Disneyland visitors expecting an exciting Friday night were instead caught in a sudden, torrential downpour that forced rides to close and the evening fireworks to be canceled.
The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory for Orange County at 7:28 p.m. local time on Friday. The advisory remained in effect until 9:30 p.m. and included Anaheim, home of Disneyland.
The abrupt storm caught park guests off guard. Images and videos posted online showed floodwater moving through the “Happiest Place on Earth” as visitors hurried for cover in plastic ponchos.
The Disneylanders account posted shocking footage online of lightning and thunder rocking Tomorrowland before rain hammered down.
“Tell me this wasn’t Mother Nature giving us a warning before Disneyland turned into a water park,” Disney fans joked online.
Another video showed flooding in Frontierland and Fantasyland, where visitors rushed through standing water while the park’s drains struggled to handle the intense rainfall.
“I was there and it rained HARD for about 20 minutes. I wouldn’t blame it on the drains being clogged, maybe a little slow, but mostly overwhelmed. All the streets of Anaheim were flooded too,” one commenter wrote.
“A flooded day at Disney is better than any sunny day anywhere else,” another person joked.
Disneyland visitors covered in ponchos braved the heavy rain on Friday night. Picture source: TheDisneylanders.com
Rainwater poured through outdoor dining areas as visitors searched for somewhere to stay dry. Picture source: Courtesy Fabian Bon/Facebook
Videos showed drains struggling to handle the downpour as visitors made their way through standing water. Picture source: TheDisneylanders.com
A separate viral video captured water entering an outdoor tent structure as park visitors ducked beneath it for shelter.
Many commenters described their own experiences in the downpour. “Me last night lol! I had to buy an umbrella because I didn’t think it was going to rain like this,” one person wrote.
“I was in the line for Haunted Mansion when it rained, there was no shade we got soaked,” another visitor said.
“And they closed most of the rides it was wild,” a third commenter added.
“It was wild but fun! Mother Nature was definitely being dramatic,” another person wrote.
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Even so, many visitors tried to embrace the unusual night. Fabian Bon posted a video telling his followers, “When it rains, it pours. Are you going to complain about rain or are you gonna dance in it?”
Bon and a friend chose to remain at the park and continued enjoying their evening despite the storm.
He later shared a photo taken in front of Cinderella’s castle, captioning it: “There is something magical about feeling the rain at Disneyland.”
Addison Zegan, who operates the Disneylanders account, told the Los Angeles Times that he regularly visits the park and called the storm “the biggest California raindrops I’ve ever seen.”
“It was dark, and people were really confused. They were hunkering down because the rain was so bad,” Zegan added.
Disneyland attendees were met with rain and wind on Friday night. Pictured above is the park during a sunny day in January
Parkgoers shared their experience on social media, with some writing that they made the best of the experience. Picture source: TheDisneylanders.com
The rainstorm passed within an hour, but those planning to go to the park in the coming days should prepare for more rain. Picture source: TheDisneylanders.com
Disney temporarily closed rides on Friday night and the fireworks display was canceled
After an hour of torrential rain, the storm passed and began to clear up. A park spokesperson told the Los Angeles Times that it temporarily closed some areas during the storm. The evening’s fireworks display was also canceled.
Those planning a trip to the park this week should prepare for more rain. The NWS has issued a coastal hazard warning for San Diego and Orange Counties.
The warning is in effect from 5am Sunday until 1pm PST on Thursday during high tides.
The NWS has warned coastal residents to prepare for tides and water levels one to 1.7 feet above normal.
Our News Outlet has reached out to Disneyland for additional comment.
