Spring break is almost here, and soon, visitors will flock to the Sunshine State. But will Florida actually live up to its nickname?
Theme parks in Orlando, like Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort, are bracing for the annual influx of spring break travelers. If last year’s trends continue, the parks will be packed within weeks. But before that, there’s still Valentine’s Day and the remainder of February to get through. However, recent indicators—such as the nine-day consecutive sell-out of Magic Kingdom’s Lightning Lane Premier Pass—suggest that Disney’s parks are already seeing elevated attendance.
Now, reports indicate that Orlando’s top resorts could be facing temporary closures once again. Late last year and into the first weeks of 2025, Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando were forced to shut down their water parks—Blizzard Beach and Volcano Bay—due to an extreme arctic cold front.
It looks like history may repeat itself. According to Click Orlando, another wave of cold air is on its way.
“A series of cold fronts look to reintroduce the chill back into the Sunshine State,” the report states. “The first, the smaller drop in temperatures, arrives Thursday night into Friday.”
“Highs will still be above average, topping out in the upper 70s,” they added. “A bigger cold front is forecast to arrive Sunday. The rain associated with the front could threaten a portion of the Daytona 500.”
As of now, Disney and Universal’s official schedules still list Blizzard Beach and Volcano Bay as open. However, with another round of cold temperatures approaching, visitors planning to visit the water parks later this week or next should double-check for updates.
Forecasts suggest that once the first system passes, cooler air will settle over Central Florida. Highs might struggle to exceed the mid-60s on Monday, and by Tuesday, temperatures could dip into the 40s.
While these weather-related closures are beyond the control of Disney and Universal, Central Florida’s theme park scene remains busy. Universal is focused on its massive Epic Universe expansion, while Disney is revamping its existing parks.
Over the next few years, Walt Disney World will introduce multiple new themed lands, including a Cars area at Magic Kingdom—positioned near the upcoming Villains land—a Tropical Americas section at Animal Kingdom, and a Monsters, Inc. expansion at Hollywood Studios.
With another potential cold snap approaching, could it impact your theme park plans? Let us know in the comments below!
