Disneyland flooding turned Frontierland into a wading pool

A surprise Friday night storm left ankle-deep water in Frontierland and a river through Fantasyland. Here’s what happened, what closed and what’s new at Disneyland this weekend.

A storm nobody planned for soaked Disneyland on Friday night, Oct. 23.

Heavy rain, thunder and lightning rolled over the Anaheim resort that evening. Clogged drains turned low spots in Frontierland and Fantasyland into wading pools, WDW News Today reported.

The downpour lasted only about 15 minutes, according to WDWNT. That was enough to close multiple outdoor attractions for the rest of the night.

When did the Disneyland flooding happen?

Friday evening. The National Weather Service issued a flood advisory around 6:35 p.m. Pacific time and extended it until 9:30 p.m., CinemaBlend reported.

Guest posts about rain, thunder and lightning at the resort showed up on X by about 7:30 p.m. Flooding videos followed through the night.

It had rained earlier in the week, but rain wasn’t in Friday’s forecast, WDWNT noted. Guests and Cast Members alike were caught off guard.

How bad was the flooding in Frontierland?

Bad enough to wade through. Instagram account The Disneylanders posted video of Frontierland’s walkways filling with water that was ankle-deep in spots, WDWNT reported.

Guests ran for the covered walkways in front of Pioneer Mercantile and the Shooting Exposition. Others used benches and planter edges as stepping stones to reach drier ground.

One Cast Member waded in to unclog a drain. The account’s caption saluted him. “Not all heroes wear capes,” it read.

Here’s The Disneylanders’ video from Frontierland:

What happened in Fantasyland?

The water ran like a river. Another Disneylanders video showed the walkway between Sleeping Beauty Castle and the Matterhorn with water visibly flowing, WDWNT reported.

Backed-up drains caused that flooding, too, according to the account. One guest splashed through the ankle-deep water to climb onto a higher walkway.

Elsewhere, canopies over seating areas overflowed into impromptu waterfalls. One guest’s video showed rain pouring at Haunted Mansion, still in its Nightmare Before Christmas overlay, and in Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge, WDWNT said.

Did Disneyland rides close because of the storm?

Yes. Multiple outdoor attractions closed for the rest of the night, WDWNT reported.

One guest’s post on X at the height of the storm said outdoor attractions were temporarily closed. Guests were taking shelter at Disney California Adventure, the post said.

Disneyland’s website keeps a list of rides that may close in bad weather, KTLA reported during a storm last November. The Disneyland Park list included Alice in Wonderland, Davy Crockett’s Explorer Canoes, Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Gadget Coaster, the Mad Tea Party and Storybook Land Canal Boats.

Guests can check what’s closed in the Disneyland app or at City Hall on Main Street, U.S.A., according to KTLA.

Has Disneyland flooded like this before?

It happens, but rarely. CinemaBlend pointed back to August 2023, when the park faced its first tropical storm warning. That was Tropical Storm Hilary.

Walt Disney World guests deal with sudden storms all the time. Disneyland guests are less used to them, WDWNT noted.

What’s the weather at Disneyland this weekend?

Dry and warm. Disneyland was back to its sunny self, with a high of 81 degrees expected this weekend and little rain, CinemaBlend reported.

What’s new at Disneyland this weekend?

Winter is creeping in. More snow and icicles are taking shape on Sleeping Beauty Castle’s roof for its holiday overlay, MickeyBlog reported Saturday. PNP first spotted castle snow on Oct. 15.

Ornaments, wreaths and banners come next. The resort’s holiday season starts Nov. 13, MickeyBlog said.

Cozy winter merch landed, too. New finds include a youth beanie and glove set for $24.99, a white Disneyland beanie for $24.99 and Sherpa bucket hats with ears for $34.99, according to MickeyBlog. Grown-ups can also grab a black puffer vest or a plaid button-up shirt, each $79.99.

In Frontierland, the Souvenir Ticket Office near Pioneer Mercantile now prints a free S.E.A. Explorer Ticket when you tap a MagicBand, MickeyBlog reported. It caps off the Society of Explorers and Adventurers mystery starring Hazel Hightower, which PNP covered Oct. 21.

Article compiled and written by Kambrea Pratt (editor-in-chief), Derek Gibbs (beat editor) and the Pirates & Princesses newsroom. Pirates & Princesses is part of WebReef Media.

Pirates and Princesses is your destination for Disney news, theme park updates, and the pop culture you love. From Disney cruises and travel tips to Disney fashion, food, collectibles, and movie news, PNP covers it all. Visit us at piratesandprincesses.net for daily coverage. Follow PNP on Facebook and Instagram, and listen to the Pirates & Princesses podcast on Apple Podcasts and YouTube.

Hat Tips:

• WDW News Today (Oct. 24, 2026), the Frontierland and Fantasyland flooding

• CinemaBlend, Sarah El-Mahmoud (Oct. 24, 2026), the flood advisory and weekend forecast

• KTLA, Iman Palm (Nov. 14, 2025), Disneyland’s bad weather ride list

• MickeyBlog, Cassie Agundes and Kristin Sabol (Oct. 24, 2026), the castle snow, winter merch and S.E.A. ticket

• The Disneylanders on YouTube (Oct. 23, 2026), the Frontierland flooding video

• Pirates & Princesses (Oct. 15 and 21, 2026), the castle snow and S.E.A. mystery

AI Disclosure: All articles are assigned, edited and reviewed by an experienced human editor before posting. Like most modern newsrooms, WebReef Media uses a variety of AI tools to help with accuracy and efficiency. Ways AI may be used in article creation include research, grammar, fact-checking and ideation, as well as occasional AI generated or enhanced thumbnails or graphics. No articles are generated or posted without human oversight or involvement.