Disney World Hit by Second Severe Storm in Less Than a Week
A severe storm hit Walt Disney World for the second time in less than a week, forcing widespread ride closures and flooding parts of EPCOT.
The storm system moved over the resort on Thursday, prompting weather-related attraction suspensions and turning standard park walkways into temporary rivers. Heavy rain continued to batter the park, causing substantial standing water across EPCOT's pedestrian pathways.
The Disney World safety protocols were put in place when lightning or other dangerous weather approaches, temporarily suspending outdoor attractions as a precautionary measure. Among the affected attractions were Magic Kingdom's Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, EPCOT's Test Track, and Disney's Hollywood Studios' Slinky Dog Dash.
The World Showcase in EPCOT was also heavily affected by the flooding, with parts of the area around the China Pavilion accumulating significant amounts of standing water. Guests who had taken shelter inside the House of Good Fortune merchandise shop and the Nine Dragons Restaurant faced crowded conditions as visitors sought refuge from the storm.