The DANGER With Visiting Disney World Right Now

If you’ll be visiting Disney World now or during the summer, there’s something important you really need to be prepared for.

Sure, you’ll want to be ready to face heat, crowds, and big changes, but you’ll also want to be prepared for potential ride closures (some of which are due to weather concerns).

Sometimes rides close as part of a scheduled refurbishment, and other times it is due to sudden issues like technical difficulties. But another thing that can impact Disney World’s rides is…the weather.

Typically, rain alone won’t close most Disney World rides. But if lightning is reported within a specific area around Disney World, many outdoor attractions get shut down.

On April 13th, much of Central Florida was placed under a severe thunderstorm watch.

Here's where the Severe Thunderstorm Watch is posted; We're watching, and will keep you updated… pic.twitter.com/ceRxVgf9Ci

— Eric Burris (@EricBurrisWESH) April 13, 2023

According to WESH 2 News’ weather alerts, Orange County (one of the counties within which Disney World is located) was placed under a severe thunderstorm watch. Additionally, WESH noted that a Doppler radar was tracking a storm thunderstorm over Pine Castle. Gusty winds were possible and one of the locations impacted included Orlando.

As a result, we found that MANY Disney World rides were temporarily closed for a period of time. That included Astro Orbiter, The Barnstormer, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Dumbo the Flying Elephant…

…Seven Dwarfs Mine Train, Slinky Dog Dash…

…Test Track, and the Walt Disney World Railroad. Some other rides that are primarily indoors were also closed, but it’s possible those were closed for entirely separate reasons.

Not long after we took those screenshots, most of the rides reopened. So things can really change in just a few minutes!

One of our reporters in Magic Kingdom also shared that the Festival of Fantasy Parade had been delayed when they arrived.

If you’ll be visiting Disney World soon (especially during the summertime when sudden storms can impact Florida), it’s important that you be prepared. First, be aware that storms can shut down rides (and even outdoor food carts) under certain conditions. Check your weather apps each morning and throughout the day to see what weather is expected for your trip.

If a storm is predicted for later in the day, try to knock out those outdoor rides earlier in the day so you don’t run the risk that they close due to weather later on, preventing you from getting on them until the weather clears up!

Second, if you do experience a weather-related (or other) closure, check the My Disney Experience app often for updates. If a ride reopens, you’ll quickly see that it has a wait time posted, letting you know that you can go to the attraction to experience it once again.

Tropical weather could still show up at Disney World!

If you have any questions, consider speaking with a Cast Member close to the attraction. They may have a better idea of exactly what has caused the closure and when the ride may reopen.

Speak to little ones (in advance) about the potential for sudden closures in the park so they can be prepared, and be ready to shift your plans around a bit as the day goes on. You can use ride closure times to knock out other rides from your list, grab a snack or meal, do some shopping, or do other activities in the parks.

And don’t forget to pack rainy-day essentials for your trip — we’re talking ponchos, extra socks, weather-friendly shoes, and more! We’ve got a whole list of must-get items for you below.

For more tips, see our posts below:

We’ll continue to look for more updates and let you know what we find.