For residents near Disneyland, nightly fireworks shows have lost their spark

[hobie16]

By Tony Barboza, Los Angeles Times

For most people, fireworks are a special treat — loud, luminous displays to savor on Independence Day or New Year's Eve.

But for some who live near Disneyland, where fireworks blossom in the skies above Sleeping Beauty's Castle almost every night, the rockets' red glare has worn out its welcome. Residents have added double-paned windows and extra insulation to soundproof the walls. Juanita Driskell, a retired teacher who has lived a few blocks from the Anaheim theme park for nearly three decades, is so accustomed to the fireworks that when the crackling and hissing starts around 9:30 p.m., she just cranks up the volume on the television. Her two cats hardly bat an eye.

"The good part is I don't have to leave the living room to see fireworks," Driskell said. "The bad part is that it's so loud."

And when the grandkids visit, she has free entertainment to offer, ushering them to the patio to take in the spectacle, eyes skyward.

Though many in proximity to the resort admit there is an appeal to the radiant bursts that fill the night sky on weekends, holidays and throughout the summer, those in pursuit of peace and quiet have tried for more than a decade to limit the noise and smoke.

When complaints from Disneyland's noise-weary neighbors seemed to go nowhere, they turned to environmentalism and lodged dozens of air-quality complaints. But the effort appears to have waned; regulators haven't recorded any recent air-quality complaints.

Last year, one resident sued Anaheim in federal court, saying that by holding hundreds of fireworks displays at the park each year, the city was violating federal water pollution laws. The suit was dismissed, but residents remain concerned about environmental issues.

"We're OK with fireworks on the Fourth of July and New Year's, but considering the density of the population here, you shouldn't have it every night," said Denis Fitzgerald, who filed the suit and is a member of Anaheim Homeowners for Maintaining Their Environment (HOME).

Fitzgerald and other activists say the fireworks make dogs erupt in a howling chorus, waft smoke and shower ash and corrosive sulfur onto lawns, roofs, swimming pools and cars.

Beyond the smoke and ash, fireworks emit traces of contaminants such as copper, zinc, sulfate, nitrate and barium, which are used to produce their bright colors. Many fireworks also contain perchlorate, which can contaminate water sources. Pollution and noise are enough of a concern that several other fireworks shows in California have faced obstacles in recent years.

In 2007, Sea World had to apply for a water-quality discharge permit for the 100 or so fireworks displays it puts on each year over San Diego's Mission Bay. The next year, the state Coastal Commission barred a fireworks show in the Mendocino County town of Gualala over concerns it was scaring away seabirds.

And last month, the nonprofit Coastal Environmental Rights Foundation filed suit to try to snuff out the annual July 4 fireworks show in La Jolla, saying it violates state environmental laws. Their line of argument? Protecting the environment is patriotic.

After 10 years of research, Disneyland in 2004 introduced what it called an innovative launching system that uses compressed air instead of black powder. The result is safer, quieter pyrotechnics that emit less smoke and pollution.

"That demonstrates our commitment to being a good neighbor," said Suzi Brown, a Disneyland spokeswoman.

A Disney study requested by air-quality regulators has shown that lifetime cancer risks posed by the park and its fireworks are well within health limits.

"To their credit, they developed a number of technical innovations that had a significant impact on reducing smoke and fallout," said Sam Atwood, a spokesman for the South Coast Air Quality Management District.

But even here in the blast zone, the fireworks have their admirers. Hotels near the resort advertise rooms with views of the fireworks, and guests request such views. Year-round, but especially on the Fourth of July, motorists pull to the curb and gawk at the display. Traffic on Interstate 5 slows when the sky lights up with color.

Even critics have a soft spot for the fireworks. "To be honest, I sort of like them," said Steve White, president of Anaheim HOME, which has fought the fireworks for more than a decade. "But there are issues with the perchlorate."

