UPDATE: Disney Hit by Widespread Closures, May Open Late or Stay Closed Tomorrow

For the second time in a week, a Disney resort is on high alert as a tropical storm barrels its way.

This year has been rough for Disney park operations in terms of weather. Storms have taken an unprecedented toll on Disney resorts worldwide, disrupting operations and even forcing rare closures.

Disney World Closures

Hurricane season has been especially rough at Walt Disney World Resort. Both Hurricane Helene and Hurricane Milton brought major disruptions to Disney’s largest theme park destination.

Credit: Jamie S., Disney Fanatic

Earlier this fall, all four Disney World parks closed ahead of Hurricane Milton, which hit Florida as a powerful Category 4 storm. Just weeks before that, Hurricane Helene shut down Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, while several tours around the parks were abruptly canceled and then tentatively rescheduled.

Typhoons Disrupt Disney Parks Abroad

Disney’s challenges haven’t been limited to Florida. Across the globe, typhoons have impacted resorts in Asia as climate-driven weather events intensify.

Credit: Disney

Shanghai Disney Resort, for instance, was forced to close in September as Typhoon Bebinca—the strongest typhoon to hit Shanghai since 1949—swept through, while Typhoon Ampil caused closures at Tokyo Disney Resort in August. Tokyo Disneyland and Tokyo DisneySea, operated by The Oriental Land Company, had to close their doors early as high winds and rain became a safety concern.

At Hong Kong Disneyland, the situation has been especially challenging. The park faced multiple disruptions in July, September, and October, most recently shutting down outdoor attractions due to Super Typhoon Yinxing just four days ago.

Now, Tropical Cyclone Toraji has put the park under another tropical storm warning, leading to closures of outdoor rides once again.

Hong Kong Disneyland’s Ongoing Weather Woes

Hong Kong Disneyland has issued frequent alerts and made adjustments to its operations, affecting visitor experiences. While the park remained open today, the Hong Kong Observatory has raised a No. 3 warning signal as Tropical Cyclone Toraji approaches and brings strong winds to the area.

Credit: Hong Kong Disneyland

Eight major outdoor attractions—including Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars and the Jungle River Cruise—were shut down temporarily, while indoor attractions such as Mystic Manor, Frozen Ever After, and Iron Man Experience continued as usual.

The park’s nighttime show, “Momentous,” was performed but without fireworks.

[Typhoon information/possibility of temporary closure]
Tomorrow (11/14) at Hong Kong Disneyland,
Due to a typhoon warning,
It is expected that the park will likely be closed for a period starting from opening hours.
Because the opening time is delayed,
Please check park operation and weather information before heading to the park.

Also,
If the typhoon warning is not expected to be lifted by tomorrow afternoon, the park will be closed for the entire day.

【台風情報・一時休園の可能性】
明日（11/14）の香港ディズニーランドは、
台風警報のため、
開園時間から一時休園になる可能性が高いと予想されます。
開園時刻が遅くなるので、
パーク運営情報および天気情報を確認してからパークへ向かってください。

また、…

— Emporium HKDL情報🏰✨ (@hk_emporium) November 13, 2024

As per HK Emporium, there’s also a high chance that the park will open late tomorrow (November 14). Should the typhoon warning last all day, it’s also possible that it will remain closed all day.

Is Climate Change Taking Its Toll on Theme Parks?

It’s not the first time storms have hit hard: back in September, Typhoon Saola forced a two-day closure, causing severe damage across the resort grounds.

Credit: Jamie Sylvester, Disney Fanatic

As climate change drives more extreme weather, theme parks are feeling the effects, especially in storm-prone regions. Recently, SeaWorld Orlando announced plans to invest in indoor attractions to help stabilize attendance, acknowledging that storms and sweltering temperatures are becoming harder to work around.

With climate change heightening the risk of intense weather, Disney’s global resorts will likely need to continue adapting to keep guests safe and happy even when the skies turn stormy.

What do you think? Is weather taking a bigger toll on theme parks than ever before?