Guide to 2024 Hurricane & Storm Season at Disney World
One downside to summer & fall trips to Walt Disney World is tropical storm season. This post covers the 2024 Atlantic hurricane season forecast, tips for staying dry during rain & preparedness info for staying safe during Florida’s intense weather. (Updated March 3, 2024.)
In recent years, Hurricanes Dorian, Matthew, Irma, and Ian have all impacted the parks and resorts to varying degrees–in some cases, causing multi-day closures. This is definitely something to be cognizant of before booking your trip. This isn’t to say you should avoid September or other peak hurricane months, but it’s important to be aware of while weighing the pros and cons of various times to visit.
In an average year, the NOAA forecasts over a dozen named storms. While this is a lot of storms, it’s highly unlikely that any of these will make landfall and subsequently significantly impact Walt Disney World. It’s still uncommon to face park closures due to storms, but it has happened several times. However, even storms hundreds of miles off the coast can make for long, rainy days–rather than the normal afternoon showers that are a fact of life in Florida during the summer and fall.
In other words, if you’re visiting Walt Disney World during the storm season months of June through November 2024, it’s good to be prepared. If you’re visiting between August and October 2024–the heart of hurricane season–it’s also key to have a plan for more major storms.
With that in mind, let’s start with a look at the upcoming Atlantic hurricane season forecast and how it could have an impact on Walt Disney World…
2024 ATLANTIC HURRICANE SEASON FORECAST
Meteorologists are starting to release their forecasts for Atlantic hurricane season in 2024. Typically, the Colorado State University Tropical Weather and Climate Research Team, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and National Hurricane Center all release fairly reliable and non-sensationalized forecasts. We’ll update this section when those forecasts are released.
In the meantime, we have the forecast from two outlets that have varying degrees of credibility. The first is AccuWeather, which in its forecast sounded alarm bells that a “super-charged” hurricane season is possible in 2024. This could be a “blockbuster” hurricane season, AccuWeather hurricane experts warn, as all of the ingredients are coming together for explosive tropical development in the Atlantic this year.
While the Atlantic hurricane season does not officially start until June 1, there are already “serious and growing concerns” about the impending season, AccuWeather Chief Meteorologist Jonathan Porter said. There are two key factors that have AccuWeather forecasters sounding the early warning of a potentially super-charged season: The return of La Niña and historically warm water across the Atlantic Ocean.
It could be a back-loaded season in 2024, as La Niña might not officially develop until late summer or early autumn. The timing of the onset of La Niña could also dictate whether this upcoming season will be similar to the 2020 season, or if the number of tropical systems will fall short of historic levels. AccuWeather’s forecast alone would not be serious cause from concern, as there is a degree to which their reporting is sensationalized. However, it’s corroborated by another outlet.
That’s the WESH 2 forecast by local meteorologist Eric Burris. Last year, that team accurately predicted where every named storm went, and when they made landfall. We’ve found that WESH 2 doesn’t sensationalize storm season, and instead presents a facts-first approach. Their past forecasts have often been conservative relative to the consensus. (In general, local reporting by the Orlando and other Florida news stations is really good–better than the national coverage.)
Burris and WESH are predicting 16-20 named storms, 8-10 hurricanes, and 3-5 major hurricanes. WESH also identified potential hotspots for activity, all of which pointed to the eastern Gulf coast. This is particularly concerning for Florida, with Burris adding that not only is Florida under a higher threat for tropical impact, but “perhaps the greatest threat I’ve forecast since beginning these long range outlooks years ago.”
WESH attributes this in large part to the transition from El Niño to La Niña and sea surface temperatures, but goes deeper than that. They also cite Lezak’s Recurring Cycle, a meteorological technique that uses the past to predict the future, to identify long-term weather patterns repeating themselves in cycles. (If you click this WESH link, it goes into detail about specific dates that have the potential for a return of past weather patterns. It’s a fascinating read!)
