Anaheim's major resort experienced unexpected and significant flooding on Friday evening, October 23, as a surprise storm brought heavy rain, thunder, and lightning to the area. The brief but intense downpour, which was not forecasted, left parts of Disneyland Park — notably Frontierland and Fantasyland — with ankle-deep water and led to the temporary closure of several outdoor attractions. The National Weather Service had issued a flood advisory around 6:35 p.m. Pacific time, extending it until 9:30 p.m., CinemaBlend reported. Guest accounts of the weather began appearing on social media by approximately 7:30 p.m., with videos of the flooding following later that night.
The storm, which lasted only about 15 minutes according to WDW News Today, caused drains to clog, transforming low-lying areas into wading pools. In Frontierland, walkways accumulated ankle-deep water in spots, as documented in videos posted by Instagram account The Disneylanders and reported by WDW News Today. Guests sought refuge under covered walkways in front of Pioneer Mercantile and the Shooting Exposition. Others navigated the flooded paths by using benches and planter edges as makeshift stepping stones to reach drier ground. One Cast Member was observed wading into the water to clear a clogged drain, a gesture highlighted by The Disneylanders' caption which read, “Not all heroes wear capes.”
Similar conditions were observed in Fantasyland, where another video from The Disneylanders showed water flowing visibly like a river along the walkway between Sleeping Beauty Castle and the Matterhorn, a situation also attributed to backed-up drains by WDW News Today. One guest was seen splashing through the ankle-deep water to reach a higher pathway. Beyond these specific areas, canopies over seating areas at the resort overflowed, creating impromptu waterfalls. A guest's video, shared by WDW News Today, captured rain pouring down at the Haunted Mansion, which was in its Nightmare Before Christmas overlay, and within Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge.
The heavy rainfall necessitated the closure of multiple outdoor attractions for the remainder of Friday night, WDW News Today reported. During the height of the storm, a guest's post on social media indicated that outdoor attractions were temporarily shut down, with visitors taking shelter at Disney California Adventure. Disneyland Park maintains a list of rides that may close during inclement weather, which KTLA reported on during a storm last November. This list includes attractions such as Alice in Wonderland, Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes, Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Gadget Coaster, the Mad Tea Party, and Storybook Land Canal Boats. For real-time updates on closures, guests are advised to check the Disneyland app or inquire at City Hall on Main Street, U.S.A., according to KTLA.
While such weather events are a regular occurrence for theme parks in other regions, they are less common for Disneyland in Anaheim. CinemaBlend noted that the park faced its first tropical storm warning only recently, in August 2023, during Tropical Storm Hilary. This highlights the rarity of guests experiencing sudden, intense storms at the Anaheim resort compared to those in other locations, WDW News Today observed.
Following the unexpected downpour, the Anaheim resort quickly returned to its typical sunny conditions. For the weekend, a high of 81 degrees was expected with minimal rain, CinemaBlend reported, indicating a swift return to clear weather.