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Rare Freeze Leaves Lasting Landscaping Damage at Walt Disney World

Horticulture teams are pruning and replacing freeze‑hit plants as operations continue, with regrowth expected to take weeks to months.

Overview

  • Guest photos show browned and cut‑back vegetation throughout Disney’s Animal Kingdom, changing the park’s normally dense, immersive foliage.
  • An X post by Evan Patel on February 10 highlighted the visible damage and spurred broader coverage from theme‑park news outlets.
  • Horticulture Cast Members say many plants should rebound after aggressive pruning, while dead growth is being removed and some trees will need replacement.
  • The cold snap, the Orlando area’s coldest since 2010, produced hard freezes and caused February 1 ride downtime across the resort, including disruptions on DINOSAUR’s final day.
  • Recovery work is occurring resort‑wide, with noticeable cutbacks in multiple parks and tropical‑themed resorts, and guests may see thinner landscapes for an extended period.