We here in Lincoln are no strangers to weather interrupting our lives. Snow, hail or even heat can upset our plans. But did you know that the happiest place on earth has to deal with closures as well?
Walt Disney World: A Magical History of Closures
Since its grand opening on October 1, 1971, Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida has enchanted millions of visitors, becoming a top family vacation destination. In 2023 alone, over 17.7 million people flocked to Disney World’s Magic Kingdom, making it the most visited theme park in the world!
While Disney World is known for being open 365 days a year, there have been times when the magic had to pause. According to MagicGuides.com, Disney World has closed early or shut down temporarily 15 times due to various emergencies.
Most of these closures were due to hurricanes. The most recent was Hurricane Milton, which led to the closure of all four theme parks — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom — on October 9th and 10th. Disney World also closed its doors in response to the 9/11 attacks in 2001 and during the early days of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020.
While Disney golf courses and water parks may close or have delayed openings more frequently, it’s much rarer for Disney World itself to shut down. And Disneyland? It’s only closed four times in its history!
Curious to learn more about each closure? Follow this link for all the details!