Disney World Water Parks Could Close as Cold Front Hits Florida

A strong cold front is forecast to cross Central Florida late Thursday, bringing the coldest weather of the season so far to the Orlando area, according to Click Orlando’s forecast as reported by Inside the Magic. Families with Walt Disney World trips planned for the weekend could find some water-based attractions unavailable. Disney has not announced any closure.

Disney’s water park policy, as described by a planDisney panelist in 2024, is that parks may not operate when daytime temperatures are forecast to fall below about 70°F.

The forecast, day by day

Monday and Tuesday are expected to bring clouds and sun, with highs in the low 80s and morning temperatures from the upper 50s to the upper 60s. Patchy fog is possible early on both days. Rain chances rise to around 30% to 40% on Wednesday afternoon and evening, with scattered showers and a few thunderstorms. Highs stay in the low 80s.

Showers may linger Thursday, and the front is expected to move through late Thursday night into early Friday. Click Orlando said widespread heavy rain is not expected, though a few showers are possible, mainly south of Orlando.

Behind the front, Friday highs are forecast to reach only the upper 60s to low 70s, with gusty northwest winds making it feel cooler. Saturday and Sunday mornings are expected to be the coldest so far this season, with temperatures possibly falling to the mid to upper 40s across much of the region. Saturday’s high is forecast at the low to mid-60s. Sunday should warm up, with 70s returning to parts of the area.

What Disney has said about cold-weather water closures

In a 2024 answer on planDisney, Disney’s official vacation planning forum, a panelist said some water-based recreation may be unavailable on notably chilly or windy days. The panelist relayed that a cast member had said water parks may not be available when daytime temperatures are forecast below approximately 70°F.

Inside the Magic notes that this guidance is two years old and applies it to this week based on closures earlier this year and in 2025. With Friday near 70 degrees and Saturday forecast in the low to mid-60s, the outlet judges that the operating water park faces a real risk of closing for at least part of the weekend.

Resort pools and outdoor rides

The same planDisney response said most Disney Resort hotel pools are heated to around 82°F year-round. Chilly or windy weather can still affect water recreation across the resort. Inside the Magic named Kali River Rapids at Animal Kingdom and Tiana’s Bayou Adventure at Magic Kingdom as outdoor water attractions that may have limited availability over the weekend.

What this means for families with water park plans

Water park days look most likely to go ahead early in the week, when highs are forecast in the low 80s. The planDisney panelist recommended checking the My Disney Experience app each morning for current water park availability. Front desk cast members at Disney Resort hotels can also help.

The cooler air also means milder conditions at Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom than the usual Florida heat, according to Inside the Magic.

Water park lineup changes in January

Separately, Disney has confirmed that Blizzard Beach will close and that Typhoon Lagoon will reopen on Jan. 27, 2027. Families planning water park visits in late January will be affected by the switch.

Source: Inside the Magic