Fireworks have long been a staple of any Disney trip, but now the skies above the Happiest Place on Earth may be a lot less dazzling.
The iconic nighttime displays have been put in jeopardy due to a controversial policy imposed by Donald Trump.
China is a major supplier of fireworks to the United States, but with the steep tariffs imposed on Chinese imports, shipments are being heavily impacted.
Walt Disney World is the second-largest purchaser of explosives in the United States, after the US military, per Disney historians and industry insiders, according to Inside the Magic.
This includes fireworks for all four parks – Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
Roughly 99 percent of fireworks used in the U.S. come from China, and tariffs were as high as 30 percent in May, according to The New York Times.
Julie Heckman, executive director of the American Pyrotechnics Association, an industry trade group, explained: ‘I would anticipate that most people are going to get a little less bang for their buck this year.
She continued, per Red River Radio: ‘I think we will see some product shortages.
Fireworks have long been a staple of any Disney trip but now the skies above the Happiest Place on Earth may be a lot less dazzling (stock image)
‘I would encourage customers to shop early for the best variety of product.’
One insider said, according to Inside the Magic, ‘Disney doesn’t make their own. They buy them from various sources.
‘Each week they drive out there and pick up enough for the next week’s performances.’
While Disney has not publicly canceled its nightly firework shows, insiders say supply issues are already forcing the company to quietly scale back some displays, swapping out full-scale pyrotechnics for projections, lasers and drones.
The changes may be subtle to casual park goers, but longtime fans are starting to take notice.
One avid theme park visitor wrote about the ‘situation’ in a since-deleted tweet alongside a video of the new display.
Her clip compared the new fireworks to the original with notable differences, including the timing of the bursts, colors and patterns.
‘With the current tariff situation, I fear we will never get the original flower burst back,’ she wrote, according to the outlet.
The iconic nighttime displays have been put in jeopardy due to a controversial policy imposed by Donald Trump (stock image)
China is a major supplier of fireworks to the United States, but with the steep tariffs imposed on Chinese imports, shipments are being heavily impacted (stock image)
‘This is the replacement. It was breathtaking and seemed to continue to burst forever. There’s a number of Happily Ever After updates that have occurred.’
Daily Mail has contacted Disney for further comment.
Beyond the impact on Disney, the American Pyrotechnics Association has warned of broader cancellations nationwide.
Experts are also concerned that the situation could worsen in 2026, when demand spikes for America’s 250th anniversary.
Disney CEO Bob Iger previously voiced concern about how the tariffs, which also hit steel, merchandise, and cruise ship materials, could disrupt expansion plans and park operations, per New York Post.
