Disney parks are designed to deliver near-constant magic, with operations rarely interrupted. Yet in Hong Kong, silence has replaced music, parades, and fireworks as Super Typhoon Ragasa continues to hammer the region. For the second consecutive day, Hong Kong Disneyland remains closed — a reminder of how vulnerable even the most meticulously planned destinations are to forces beyond their control.
Closures at Disney parks are historically rare. Operations have paused in the wake of national tragedies such as the assassination of John F. Kennedy in 1963 and the September 11 attacks in 2001. More recently, the COVID-19 pandemic brought every park worldwide to a months-long standstill. Those extraordinary circumstances made headlines because they interrupted a tradition of near-365-day operation.
But weather has long been the most unpredictable adversary. Walt Disney World Resort in Florida braces for hurricanes each year, though the resort has so far escaped shutdowns in 2025. In Asia, typhoons regularly force adjustments — and in Hong Kong, entire-day closures are sometimes unavoidable.
A Rare Two-Day Shutdown
The park first closed midway through September 23, after Typhoon Signal 8 — one of Hong Kong’s highest storm alerts — was issued at 2:20 p.m. The alert encouraged businesses and transportation networks across the city to cease operations.
By afternoon, Disney confirmed on the park's website: “Hong Kong is currently affected by a typhoon. Due to inclement weather, Hong Kong Disneyland is closed.” Inspiration Lake Recreation Centre, located nearby, was also shuttered.
That announcement came as Super Typhoon Ragasa surged toward the city with sustained winds of 185 kilometers per hour and gusts reaching 230 kilometers per hour. Cast members swiftly implemented protective measures and evacuated guests, leaving the resort empty.
The park has not reopened on September 24. As Ragasa continues to affect Hong Kong, operations remain suspended. No timeline has been offered for when guests can expect the gates to reopen.
Travel Chaos and Limited Options
According to the South China Morning Post, Hong Kong International Airport has cancelled more than 700 flights, with officials warning of “significant disruption.” The closures ripple directly into tourism, leaving travelers unable to reach or depart from the city and forcing some to abandon trips to Hong Kong Disneyland entirely.
Just one day before the full shutdown, the park had already been grappling with weather advisories. On September 22, Hong Kong Disneyland operated under Strong Wind Signal No. 3, which required the closure of every outdoor attraction. That meant guests were left with a limited lineup, as much of the resort’s roster — including the Frozen (2013)-themed roller coaster Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs, Jungle River Cruise, RC Racer, Dumbo the Flying Elephant, and Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars — is outdoors.
Has your Disney vacation ever been impacted by a tropical storm?
