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This year’s tropical storm season has proven to be a particularly challenging one for Disney resorts across the globe. As hurricane season typically begins to wind down in November, several storms have already caused significant disruptions – and even more are on the way.
In Florida, September brought Hurricane Helene. While the storm primarily impacted Florida’s Big Bend area, Disney closed Typhoon Lagoon and canceled (then partially uncanceled) several tours and events as a precaution, including the popular Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.
Credit: Jamie S., Disney Fanatic
Only weeks later, Hurricane Milton swept through Central Florida. Although the damage was far less severe than expected, Walt Disney World Resort still chose to close all its parks for the day. Disney’s Contemporary Resort and Polynesian Village Resort both faced minor flooding, with the latter suffering roof damage that caused some vacation plans to be adjusted or canceled.
It’s an unfortunate reality that Florida is particularly prone to hurricanes due to its location in the Atlantic Ocean and the Gulf of Mexico, where warm waters fuel storm formation. The state’s coastal geography and low-lying areas make it vulnerable to intense storms, but Walt Disney World is well-prepared, with contingency plans and infrastructure in place to mitigate damage, such as reinforced buildings and rapid response teams.
Credit: Jamie Sylvester, Disney Fanatic
Despite this year’s challenges, Florida’s hurricane season seems to (finally!) be coming to a close. As of today, the latest storm system – Hurricane Rafael – is officially weakening and veering away from the U.S., sparing Florida from additional disruptions.
However, Disney’s international parks are not totally in the clear yet.
More Storms Hitting Disney
This year, Hong Kong Disneyland faced tropical storm disruptions in June, September, and October, when typhoon warnings led to the temporary closure of outdoor attractions. While the park remained open, many of its outdoor offerings were unavailable during the peak of each storm.
Credit: Hong Kong Disneyland
Now, yet another storm is making its presence known.
Super Typhoon Yinxing is approaching the southern coast of China and has prompted a No. 3 warning signal for Hong Kong. The warning will remain in effect until at least 10 a.m. HKT on November 10 as the typhoon moves away from the region. Though Yinxing is not expected to make landfall, its approach has led to operational changes at Hong Kong Disneyland.
Credit: Hong Kong Disneyland
The park issued an official warning on its app and website, advising guests of the following:
Inclement Weather Arrangement
Under Strong Wind Signal No. 3, the park will open with limited operations, while all outdoor attractions will be suspended. For the latest show times and attraction availability, please check our official mobile app.
As a result, several attractions are temporarily closed, including:
- Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars
- Cinderella Carousel
- Dumbo the Flying Elephant
- Hong Kong Disneyland Railroad
- Jungle River Cruise
- Mad Hatter Tea Cups
- Main Street Vehicles
- Orbitron
- Rafts to Tarzan’s Treehouse
- RC Racer
- Slinky Dog Spin
- Toy Soldier Parachute Drop
- Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs
Indoor attractions remain operational, offering guests some respite from the storm. Notable attractions like Hyperspace Mountain, Iron Man Experience, and “it’s a small world” are running with relatively low wait times, with many guests presumedly skipping the park today for obvious reasons.
However, demand remains high for meet-and-greets with beloved characters. LinaBell, the adorable pink fox, currently holds the longest wait time at 75 minutes, as fans flock to interact with the popular Duffy and Friends character.
Credit: Disney
For those hoping to catch the park’s “Momentous” Nighttime Spectacular, the show will proceed at 8.30 p.m. as planned, though the fireworks will be omitted due to weather conditions.
Looking ahead, Hong Kong Disneyland may not be out of the storm’s path just yet. Another tropical storm is forecast to impact the region next week.
If this storm prompts another warning, it would mark the first time since 1954 that Hong Kong has experienced two typhoons in November.
Credit: Hong Kong Disneyland
As the year’s tropical storm season winds down, Disney parks continue to adjust to unpredictable weather. While guests can often still enjoy the magic during storms, they must also be prepared for certain attractions to be temporarily unavailable and some events to be altered or canceled.
For those visiting Disney parks during storms, we recommend keeping a close eye on official park apps and websites for real-time updates.
Have you ever visited Disney during severe weather?
