A video posted to Instagram this week gives the most terrifying look yet at just how intense the July 4 weekend storms were at Walt Disney World Resort. The moment it captures is one that the Magic Kingdom Park guests involved will not forget anytime soon.
The Video That Says Everything
Instagram user @kenyabarisone was sheltering with her group in an alcove near the Storybook Circus area in Fantasyland on July 5 when a lightning bolt struck a building directly outside their position. She happened to be filming the storm when it happened, capturing both the blinding flash and the concussive crack that followed. The reaction of everyone in the group — a collective, involuntary jolt — tells the story better than any description could.
“That hit the building,” one guest immediately exclaimed.
July 5th, 2026 – the lightning struck right outside the building we were in. It was so unbelievably loud! #MagicKingdom #DisneyWorld
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The lightning strike was part of a broader and disruptive weather system that moved through Walt Disney World Resort on July 5. The severe thunderstorms forced the closure of outdoor attractions across Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, and a subsequent power outage brought down several indoor attractions as well during the height of the storm.
Frightening but Not Dangerous
As terrifying as the video sounds, the outcome was actually reassuring. Walt Disney World Resort has lightning rods installed on tall buildings and vulnerable structures across its theme parks, and the safety infrastructure at Magic Kingdom Park performed exactly as intended on July 5. The strike was loud and alarming to nearby guests, but it caused no injuries and left no lasting damage to any buildings or attractions at the park.
Operations across all four Walt Disney World Resort theme parks returned to normal once the storms cleared and power outages were resolved.
Has inclement weather ever impacted your visit to Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park? Disney Dining would love to hear from you in the comments!
