What To Expect for Hurricane Idalia and What It Means For a Disney World Vacation
The big news this week out of Central Florida is the approach of Hurricane Idalia which is expected to hit the gulf coast this week. For those planning a visit to “The Most Magical Place on Earth,” you may be wondering what the protocols are at Disney World in the event of a hurricane and how to stay safe while making the most of your days at the parks. That’s where we come in. Here’s some information to help you brave the storm.
What We Know About Hurricane Idalia So Far
According to the latest from the Orlando Sentinel (which is making its storm coverage FREE), Idalia continues to strengthen and is expected to become a Hurricane soon. As you can see, its current path has it coming up the Gulf Coast which could result in storm surge and dangerous winds this week in Florida.
The National Hurricane Center gave an afternoon advisory and shared the news that Idalia was currently showing winds of 70 mph. The storm is expected to pass the western part of Cuba tonight before heading out into the Gulf of Mexico by early Tuesday. It is expected to reach the Florida Gulf Coast on Wednesday.
What Does This Mean For Walt Disney World?
At 1 p.m. this afternoon (August 28, 2023) Mayor Jerry Demings gave a press conference where he advised that though Hurricane Idalia will have an impact on Orange County, he does not expect the area to take a direct hit and therefore, a state of emergency has not been declared for the county at the moment.
As of the latest update, Walt Disney World and surrounding areas are expected to get 2-5 inches of rain on Tuesday and Wednesday. Those in the area are also being warned to look out for tornadic activity. In addition, shelters are being set up in the area as a precautionary measure.
Those driving in the area over the next few days are encouraged to exercise extra caution and to avoid any flooded roadways.
Important: If you’ll be traveling to the Orange County area, you can get updated information on the impact of Hurricane Idoria at ocfl.net/storm.
What To Expect If A Hurricane Impacts Your Disney World Stay
Again, Hurricane Idalia is not expected to make a direct hit in Central Florida. This means that in all likelihood the parks should stay open but that guests should expect inclement weather including rain and higher-than-usual winds. However, shoudl that change, here are some of the answers to our most frequently asked Hurricane Season questions:
Can I re-book or get a refund if Walt Disney World closes due to a Hurricane? If the National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area officially issues a Hurricane Warning within 7 days of your scheduled arrival date, guests are able to reschedule or cancel your Walt Disney World vacation package. If a Hurricane Warning is not issued, guests opting to cancel do so at your own expense.
For those opting to reschedule: Disney will make every attempt to match the booking that you are cancelling to a new booking. However, Disney cannot guarantee you that the same resort/room category will be available. Also a word to the wise: When cancellations and re-bookings do happen, Disney can get swamped and rooms for subsequent dates book up really quickly. Guests are advised to try to make changes as soon as possible. Similarly, if guests booked under a discount offer, but the new travel dates fall during offer blackout dates, the original discount offer may not be applied.
Guests should also note that Disney can only re-book the Disney portion of your stay (including accommodation, ticket, and dining.) Flights, car rentals, and any other bookings made with outside companies are subject to the hurricane policies of those individual companies.
Will rides and attractions still be open in bad weather? As of going to print, it’s safe to assume that Walt Disney World will remain open even if the weather is a bit on the nasty side. However, Disney will close rides and attractions especially those outdoors should the weather take a turn (and in the event of a lightning storm.)
Tips For Those Traveling To Walt Disney World This Week
For those visiting Walt Disney World this week, you shouldn’t let the Hurricane put a damper on your Disney vacation. Here are some quick tips to help you get the most out of your visit:
- Pack accordingly- If you know the weather could be bad, adjust your packing. Time to stock up on those cheap disposable ponchos at the Dollar Store. Plan to bring a theme park bag that allows you to include a change of clothes, dry socks or anything else you and your family may need if you get wet!
- Keep your plans flexible – Though Disney will endeavor to keep the parks open during your visit, rides may close at times of intense weather (think downpours and electrical storms.) With this in mind opt to ride those outdoor attractions when the weather is nice and have a game plan should conditions take a turn for the worse.
- Pay attention to your My Disney Experience App – One of the huge advantages of the My Disney Experience app is that it can keep you updated on weather and closures in real-time. Check the app for ride closures, firework cancellations, or adjustments to Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party as a result of the weather.
- Get your partying done early – I speak from experience on this one! If attending Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at a time when the weather is supposed to be bad, see the first parade, stage show, and fireworks display. It is not uncommon for Disney to cancel these offerings if the weather turns. Waiting too long in the night when bad weather is expected could mean that you miss out!
- Resorts are a valuable resource – Should the weather get too intense, head to your Walt Disney World Resort. Not only will they have helpful information to keep you safe but they are also good at finding ways to make waiting out the storm extra magical.
- Find a reliable weather app for your smartphone – You can stay in the know by checking satellite weather information while you wait in line at attractions. This means you’ll know what to expect weather-wise throughout the day. Real-time satellite imagery means no surprises. Two of my go-to apps are as follows:
- Adjust your Dining Reservations – Disney has just changed their Disney World Advanced Dining Reservations policy. Now instead of needing to cancel your reservation 24 hours ahead of time and calling a special dining hotline, you can cancel anytime up to two hours in advance using the My Disney Experience app. This means extra flexibility in the event of bad weather and also means that there may be some last-minute availability for those braving the parks!
Don’t Forget To Follow Along With MickeyBlog – With the majority of our staff residing in Central Florida and visiting the parks daily, we’ll be coming to you throughout the week with the latest updates on Hurricane Idalia and its impact on Disney and the surrounding areas. Keep checking back with us for information to keep you safe and in-the-know!
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