Disney World and Universal Orlando suspend water park operations as Central Florida cold snap triggers freezes

Multiple closures across Orlando’s major water parks during late-January cold spell

Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort suspended water park operations this week as unusually cold air settled over Central Florida, bringing overnight lows into the mid-30s and daytime highs hovering near the low 60s. The temperature drop coincided with freeze-related alerts across the Orlando area and prompted day-by-day operating changes at venues designed primarily for warm-weather recreation.

At Universal Orlando Resort, Volcano Bay was scheduled to close on Wednesday, Jan. 28, and Thursday, Jan. 29, due to inclement weather. Forecasts for those days called for highs around 60 degrees Fahrenheit, alongside a freeze warning window beginning overnight into the morning hours.

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon pauses again after repeated interruptions in January

At Walt Disney World, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon was also set to close from Tuesday, Jan. 27, through Thursday, Jan. 29, as temperatures dipped to levels considered unsuitable for water park operations. The late-January shutdown marked the fourth cold-weather closure for Typhoon Lagoon this month, following a series of interruptions earlier in January that reduced the park’s operating days.

• Jan. 12–16: Typhoon Lagoon closed for five days during a cold stretch.
• Jan. 18–20: Typhoon Lagoon closed for three additional days following a brief reopening.
• Jan. 27–29: Typhoon Lagoon scheduled to close again as overnight lows fell into the mid-30s.

Disney’s other water park, Blizzard Beach, was not positioned to absorb demand during this period because it remained closed for its annual refurbishment schedule, leaving Disney without an operating water park on several of the coldest days in January.

Operational and guest impacts during cold-weather shutdowns

Weather-driven closures are a recurring winter challenge for Central Florida’s water parks, where guest safety and comfort depend on air temperatures, wind chill, and the feasibility of staffing and operating water attractions. Universal has also been moving Volcano Bay to a more seasonal operating pattern during the cooler months, with planned closed days that can be compounded by weather-related suspensions.

For visitors, the closures can reshape vacation itineraries on short notice, especially for trips planned around water park days. Both major resorts have directed guests to monitor official park updates for reopening decisions, which typically hinge on how quickly temperatures rebound after the coldest overnight periods.

In late January, temperature forecasts near 60 degrees during the day, combined with overnight freeze conditions, were enough to halt operations at both Volcano Bay and Typhoon Lagoon.

As the cold snap eased, both resorts signaled that reopenings would be evaluated on a rolling basis, reflecting Florida’s rapid winter swings and the narrow operating window water parks require to run reliably.