Photos show the alien-looking black band ominously hovering above the park around 6:30 a.m.

“It wasn’t dissipating, nor was it a flock of birds,” Lori Nayahalski, who snapped a picture of the ring, told KTLA. “Real-life ‘Matrix’ or just an orchestrated spoof … I don’t know, but it was something.”

Disneyland officials later confirmed what many park regulars likely guessed: The black ring is smoke pyrotechnics equipment used during the park’s famous nightly fireworks show.

Officials said they tested the equipment Thursday morning before the park opened, spawning the eerie black cloud.

Disneyland Resort has two nighttime spectaculars, “World of Color” at Disney California Adventure and “Fantasmic!” at Disneyland Park.