Walt Disney World operates 365 days a year, through summer thunderstorms, heat waves, holiday crowds, and the unpredictable weather that comes with operating a massive resort in Central Florida. That makes a complete or widespread shutdown of its theme parks an exceptionally rare event.
Since Walt Disney World opened in 1971, there have been just 13 major unscheduled closure events affecting its theme parks. Eleven were connected to hurricanes or tropical systems, while the other two came in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks and the COVID-19 pandemic.
Not every closure on this list looked the same. Some storms caused Walt Disney World to shut its four theme parks for an entire day or longer, while others resulted in early closures, delayed openings, or only some parks reopening after conditions improved. Disney Resort hotels generally continued sheltering guests during these events even when the theme parks, Disney Springs, transportation, water parks, and other recreation areas stopped operating.
Weather also does not automatically mean Walt Disney World closes. Central Florida experiences severe weather every year, and Disney frequently handles storms by modifying entertainment, transportation, water-park operations, and outdoor attractions while keeping the four main theme parks open. A resort-wide shutdown is generally reserved for situations in which Disney believes normal operations cannot safely continue.
The most recent example came with Hurricane Milton in October 2024. Walt Disney World closed its parks in phases on October 9, remained closed on October 10, and resumed normal theme-park operations on October 11. As of August 21, 2026, Milton remains the most recent major emergency closure.
Here is the complete history of the rare occasions when Walt Disney World has shut down or significantly suspended theme-park operations.
The 13 Times Walt Disney World Has Closed
1. Hurricane Floyd — September 14–15, 1999
For nearly 28 years after opening, Walt Disney World had managed to avoid an emergency shutdown. That streak finally ended when the enormous Hurricane Floyd threatened Florida in September 1999.
Magic Kingdom and EPCOT closed early on September 14 as Disney prepared for the storm, with other areas of the resort following shortly afterward. Most of Walt Disney World remained closed on September 15, making Floyd the first hurricane to force a widespread shutdown of the resort’s theme-park operations.
Floyd was an extremely powerful Category 4 hurricane while approaching Florida, and forecasts initially raised fears of a potentially devastating strike along the state’s Atlantic coast. The storm ultimately turned north and remained offshore, sparing Central Florida from the conditions that had been feared.
Walt Disney World returned to normal operations after the threat passed. The unprecedented closure established the basic pattern Disney would follow during later hurricanes: close early enough for guests and Cast Members to reach safe locations, shelter resort guests in their hotels, assess the property once conditions improve, and reopen as soon as it is safe to do so.
2. The September 11 Terrorist Attacks — September 11, 2001
The only emergency closure during Walt Disney World’s first three decades that was unrelated to weather occurred on September 11, 2001.
Following the terrorist attacks in New York, Washington, D.C., and Pennsylvania, Disney made the extraordinary decision to close its Florida theme parks, water parks, shopping, entertainment, and recreation areas. Guests were directed out of the parks while Disney Resort hotels remained open to accommodate those already staying on property.
Unlike the previous version of this article, which stated that the parks remained closed on September 12, Walt Disney World actually reopened the following morning, September 12.
The guest experience had changed overnight. Heightened security procedures were introduced at the entrances to the theme parks, including bag inspections that became a familiar part of visiting Walt Disney World for years afterward.
3. Hurricane Charley — August 13, 2004
The extremely active 2004 Atlantic hurricane season brought Walt Disney World its next closure—and it would not be the last one that year.
On August 13, Disney closed its four theme parks early as Hurricane Charley approached Central Florida. The storm had made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast as a powerful Category 4 hurricane before racing northeast across the state toward the Orlando area.
The early shutdown gave Cast Members and guests time to reach shelter before the worst weather arrived. Charley caused downed trees, damaged landscaping, and other relatively minor impacts around Walt Disney World, but the resort avoided the catastrophic damage experienced elsewhere in Florida.
The four theme parks reopened the following day.
4. Hurricane Frances — September 4–5, 2004
Less than a month after Charley, another major hurricane forced Walt Disney World to close again.
Hurricane Frances was a much slower-moving system, creating a prolonged period of dangerous weather across Florida. Walt Disney World’s theme parks, water parks, Downtown Disney, recreation areas, and much of the resort’s entertainment operation did not open on September 4.
