Rare Central Florida freeze forms icicles at Disney World and Universal Orlando, prompting water park closures

Record-setting cold reaches Orlando’s major theme parks

A rare hard freeze swept into Central Florida over the weekend of January 31 to February 2, 2026, pushing temperatures into the mid-20s in the Orlando area and setting new daily record lows at official climate sites across the region. Orlando fell to 24°F early Sunday, February 1, breaking the previous daily record for that date.

The cold outbreak was accompanied by strong winds, driving wind chills lower and prompting cold-weather advisories and freeze warnings across parts of Orange and Osceola counties. Conditions were unusual enough to produce visible ice formation at outdoor attractions built for a subtropical climate.

Fountains and misters freeze at Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando

At Walt Disney World, guests documented icicles on water features and fixtures in open-air areas. In EPCOT’s France Pavilion, the fountain outside Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure showed ice buildup while still operating. Elsewhere, Adventureland’s Jungle Cruise area misters appeared frozen, a sign that fine-spray systems and exposed components were affected by the combination of low temperatures and wind.

At Universal Orlando Resort, ice was also visible on outdoor show elements and fountains. Video and photos circulating from the resort showed icicles on the Universal globe and on multiple water features in areas associated with the developing Epic Universe campus, including the Mario-themed fountain near Super Nintendo World and a fountain in the How to Train Your Dragon–themed area.

Operational impacts focus on water parks and exposed outdoor systems

The cold did not fully shut down the major theme parks, but it did affect operations tied most closely to water and outdoor comfort. Universal announced that Volcano Bay, its water park, would be closed across multiple days in early February due to the weather. Walt Disney World has also used temporary closures at its water parks during January cold snaps, reflecting how water-focused venues are particularly sensitive to temperature, wind, and guest-safety considerations.

In addition to guest comfort, freezing weather in Central Florida increases the risk of issues with exposed plumbing, misting systems, pumps, and decorative water features. Operators typically respond by reducing water flow, draining segments of systems, or temporarily shutting down certain features to prevent damage.

Why this freeze stood out

Central Florida experiences cool winter periods, but temperatures in the 20s are uncommon in the Orlando metro area. The February 1 low was not only cold by local standards; it also set new daily records at multiple nearby climate sites, underscoring the breadth of the event.

For the region’s largest tourism engines—outdoor theme parks designed around water, landscaping, and open-air queues—the freeze offered a visible reminder of how quickly operations can be affected when an unusually strong cold air mass reaches deep into the Florida peninsula.

• Orlando recorded 24°F on February 1, 2026, a new daily record low.
• Ice formed on fountains, decorative features, and misting systems at major parks.
• Weather-driven closures were concentrated at water parks, including Universal’s Volcano Bay.

Timeline: The coldest conditions in the Orlando area were observed overnight January 31 into the morning of February 1, with impacts continuing into early February as warnings remained in effect.