Again, we’ll update this section once the NHC, NOAA, and various reputable universities release their 2024 hurricane season forecasts. What follows is the rest of our general advice on visiting Walt Disney World during storm season–and our experience staying at Walt Disney World while the parks closed due to a hurricane…
Our Hurricane Experience
There is ample reason for trepidation if you’re thinking of visiting Walt Disney World in the summer or fall. As Hurricane Dorian, Matthew, and Irma demonstrated, these Atlantic storms have the potential to dramatically alter a vacation. The past is the best predictor of the future, so seeing how Disney dealt with Hurricanes Irma & Matthew could be helpful if you’re concerned about a hurricane impacting your Walt Disney World vacation during storm season.
Hurricane Irma caused Walt Disney World to be closed for two full days and resulted in some damage around the resort. As noted above, we got stuck in Walt Disney World after our Disney Cruise Line Bahamas sailing was canceled (and we were unable to rebook our flight due to the mass exodus of people trying to leave Florida).
You can read about that in Our Hurricane Irma Experience at Walt Disney World, which is like a trip report…but with none of the normal fun stuff, like attractions. It covers what we did to prepare for the storm, how Walt Disney World’s “ride out” Cast Members handled operations, and much more.
What you need to know for rainy days versus during hurricanes and tropical storms is radically different. With the exception of certain attractions and entertainment that might shut down for regular storms, it’s business as usual for Walt Disney World during the rain. That’s not the case during hurricanes and tropical storms, when operations can be brought to a screeching halt. Luckily, that’s very uncommon.
Although the prospect of visiting during rain or hurricane season might be unsettling, there also is some upside, as you’ll read…so it’s not all bad. Let’s take a look at how to prepare for, and deal with, summer storms at Walt Disney World; from regular small storms to tropical storms to even hurricanes. Let’s start with what you need to know for the worst case scenario…
Hurricane History, Official Policies, Preparedness Tips & Info
Hurricanes have caused Walt Disney World to close on six occasions. In 1999 for Hurricane Floyd; in 2004 on separate occasions in a six-week span for Hurricanes Frances, Charley, and Jeanne; in 2005 for Hurricane Wilma; in 2016 for Hurricane Matthew; in 2017 for Hurricane Irma; and in 2022 for Hurricane Ian.
That’s an average of about one closure per decade…plus three times in the last decade. There are also several other times when the parks have closed early, or the water parks and certain resorts have closed–but all of that is much more common and not something that’s closely tracked as a result. Suffice to say, the odds are against your trip to Walt Disney World being severely impacted by a hurricane. Nevertheless, storms are becoming increasingly common.
I’ve heard of some travel agents strongly encouraging guests to purchase travel insurance if visiting Walt Disney World in late summer or early fall. I can’t say that I agree with that advice, but then again, I’m not risk averse. We only purchase travel insurance when going abroad, and that’s only in case I get in a fight with a monkey and have to be hospitalized. With that said, here’s what you need to know if a hurricane or tropical storm is forecast during your visit.
Walt Disney World has a Hurricane Policy that will allow you to get a refund on any package booked through Disney. Of course, this won’t cover your airfare. Fortunately, recent storms have caused significant changes in severe storm policies among major airlines, so that shouldn’t be an issue, either. If that leaves any gaps in expenses you’ve paid for, any decent credit card will have you covered.
If you normally purchase travel insurance anyway, or you still want travel insurance specifically for hurricane season, make sure you get coverage that actually will do something for you in the event of hurricanes or storms. Most basic policies do not provide coverage for weather, so you’ll want to actually read the policy before you buy. In most cases, you’re going to have to purchase a more expensive policy that allows cancellation for any reason.
Beyond monetary loss, there’s the issue of safety, particularly during hurricanes. In terms of safety, Walt Disney World was built for strict compliance with hurricane readiness standards and has earned “StormReady” status from the NOAA. for this type of thing (regardless of how uncommon they are). In terms of preparedness, Disney is absolutely on the ball.
You literally wouldn’t be able to leave your room without receiving a status update of what’s going on, how operations will be affected, and what to do in case of an emergency. There are also notices up around the resorts and in-room televisions have more information than you’re likely to need on Disney’s channels.
Disney errs on the side of caution with this stuff, and you’d pretty much have to bury your head in the sand to not know what’s going on. You really won’t need anything beyond the information Walt Disney World will provide to you in order to keep safe, but if you want to be especially safe, we recommend reviewing FloridaDisaster.org’s information, including on evacuation routes.
