A Thanksgiving shakeup at the Disney World resort this weekend.
As families arrived at Walt Disney World Resort for Thanksgiving week, it became clear that this year would call for flexible plans and a bit of extra strategy. Roughly two million guests are travelling through Central Florida during the busy holiday period, leading to heavier activity across all theme parks and leaving visitors to navigate a week defined by shifting weather and limited attractions.
Things began with ideal conditions. Wednesday brought the warmest temperatures of the week, climbing into the mid-80s with very little rainfall. Not long after, Click Orlando reported a major change approaching: a cold front that swept in on Wednesday night and changed the course of the entire holiday weekend.
Temperatures quickly dipped 15 to 20 degrees heading into Thanksgiving Day, with afternoons in the upper 60s to low 70s. Northerly winds ranged between 10 to 15 mph, with gusts reaching close to 20 mph. By Friday and Saturday morning, areas northwest of I-4 will reportedly see readings in the 40s, while the rest of Central Florida largely settles into the 50s, with daily highs topping out in the 60s.
The cooler conditions prompted a major operational shift. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, one of the five parks currently open at the resort, officially listed no operating hours for Friday, November 28, signaling a closure tied directly to the cold front. With one location off the lineup, crowds will concentrate on the remaining four parks, affecting the flow and increasing demand for available experiences. Over at Universal Orlando Resort, Universal’s Volcano Bay Water Theme Park also closed for the same date due to “inclement weather,” according to the resort’s official site.
This happened as premium access options at Walt Disney World were already feeling the pressure. Lightning Lane Premier Passes at Magic Kingdom sold out on multiple consecutive days, followed by similar sellouts across EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios. As a result, many guests turned to lower-tier Lightning Lane choices—ranging from $179 to $339 depending on the park and date—just to secure attractions during the peak holiday window.
Attractions faced their own challenges. Magic Kingdom experienced several closures, increasing demand on working experiences. Buzz Lightyear Space Ranger Spin in Tomorrowland is temporarily unavailable, while Big Thunder Mountain Railroad in Frontierland remains shuttered for extensive changes that began back in January 2025. Nearby, Tom Sawyer Island and Rivers of America/Liberty Square Riverboat have been permanently closed for months to make way for the upcoming Cars-themed expansion, Piston Peak National Park.
While attendance dipped an estimated 1% compared to last year, per-guest spending rose between 3% and 6%. Purchases of premium Lightning Lane access were one of the contributing factors. Guests who prepare ahead will likely have the smoothest visits.
There were also a few reports of incidents during the holiday period, with guests involved in altercations inside the parks as crowds grew. Still, many visitors seemingly leaned into the holiday spirit and found ways to adapt to operational changes while keeping traditions going.
This Thanksgiving week offered a clear example of how weather, attractions, and strategic planning can shape a vacation experience at Walt Disney World Resort. Whether indoors or outdoors, early morning or late-night, guests had to find ways to make memorable holiday visits during one of the year’s busiest times.
How will the temporary closure of a full Disney park change the experience going forward? Let Disney Dining know your thoughts in the comments below!
Well, I think people going to deezy these times are crazy. This day and time, because the cost that it puts a strain on a family of 4 that it will take them 10 years or more paying on their credit cards or loans or not being able to do things that they need to do. And then people are complaining about feeding their kids.
And what has Disney it done for them? Nothing but raise prices over and over.
We love the Disney resorts and have gone every year since our kids were babies. They are now in their 50’s and have given us wonderful grandsons to take to Disney. But really, who can afford Disney? They have pretty much priced us out of their market
Disney is all about the experience. Disney forgot the family. The family may forget Disney.
Disney is all about the experience. Disney forgot the family. The family may forget Disney.
Disney has always been a business, and focused on profit. It’s time to take the nostalgia goggles off.
It’s unfortunate that people have nothing else to look forward to. That is why they keep feeding their hard earned money to a company that doesn’t care about your memories but instead their profits.