As spring break approaches, tourists are gearing up to descend upon Florida’s top theme park destinations.
With record attendance numbers last year, Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort are expected to reach peak capacity once again. But while guests are ready for a season of thrill rides and attractions, an unexpected challenge is on the horizon: the weather.
According to Click Orlando, a cold front is set to sweep through Florida, potentially disrupting park operations. Earlier this year, both Disney and Universal had to temporarily shut down their water parks—Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Universal’s Volcano Bay—due to an arctic chill.
“A series of cold fronts look to reintroduce the chill back into the Sunshine State,” a Click Orlando report warned. As of last week, official park calendars still listed Disney’s Blizzard Beach and Universal’s Volcano Bay as open, but with temperatures dropping, closures are already being implemented.
Universal announced it would Volcano Bay on Tuesday, February 18, and Wednesday, February 19. Meanwhile, Blizzard Beach was still scheduled to operate from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on those dates, but by Thursday, February 20, no hours are currently listed—suggesting a likely closure due to the forecasted chill.
AccuWeather predicts highs of 66 and lows of 41 for Thursday, with Friday expected to be even colder. While Blizzard Beach remains on the schedule for now, the situation could change quickly if temperatures continue to drop.
Click Orlando reports: “After the front passes, cooler and drier air will settle in overnight, with lows dropping into the 50s for most of the region by early Thursday. Much colder air settles in starting Thursday as winds shift out of the northeast. Highs through the rest of the week are expected to remain in the mid 60s under mostly sunny skies.”
Weather-related closures may be beyond the control of the parks, but that doesn’t mean things have come to a standstill in Central Florida’s theme park scene. Universal Orlando is making significant progress on its highly anticipated Epic Universe, a massive expansion that will introduce several new lands and attractions. Meanwhile, Disney is undergoing a transformation of its own, with plans for a Cars-themed area in Magic Kingdom, a new Monsters, Inc. experience at Hollywood Studios, and a Tropical Americas expansion in Animal Kingdom.
For now, visitors should keep an eye on official park announcements and weather forecasts before making their plans. Do you think the current cold front will lead to more closures? Let us know in the comments!