Additionally, we recommend having at least a three-day supply of food, water and medicine on hand. Also, before the storm approaches, ensure cell-phones and other devices are fully charged (including external battery packs) in case of electrical power loss.
Storm Season Packing
When packing for a trip during storm season, you’ll want to make sure you come prepared in terms of rainwear and footwear. In terms of rainwear, you could pay $79.56 (slight exaggeration–only slight) for a poncho in the parks, or you could bring your own. You should instead get a cheap 10-pack of ponchos that are serviceable before your trip (or two 10-packs, depending upon how many people are in your group).
If you want something more robust that will keep you dry and is reusable, get this 5-Pack of “Pro” Ponchos. While these are technically disposable, they’re a thicker and higher quality material than the ponchos above. We’ve found that they’re easy to reuse–just hang them up to dry in your room at the end of the day! Unless you really want to throw away your ponchos after each use, this is definitely the superior option.
Second, footwear. Nothing is worse than walking miles around Walt Disney World in wet shoes. Trust me. Popular options to avoid this problem are traditional Crocs cogs. Personally, I prefer Crocs sandals because they don’t quite scream “80 year old hospital patient” quite as much. If you’re more serious about your footwear, consider hybrid water/athletic shoes; the best options we’ve found here are the Teva Churn (for men) and RYKA Hydro (for women).
Finally, accessorize with a Frogg Toggs Chilly Pad. This isn’t for the rain itself, but the heat and humidity that come once the rain leaves. Trust me on this once. These things do wonders for cooling you down, and readers of this blog are big fans of them, as can be evidenced by the comments to our Unique Disney Parks Packing List post.
Regular Rain Showers
There’s a real-world adage that the only certainties in life are death and taxes. If applied to Walt Disney World, that adage would probably be that the only certainties are a 3 o’clock parade and an afternoon shower. Short afternoon showers are fairly regular in Walt Disney World any time of the year, but during the summer and early fall, they are especially common. Plus, unlike the spring showers that might last for 10 minutes before the sun returns, summer storms can be marathon downpours that don’t relent for a few hours.
The prospect of rain should not keep you out of the parks (let alone from not visiting Walt Disney World during these months), as proper packing will make touring during rainy season a breeze. Plus, the rain will scare plenty of other guests away, so a nice afternoon shower might be just the thing to lower those crowds for you. (Although rain isn’t nearly as effective in Walt Disney World as it is in Disneyland–a light sprinkle there and all of the SoCal locals run for the exits!)
If it’s raining when you get up or the forecast is calling for a lot of rain on a particular day of your trip, we recommend going about your day as you normally would. We know, we know, this flies in the face of the “visit Disney Springs” advice offered by a lot of people, but we disagree with that advice.
To us, going to Disney Springs in the rain instead of a theme park doesn’t make a ton of sense. Besides the huge World of Disney, which is approximately twice the size of Manhattan or something like that, you’re going to spend less time in each shop than you would in a single attraction. This means just as much or more time outdoors in the rain than at a theme park.
If we weren’t going to go to the regular parks, we’d go to the water parks. I mean, why not? You’re going to get wet there anyway, so what’s a little rain? We’ve been to Blizzard Beach when it started raining, and for some reason, the place cleared out! If you don’t want to go to a theme park or a water park, consider your hotel’s pool. If you really, really hate the rain, wander around your resort (have a meal?).
Unless you’re from SoCal and are thus scared of rain, there’s no reason to let the rain completely derail your plans. If it’s raining, lots of other guests won’t be in the parks, so you’ll be able to do more than normal! If you do want to go to the parks, but don’t want to get wet, here are some things to do in the parks while it’s raining to minimize your outdoor exposure.
Magic Kingdom
- Carousel of Progress – Rarely has a line meaning you can ride repeatedly if you’d like.
- Tomorrowland Transit Authority PeopleMover – Lengthy, covered ride that gives you a birds’ eye view of rain status.
