Thousands of Disney World Guests Under Urgent Government Warning, Park Area Cleared
On Monday, May 5, Magic Kingdom Park temporarily closed several attractions as severe thunderstorms rolled through Central Florida. The shutdown came hours after the National Weather Service issued an urgent severe thunderstorm watch for the region. As part of Disney’s safety protocols, outdoor attractions must close when lightning is within a certain proximity to the park.
With its large number of outdoor attractions, Magic Kingdom Park was significantly affected by the storm. While all Disney parks in Florida feature outdoor attractions, Magic Kingdom is hit hardest during weather disruptions, as many of its rides are outside.
While rain alone typically doesn’t result in ride closures, thunderstorms trigger automatic shutdowns for the safety of both guests and cast members. Attractions like Tiana’s Bayou Adventure, the Liberty Square Riverboat, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and Seven Dwarfs Mine Train were temporarily unavailable during Monday’s storm.
Other closed attractions included the Magic Carpets of Aladdin, the Swiss Family Treehouse, the Jungle Cruise, and the Barnstormer. Raft rides to Tom Sawyer Island were also affected. Fortunately, indoor rides such as the Haunted Mansion, Pirates of the Caribbean, Peter Pan’s Flight, and “it’s a small world” remained operational.
Guests were alerted to the closures via the My Disney Experience app, where they could track which attractions were impacted by the weather. The closures affected nearly half of the park, forcing many guests to wait out the storm while exploring other indoor options.
Thankfully, the storms passed quickly, and most affected attractions reopened later in the afternoon as the weather cleared up. Here’s a recent screenshot from the My Disney Experience app:
If weather impacts your Walt Disney World Resort vacation, remember to be patient and kind to Disney cast members, who can’t control attraction closures. It’s always a good idea to take advantage of indoor experiences and shows or grab a meal at a Quick Service restaurant while the storm passes.
How does your family handle severe weather at Walt Disney World Resort? Share your tips with Disney Dining in the comments!
