A powerful tropical storm swept through the Walt Disney World resort on August 23, 2026, leaving at least one guest suspended 60 feet in the air aboard the Disney Skyliner while the system raged below. Guest Luke O shared video on X capturing the ordeal firsthand, noting the experience was "not for the faint hearted." Because the Skyliner runs on cables high above ground level, it's one of the first systems Disney shuts down when lightning is detected nearby — and this storm triggered that response almost immediately.
The effects rippled across all four parks as outdoor attractions went offline in rapid succession. Seven Dwarfs Mine Train and Big Thunder Mountain Railroad at Magic Kingdom, Slinky Dog Dash at Hollywood Studios, and Expedition Everest at Animal Kingdom were among the rides that closed. At EPCOT, even Test Track went dark. Flooding turned sections of Adventureland and Tomorrowland into shallow streams, and shops like the Emporium and EPCOT's Creations Shop filled quickly with guests hunting for ponchos. Unlike the typical Florida afternoon storm that clears within an hour, this one lingered and created widespread disruption for thousands of visitors.
The day's most chaotic moment unfolded inside EPCOT's Land Pavilion, one of the resort's largest indoor facilities and a natural refuge during bad weather. As hundreds of guests packed in to escape the downpour — many mid-meal at Sunshine Seasons or queued for Soarin' — a fire alarm suddenly activated, sending the entire crowd back outside into the rain. X user @TheMobilityGuru documented the scene. Cast members responded quickly and guided guests to emergency exits without any reported injuries. Disney has not issued an official explanation for what triggered the alarm, and no actual fire was reported; guests were allowed back inside once the fire department cleared the building.
Practical preparation can soften the blow of days like this one. Bringing disposable ponchos from home, packing a dry pair of socks, and keeping a mental list of solid indoor attractions — such as Pirates of the Caribbean, The American Adventure, or Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance — helps when outdoor rides go dark. Monitoring the My Disney Experience app for live ride status during a storm is also genuinely useful, and securing a table-service dining reservation in advance gives you a comfortable place to wait it out rather than scrambling under an awning.
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This report was originally published by Disney Fanatic.