- Country Bear Jamboree – Grab a snack or meal at Pecos Bill after, as the attraction dumps you out right there.
- Hall of Presidents – Grab a waffle sandwich or dessert at Sleepy Hollow and take it to the covered seating area after.
- Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room – Shortest show on this list, but it has a covered pre-show, too.
Epcot
- American Adventure – Another place that can eat an hour when you combine the Voices of Liberty with the show. If it’s still raining after the show ends, go back in to take a look at the art in the lobby gallery.
- The Land Pavilion – In EPCOT, there are several pavilions that are large and indoors. At the front of the park, you have both the Land and Seas pavilions. It’s easy to kill time in the Seas simply by looking at aquatic animals–don’t miss the manatees! Over in the Land, there are three attractions, and you can have a meal at Sunshine Seasons or Garden Grill. If you have a bit of money, the Behind the Seeds at Epcot tour is a GREAT (and relatively inexpensive) way to kill an hour and a half or so, too. Doing all of those things is a good way to kill nearly half a day in one pavilion…which is hopefully enough time for the rain to pass!
- Impressions de France – The same could probably be said for the other World Showcase films, but this is one we can watch again and again; it’s so great that we consider it one of Walt Disney World’s most underrated attractions.
Disney’s Hollywood Studios
- MuppetVision 3D – Awesome pre-show and awesome post-show; consider dining at PizzeRizzo or Mama Melrose after the show to avoid rain.
- Star Wars: Rise of the Resistance – A long line, most of which is indoors, makes this a good option during storms.
- Walt Disney Presents – Possibly the best option in all of Walt Disney World if you’re a serious Disney fan and it’s raining; you could easily spend a few hours in here combing over the displays and watching the film.
Disney’s Animal Kingdom
- Finding Nemo: The Big Blue…and Beyond! – The wait for this musical is outdoors, so show up no more than 10 minutes before a show is scheduled to start; you should have no trouble getting in when it’s raining.
- Festival of the Lion King – A long, indoor show; covered character meet & greets are nearby to kill time, too.
- Avatar Flight of Passage – Not so much a long attraction…but an attraction with a really long, indoor queue. That’ll work!
- ??? – If you can avoid going to Animal Kingdom when it’s raining or a lot of rain is in the forecast, that might be best. It’s definitely most enjoyable in nice weather.
Even after our experience with hurricanes and tropical storms at Walt Disney World, we’d have no hesitation to book trips to Florida in the months of August through October, during the height of potential hurricane or tropical storm season. A good attitude to have when the weather gets bad (or when anything goes wrong, for that matter), is that a rainy day at Walt Disney World is better than a normal day at home. Roll with the punches, improvise, and have a good time. Just think, at the very least…rain makes the parks less crowded.
For where to eat, try out our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews page. If you want to save money on tickets or determine which type you should get, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at unconventional things you should take on your trip. Once you arrive at the parks, our Walt Disney World “Ride Guides”are great for determining what to do and when to do it. For overviews of all of these topics and so much more, the best place to start is our comprehensive Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide to make the most of your experience!
Your Thoughts
Do you agree with our mentality about visiting Walt Disney World when it’s raining? Which activities or attractions do you recommend when it’s raining? How do you feel about the controversial subject of travel insurance? Do you have any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
Food and water??? Really? do you know how many generators Disney has? At most you will be out of power for a short time, but I don’t even see that happening. The hurricane is expected to hit the southern part of Florida at a category 4, but by the time it gets to central Florida, its expected to be a 1. I understand if you don’t want to spend your day in the rain, and its even possible that the parks will be closed for a day. still no problem for me. lots of other things to do there. Again, if I was bringing small children I may reconsider, but I probably would still go. Disney is all about their guests. I was there on 9/11 and they went out of their way for everyone. Whatever choice you make, something tells me Disney will be around for a long time. God Bless! Have a magical day!
Ignorance is bliss
We are scheduled to fly in tomorrow evening (Saturday August 31st to Saturday September 7th), it’s a 4 and a half hour flight, really don’t know what to do.
Just go! ChrWe are on our way down to Disney. We are bringing water and can goods just in case. While the storm is over us we will be playing games in the hotel.
