We moved to covering Orlando theme parks partly because Florida weather is supposed to be a non-issue. Sunshine, warmth, maybe an afternoon thunderstorm that clears in twenty minutes. That is the deal. That is what we signed up for.
Today, Central Florida is 25 degrees colder than it was yesterday morning. The forecast high is 60 degrees. There is a chance of frost tonight in parts of the Orlando metro area. And both of the big water parks in town — Universal Orlando’s Volcano Bay and Walt Disney World’s Blizzard Beach — are closed.
We cannot stress enough how unusual this is. A high of 60 degrees in Orlando in March would break a record that has stood since 1901. The normal high for this time of year is around 79 degrees. We are not talking about a slightly chilly day where you might want a light layer. We are talking about genuine, jacket-required, do-not-get-into-a-wave-pool cold.
Here is the full picture of what is closed, why, and — the part you actually need to know — when things get back to normal.
Volcano Bay Is Closed and Honestly, Fair
Universal Orlando’s Volcano Bay shut down today and we are not going to pretend the decision is surprising. The park is built around water. All of it. The Krakatau volcano, the Kala and Tai Nui Serpentine Body Slides running through it, the Kopiko Wai Winding River, the wave pool, the slides, the splash areas for little kids — every single attraction at Volcano Bay involves being wet. On a day where the temperature is barely clearing 60 degrees, that is simply not a viable guest experience.
🌧️ ❄️ Weather Update ❄️ 🌧️
Universal Volcano Bay will be closed on Tuesday, March 17, due to inclement weather. For park updates, please call 407-817-8317 or stay tuned to Universal Orlando’s social channels.— Universal Orlando Resort (@UniversalORL) March 16, 2026
Volcano Bay will reopen when the weather cooperates. Based on the forecast, that is coming sooner than it might feel like right now.
Blizzard Beach Is Also Closed — Yes, the One With the Fake Snow
Walt Disney World’s Blizzard Beach is closed today too, and we will acknowledge that there is something darkly funny about a water park themed to look like a ski resort closing because it is too cold outside. The Summit Plummit, the Teamboat Springs raft ride, Cross Country Creek — all of it is sitting there under gray skies today looking exactly like the winter wonderland it was always pretending to be, and guests cannot go in.
Blizzard Beach is one of the most popular water parks in the United States during warm weather. It is also, right now, a soggy monument to the fact that Florida’s weather is occasionally capable of genuine surprises.
Like Volcano Bay, it will be back. The forecast makes that clear.
Here Is the Forecast Because You Need It
Today is the worst of it. We want to be clear about that. Tonight, temperatures along the I-4 corridor drop to the low to mid 40s. Northern parts of the region — Marion County, northern Lake and Sumter counties — could see the mid 30s with a slim chance of patchy frost. Brevard County stays milder, in the low to mid 50s. It is going to be cold tonight by any standard, and by Florida standards it is going to feel extraordinary.
Tomorrow is better. Highs should reach the low 70s, which is still below the seasonal average of 79 degrees but a meaningful improvement over today. High pressure is building and will keep things dry as the week progresses.
By the end of the workweek, temperatures climb into the lower to middle 70s with consistent sunshine. And then comes the weekend. Saturday is looking genuinely excellent — afternoon readings in the lower to mid 80s, slightly above average, mostly clear skies. The kind of day that makes you forget this week happened.
If you have any flexibility in your trip, the water park day you were hoping for this week is basically sitting right there on Saturday waiting for you.
What To Do If This Messes Up Your Plans
If Blizzard Beach was on your Walt Disney World itinerary today, open My Disney Experience and check the closure status now. Disney has typically offered date flexibility for weather-related water park closures, but you need to contact guest services directly to understand what your specific ticket options look like. Do not just assume it will sort itself out — make the call or send the message today while rebooking windows are still open.
Same deal for Volcano Bay. Universal’s guest services team and the Universal app are your starting points. If you have a multi-park or resort package that includes Volcano Bay, there may already be flexibility built into your ticket, but you need to ask.
For guests whose trips extend into the weekend, our honest advice is to move the water park day to Saturday if you can possibly swing it. The forecast for Saturday is the best day of the week by a wide margin, and a water park experience in the low 80s under clear skies is infinitely better than whatever today would have been even if the parks had stayed open.
One more thing: if you are heading to Walt Disney World or Universal today for a park day at the non-water parks, dress for the actual temperature and not the Florida temperature you were expecting. Lows tonight along I-4 in the low to mid 40s are real and they will catch you off guard if you packed like you were coming to a beach vacation. A jacket for this evening is not optional.
Both parks will be back open before you know it. The cold snap is real but it is short. Saturday is going to slap. We will be there with snack coverage and you should be there too.
