Planning any Disney trip it’s extremely exciting. You get your welcome pack, book your restaurants, plan rides and activities. What if after all the planning the parks have to close? In March of 2020, the whole world shut down and guess what? My family and I were booked for a vacation at Disney World the week everything closed. But I wondered if this happened a lot.
Although not a daily occurrence, Disney Parks have closed to weather or tragic circumstance on many occasions. Disney World has closed, or partially or fully, in bad hurricane seasons, terror attacks or for national mourning. The 2020’s pandemic caused long closures to Disney Parks worldwide.
I have gathered together a brief history of important closures dates and how Disney negotiates around these situations. Disney History is vast so lets pick out these important dates and take a closer look.
Disney Closures Overview
Disneyland Paris
The Paris based Disney theme park has been recorded to have closed, in total, 2 times.
- Paris Attacks – November 14 – 17, 2015
- Coronavirus Outbreak – March 15, 2020 – July 10, 2020
Disneyland California
The California Disney theme park has been recorded to have closed, in total, 3 times
- Day Of Mourning After JFK’s Assassination – November 23, 1963
- U.S. Terror Attacks – September 11th 2001
- Coronavirus Outbreak – March 15, 2020 – July 10, 2020
Walt Disney World, Florida
The Florida based theme park has been recorded to have closed, in total, 7 times.
- Hurricane Floyd – September 15, 1999
- Hurricane Charley – August 13, 2004
- Hurricane Frances – September 4-5, 2004
- Hurricane Jeanne – September 26, 2004
- Hurricane Matthew – October 7, 2016
- Hurricane Irma – September 10-11, 2017
- Hurricane Dorian – September 3, 2019
- U.S. Terror Attacks – September 11th 2001
- Coronavirus Outbreak – March 15, 2020 – July 10, 2020
Before we note each of these events let’s explore some of the Disney park closure procedures. Please be aware that the procedures below are an example and generalized. Each locations procedures and Phases may vary. They may also change from ‘time to time’ but they serve as a good example of what to expect if there is a closure while you are visiting.
Feel free to skip to the “Disney Closure History from 1963 – 2020” section.
Lets jump right in…
Phases and Procedures for Closing Disney Parks
Using a phasing system, Disney is able to close the parks in stages by restricting different category’s of guests. This happens at a steady pace beginning with Phases A and B then moving onto a numeric coding system with Phases 1,2,3 or 4. The latter, phase 4, being to fully close the parks. You lost yet? Moving swiftly on…
Each phase expands to accumulate additional category’s of guests who will be turned away from the parks under Disney’s ticket, ‘Terms and Conditions’. This is often implemented when capacity is reaching its fullest to try and reduce guest numbers. If i was to guess, each phase may also double up as a fantastic way to train cast members incase of an emergency shut down allowing everything to run smoothly. But i’m an optimist!
Another great use for the phasing system is creating the ability to close certain areas while leaving others unaffected. This in turn leaves the majority of guests oblivious to what is happening and the result is less or no interruptions. This is extremely important to a company who believe earnestly that the guest experience is everything. To me this is one of Disney’s strongest points.
Phasing also gives the advantage of not having to close parks for an entire day, days or even more than one at a time. Which means… more time to see Goofy! Gawrsh!
Ok lets go through each stage and after i’ll include an ‘easy to read’ table. You never know when it will come in handy.
Disney Closure Phases Overview
Phase A
No admission to guests with one day tickets or FastPass+ reservations unless they have or are one of the following:
- Disney Resort Guests (These include many of the offsite ‘Partner’ Accommodations). I always remember to carry my hotel receipt or invoice, on my phone or printed out, incase this situation arrises so i have proof.
- Walt Disney World Annual Platinum Pass, Platinum Pass Plus and Waterparks Annual Pass (obviously the alternatives for California and Paris)
- Guests with Park Hopper tickets re-entering or crossing over from another Walt Disney World Theme Park
- Guests with Memory Maker
- Those with in-park reservations or appointments.
Phase B
No admission of guests with one day tickets, and no re-entering or crossing over from another park unless they have or are one of the following:
- Disney Resort Guests (These include many of the offsite ‘Partner’ Accommodations)
- FastPass+ reservations if you are a Disney Resort hotel guest.
- Walt Disney World Annual Platinum Pass, Platinum Pass Plus ans Waterparks Annual Pass (obviously the alternatives for California and Paris)
- Guests with Memory Maker
- Those with in-park reservations or appointments.
Phase 1
This is the most common closure phase and can be known to happen in very busy times such as Easter and Christmas.