We fly out today too and are also still going. Better to be there and have fun for a few days, than not at all.
Same for us. Right now by the looks of the forecast I am more concerned of the non stop rain and potential flooding then the actual hurricane. Looks like we will be grazed by the actual hurricane itself overnight. We need it to slow down and curve just a bit more to the north. May need to watch the 5pm update and make a last second call
Same here!!! Flying out Sunday! Just making sure we have plenty of food and water for the day until it passes! As long as flights are not cancelled we’re going!!!!
I just don’t want to lose half of our trip
Same here !!! I’m going as long as flights not cancelled me and my gf are gonna have a blast it’s my birthday Monday!!!
Our kids first trip was the day before Irma. Last plane into MCO before they shut it down. Our family and Red Cross only ones on the plane. One of the best trips we have ever had. Parks were closed for two days, but there was still a ton to do at the hotels. They bring in characters, have extra activities and what not. Different type of trip, but when we went back last year they were disappointed some things they did the first didn’t get to do during a “normal” trip.
Did anyone on this website read his trip report for Hurricane Irma? People, this is not going to be some light rain and wind. You’re going to be flying down just to be stuck in your rooms, if you even manage to fly down. It is not going to be fun. Just reschedule. Yes, you may lose some reservations and fast passes, but I guarantee you will still have a better time than being there during a hurricane.
We are scheduled to arrive at 100 pm Tuesday Sept 3. Don’t know if I should cancel. Feeling very stressed.
I am also scheduled to arrive on Tuesday morning thru Sunday we are considering coming early…not sure what to do.
We arrive on the 13th. Do you think everything should hopefully be ok by then? Please respond if you can. Thank you
I just spent an hour on hold with WDW Resorts. I was able to change the reservation to delay it from arrival on Tuesday Sept 3rd to Wednesday Sept 4. According to the agent, they are allowing refunds for reservations that have already been booked with an arrival up until September 5th. If you are arriving after September 5th, no refunds at this time. Also airlines changed our flights with no cancellation fee. Hope that helps!
WDW reviews @MommynMe on Trip Advisor
Ashley, Please see my reply below
Oh, most definitely, you’ll be fine. Dorian will be long gone by then and any residual mess (if that even happens) will be taken care of by then.
Yes
My husband, myself, our two children, and my parents are due to come in on Sunday and stay until the following Saturday and we cannot figure out what to do. Do we postpone until later in the week or just go as planned?
Literally in the same boat!!! I wish I could figure this out. I am set to leave out of Dallas late Saturday night get in to MCO at 11pm, stay at a airport hotel and then we are taking the Magic Express Sunday morning. It’s so hard to make a judgment call at the last second.
GO!!!!!
We (5 adults one 4 year old) are set to arrive on 9/3 leaving 9/9. We are from Houston, so no stranger to hurricanes. Following along with everyone else to see if the flight interruptions will be over by 9/3!
We are leaving on August 31st and leaving a week and 4 days after and I’m scared
My gosh people! You’ll all be fine! You are in CENTRAL Florida, not on the coast! Your vacation might be a little wet but be a real Disney fan, bring a poncho and have fun in the rain! Crowds will be at a minimum! I’m going Saturday and returning on Thursday. No chance I’m staying home!
We ended up pushing our flight and stay out a few days. We are now due to fly in Wed. which looks like it could still be delayed and we will leave the following Tuesday. Fingers crossed it stops getting bigger!
What happens if you are staying at Fort Wilderness in a tent or rv?
They will move you in to a resort from what I have read
Yes it is, We are coming in the same day. As of now it shows that it will be a cat 1 over Orlando which is not bad, so it has us waiting. DIsney has not issued any warnings yet, so we are in a holding pattern before we can move anything around.
I’m supposed to arrive on Sunday and leave on Thursday. Is it true that I have to cancel my reservation 2 days before arrival in order to get all of my money back, except for $200? So would that be today? The DW policy also says that if the National Weather Service declares a hurricane warning for Orlando that I get all of my money back. I can’t wait until then to cancel or I won’t get any of my money back. (I tried calling DW to see if I have to cancel today or tomorrow to get $200 back in, but after an hour on hold, the call dropped.)
