Credit: DisneyAn entire Disney park is reopening its gates.
Hong Kong Disneyland has confirmed it will welcome guests back tomorrow, September 25, following a two-day closure brought on by Super Typhoon Ragasa. The storm, described as the strongest on Earth this year, forced the park to shut midway through September 23 and remain closed on September 24.
The decision was made to protect both cast members and guests as Ragasa brought sustained winds of 185kmph and gusts exceeding 230kmph. Wind protection measures were installed throughout the resort, and Inspiration Lake Recreation Centre will remain closed until further notice as cleanup efforts continue.
A Difficult Few Days for Guests and Cast Members
A notice on the park’s website now reads: “Hong Kong Disneyland Park will reopen on September 25 (Thursday). Inspiration Lake Recreation Centre will remain closed until further notice.” The announcement provides long-awaited clarity for both travelers and staff who had been waiting for confirmation of when operations would resume.
Hong Kong Disneyland is more vulnerable to tropical weather than most Disney resorts worldwide. Its compact size and heavy reliance on outdoor attractions leave it especially exposed to storm-related disruptions. In recent years, the park has experienced several typhoon closures, underscoring the challenges of operating in a subtropical climate.
When the park does remain open under lower-level storm warnings, outdoor rides are often suspended. Attractions such as Jungle River Cruise, Wandering Oaken’s Sliding Sleighs, RC Racer, and Big Grizzly Mountain Runaway Mine Cars are among the first to be closed. With so many rides affected, the guest experience can change significantly.
The most recent shutdown followed the Hong Kong Observatory’s issuance of Typhoon Signal 8 on September 23. This alert represents the third-highest warning level and requires most businesses and transportation services to cease operations. That afternoon, the park closed its gates early as Ragasa drew closer to the city.
Travelers planning trips to the resort faced additional hurdles. Hong Kong International Airport cancelled more than 700 flights during the storm, leading to significant disruptions for tourists hoping to visit or depart. Some stranded travelers posted updates online, sharing how their plans to visit the park had been derailed.
Typhoon Ragasa’s impact has extended far beyond Hong Kong Disneyland. At least 25 people have been confirmed dead, many of whom were in Taiwan, where a barrier lake burst its banks during the heavy downpours caused by the storm’s outer bands. The flooding has devastated local communities and complicated ongoing rescue efforts.
The storm, the world’s strongest this year so far, made landfall near Yangjiang in southern China around 5 p.m. local time (9 a.m. GMT) on September 24 with sustained winds of 144kmph. It brought several Asian megacities to a standstill, leaving Hong Kong’s normally busy streets deserted as waves higher than lampposts crashed onto the city’s promenades.
With the typhoon moving away, operations will resume tomorrow, though weather conditions may still determine the status of outdoor attractions. Guests planning to visit are encouraged to check official updates before heading to the park.
Has your Disney vacation ever been interrupted by a tropical storm?