Walt Disney World Is Having the Strangest Month
When the weather closes a water park named Blizzard Beach, you have to laugh, right?
I mean, that’s just art imitating life, isn’t it? Nobody at Disney is laughing, though.


Blizzard Beach
For that matter, most people in the South are quite irritable lately, and I’m saying that as someone who has snow in the backyard.
I’ve had snow accumulation for the past ten days, which is something that has happened — maybe — four times in my adult life.


Blizzard Beach
Thus far, Central Florida hasn’t experienced anything quite so dramatic, although other friends in Florida have relayed stories.
Apparently, Pensacola got some snow, which is as close as this part of the country has ever gotten to a “Hell freezes over” situation.


Photo: FOX Weather
No, I’m not equating Pensacola with Hades, just saying that snow in Florida isn’t supposed to happen.
To a larger point, Walt Disney World is having the strangest month. What is happening, and is this a fluke?
Let’s Talk About the Weather
I’m not one to talk about the weather. As an introvert, I’d rather sit in silence and think or read rather than making insincere small talk.
So, if I’m talking about the weather, you can tell that strangeness is afoot, and we’ve had it in early 2025.


Blizzard Beach
The whole thing has made me look like an idiot. Here’s an article I wrote in August about January weather patterns.
MickeyBlog publishes these early so that you can plan a trip and get everything set up perfectly.


Photo: FLStormChasers_
Generally, WeatherSpark’s data is sound, but this month has been different. Here’s what I wrote at the time:
“According to WeatherSpark data, the average high temperature in Orlando in January is 71 degrees, while the average low is 52 degrees.


Photo: WGCU
“Yes, Disney’s low temperature is likely warmer and more comfortable than wherever you’ll be in January.”
Technically, what I said here is probably right in that Orlando’s high temperature was 46 degrees.


Hot Cocoa
Where I live in the south, it’s 30 degrees. In fact, I’m going to a wrestling show tonight.
Several wrestlers will miss the event because they cannot safely fly into my city.


Snowgies in EPCOT are ready for cold weather!
We follow a YouTube weather reporter named Max Velocity, and his recent updates are pretty much this:
“Historic winter storm” speaks for itself. There’s a lot of that going around lately, which is why I swear it’s been better at Disney.
But…
Blizzard Beach Indeed
For the past several years, Disney has rotated its water parks rather than leave both operational.
Apparently, water park demand has decreased since the pandemic, and there’s little cause to operate both.


Blizzard Beach
In a hilarious twist, Disney’s Blizzard Beach has adopted a true-to-life approach with its name.
Here are the January dates when the water park has been closed due to cold weather:
- January 4th
- January 5th
- January 6th
- January 7th
- January 8th
- January 9th
- January 14th
- January 15th
- January 16th
- January 20th
- January 21st
- January 22nd


Blizzard Beach
I’m typing this on the 22nd, which means Blizzard Beach has closed more days than it has opened thus far in 2025.
The logical question here is whether Disney should switch Blizzard Beach to a seasonal water park.


Closure
Universal Orlando Resort has adopted that approach with Volcano Bay, which only operates on Friday-Sunday in January.
From Disney’s perspective, the water park is only a small piece of the conversation.


Credit: Universal Orlando Resort
The only reason Blizzard Beach has added meaning at the moment is that Disney recently implemented a new policy.
As a reminder, guests staying at official Walt Disney World resorts can visit a water park for free on the first day as an amenity.


Blizzard Beach
Let’s say that you check in on Saturday. Once you drop off your bags, you can head straight to Blizzard Beach.
That’s the theory anyway. What nobody had considered at the time is that you need to keep an eye on your weather app.


Blizzard Beach
Otherwise, you might arrive at the park and discover it’s closed, Wally World style.
(Warning: bad language at the 48-second mark):
Snow in Florida
From Disney’s perspective, that’s a temporary issue, though. The larger problem is at a theme park.
The EPCOT International Festival of the Arts just started. I don’t need to tell you that it’s largely an outdoor event.


2025 Festival of the Arts
Sure, CommuniCore Hall & Plaza and some of the food kiosks are indoors, but most of the fun is at the World Showcase.
Cold weather negatively impacts guests, although it sounds like the festival’s greatness is overcoming the elements.


CommuniCore Hall
Some of our best friends just got from Disney yesterday and had the odd experience of shoveling a foot of snow upon their return.
So, while Walt Disney World has undeniably been MUCH colder than normal, they were happy for their escape.


Walt Disney World Crewneck
Once they returned home, the reality of this winter storm took hold.
The glow of the Disney Bubble was quickly replaced by thick winter coats and a sad lack of Figment.


Winter Coat
I’m saying that to keep all this in perspective. Bad weather for Disney is rarely bad weather for the rest of continental America.
Still, my friends mentioned that their Disney weather was in the low 40s at times, and they were sporting the layered look.


Spirit Jersey
Nobody plans to bring out their winter clothing while in Florida, even in mid-January.
That’s, like, the whole point of Florida. It’s the freakin’ Sunshine State!


Cinderella Castle
So far this week, the temperature has hovered in the range of 42-54 degrees, which is…suboptimal.
Dealing with a Strange Month
Thankfully, there’s an obvious solution for fans. Everyone prioritizes the warmth of indoor attractions.
In that regard, there’s little difference between a rainy day and a chilly day in Orlando. You just go inside.


Magic Kingdom in a Storm
Sure, this isn’t the way vacationers planned to spend their sunny Florida vacation.
Many had hoped for more boat drinks and time spent sunbathing by the pool.


Weather Happens in Disney World
You’d need a parka for that today, which would kill your tan.
But the Dole Whips still work, as do the boat drinks at the pool bars. It ain’t all bad, folks, I swear.


Classic DOLE Whip
The rest of us certainly wish we were at Disney right now, strange January weather notwithstanding. It sure is cold, though.
Blizzard Beach, indeed. Ah, well. As the song goes, the cold never bothered me anyway.


Blizzard Beach sign
I’m totally lying. It does. I’m sitting right beside a ceramic heater as I type this. Stay warm, my many loves.
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