We want to check in because if you were at Walt Disney World or Disney Springs last night, you know exactly what we are talking about. And if you were not there, you need to know what happened before you finalize your plans for the rest of this week.
The Memorial Day weekend storm forecast for Central Florida was not subtle. WESH had been warning about it since Saturday: “Severe Thunderstorms Surge In Central Florida — Wet Memorial Day Weekend Forecast Saturday May 23rd 2026. Expect a hot and humid Memorial Day weekend across Central Florida. Afternoon and evening storm chances will rise each day, with storms capable of producing strong winds, hail, and heavy isolated downpours. Heat index values will push into the upper 90s and low 100s, so stay hydrated and take breaks indoors when possible. Meanwhile, a high risk of life-threatening rip currents continues at all Atlantic beaches — swimming in the ocean is strongly discouraged. Rain chances ease slightly after Memorial Day before wetter weather returns later next week.”
That forecast was correct. Last night the storms were genuinely intense. Heavy rain, constant lightning, rolling thunder across the whole region. And the impacts inside Disney World’s ecosystem showed up immediately in ways that guests noticed and started talking about.
Here is what we know happened.
The AMC at Disney Springs Went Down Completely
Kevin Heimbach was at Disney Springs during the storm and posted this on X: “AMC Disney Springs Is Completely Down. Movies Won’t Start And All Registers Are Not Working. I Just Wanna Watch A Mediocre Star Wars Movie.”
AMC Disney Springs Is Completely Down. Movies Won’t Start And All Registers Are Not Working. I Just Wanna Watch A Mediocre Star Wars Movie pic.twitter.com/XH7LvRtLXH
— Kevin Heimbach (@kevinHeimbach13) May 23, 2026
We are choosing to appreciate both the information and the energy of that post.
The storm apparently knocked out enough power to take down both the movie systems and every register at the AMC simultaneously. Guests inside were stuck. Movies were not starting. Nobody could buy anything. On a busy holiday weekend night at one of the most visited shopping and entertainment districts in the country, that is a significant disruption.
Fantasmic! Was Cancelled and It Was the Right Call
Noah Bergren, posting on X as @NbergWX, confirmed what Hollywood Studios guests were being told: “Fantasmic! Cancelled at Disney tonight, correctly so due to significant lightning approaching from the west.”
Fantasmic! Cancelled at Disney tonight, correctly so due to significant lightning approaching from the west. pic.twitter.com/q38OICavNz
— Noah Bergren (@NbergWX) May 24, 2026
We want to emphasize the “correctly so” part of that because we think it matters. Fantasmic! is performed in an outdoor amphitheater. When significant lightning is approaching from any direction, there is no world in which that show runs safely. Disney made the right decision. The call may have disappointed a lot of guests who built their night around it, but it was the correct one.
If you were one of those guests, we are sorry. That is a genuinely frustrating thing to deal with, especially on a holiday weekend when you have probably been planning this trip for a while. But lightning near an outdoor venue full of guests is not something to argue with.
What Else Probably Happened That We Can Confirm Less Specifically
The AMC and the Fantasmic! cancellation are the two documented impacts we have confirmation on. But they almost certainly were not the only things affected last night.
Disney World operates on a lightning closure protocol. When active lightning is detected within a certain distance of the resort, outdoor attractions close. This is not optional and it is not negotiable. It covers outdoor roller coasters, open-air queue areas, outdoor shows, and any experience where guests are exposed to the elements.
That means last night, across all four parks, whatever was running outdoors when the storm peaked almost certainly stopped. At Magic Kingdom, that includes exposed queue areas and outdoor rides. At EPCOT, outdoor portions of World Showcase and the areas between pavilions. At Disney’s Animal Kingdom, which has the most outdoor exposure of any park in the resort, the impact of a storm like last night’s is broad and immediate. Safaris, open-air coasters, and large portions of every land in the park are all subject to lightning closures.
Disney Springs was clearly affected beyond the AMC outage as well. The waterfront dining areas, outdoor entertainment venues, and any guests who were eating on a patio or waiting outside for a table had a very different experience than they expected.
What This Means for You Right Now
Here is the thing about Central Florida summer storms: last night was intense but it is not unusual. It is actually just what summer in Orlando is. From late May through September, afternoon and evening thunderstorms are not a risk, they are a schedule. They happen. The question is not if they will happen during your trip but when and how you handle them when they do.
Most storms roll through in an hour or two. The sky goes from hot and humid to actively violent to clearing out with impressive speed. If you are in a park when a storm hits and you are in the middle of a standby line for an outdoor ride, yes, that is going to pause. If you are inside a restaurant or on an indoor attraction when it peaks, you might not even notice it until you step back outside and the ground is wet.
For your Disney vacation, the practical advice is the same advice that applies every summer:
Know which of your priority rides are indoors. Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tron Lightcycle Run, Guardians of the Galaxy, Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure, all of these continue running when lightning is in the area. Plan your outdoor priority rides for the morning before storm activity builds.
For nighttime shows, including Fantasmic!, the Magic Kingdom fireworks, and EPCOT’s Luminous, treat them as the plan, not the guarantee. Have something in mind that works indoors if the show gets cancelled. Many of these shows have multiple performance times when conditions allow. If the first showing is cancelled because of lightning, check whether a later showing is still happening before you leave the park.
And if you are staying at a resort with outdoor dining or pool areas, know that the pool is going to close when lightning is close. Have a backup for your afternoon plans.
The forecast says rain chances ease a little after Memorial Day and then return later in the week. That is summer in Florida. Stay flexible and stay hydrated.
Keep the My Disney Experience app open during your park days this week for real-time attraction and show status. When lightning protocols kick in, the app updates quickly and cast members make announcements. If Fantasmic! is in your plans this week, check for multiple showing times and have an indoor plan ready just in case. Stay dry out there.