The storm moved so slowly that widespread closures continued through September 5. Limited operations finally began returning on September 6, when Magic Kingdom and EPCOT reopened along with Typhoon Lagoon and portions of Downtown Disney. Disney-MGM Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom remained closed until normal resort operations resumed.
Frances represented one of the longest hurricane-related disruptions Walt Disney World had experienced at that point.
5. Hurricane Jeanne — September 26, 2004
Remarkably, Walt Disney World had to repeat the hurricane procedure again only three weeks later.
Hurricane Jeanne followed a path across Florida similar to Hurricane Frances and prompted Disney to close all Walt Disney World theme parks, water parks, Downtown Disney venues, and recreation areas on September 26.
The storm passed through Central Florida with strong winds and heavy rain, but Disney reported only relatively minor damage across most of the resort. All four theme parks reopened on September 27, although several individual locations and attractions required additional time before returning to operation.
That meant Walt Disney World had experienced three separate hurricane-related shutdowns during the 2004 season alone: Charley, Frances, and Jeanne.
6. Hurricane Wilma — October 24, 2005
Hurricane Wilma is frequently left off lists of Walt Disney World closures because this one lasted only part of a day, but Disney did suspend theme-park operations as the storm crossed Florida.
All four Walt Disney World theme parks remained closed during the morning of October 24 while Wilma moved through the region.
Conditions improved quickly enough that Magic Kingdom and EPCOT reopened at 1:00 PM, along with Downtown Disney. Disney-MGM Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom remained closed for the rest of the day, as did the water parks and several recreation facilities.
Normal operations resumed throughout Walt Disney World on October 25.
7. Hurricane Matthew — October 6–7, 2016
More than a decade passed before another hurricane forced Walt Disney World into a widespread shutdown.
With Hurricane Matthew approaching Florida’s Atlantic coast, Walt Disney World closed its theme parks early on October 6 and kept all four theme parks closed through October 7. Disney Springs, the water parks, Fort Wilderness, and numerous entertainment and recreation offerings were also closed.
Matthew remained primarily along Florida’s east coast rather than making a direct strike on Orlando, and Walt Disney World avoided major damage.
Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom all reopened on October 8.
8. Hurricane Irma — September 9–11, 2017
Only eleven months later, Hurricane Irma brought another major shutdown.
Irma had reached Category 5 strength in the Atlantic and was an exceptionally large storm, creating concerns across much of Florida. Walt Disney World began closing operations early on September 9 before keeping the theme parks closed throughout September 10 and September 11.
The storm brought powerful winds to Central Florida and caused widespread tree and landscaping damage around the resort. Fort Wilderness and other vulnerable accommodations were evacuated, while guests at Disney’s other resort hotels sheltered on property.
The four theme parks reopened on September 12, although some attractions and resort areas required additional cleanup.
9. Hurricane Dorian — September 3, 2019
Hurricane Dorian devastated portions of the Bahamas before approaching the Florida coast in September 2019. Although its eventual path kept the worst conditions away from Walt Disney World, the uncertainty surrounding the storm prompted Disney to significantly shorten its operating day.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios closed at 2:00 PM on September 3, while Magic Kingdom and EPCOT closed at 3:00 PM. Disney Springs and Typhoon Lagoon also closed early, while Blizzard Beach and ESPN Wide World of Sports did not operate that day.
Dorian ultimately remained offshore as it moved north along Florida’s Atlantic coast, allowing Walt Disney World to return to normal operations quickly.
Because the parks had operated during the morning and early afternoon, Dorian is better described as an emergency early closure rather than a full-day shutdown.
10. The COVID-19 Pandemic — March to July 2020
No closure in Walt Disney World history comes remotely close to the shutdown caused by the COVID-19 pandemic.
Walt Disney World’s four theme parks operated through March 15, 2020, and then closed to the public as Disney suspended operations in response to the rapidly expanding global health emergency. Disney Springs and the resort hotels followed shortly afterward.
What initially appeared likely to be a relatively short closure ultimately stretched for nearly four months.
Disney Springs began a phased reopening on May 20. Magic Kingdom and Disney’s Animal Kingdom finally welcomed regular guests back on July 11, 2020, followed by EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15.
