Travel Warning: Disney Guests Face Mass Cancellations in October

A Disney vacation can be derailed by factors far beyond the control of Mickey Mouse. Severe weather has forced closures at the likes of Walt Disney World Resort on multiple occasions (and considering the fact it’s currently peak hurricane season, we can’t say it won’t face more in 2025). Meanwhile, technical ride malfunctions can shut down headliners like Space Mountain, while labor strikes have even previously limited full park access at Disneyland Paris in the past.

In October, parkgoers may have to contend with another issue: air traffic control strikes.

Disney Parkgoers May Face Delays or No Flights Amid Strike Action

The air traffic controllers’ union in France (the SNCTA) has axed planned strike action on September 18 and has instead pushed the walkout back to October. To be specific, October 7, 8, and 9.

Should it go ahead, that means those flying in and out of French airports – including Roissy-Charles de Gaulle Airport, the primary hub for Disneyland Paris tourists – face heavy delays or even cancellations.

“The date of September 18 is no longer compatible with the possibility of bringing our demands to a successful conclusion, due to a lack of interlocutors and the necessary time devoted to them,” the SNCTA said in a public statement.

These planned strike dates fall right in the middle of the Halloween season for Disneyland Paris. Its primary park, Disneyland Park, will host the spooky parade Mickey’s Halloween Celebration, plus character meet and greets with the likes of Jack Skellington and Disney favorites such as Mickey Mouse and Chip and Dale in their Halloween finest. For the first time, it also boasts a treasure hunt trail, sponsored by M&M’s, as well as Halloween projections on Main Street, U.S.A. (but only on select days).

Notably, while the SNCTA has axed its own strike action, other unions such as UNSA and CGT may decide to continue.

For unions, the primary motivation for the planned strikes is wages. However, they also cite governance problems at the DGAC and the new biometric badge system in air traffic control centers.

This is far from the resort’s first brush with strike action. Famously, in 2023, Disneyland Paris cast members engaged in multiple protests and strikes to push for higher wages. Employees also requested to be paid a double rate for Sunday shifts. These strikes primarily impacted the park’s shows and parades, with guests reporting that the resort’s many attractions – such as Star Wars Hyperspace Mountain, Big Thunder Mountain Railroad, Pirates of the Caribbean, Tower of Terror, and Crush’s Coaster – continued to operate as usual.

Air traffic control strikes are also relatively common in France. According to Le News, French air traffic control clocked up at least 249 strike days between 2005 and 2025 (in other words, over eight months’ worth of strikes), which far exceeded the European Union average of roughly 10 days.

Has your Disney vacation ever been disrupted by strikes?