What Happens at Disney World During a Hurricane?

I don’t have access to Madam Leota’s crystal ball at the moment, but I still feel confident in stating a hurricane will reach Orlando soon.

Hurricane Milton has already shocked meteorologists with some of its nearly unprecedented ferociousness.

This storm reached 180 miles per hour at one point, among the highest hurricane velocities ever recorded.

At one point, its pressure sunk under 900 millibars, also one of the lowest totals ever tracked.

A new Milton advisory is in from the National Hurricane Center. More info at https://t.co/zksGAdARwL #lawx pic.twitter.com/o6oDxn5JSO

— Bruce Katz (@BruceKatzFOX8) October 8, 2024

Scarily, Hurricane Milton’s current cone suggests it will reach Tampa, Florida, and Walt Disney World early on Thursday.

With countless Floridians previously displaced due to Hurricane Helene, many Disney hotel guests this week are locals.

Whether you’re a tourist in town at the wrong time or a Floridian seeking shelter, you’re likely wondering the same question.

What happens at Walt Disney World during a hurricane? Let’s talk about why people prefer Disney in such crisis situations.

About Disney Hotels during Hurricanes

Here’s the first thing to know, and it should set your mind at ease.

While building Walt Disney World, The Walt Disney Company hired some of the finest town planners of the 20^th century.

The structures in place remain among the most secure and well-fortified in the history of civilization. That’s not hyperbole.

Disney’s Orlando theme parks and resorts are well-tested, having survived more than 50 years of hurricane seasons.

Floridians know this, which explains why Disney resorts may prove unexpectedly crowded this week.

People seeking shelter from the storm travel to Disney hotels, where they are sure to have food, water, and power.

In fact, Disney’s solar power farms prove exceptionally fortuitous in such instances, with Disney stockpiling energy.

So, you’ll even find people who live in Orlando staying at Disney resorts during hurricanes.

Then, once the storm ends, these folks can visit the parks to lift their spirits.

This recently happened at Walt Disney World in the aftermath of Hurricane Helene.

Annual park passes started to sell out as soon as Disney hotel guests learned everything was safe.

Two years ago, MickeyBlog posted a live blog during the events and aftermath of Hurricane Ian.

You’ll notice that only a couple of outdoor Disney attractions weren’t operational as soon as the storm passed.

That fact alone speaks to the safety of Disney during inclement weather.

Obviously, each hurricane behaves differently, though. So, we never really know. And Hurricane Milton appears severe.

Still, based on recent circumstances, I believe it’s fair to say that the resorts will keep you safe during the storm.

Then, the parks will cheer you up immediately afterward.

You’re probably wondering about specifics, though.

What Happens at Disney Hotels during Hurricanes?

Disney meticulously trains its Cast Members in safety protocols.

The company also knows which parts of the various hotels have proven more susceptible to falling debris during past storms.

Cast Members will steer you away from those places while providing ample entertainment in highly populous areas.

For example, you’ll quickly discover that hotel lobbies are often where the action unfolds.

Disney ships the characters to the resorts to make every hurricane hotel stay memorable.

I mean, they would be anyway because of the weather, but Disney somehow makes the setting feel more magical.

Costumed Cast Members will dress up like your favorites. For example, Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse may appear.

At specific resorts, thematically appropriate characters will entertain you as well.

For example, the Country Bears sometimes hang out at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge.

These characters will spend plenty of time with each guest and possibly even put on a show or two.

Here’s a video from Hurricane Ian in 2022 that includes some of the interactions:

At the 10:16 mark of that clip, you’ll notice they’ve switched to Disney’s Old Key West Resort, where they bump into Chip ‘n’ Dale.

 

That’s the kind of engagement you can expect during your stay.

In addition, Cast Members will offer board games and host other interactive events such as trivia contests and dancing competitions.

The options vary based on the resort and the inspiration of the Cast Members on that given day.

Then, we have the unpredictable stuff you wouldn’t expect. For instance, here’s a real thing that happened during Hurricane Irma:

That’s Kristen Bell, aka Anna from Frozen, who got stuck at a Disney World during Hurricane Irma and decided to make it fun for everyone.

How’s the Food?

Okay, this one might surprise you, but the food’s pretty good.

Disney is in the business of planning for rainy days. Management contemplates worst-case scenarios and provides actionable plans.

So, you’ll do better with food at Disney than you would almost everywhere in Central Florida during Hurricane Milton.

Historically, Disney has sold breakfast, lunch, and dinner boxes that consist of the usual items.

At breakfast, you should expect foods like bagels, cereals, fruits, and the like.

During lunch, various sandwiches are readily available. The hurricane Meal Kits in 2022 included carrots, fresh fruit, potato chips, a chocolate chip cookie, and bottled water.

Of course, the menu options will vary by property. They should all have vegan selections, though.

Even better, Disney will operate some of its restaurants, and you’ll find some incredible deals during this time.

For instance, here’s a video of someone eating at Chef Mickey’s for $20!

The catch is that it wasn’t a character meal, as Disney was spread thin with its costumed Cast Members.

 

Still, that’s a Disney buffet meal for $20! At Whispering Canyon Café, the bottomless skillets were only $14.99 during Hurricane Ian.

Like everything else, the prices have probably increased a bit lately, but you’ll discover an impressive combination of tasty food at an affordable price.

This is one of the reasons why endangered Floridians shelter at Disney resorts. The overall experience is better.

A Few Other Tidbits

Here are a couple of things to keep in mind during a Disney hotel stay in hurricane weather.

Cast Members won’t physically block you from going outside. However, they will encourage you to remain inside.

There’s a reason for that. Disney can secure interior facilities more easily.

Once you exit the hotel, flying debris becomes an issue.

The current projections for Hurricane Milton indicate it should be at least 96 miles per hour when it reaches Orlando.

So, there WILL be some stuff flying around, and you don’t want to be outside for that. Didn’t you watch Twisters this summer?

Anyway, you’ll find other hidden benefits to staying at Disney during a hurricane.

As mentioned, the power will stay on, but that’s not all. Disney has quietly integrated mini-cell towers throughout the resorts.

These new-ish towers kinda look like lampposts, making them easy to hide in plain sight.

For this reason, you should have Wi-Fi throughout your stay.

The service may prove laggy at times since everyone else around you will be staring at their phones, too.

Otherwise, you’ll have everything you need. Just please don’t be greedy and stream like 18 devices at once!

Overall, during a hurricane, Disney resorts provide food (at lower prices than usual), shelter, power, and internet access.

Oh, and Cast Members – and sometimes Kristen Bell – provide entertainment as well.

Disney’s among the best options if you absolutely must stay in a hurricane-impacted area.

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