Does anyone know when Dorian is supposed to land in Florida? We arrive 9/7 and am wondering if we need to start planning to cancel
Dorian is supposed to make landfall early Monday, September 2. It should be over Orlando by Tuesday morning. Your arrival on the 7th SHOULD be fine. We arrive that same day and are slated to have our first day in the parks on Sunday the 8th! So I’m keeping my fingers crossed with you!
It will be gone by then landfall will be Monday Labor Day.
Ugh we’re supposed to arrive in MCO at 7:15AM on Tuesday. Not sure of what to do right now :(. We seemed safe a few days ago, but this storm is taking ITS SWEET TIME. Might have to push to end of September.
We’re scheduled to arrive on Wednesday the 4th. I called Southwest about the flight and they said our flight had not been cancelled as of yet, and was still good to go. I am guessing/hoping that everything will be overwith by Wednesday morning.
I am supposed to fly out on Sunday for a four night stay at Disney. Jet blue still hasn’t waived the change fees or i would be coming on Saturday. The weather doesn’t bother me at all, if i can just get there! Crowds will be down and what better place to spend a rainy day! Of course i don’t have any small children, all adults! Can’t wait!
Airlines must rebook or reimburse any cancelled flight due to a hurricane or tropical storm. The airport closes when wind reaches 40mph. No company – airline or resort – can predict when, where or how Storm conditions cause cancellation. So you need to sit tight and wait. Until the storm’s path is far more definite, nothing can be determined. If WDW deems it necessary to close, they will. Trust me, as a veteran of too many hurricanes including Ground Zero during Andrew, you do not want to be around for a Cat 4 storm or its aftermath. It is horrible. The after effects are so awful. You would sell your soul for a chip of ice.
Depending on where in WDW you’re measuring from, most of WDW is a good 60+ miles from the Atlantic, and any storm that reaches WDW from the Atlantic is likely going to take a longer path over land, grinding it down somewhat, causing a reduction in wind speed by the time it would reach WDW. The path right now has it more or less passing pretty much over WDW on Labor Day. However, the path is constantly shifting, and it is still days off from landfall. The forecast cone is huge at this point due to the wide margin of error, and Dorian could still pass well to the north, or to the south of WDW.
What you want to do is pay attention to the wind field projections. Every storm is different, and the result is a wide variation in the size and strength of a storm’s wind field. Pay attention to how large the hurricane force wind field is projected to be and how close it is to where you’ll be. Tropical storm force winds can also pack a punch, so pay attention to those wind field projections.
Most important to pay attention to during the storm itself are the rain bands spiraling out from the storm. That is where the strongest winds are going to be located, except for the eye wall, which is usually where the most powerful winds of all are located.
For example, you can see that the eye wall isn’t going to pass over you, the weather might be rough, but then a rain band passes over and wind speeds and gusts can pick up dramatically.
One thing to be prepared for is power outages, so it’s a good idea to keep your battery packs and devices charges up as much as possible, and having a battery operated flashlight extra water and possibly, canned food (big judgment call there, and likely not needed as far inland as Orlando is located). Also, if power goes down, make friends with guests who drove, as their car can power up your devices. And if you drove, fill up your gas tank. Also, going to the ATM to get some cash is a wise move, as power failures will knock out not only gas pumps and A/C, but ATMs.
Pay attention to the local forecasts, as they often have more finetuned data. There are also plenty of weather apps for your devices, including that of area weather stations. Don’t mess around with powerlines, and be wary of trees and branches which might fall from them. Stay safe!
So stressed we are debating on what to do now. We are set to leave Saturday for Disney.
Us too 🙁 nothing from our tour operator.
I really don’t know what the best option is here. I’m so stressed.
Call your hotel, airline, etc… Most will let you change the dates because of the storm. They can’t fly you to Orlando and the hotels don’t really want you in the hotel either during the storm.
Don’t panic that’s the worse. Paul provided really good tips.
Same here! I called disney this AM and they said business as usual and I kept asking if we arrive will they still allow us to check in. I also called American Airlines and they said they are unsure what is going to happen so they can’t give any information.
