Disney Fans Are Disappointed by This Park Closure Announcement

Disney World just quietly made a change that’s frustrating a lot of fans.

As loudly as we all cheered to hear that Disney World would be bringing back its Cool Kids’ Summer offerings (and believe us, there’s a TON to be excited about), there’s a dark cloud looming deep within there. While we were all thrilled to hear that Disney would be bringing back BOTH water parks operating during the same time over the summer, unfortunately, they quietly snuck in downtime for one of them, that’s left several Disney fans dissapointed for their early spring trips.

Disney World just made a scheduling decision that has a lot of fans feeling frustrated, especially anyone planning a spring trip to Florida. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park will officially close on February  15th for its seasonal refurbishment and will not reopen until May 26th, when it returns as part of Disney’s Cool Kids Summer offerings. That means there will be a long stretch of time where Typhoon Lagoon is completely unavailable…and that’s where the disappointment really kicks in.

However, to lessen the sting, Disney has confirmed Blizzard Beach will remain open during this period. While it’s great that at least one water park will be operating, many fans were hoping Disney would continue its recent trend of keeping both water parks open simultaneously during peak seasons. With spring break crowds, warmer weather, and high hotel occupancy, a lot of visitors had hopes that Typhoon Lagoon might stay open a bit longer or reopen earlier to help spread out the crowds.

For families traveling between February and late May, this means fewer water park options and potentially more congestion at Blizzard Beach on busy days. It also limits flexibility for those who prefer Typhoon Lagoon’s theming, wave pool, and overall layout — which some consider to be the better of Disney’s two water parks. Between the massive Surf Pool, the Crush ’n’ Gusher coaster, and its tropical vibe, Typhoon Lagoon is often a fan favorite, making this extended closure especially hard to swallow.

The planned seasonal refurbishment timeline may feel rough for those who booked spring trips expecting full access to all of Disney’s water attractions. It’s also a shift from the momentum Disney built recently by operating both parks at once, which was widely praised for easing crowd levels and improving overall experience.

The silver lining, though, is that when Typhoon Lagoon does reopen on May 26th, it will kick off Disney’s Cool Kids Summer celebration, which is expected to bring themed entertainment, limited-time activities, and extra family-friendly fun to the parks. This reopening is part of a bigger seasonal push for families with kids of all ages to enjoy limited-time special offerings, updated experiences, and even refreshed attractions.

This is also when hotel guests can start getting into the water parks for FREE again on their check-in day. This perk happened every day (at least every day that the water parks were open) in 2025, but in 2026, it will be limited, running from May 26th to September 8th.

Still, for now, Disney fans are understandably disappointed. If you’re planning a Disney World trip between February and late May and were hoping to spend time at Typhoon Lagoon, it’s worth adjusting your plans early.

At the end of the day, this announcement doesn’t ruin a Disney vacation, but it can change expectations. We’ll be keeping you updated on all of the latest and upcoming Disney news, changes, and announcements, so don’t go far and be sure to check back soon!

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Have you ever visited Disney World only to be disappointed by a refurbishment happening during your visit? Leave your stories in the comments below!