Guests will be turned around if they have ‘Magic Your Way’ base tickets, a ‘1-Day 1-Park Ticket’, have no pre-purchased admission ticket or are Cast Members using Main Gate & Silver Passes (or the alternative for the Disneyland, California or Disneyland, Paris)
Guests permitted to enter are:
- Those with multi-day or multi-park tickets
- Disney Resort Guests (These include many of the offsite ‘Partner’ Accommodations)
- Walt Disney World Annual Platinum Pass, Platinum Pass Plus ans Waterparks Annual Pass (obviously the alternatives for California and Paris)
- Those re-entering the park that day.
- Those “hopping” from another park.
- Those with in-park reservations or appointments.
- Those arriving via Disney transportation
Phase 2
Entry is limited to:
- Disney Resort Guests (These include many of the offsite ‘Partner’ Accommodations)
- Walt Disney World Annual Platinum Pass, Platinum Pass Plus ans Waterparks Annual Pass (obviously the alternatives for California and Paris)
- Guests with Hopper tickets coming from another park
- Guests re-entering the park
- Those with in-park reservations or appointments.
- Guests using Disney Resort Transportation
- Guests with pre-purchased 1 day Magic Kingdom tickets
Phase 3
Entry is limited to:
- Disney Resort Guests (These include many of the offsite ‘Partner’ Accommodations)
- Walt Disney World Annual Platinum Pass, Platinum Pass Plus ans Waterparks Annual Pass (obviously the alternatives for California and Paris)
- Those with in-park reservations or appointments.
Phase 4
- Full Closure
Likelihood of Park Closure
Parks
It is very unusual for Disney Parks to fully close, however every year there is a level of phased closing, but it is not in every park or even synchronised. As mentioned above, it allows for as little a disturbance as needed. Park size and capacity is a great indicator to judge if a park will likely close in a given situation. For example Magic Kingdom is the largest so the likelihood of some sort of closure is higher than if it were Epcot, which, is the smallest. The other parks are all in the middle there somewhere.
WaterParks
Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon have very distinct closure conditions. Usually it will come down to weather, technical issues or crowding.
Parking
If a parking lot is closed it is usually due to high capacity and more often than not the parks themselves will still be admitting guests. You may find yourself getting diverted to another car park such as Epcot’s, which has huge capacity. They always throw in a free shuttle bus to get you to your park. Free Stuff! Woop!
Disney Closure History from 1963 – 2020
Looking back at the life and history of Disney theme parks, it’s hard to remember occasions when they have fully closed. In fact, it is almost unheard of for them to all close at the same time. Of course, that was until 2020.
Simultaneous Closures
Disney World, Disneyland, California and Disneyland, Paris
On March 12th, 2020, The dreaded news that Disney World, Disneyland, California and Disneyland, Paris were closing temporarily because of the deadly coronavirus pandemic that was sweeping the globe.
Disneyland, Paris – Closed on March 14, 2020
Disneyland, California – Closed March 14th 2020
Walt Disney World, Florida – Closed on March 16th 2020 and reopened slowly, each side of July 15th, 2020
Disneyland
On the above dates Disneyland and Disney California adventure were closed due to a state wide ban on large gatherings. This was a safety precaution by the local government to try and stop the virus spreading. Most countries worldwide followed a similar tactic.
The parks reopened again many months later, all at different times and with various rules and sanitary mandates.
Disney World and Disneyland
Exceptional circumstance are very rare when it comes to Disney Park closures. There was 1 other occasion where both Disney World and Disneyland, California closed for business Simultaneously. Yeah you guessed it.
These attacks on American soil, now known as 9/11, were a series of 4 coordinated terrorist attacks resulting in 2,977 fatalities and over 25,000 injuries. It is the single most deadliest terrorist attack in human history.
On this devastating day the parks at Walt Disney World Florida were already open and the decision to close was quickly made. The cast members were asked to form a ‘Human-wall’ to usher guests to the front gates. This was achieved efficiently within 30 minutes. As they exited they were offered complimentary tickets and stranded travellers were provided for. On September the 12th, 2001, the parks re-opened with new security measures in place.
Disneyland, California, due to the time difference, did not open that day. They reopened the following day on September 12th, 2001. Again with new security measures in place.
Individual Closures
Now we have looked at times parks closed simultaneously, let’s go through each closure one by one starting with Disneyland Paris and finishing up with Walt Disney World, Florida.
Disneyland Paris, France
A Brief Overview
Disneyland Park, originally opened on the 12th of April, 1992, with Walt Disney Studios Park opening 10 years later on the 16th of March, 2002. Both are situated 20 miles (32 kilometres) from the center of Paris. The site has resort hotels, nature resorts, shopping, dining, an entertainment complex and a golf course. It also hosts several entertainment and recreational venues.
Closures
Upto the present has shut only twice in its entire history.
November 14 – 17, 2015
On Friday 13 November 2015, gunmen along with suicide bombers hit a concert hall, a major stadium, restaurants and bars, almost at the same time leaving hundreds wounded and 130 people dead.
