Mother Nature had other plans for excited Disneyland goers on Friday night, unleashing a massive torrential downpour out of nowhere and forcing rides to shut down and fireworks to be canceled.
The National Weather Service (NWS) issued a flood advisory on Friday at 7.28 local time until 9.30 for Orange County, which includes Disneyland’s home of Anaheim, California.
The sudden rain stunned park goers, with many sharing images and videos of floods sweeping through the ‘Happiest Place on Earth’ as attendees fled in plastic ponchos.
The Disneylanders account posted shocking footage online of lightning and thunder rocking Tomorrowland before rain hammered down.
‘Tell me this wasn’t Mother Nature giving us a warning before Disneyland turned into a water park,’ Disney fans wrote.
They shared another video of Frontierland and Fantasyland flooded, with park goers rushing through standing water as the drains struggled to keep up.
‘I was there and it rained HARD for about 20 minutes. I wouldn’t blame it on the drains being clogged, maybe a little slow, but mostly overwhelmed. All the streets of Anaheim were flooded too,’ one commenter noted.
‘A flooded day at Disney is better than any sunny day anywhere else,’ a second joked.
Disneyland fanatics covered in ponchos and braved the rain on Friday night. Picture source: TheDisneylanders.com
Water poured through the outdoor restaurants as park-goers tried to stay dry. Picture source: Courtesy Fabian Bon/Facebook
Videos showed drains struggling to accommodate the massive rainfall and parkgoers trudging through standing water. Picture source: TheDisneylanders.com
Another viral video revealed water penetrating an outdoor tent structure as parkgoers ducked for cover.
Many commenters rushed to share their experiences in the torrential rain, with one writing: ‘Me last night lol! I had to buy an umbrella because I didn’t think it was going to rain like this.’
‘I was in the line for Haunted Mansion when it rained, there was no shade we got soaked,’ another wrote.
‘And they closed most of the rides it was wild,’ a third added.
‘It was wild but fun! Mother Nature was definitely being dramatic,’ a fourth said.
Despite the rain, parkgoers made the best of it. Fabian Bon shared a video telling his followers: ‘When it rains, it pours. Are you going to complain about rain or are you gonna dance in it?’
He and his friend powered through the storm and spent the night at the park despite the rain.
Bon shared a photo in front of Cinderella’s castle and wrote: ‘There is something magical about feeling the rain at Disneyland.’
Addison Zegan, who runs the Disneylanders account, told the Los Angeles Times that he frequents the park and described the storm as ‘the biggest California raindrops I’ve ever seen.’
‘It was dark, and people were really confused. They were hunkering down because the rain was so bad,’ he added.
Disneyland attendees were met with rain and wind on Friday night. Pictured above is the park during a sunny day in January
Parkgoers shared their experience on social media, with some writing that they made the best of the experience. Picture source: TheDisneylanders.com
The rainstorm passed within an hour, but those planning to go to the park in the coming days should prepare for more rain. Picture source: TheDisneylanders.com
Disney temporarily closed rides on Friday night and the fireworks display was canceled
After an hour of torrential rain, the storm passed and began to clear up. A park spokesperson told the Los Angeles Times that it temporarily closed some areas during the storm. The evening’s fireworks display was also canceled.
Those planning a trip to the park this week should prepare for more rain. The NWS has issued a coastal hazard warning for San Diego and Orange Counties.
The warning is in effect from 5am Sunday until 1pm PST on Thursday during high tides.
The NWS has warned coastal residents to prepare for tides and water levels one to 1.7 feet above normal.
The Daily Mail has reached out to Disneyland for additional comment.
