With spring break just weeks away, Florida’s top theme parks are preparing for an influx of visitors. Historically, this has been one of the busiest travel periods of the year, with massive crowds flocking to Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort. However, this year’s surge may come with an unexpected twist—weather-related closures.
Recent reports indicated that another cold front was set to sweep through Florida, mirroring an earlier chill that forced both Disney and Universal to shut down their water parks. “A series of cold fronts look to reintroduce the chill back into the Sunshine State,” Click Orlando reported earlier this month.
At the end of last year and into early 2025, Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Universal’s Volcano Bay temporarily closed due to an intense arctic cold front. Now, with temperatures dropping again, Universal announced that Volcano Bay would be closed on Tuesday, February 18, and Wednesday, February 19. Disney’s Blizzard Beach is still listed as open from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on those dates, but the schedule for Thursday, February 20, currently shows no available hours, confirming a closure.
According to AccuWeather, temperatures will range from highs of 66 to lows of 41, with Friday anticipated to be even colder. Click Orlando provided further insight: “After the front passes, cooler and drier air will settle in overnight, with lows dropping into the 50s for most of the region by early Thursday. Much colder air settles in starting Thursday as winds shift out of the northeast. Highs through the rest of the week are expected to remain in the mid 60s under mostly sunny skies.”
While these closures are dictated by unpredictable weather conditions, major developments are still reshaping Central Florida’s theme park industry. Universal Orlando is pressing forward with its Epic Universe expansion, while Disney is rolling out plans for new attractions, including a Cars-themed area in Magic Kingdom, a Monsters, Inc. experience at Hollywood Studios, and a Tropical Americas expansion at Animal Kingdom.
Visitors planning a trip should stay tuned to official park announcements and weather updates. Do you think the upcoming cold front will cause additional closures? Let us know in the comments!
