Solar Eclipse impacts to Walt Disney World operations

Aug 21, 2017 in "Magic Kingdom"

Posted: Monday August 21, 2017 7:30am EDT by WDWMAGIC Staff

Today's solar eclipse will impact park operations at the Walt Disney World Resort from around 1:15pm to 4:30pm.

At Disney's Animal Kingdom, the animal trails will temporarily close as darkness falls, and will reopen once normal lighting resumes.

At Magic Kingdom, Tom Sawyer Island will close for the day at 2pm.

Blizzard Beach will close some attractions during the low light periods, and will offer additional entertainment on the beach area during that time. A direct shuttle to Typhoon lagoon will be available from 1:30pm to 2:45pm. Typhoon Lagoon is planned to operate as normal.

No impacts are expected at Epcot or Disney's Hollywood Studios.

Note that Disney will not be selling solar viewing glasses at the parks.

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disney4life2008Aug 22, 2017

It stormed this morning so the temperature already dropped. But around noon it had gotten to it felt about 20 degrees cooler. Cold actually. It was nice. Then by 4pm it was 100 degrees again lol

disney4life2008Aug 22, 2017

Wow quite possibly the best photo's ever

ScuttleAug 22, 2017

Lawyers..

ToTBellHopAug 22, 2017

The heat reduction was the most noticeable effect to me. It gets darker as a thunderstorm approaches. It was comical seeing all of the lights on here at Yacht Club and in Epcot. They don't do the same every time it rains! Felt like it was back to 90 degrees by 4 pm however, lol. Beautiful evening tonight in MK, though.

Kman101Aug 22, 2017

It's still cool to see even though Florida didn't have a total eclipse. Would have been cool to be a part of the full eclipse. I thought it was neat to see regardless, sorry some don't get excited over these things or thought it was "meh" (likely because it doesn't last long and in Florida we didn't get full totality) Not sure why Disney was acting as if there would be total darkness seems they didn't really need to change anything.

WondersOfLifeAug 22, 2017

Eh.

Tom MorrowAug 22, 2017

Yeah, it looked like having sunglasses on, and the heat was noticeably less intense. Frankly, I wish the sun was always 85% blocked.

RAXIPAug 22, 2017

My photos from Hollywood Studios. Check out the lens flare in the last photo.

monothingieAug 22, 2017

Was at Typhoon, most people didn't notice, those that did wondered when it was going to get dark...

LAKid53Aug 22, 2017

Cool pics!

Notes from NeverlandAug 21, 2017

Was in the path of totality here. Lasted for not quite two minutes. It got dark (not nighttime dark, but dark), though the coolest part was the sun being completely covered. Looked crazy.

beertikiAug 21, 2017

LAKid53Aug 21, 2017

Next total solar eclipse in US is April 8, 2024...but it won't be an across the US path like today's.

THEMEPARKPIONEERAug 21, 2017

So much for closing do to low light.