If you are at Walt Disney World today, you already know the weather is not cooperating. Thunderstorms have been moving through the Orlando area since this morning, and the resort is feeling it in the usual ways — outdoor attractions cycling down, guests retreating under covered areas, and the general atmosphere that settles over the parks when Florida decides to remind everyone who is actually in charge.
What is less usual is what happened at Disney Springs this afternoon.
Planet Hollywood and Chicken Guy! are both closed today due to a power issue. Disney Springs has not issued a formal statement on the closure or confirmed a direct connection to the storms, but the timing is notable. Both restaurants are expected to reopen tomorrow, which means guests with plans at either spot tonight are left looking for alternatives on short notice.
This is the kind of thing that does not make headlines on a normal day, but when you are standing at Disney Springs with hungry kids and a reservation that no longer exists, it matters quite a bit. Here is everything worth knowing.
The Two Restaurants Affected
Planet Hollywood has been part of Walt Disney World since 1994, which makes it one of the longer-running dining institutions on Disney property. The Observatory location at Disney Springs is the version most guests know — the distinctive globe-shaped building on the waterfront that has become part of the visual identity of the shopping district itself. The menu leans into classic American comfort: burgers, pasta, sandwiches, and cocktails, served in a dining room filled with decades worth of Hollywood memorabilia. It is a full sit-down experience with the kind of portions that tend to leave people leaving with a box.
Chicken Guy! is a different kind of stop entirely. The counter-service concept from Guy Fieri and restaurateur Robert Earl landed at Disney Springs in 2018 and has been pulling consistent crowds ever since. The draw is straightforward: chicken tenders paired with 22 house-made dipping sauces, plus chicken sandwiches and fries. It is fast, it is affordable relative to the Disney Springs price range, and it is exactly the kind of quick family meal that gets you back to browsing or back to the bus without a two-hour sit-down commitment. Losing it for an afternoon is a more significant inconvenience than it might sound on paper.
Neither has a confirmed reopening window beyond tomorrow morning.
What Else Is Down Across the Resort Right Now
The Disney Springs situation is part of a broader rough afternoon across Walt Disney World. As of publishing, the following attractions are currently closed due to thunder and lightning: Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom, Journey of Water Inspired by Moana also at Animal Kingdom, Slinky Dog Dash at Hollywood Studios, Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom, and Test Track at EPCOT.
That covers three parks and a range of attraction types — from Animal Kingdom’s marquee thrill coaster to one of EPCOT’s most consistently high-demand experiences. Lightning protocols on outdoor attractions are non-negotiable from a safety standpoint, and Disney’s operational teams move quickly once the threshold is crossed. The question is always how long the storm sticks around before the all-clear comes.
Central Florida storms in March are genuinely unpredictable in that regard. Some move through fast. Some park over the area for the better part of an afternoon. Guests currently in the parks are best served by treating this as an indoor-attractions window rather than waiting at a closed queue hoping the sky clears in the next ten minutes.
What This Means If You Are Visiting Today
The most useful thing to know right now is that My Disney Experience updates ride statuses in real time. Once a storm passes and the lightning hold is lifted, most outdoor attractions reopen within thirty to forty-five minutes. Checking the app before walking to any attraction currently listed as down will save you a trip across the park.
On the dining side, Disney Springs has enough depth in its restaurant lineup to absorb two closures without leaving guests stuck. The BOATHOUSE, Raglan Road, STK Orlando, Maria and Enzo’s, and Wine Bar George are all operating today. For guests who were specifically planning a quick counter-service stop at Chicken Guy!, options at a similar price point and pace are available nearby.
For anyone mid-park-day dealing with the ride closures, indoor attractions across all four parks are continuing to operate normally. Magic Kingdom’s covered attractions, Rise of the Resistance at Hollywood Studios, Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT, and Avatar Flight of Passage at Animal Kingdom are all solid options for filling an afternoon that the weather has otherwise disrupted.
Planning Around Florida Weather
A power disruption tied to storms and a list of lightning-closed outdoor rides in the same afternoon is a useful reminder that Florida weather is a real planning variable at Walt Disney World, not a background detail. Guests who build indoor time into their park days and keep dining plans loose enough to adjust tend to have significantly better experiences on days like today than guests who are locked into a rigid schedule.
Both Planet Hollywood and Chicken Guy! are expected to be back tomorrow. If either was on your list for this trip, it is worth checking their status in the morning before heading to Disney Springs. For today, work with what is open and let the storm pass.
We will update this article if either restaurant reopens earlier than expected or if more closures are confirmed across the resort.