Sunday, those who live near Disneyland know to expect onlookers to descend and set up lawn chairs to view the show.

But for some who view the nightly fireworks as unremarkable as a trash truck rumbling down the street or a train clattering in the distance, the Fourth of July can be a bit of a letdown. Jim Helms, 37, used to marvel at the exhibit, which he could easily see from his backyard patio just a few blocks from the park. Over time, he admits, it lost its luster. "Fireworks," he said, "just don't impress me anymore."

[darph nader]

Saw this on one of those 'other' boards last night. I can see the home owners PoV. Those who bought their 'years' ago,only had to endure the fire works on weekends and holidays. Lately,it's been 'every' damn day(night) or so it seems. If I ever become rich and famous,(I'll just take the rich part) thought about gettin a house in Cali,just for the weather though.

[mapo]

Saw this on one of those 'other' boards last night. I can see the home owners PoV. Those who bought their 'years' ago,only had to endure the fire works on weekends and holidays. Lately,it's been 'every' damn day(night) or so it seems. If I ever become rich and famous,(I'll just take the rich part) thought about gettin a house in Cali,just for the weather though.

OK wait..who came first...DL or the Home owner?

Sounds like those people who buy a cheap house in a flight path and then complain..

MAPO

[darph nader]

OK wait..who came first...DL or the Home owner?

Sounds like those people who buy a cheap house in a flight path and then complain..

MAPO

Sounds like the folks in Rita Ranch. 1 mile off of DMs runway. That is one messed up developement. The air base has been there for damn near 50yrs,Rita Ranch maybe 12.

[CptnSkippy]

OK wait..who came first...DL or the Home owner?

Sounds like those people who buy a cheap house in a flight path and then complain..

MAPO

Exactly what I was thinking.

There is an owner of a small airfield (grass runway) here. He welcomes anyone wanting to complain about noise to his office. His wall has an aerial shot of the airfield and the surrounding land when the field first opened. He asks the homeowner to point out their house. Since it was pepper farms and empty land when the field went up, they can't.

It's neighborly that Disneyland has gone with air launch and performed studies on health risks, etc., but IIRC Anaheim was nothing but orange groves when Walt built DL.

[CujoSR]

Exactly what I was thinking.

There is an owner of a small airfield (grass runway) here. He welcomes anyone wanting to complain about noise to his office. His wall has an aerial shot of the airfield and the surrounding land when the field first opened. He asks the homeowner to point out their house. Since it was pepper farms and empty land when the field went up, they can't.

It's neighborly that Disneyland has gone with air launch and performed studies on health risks, etc., but IIRC Anaheim was nothing but orange groves when Walt built DL.

DL didn't shoot off fireworks on a daily basis back then either.

When DCA was built the tall rides had to have Sound shields installed, that's why you see the tunnels on Screamin' and the Vomit catchers on Maliboomer. Sound is an issue for the city.

[Freak]

Don't like the fireworks? Move away.

Pretty sure DL got here before you did.


This topic comes up once every so often years. I really shrug these people off my shoulders. I guess I should tell the local military base to stop flying jetfighters over my house since I don't like that and they do it too often.

[Disneyguy85]

...and the Vomit catchers on Maliboomer. Sound is an issue for the city.

That may soon not be an issue anymore since the Maliboomer is supposedly going to be dismantled later this year. Although I'm pretty sure that that they are called scream shields not "vomit catchers". Since their primary use to to shield the screams.
Lets not help extend the life of SG's ideas shall we? ;)

As for the fireworks, yeah its good that they moved to compressed air. Its not like Disneyland can just stop doing them altogether, otherwise there will be many angry park guests.

[CujoSR]

Of course that's what they are offically called.

[Disneyguy85]

Of course that's what they are offically called.

For a SG, "Of course" has no meaning, because common sense doesn't exist. ;)

I haven't ever heard of someone puking while riding Maliboomer, but if it ever did happen, it probably wasen't pretty.