Tropical Storm Eta Headed for Florida Early Next Week
Hurricane season isn’t over folks. We are currently keeping an eye on a storm in the Caribbean. Tropical Storm Eta looks to be making its way to Florida in the next few days bringing heavy rains and gusty winds.
Image credit: nhc.noaa.gov
The Orlando area is expecting to get 3-4 inches of rain from the storm. If you are planning on visiting the parks early next week, bag your ponchos!
Image credit: nhc.noaa.gov
The gusty winds could start being felt anytime between Sunday and Monday.
Image credit: nhc.noaa.gov
Florida’s Hurricane Season spans a surprising 6 months. It begins at the start of June and runs through the end of November. Hurricane activity can happen at any time but storms tend to be more plentiful from around the middle to end of August through the end of October.
Steering completely clear of the Hurricane Season isn’t an option for most Disney-goers who must travel on school holidays, during Fall Break etc. Storms aren’t frequent enough to avoid visiting Florida six months out of the year entirely. But I do recommend preparing yourself with some helpful information on what Disney does in the UNLIKELY event that a hurricane impacts your visit.
This is where Disney’s Hurricane Policy comes in. Many visitors worried about potential hurricanes should read this closely as it will hopefully help to put your mind at ease.
Disney’s Official Hurricane Policy is as follows:
- If a Hurricane Warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center for the Orlando are OR your place of residence within 7 days of your scheduled arrival date, guests have the option of calling in advance to reschedule your vacation package or room reservations to another date.
- Under these circumstances, cancellation or change fees would not be imposed by Disney.
- Products and services provided by third-party suppliers included in your vacation (like flights and car rentals) are not refundable by Disney. You would need to contact the companies directly to find out what their individual policies are.
Since full theme park closures are rare, it is more likely that the parks will remain open in the event of a storm but with restrictions. In the event of bad weather (including lightning storms) Disney will typically close outdoor rides first. Coasters are usually the first to be suspended. Indoor attractions are another story. As long as the park remains open indoor rides and attractions typically stay open as well. That’s why a great rainy day strategy is to head to a theme park where there’s lots to see and do indoors. My favorites in the event of a bad weather day are Disney’s Hollywood Studios and the Magic Kingdom.
