If you were planning to eat at Planet Hollywood or Chicken Guy! at Disney Springs today, we have some bad news. Both restaurants are closed for the rest of the day due to a power issue, and Disney Springs has not said a word about it officially. No statement, no estimated reopening time beyond “tomorrow.” Just… closed.
We know. We are also frustrated on your behalf.
Here is what we know, what is still open, and honestly, how to salvage what is shaping up to be one of those Disney days.
What Actually Happened
Thunderstorms have been hammering the Orlando area today, and while Disney has not confirmed the storms are behind the power issue, the timing is not exactly a coincidence. Both Planet Hollywood and Chicken Guy! went dark this afternoon, and as of right now they are done for the day.
Planet Hollywood has been at Walt Disney World since 1994 — one of the original Disney Springs tenants when the whole area had a different name and a very different energy. The Observatory location with its massive globe exterior is genuinely iconic at this point, and the menu of burgers, pasta, sandwiches, and cocktails surrounded by floor-to-ceiling Hollywood memorabilia is the kind of experience that a certain generation of Disney guest has strong feelings about. If you had a reservation there tonight, we are sorry. That is a real bummer.
Chicken Guy! is the Guy Fieri and Robert Earl counter-service concept that opened at Disney Springs back in 2018 and has basically never had a slow day since. The pitch is simple and it works: chicken tenders with 22 house-made dipping sauces, chicken sandwiches, fries, and a line that moves fast enough that you can be back on your way in fifteen minutes. For families who just want a quick, satisfying, not-outrageously-priced meal between shopping and heading back to the hotel, it is genuinely one of the best quick stops at Disney Springs. Losing it for the rest of today stings.
Both are expected to be back tomorrow. No earlier window has been given.
And the Parks Are Having a Day Too
The restaurant situation is bad enough, but the storms have done more damage across the resort. As of right now, these attractions are all down due to thunder and lightning: Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom, Journey of Water Inspired by Moana at Animal Kingdom, Slinky Dog Dash at Hollywood Studios, Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom, and Test Track at EPCOT.
That is three parks, five rides, and some heavy hitters on that list. Expedition Everest and Slinky Dog Dash are two of the most popular attractions at their respective parks. Test Track at EPCOT pulls long waits on a good day. Kali River Rapids was always going to close the second lightning showed up. Journey of Water is gentler but still draws a real crowd of Moana fans who specifically make time for it.
Lightning holds are a safety call and there is no arguing with them. The question is just how long the storm decides to hang around, and Central Florida storms are famously unpredictable about that. Could be twenty minutes. Could be the rest of the afternoon.
Here Is How to Actually Handle Today
First: open My Disney Experience right now if you are in the parks. Ride statuses update live and the moment a lightning hold clears, that app will know before you do. Most outdoor attractions come back within thirty to forty-five minutes of a storm passing, so hovering near a closed ride without checking the app first is just wasting time.
Second: go inside. This is the move on a storm afternoon and there is no reason to fight it. Magic Kingdom's indoor lineup is deep. Rise of the Resistance at Hollywood Studios is running. Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind at EPCOT is running. Avatar Flight of Passage at Animal Kingdom is running. Indoor experiences are a genuinely good use of a stormy afternoon and the crowds at those attractions are typically lighter when half the park has evacuated to the parking lot.
Third, on the Disney Springs dining situation: the good news is that Disney Springs has a lot of restaurants and two being closed does not leave you without options. The BOATHOUSE is open. Raglan Road is open. STK Orlando, Maria and Enzo's, and Wine Bar George are all running today. If Chicken Guy! was your plan and you want something in a similar quick and casual lane, there are counter-service options nearby worth checking.
The Post-Storm Secret Nobody Tells You
Here is the thing about days like today that actually works in your favor. Once the storms clear, which they usually do by early evening in March, the hour or two that follows is often some of the best park time of the whole trip. Crowds thin dramatically during heavy rain. A lot of guests leave. The ones who stay tend to cluster in the same indoor spots. When the outdoor rides come back online after a storm hold, wait times can be shockingly short for a brief window before everyone realizes the rain has stopped.
If you can push through the rough middle part of today, the back half might surprise you.
Planet Hollywood and Chicken Guy! will both be back tomorrow. They have both been Disney Springs staples for a reason and they will be there waiting. For today, work with what is open, stay out of the lightning, and check back with us for any updates if the situation changes before the day is out.