The reopened Walt Disney World looked dramatically different. Capacity was limited, theme-park reservations were introduced, face coverings and temperature screenings were required, physical distancing markers filled queues, traditional character greetings disappeared, and parades were temporarily replaced by smaller character cavalcades.
Some parts of the resort remained closed much longer than the four main theme parks. The pandemic shutdown was not only Walt Disney World’s longest closure—it fundamentally changed park operations for years afterward.
11. Hurricane Ian — September 28–29, 2022
Hurricane Ian forced Walt Disney World into its first complete hurricane closure since Irma five years earlier.
Disney closed all four theme parks on September 28 and 29, 2022 as Ian made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast as a devastating Category 4 hurricane before crossing the state and bringing flooding, wind, and heavy rain into Central Florida.
Disney Springs, Typhoon Lagoon, miniature golf, and numerous resort activities were also shut down, while several more vulnerable accommodations—including Fort Wilderness—were evacuated or temporarily closed.
Walt Disney World began a phased reopening on September 30. Magic Kingdom reopened first, followed by EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom at staggered times throughout the day.
Normal theme-park operating hours resumed on October 1, while some other resort facilities took longer to return.
12. Hurricane Nicole — November 9–10, 2022
Only six weeks after Hurricane Ian, Walt Disney World had to make another round of weather-related operating changes.
As Hurricane Nicole approached Florida’s east coast, Disney closed its theme parks early on November 9. Disney’s Animal Kingdom closed at 5:00 PM, Disney’s Hollywood Studios at 6:00 PM, and Magic Kingdom and EPCOT at 7:00 PM.
The parks remained closed through the morning of November 10 while Disney assessed conditions around the resort.
A phased reopening began at noon, with Magic Kingdom opening first, followed by EPCOT and Animal Kingdom at 1:00 PM and Hollywood Studios at 2:00 PM. Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party was still able to take place at Magic Kingdom that evening.
Nicole is another example of why counting Walt Disney World closures by individual calendar days can be misleading: Disney shut the parks early one evening and reopened them late the following morning rather than losing two complete operating days.
13. Hurricane Milton — October 9–10, 2024
When this article was originally published on October 3, 2024, Hurricane Milton had not yet formed. Within days, however, the storm rapidly intensified in the Gulf of Mexico and became one of the most powerful hurricanes of the 2024 Atlantic season.
Walt Disney World announced a phased shutdown for October 9. Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom closed at 1:00 PM, followed by Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney Springs at 2:00 PM. Walt Disney World transportation stopped operating after the parks and Disney Springs closed.
All four theme parks and Disney Springs remained closed throughout October 10. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party scheduled for that evening was canceled and ticket holders received refunds.
Several more vulnerable resort accommodations were temporarily evacuated or closed, including Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and the Treehouse Villas at Saratoga Springs.
Milton made landfall near Siesta Key on Florida’s Gulf Coast as a Category 3 hurricane before crossing the state. Walt Disney World weathered the storm without the catastrophic damage experienced in some other Florida communities.
Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney Springs all reopened on October 11, 2024.
As of August 21, 2026, Hurricane Milton remains the most recent event to force a widespread Walt Disney World theme-park closure.
How Rare Is It for Walt Disney World to Close?
Thirteen emergency closure events in nearly 55 years of Walt Disney World history remains an extraordinary record considering the resort’s size, complexity, and Central Florida location.
The total also makes clear how unusual the first decades were. Walt Disney World went almost 28 years before Hurricane Floyd caused its first emergency shutdown in 1999. Since then, advances in forecasting and Disney’s increasingly detailed severe-weather procedures have made precautionary closures a more familiar part of hurricane season when a dangerous storm threatens Central Florida.
Most importantly, the decision to close is not simply about whether Walt Disney World’s buildings and attractions can withstand a storm. Tens of thousands of Cast Members need enough time to leave work and reach safe locations, guests must be moved out of outdoor environments, transportation systems need to be secured, and Disney must be able to safely inspect hundreds of buildings, attractions, roads, waterways, trees, and other infrastructure before reopening.
That is why Disney sometimes closes even when a hurricane eventually turns away from Orlando—as happened with Floyd, Matthew, and Dorian. The decision has to be made before anyone knows exactly where the storm will ultimately go.
And when Walt Disney World does close, history shows that the resort generally works remarkably quickly to reopen once conditions improve and Cast Members can safely return.