitless imagination, and it was here that he chose to make his home, pursue his dreams, and create extraordinary storytelling that means so much to so many people around the world. We are proud to provide assistance to this resilient and vibrant community in this moment of need.”

Planning a Southern California vacation? For park admission deals, read Tips for Saving Money on Disneyland Tickets. Learn about on-site and off-site hotels in our Anaheim Hotel Reviews & Rankings. For where to eat, check out our Disneyland Restaurant Reviews. For unique ideas of things that’ll improve your trip, check out What to Pack for Disney. For comprehensive advice, consult our Disneyland Vacation Planning Guide. Finally, for guides beyond Disney, check out our Southern California Itineraries for day trips to Los Angeles, Laguna Beach, and many other SoCal cities!

Your Thoughts

Thoughts to share about the Palisades, Eaton or other wildfires? Any additional on-the-ground reports to share from Disneyland or around Southern California? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions? Hearing your feedback—even when you disagree with us—is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!