Disneyland Just Announced It’s Closing Early TONIGHT on Christmas Eve—And It’s Because of a Storm That Could Break a 141-Year-Old Record

If you’re planning to spend Christmas Eve at Disneyland, you just got some bad news. The Happiest Place on Earth is shutting down early tonight due to a historic storm that’s about to unleash up to 4 inches of rain on Southern California.

According to WDW News Today, both Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are cutting their hours short as a powerful “atmospheric river” storm approaches the region. Disneyland Park will close at 11 p.m. instead of midnight, and Disney California Adventure will close at 9 p.m. instead of 10 p.m.

This Is the Biggest Christmas Storm in Over a Century

The timing couldn’t be worse for holiday guests. According to the National Weather Service, the storm is expected to dump so much rain that it could break the Christmas Day rainfall record—a record that’s stood since 1884. That year, 3.01 inches fell on December 25. This year’s storm is forecast to exceed that.

Heavy rainfall is already moving through Southern California in waves starting late Tuesday, December 23, and will continue through Christmas Day. Weather forecasters predict up to 4 inches of rain in Orange County (where Disneyland is located) by the end of Christmas Eve, with the storm system lasting until at least Saturday, December 27.

Parts of Orange County are even under mandatory evacuation orders. Authorities are particularly concerned about mudslides in areas recently impacted by wildfires, where the lack of vegetation could make hillsides unstable under this much rainfall.

What This Means for Guests

Disney hasn’t announced any changes to operating hours beyond Christmas Eve, despite the multi-day storm forecast. As of now, Christmas Day and the rest of the holiday week remain on the regular schedule—though that could change if conditions worsen.

It’s worth noting that it hasn’t rained at Disneyland over Christmas since 2019, so this is already an unusual situation. And despite the early closure announcement, daily tickets to Disneyland and Disney California Adventure are still available at the peak price of $224 through January 3.

Disney has not made any statement about potential refunds for guests who purchased tickets expecting full operating hours.

Why Disneyland Made the Call

Closing early isn’t a decision Disney makes lightly—especially during one of the busiest and most profitable weeks of the year. But with a storm system this powerful approaching, the safety risks for both guests and cast members likely outweighed the financial hit.

The atmospheric river bringing this storm is the same weather system that caused flooding and widespread disruption across the Pacific Northwest earlier this week. Now it’s Southern California’s turn, and Disneyland is right in its path.

If you’re planning to visit Disneyland over the next few days, keep an eye on the weather forecast and be prepared for wet conditions. Bring ponchos, waterproof shoes, and maybe a backup plan in case Disney adjusts hours again. This Christmas at the Happiest Place on Earth is going to be a soggy one.