As part of France’s national days of mourning, Disneyland Paris closed for the very first time from the 14th to the 17th of November 2015.
Disneyland, California, USA
The original Disney Theme Park, opened the 17th of July, 1955 in Anaheim, California. It is the only Disney park built and overseen by Walt Disney himself.
The Myth
Now, before we get into Disneyland’s only unique closure, I would like to point out a spectacular Myth before I get comments calling me out. In 1994, a quake named, ‘The Northridge Earthquake’ hit North America. It was the most powerful Earthquake ever recorded in this region of the world. The myth says that Disneyland was closed the following day to asses damage. However, a myth is a myth for a reason so I did a bit of digging and found out the facts. The parks did in fact open but rides were not allowed to open until they were meticulously safety checked. So it’s not going to be entering my so called “closure book of fame!”…ok i don’t call it that.
- A Day Of Mourning After JFK’S Assassination
On the 22nd of November, 1963, Walt Disney was out scouting locations for his new park in Florida when he had a “light bulb” moment over the area that is now Magic Kingdom. He had found the location of his next big project! Extremely excited, on his way back to California he was presented with the news that President John F. Kennedy was assassinated in Dallas, Texas. The following day on the 23rd of November, 1963 Disneyland, California was closed for the very first time in history, for one day.
Disney World, Orlando, USA
Florida is the place to be when it comes to hurricanes in the U.S. and Disney World is not immune to their devastation. Disney World, Florida was opened on the 1st of October, 1971. The property covers an area of 25,000 acres and only half is currently used.
The date was the 14th of September, 1999, and ‘Hurricane Floyd’, a category 4 hurricane, hit Florida forcing Disney to close its 4 parks, downtown Disney (now known as Disney Springs) as well as both their Water Parks. The theme park had gone 28 years without an unscheduled closure in a hurricane hotspot, which is an amazing achievement, or on my planet extremely Lucky! Animal Kingdom and Downtown Disney were opened promptly the following day, the 15th of September 1999, as the hurricane took an unexpected change in path. The other parks opened the 16th of September 1999. Phew that was a bit windy!
During 2004, Disney World was forced to close 3 times due to hurricane weather. The first closure was caused by ‘Hurricane Charley’ which hit Florida on the 13th of August, 2004. There was quite a bit of damage in the parks from the storm but they still reopened the following day with caution. Which meant certain rides were closed that little bit longer for Safety. Safety first i always say! I don’t, i just really wanted to write that.
It wasn’t even a month later when ‘Hurricane Frances’ touched land forcing Disney World to close again! The 4th of September, 2004, saw the parks close for 2 whole days. The Magic Kingdom, Epcot and Typhoon Lagoon opened back up on the 6th of September, 2004, with Disney-MGM Studios (now Hollywood Studios), Animal Kingdom and Blizzard Beach opening up shop the following day on the 7th of September 2004.
To finish off Disney World’s craziest hurricane season on record, the 26th of September 2004, saw Disney parks close once again. But this time it was ‘Hurricane Jeanne’. Thank goodness this would be the last unexpected closure for another 12 years. Mary Poppins umbrella would be ruined!
As you guessed it we’ve now jumped 12 years into the future…. well the past … i mean… never mind.. its now October 2016 and ‘Hurricane Matthew’ is in full flow. The parks are closed at 5pm on October 6th and do not open again until the 8th of October, 2016
This time we’re not lucky enough to have a long gap between closures. In September 2017, ‘Hurricane Irma’ decided to make an appearance. At 9pm, on the 9th of September, 2017 the Parks and Disney Springs are once again closed. This time it’s for 2 whole days. They reopened again on the 12th of September, 2017.
September is not looking like a very lucky month for Disney World, is it!
Ok i’m not going to say “told you so” but … on September 3rd, 2019… Told you so….Disney World decided to close the gates early. Hurricane Dorian was forecast and they didn’t want to take any chances. But their luck changed and the hurricane decided to take a different route…obviously hurricanes are intelligent beings… stop looking at me like that i’m a Disney fan… and the parks reopened the following day on the 4th of September, 2019.
Conclusion
Disney park closures are rare and hopefully you will never truly have to experience one. Afterall, It can completely ruin your trip.
Full closures are usually weather dependant. However, if you are in the parks and an event such as 9/11 or the 2020 Coronavirus pandemic occurs you are surrounded by some of the best trained people on the planet.
If you are instructed by a cast member to leave the parks then do it. Don’t forget to keeps your arms and legs outside the building!… I know im silly!
Nobody wants to see Disney closed and we certainly don’t want to leave once we get there but certain situations are out of everyones control
As for my family, we will all get to go together again at some point soon. I’m still in amazement that we managed to choose the exact date that everything shut down. The odds, the odds!
Anyway, I hope you had a good read and got some great information. Feel free to share this with others
and I hope you will join me again real soon.
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