Okay, so this is NOT how anyone expected to spend New Year’s Eve in Florida. Like, you book a Florida vacation specifically to ESCAPE the cold, right? You’re from Michigan or New York or Canada and you’re thinking “let’s go somewhere warm for the holidays” and Florida seems like the perfect choice.
You pack your swimsuits, you get excited about spending New Year’s Eve at a water park, maybe hitting some slides at midnight or relaxing in a wave pool while fireworks go off.
It’s supposed to be this amazing tropical experience that makes all your friends back home jealous when you post Instagram photos of yourself in a bikini on December 31st. Except here’s the problem: Florida weather is WILD and unpredictable, and right now there’s a massive cold front hitting Central Florida that’s making it feel more like January in Chicago than the Sunshine State. We’re talking temperatures in the 30s and 40s. THIRTIES. In Florida. During the week everyone books their vacations.
And because of this freezing weather, both Universal’s Volcano Bay AND Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon are completely CLOSING for New Year’s Eve. Not just reducing hours. Not just limiting capacity. Fully closed. Shut down. Not happening. If you were planning to celebrate 2026 at either water park, well, time to make some backup plans because that’s not going to work out. Let me tell you everything that’s happening because this is honestly kind of a disaster for anyone who planned their entire trip around water park visits during what’s supposed to be one of the busiest weeks of the year.
Volcano Bay Is Closed BOTH Days
Universal just dropped the news on social media that Volcano Bay is shutting down on Tuesday, December 30 AND Wednesday, December 31. So that’s the last two days of 2025 where their big tropical water park is just… not open.
Now, Tuesday’s closure was already planned. That’s part of Volcano Bay’s normal seasonal schedule where they reduce hours and close certain days during slower periods. But Wednesday? That’s all weather, baby. Universal straight up said it’s because of inclement weather conditions.
And the weather is legitimately BAD for a water park. Weather.com is saying Orlando will hit a high of 59 degrees on Wednesday with a low of 39. THIRTY-NINE DEGREES. That’s literally below freezing if it drops just a few more degrees. Volcano Bay typically closes when temperatures are in the mid-60s, so we’re talking about weather that’s way, way below their comfort threshold.
Like, imagine being in a wet swimsuit when it’s 39 degrees outside. That’s not fun. That’s hypothermia territory. Nobody’s going to pay to be miserable at a water park when they could be literally anywhere else that’s warm.
Universal is telling people to check their social media or call 407-817-8317 for updates, which is code for “this might change so don’t just assume anything.”
The good news is that temperatures are supposed to warm up after New Year’s, so the first weekend of 2026 should be fine. But if you were planning on ringing in the new year at Volcano Bay? Yeah, that’s not happening.
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Is ALSO Closed
But wait, it gets WORSE. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon is ALSO shutting down for multiple days because of the same cold front. So it’s not like you can just pivot from Universal to Disney and solve your problem. Both major water parks are closed.
And here’s the thing: Disney’s OTHER water park, Blizzard Beach, is already closed as part of their normal rotation where they keep one water park shut down for maintenance while the other stays open. Which means Disney literally has ZERO water parks available right now. None. If you wanted to hit a Disney water park during your trip, tough luck.
Typhoon Lagoon has been having a rough time with weather closures lately too. They shut down during Thanksgiving weekend, and they’ve had multiple weather-related closures throughout fall and winter. Mother Nature has NOT been kind to Disney’s water parks this season.
FOX 35 Orlando is not messing around with their forecast either: “A massive rush of cold air will cross Florida on Tuesday, causing morning and evening low temperatures to fall into the 30s and 40s for much of Orlando and Central Florida.”
A MASSIVE RUSH OF COLD AIR. That’s weather forecaster speak for “it’s going to be really freaking cold.”
There’s Literally a FREEZE WARNING
Okay, so it’s not just cold. There’s an actual Cold Weather Advisory issued by the National Weather Service for Wednesday, December 31. For Walt Disney World AND Universal Orlando Resort. An ADVISORY. That’s official government weather warning territory.
The weather service is literally telling people to “use caution while traveling outside. Wear appropriate clothing, a hat, and gloves.”
Hats and gloves. In FLORIDA. On NEW YEAR’S EVE. This is not normal, people.
And yes, the four main Disney parks (Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios) will still be open, but you’re going to be COLD. Like, actually legitimately cold, not just “oh it’s a bit chilly” cold. Bring layers. Bring jackets. Bring things you normally wouldn’t pack for a Florida vacation because you’re going to need them.
Lightning Lane passes are already sold out across all the Disney parks because it’s holiday week and everyone’s there. And now with both water parks closed, even MORE people are going to be crammed into the theme parks trying to find things to do. Good luck with that.
Though honestly, it might be cold enough that some people just stay at their resort hotels and drink hot chocolate instead of doing rope drop. Which, yeah, I wouldn’t blame them.
What This Means for Your Plans
If you’re currently in Orlando or about to head there for New Year’s, you need to adjust your expectations RIGHT NOW. Water parks are not going to be part of your celebration. That’s just reality.
If you booked this trip specifically for water park access, I’m sorry, but you’re going to need backup plans. Check out the theme parks, explore Disney Springs or CityWalk, hang out at your hotel pool (if it’s heated, which hopefully it is), or find indoor activities. But don’t count on Volcano Bay or Typhoon Lagoon being options.
And here’s something important to remember if you’re planning FUTURE winter trips to Orlando: this can happen. Water parks close for cold weather with some regularity between November and March. It’s not super common, but it’s not rare either. Cold fronts come through, temperatures drop, and water parks shut down for a few days until it warms back up.
Some people buy travel insurance that covers weather disruptions, though you need to read the fine print because coverage varies wildly. Or just build flexibility into your schedule so you can shift water park days around if the weather looks sketchy.
The good news is that this cold snap isn’t expected to last long. Temperatures should go back up starting January 1st, so if you’re staying through the weekend, you should be fine for water parks after New Year’s Day.
Here’s What You Actually Need to Do
Before you leave your hotel, CALL THE PARKS. I know it seems old school, but literally just pick up your phone and call. Universal’s number is 407-817-8317. Disney has their own guest services line. It takes five minutes and it could save you from driving across Orlando for nothing.
Also, check the parks’ social media accounts the morning you’re planning to go. They post updates pretty quickly when things change. Weather can shift in Florida faster than you’d believe, and what looked okay yesterday might be a disaster today.
And seriously, pack warm clothes even though it feels ridiculous packing winter stuff for Florida. Bring a jacket. Bring a hoodie. Bring long pants. You can always leave them in your hotel room if you don’t need them, but if temperatures drop and you’re stuck in shorts and a tank top, you’re going to have a miserable time.
The cold fronts don’t last forever in Florida, usually just a few days before it warms back up. But when they hit, they hit hard, and being unprepared makes everything worse. So just plan ahead, stay flexible, and have backup options ready.
And hey, if your water park day gets cancelled, at least the theme parks are still open and there’s tons of other stuff to do in Orlando. It’s not the vacation you planned, but you can still make it work. Just maybe with more layers than you expected.
Are you currently in Orlando dealing with this cold snap, or do you have a trip planned for early January that might be affected?
