The issue can be reproduced with the following snippet:

import QtQuick 2.0

Item {
    id: wrapper
    width: 400; height: 400

    MouseArea {
        id: mouseArea
        anchors.fill: parent
        onPressed: console.log("pressed")
        onReleased: console.log("released")
        onCanceled: console.log("canceled")
    }

    // simulate outside event
    Timer {
        interval: 2000
        running: true
        onTriggered: {
            console.log("triggered")
            mouseArea.enabled = false
            //wrapper.enabled = false
        }
    }
}

To reproduce:

1. Start the example
2. Press the mouse
3. Wait for the timer to fire
4. Release the mouse

When using mouseArea.enabled = false the following output occurs:

pressed
triggered
released

When using wrapper.enabled = false the following output occurs instead:

pressed
triggered
canceled

In my case, the wrapper behavior is what I was wanting from the MouseArea. This basic issue is also noted in QTBUG-29783. As mentioned there, the current MouseArea behavior was changed to fix a bug, however, I don't believe the difference in behavior between MouseArea and other Items was intentional.

If this behavior cannot be changed, it would be nice to have the difference documented.