Sunday, March 15

Good morning.

Afternoon storms are back on the menu today. After two gorgeous park days, the forecast flips — expect clouds building by late morning and scattered thunderstorms pushing through by mid-afternoon.

If you were here Thursday, you already know the playbook. If you weren't: rainy afternoons at Disney World are not the disaster they feel like at 1pm. They're the crowd-clearing event that makes your evening significantly better.

Here's what matters today.

🎯 Top Story

May 26 Is Shaping Up to Be the Biggest Single Day at Disney World in 2026

Disney's announcement blitz on Thursday didn't just confirm Buzz Lightyear and Big Thunder reopenings — it also quietly revealed that May 26 is going to be stacked.

Here's what all launches the same day: Soarin' Across America debuts at EPCOT with an all-new film celebrating the country's 250th anniversary — new landscapes, new score, new scents. The Walt Disney Studios Courtyard opens at Hollywood Studios with Disney Jr. Mickey Mouse Clubhouse Live! and The Magic of Disney Animation, where you can meet animated characters and learn to draw in Olaf Draws. And Cool Kids' Summer officially kicks off resort-wide, bringing character interactions, GoofyCore at EPCOT, and the free water park admission perk for resort guests.

Oh, and Soarin' Around the World closes permanently on May 13 to make way for the new film. If riding the current version one more time matters to you, that's your deadline.

The move: If you're booking a summer trip, May 26 week is the sweet spot. You get every new offering on day one, plus Buzz Lightyear and Big Thunder will have been open long enough to work through their early kinks. The parks will be crowded that weekend, but the amount of new stuff to do offsets it.

Are you a first-timer or a repeat visitor?

⚡ Daily Disney QUICK HITS

Soarin' Around the World: Final Day Is May 13 — If riding the current global version matters to you, mark that date. The attraction closes May 14 for the transition to Soarin' Across America, which opens May 26. That's a 12-day closure window where neither version is available.

EPCOT Extended Evening Hours Tomorrow — Monday, March 16 is an EPCOT Extended Evening Hours night (9pm–11pm). Deluxe and Deluxe Villa resort guests only. Frozen Ever After, Guardians, Remy, and Test Track with dramatically shorter waits. If you're eligible, this is your best EPCOT play of the week.

Magic Kingdom Open Until 11pm All Week — Park hours for March 16–22 run 9am–11pm daily, with Happily Ever After at 9:30pm and Starlight parades at 8:15pm and 10:30pm. That's a 14-hour park day if you want it. You don't need all 14 hours — but having them available means you can split your day and still get everything done.

St. Patrick's Day Is Tuesday — Raglan Road at Disney Springs hosts its annual Mighty St. Patrick's Festival with live Irish music, dancers, and special menu items. It's one of the best atmosphere nights of the year at Disney Springs. Reservations are long gone, but walk-up bar seating is usually available if you arrive early.

📊 Today’s Crowd Size Snapshot

Magic Kingdom — Heavy. Sunday spring break crowds in full effect. Storms this afternoon will help — if you're willing to stay, the evening could be excellent.

EPCOT — Heavy. Festival + weekend + spring break. Rain will thin the Outdoor Kitchen lines this afternoon. Lean into indoor rides (Guardians, Frozen, Remy) during the storms.

Animal Kingdom — Moderate-Heavy. Rain hits this park harder than the others — fewer covered walkways, more outdoor queues. If storms look serious, consider pivoting to Hollywood Studios instead.

Hollywood Studios — Moderate-Heavy. Almost everything major is indoors. This is your best rainy-afternoon park by far. Rise, Runaway Railway, Toy Story Mania, and Tower of Terror all keep running.

Strategy: Morning at your top-priority park before the storms. Resort break during the 1–3pm window. Then pick Hollywood Studios or Magic Kingdom for the evening when crowds thin out post-rain. Don't fight the weather — use it.

🌤 Day Weather Forecast for Lake Buena Vista, Florida

Trend: Storms today and tomorrow, then a dramatic cooldown Tuesday — highs in the low 60s, which is unusual for mid-March Orlando. Bring a light jacket if you're still here. Wednesday and Thursday warm back into the 70s with low rain chances. If you have park days left this week, Wednesday through Thursday is the sweet spot for weather and potentially lighter midweek crowds.

🎯 Final Take

The best week of Disney news in months just happened. Buzz Lightyear, Big Thunder, Soarin' Across America, a new Hollywood Studios courtyard, summer discounts, Free Dining for everyone. If you're planning a trip for later this year, you've never had more reasons to commit.

And if you're in the parks right now — today's storms are just Thursday's playbook with a Sunday remix. Morning headliners, afternoon break, evening victory lap.

The weather changes. The strategy doesn't.

See you tomorrow.

TOP RESOURCES

The Official Walt Disney World Website

D23 - The Official Disney Fan Club

Unofficial fan news — Not affiliated with The Walt Disney Company.