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The opening of a Disney park was delayed this morning due to Tropical Cyclone Toraji.
Initially set to open at 10 a.m., Hong Kong Disneyland stayed closed until 11.30 a.m. HKT to ensure the safety of both Disney cast members and guests after Typhoon Signal 8 (T8) was issued.
Credit: Hong Kong Disneyland
While this warning has since been lowered to a Strong Wind Signal No. 3 – hence why the park reopened – guests were cautioned that rides and attractions might be limited as conditions remained unstable throughout the day.
Today’s Ride Closures
Today, Hong Kong Disneyland remains under Strong Wind Signal No. 3, meaning all outdoor rides, such as Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs, Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars, and Jungle River Cruise, will stay closed. At the time of writing, 14 attractions were listed as closed with no available wait times on the Hong Kong Disneyland app.
Credit: Hong Kong Disneyland
However, the park has kept seven indoor attractions available, including Ant-Man and the Wasp: Nano Battle!, Mystic Manor, and Hyperspace Mountain. Indoor character meet-and-greets (which have long proven extremely popular at Hong Kong Disneyland) are also still available.
The park plans to adhere to its usual 8.30 p.m. closing time but will likely perform its nighttime spectacular “Momentous” without pyrotechnics, as was the case under yesterday’s weather warning.
Weather Disruptions in 2024
This latest weather-related disruption is part of a challenging year for Disney parks worldwide. In 2024 alone, severe weather has led to repeated closures and operational shifts, from hurricanes impacting Walt Disney World in Florida to tropical storms affecting Tokyo Disney Resort, Shanghai Disneyland, and Hong Kong Disneyland.
Credit: Ed Aguila, Inside the Magic
Now, as Storm Sara builds strength in the Caribbean, weather experts are watching closely for its impact on park operations in the U.S. and beyond.
Hong Kong Disneyland has long had a complex relationship with both the local market and the region’s typhoon season, which typically ends in November. Opened in 2005 as Disney’s first park in China, it was seen as an ambitious expansion meant to bring Disney magic to Asia. However, the park has struggled with fluctuating attendance and profitability – none of which is helped by recurrent bouts of severe weather.
Credit: Hong Kong Disneyland
Situated on Lantau Island, the park is more vulnerable to typhoons, which often lead to closures and impact outdoor attractions. Regardless, Disney has invested in the park’s growth in recent years with new attractions like the Iron Man Experience and last year’s addition of World of Frozen (complete with both Frozen Ever After and Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs, the latter of which is unique to Hong Kong Disneyland) to entice visitors and boost attendance.
Less than a week ago, Super Typhoon Yinxing forced similar closures across 13 attractions. Yet another storm closed rides in October. While Hong Kong’s typhoon season usually ends in November – much like Florida’s hurricane season – it’s thought that Tropical Cyclone Man-yi may also impact Hong Kong next week.
Have your Disney park plans been impacted by hurricanes or typhoons this year?
