Disney Dining Serving up the latest Disney Eats, Treats, News, and More!
One Disney park faces a potential closure tomorrow as it battles its second tropical storm in a week.
This year has been undeniably rife with weather issues for Disney resorts worldwide. Hurricane season has been particularly disruptive for Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, where all four theme parks endured back-to-back storms, each causing temporary closures and event cancellations (and leaving guests out of pocket for some purchases).
Credit: Ed Aguila, Inside the Magic
Hurricane Milton, a powerful Category 4 storm, brought operations to a halt across all four Disney World theme parks earlier in October. Just weeks prior, Hurricane Helene forced cancellations of popular events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, leaving guests scrambling to reschedule tours and experiences.
Typhoons Batter Disney Parks in Asia
The challenges for Disney aren’t limited to the U.S. All three of Disney’s resorts in Asia have been impacted by typhoons this year, with closures in response to storms that brought extreme winds and heavy rain.
Credit: Shanghai Disneyland
Shanghai Disney Resort shut down operations in September as Typhoon Bebinca—the most intense typhoon to hit the city in over seventy years—approached. A month earlier, Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea closed early when Typhoon Ampil swept through, forcing guests and staff alike to leave the parks as winds escalated.
Hong Kong Disneyland has experienced frequent weather disruptions. Just four days ago, Super Typhoon Yinxing limited park operations, shutting down outdoor attractions to ensure guest safety.
Credit: Hong Kong Disneyland
Now, Tropical Cyclone Toraji has put the park on high alert again.
Closures at Hong Kong Disneyland
The Hong Kong Observatory issued a No. 3 warning signal today, prompting Hong Kong Disneyland to close a total of eight outdoor rides and attractions:
- Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars
- Jungle River Cruise
- Mad Hatter Tea Cups
- Orbitron
- RC Racer
- Slinky Dog Spin
- Toy Soldier Parachute Drop
- Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs
While its nighttime spectacular “Momentous” was performed, it did so without its usual fireworks.
Credit: Hong Kong Disneyland
Tropical Cyclone Toraji is set to keep Hong Kong on alert tomorrow, with a potential delayed opening at Hong Kong Disneyland. According to HK Emporium, if conditions worsen or additional warnings are issued, the park may face a full-day closure, barring all guests until the storm subsides.
Preparing for the Future: Theme Parks and Climate Change
With storm threats becoming increasingly common, Disney’s parks and other entertainment hubs are rethinking their approach to extreme weather. For example, SeaWorld Orlando has announced plans to add more indoor attractions, hoping to shield guests from weather-related interruptions as climate patterns become less predictable.
As climate change heightens the risk of extreme weather, it’s clear that theme parks like Disney are at a crossroads. Adapting to this new normal involves balancing safety, guest satisfaction, and the high costs of frequent operational changes. With each storm, the industry is confronted with the urgent need to evolve, keeping the magic alive even when the skies aren’t as sunny.
Have you ever been caught in a tropical storm at a Disney theme park?