We were supposed to check in on Saturday, too. Called last night and Disney let me switch everything (including MNSSHP tickets) to the next weekend. ADRs were a pain to change but everything else was fairly easy. Good luck!
Thanks. we are not able to change unfortunately. I am more concerned with flight and being able to check in to hotel
We are scheduled to arrive this Saturday too calling WDW but there is a 2.5 hour wait and have had the first call dropped after 45 minutes. I have a feeling we may end up going and having the added experience of the storm, just be prepared the best you can.
It’s all we can do honestly. When I called Disney I called the hotel guest line and had no wait, someone immediately answered. Hope things shift and settle down.
US to suppose to leave Saturday as well. IF anyone has extra info please respond
We are schedule to arrive Saturday too, flying Southwest. Their website says that flights to Orlando and a few other Florida cities may be delayed, diverted or canceled from Saturday 8/31 to Wednesday 9/4.
I saw that! I think Saturday will be fine. but I could be totally wrong
I just had to chuckle as I read your list of hurricane closures…2004 was when my brother was working as an intern at Disney. At the point at which the hurricanes all hit, he had said he was a bit disillusioned by his time there and that he wished he could see a hurricane. Bam! Work canceled and up and close look at multiple hurricanes. A couple years later, a hurricane shut down his outdoor wedding in Massachusetts, too. We jokingly call him the Weather God now.
Does Sarah wear a rain suit
Rain in Florida cannot be avoided any time of but expect it daily in Summer. year. Those predictable afternoon thunderstorms are due to Florida being a peninsula and the Land-Seabreeze Effect. Definitely don’t let it alter your WDW plans. In fact, the afternoon storms make for a welcome break cooling the air and pavement – brief but nice before the steaming heat returns with the first rays of sunshine.
correction: Hurricanes cannot make landfall at WDW. Born in the sea they may move inland; so making landfall only happens where it comes ashore. WDW is a landlocked area. The hurricane can obviously go wherever after making landfall.
Also, Airlines refund/rebook your ticket if the airport is closed due to wind in excess of 40mph.
We just left WDW Friday the 21st. We were at Animal Kingdom (of course), on Thursday of the monsoon! (Received the tornado warning when we were on the bus headed to the park)!
Had a very very wet but nice morning on the Safari, Lion King show, FOP and lunch at Satu’li Canteen. (love their chicken bowls)!
We survived with disposable ponchos I found on Amazon that have a draw string on the hood and have elastic on wrists of actual sleeves. They are much better than the standard ponchos with both flapping hoods and arm holes. They also accommodated our varing sizes, from 6 foot 220 lb husband, xl teen 5’5inches, to my short 5’1” slightly over weight self. They hit me mid calf, my husband below the knees. I don’t know if a back pack would fit, we don’t carry one.
I paid approximately $15 for a multi color box of 10. We liked them so much we decided to buy another box when we get home for future trips.
We were there too! I found my Amazon ponchos lacking though. But, anything short of the rain suit would have been lacking on Thursday.
I think we caught you on the 7 dwarfs mine train on our memory maker!
We were also stuck in Disney World during Hurricane Irma. It was an interesting experience, to say the least, and a reason to carefully consider travel schedules!
We were at WDW for Matthew. We evacuated there from Jacksonville Beach. We had a trip planned for the weekend, but extended it. Moved from Port Orleans Riverside to Waldorf due to availability. The day it closed early was a nice low crowd day at HS. Benefit of the Waldorf or any indoor hallway hotel – my kids had tons of indoor space to run around. The conference area was especially great, as was the arcade. I’m very glad we weren’t stuck in our room at Riverside. The weekend there was beautiful! Friends that went Irma weekend mentioned that then as well. There might be some short term pain, but even the trips with closure days can still work out. We weren’t planning on being at the parks those days, but losing a day or two would hurt. Cost of the hotel was quite high too.
Tom,
Just a quick update needed – Pizza Rizzo for Pizza Planet after Muppets 3D.
I am in Pop Century right now. Hurricane Irma is scheduled to hit Miami tomorrow and Orlando day after. I went to the food court to eat dinner at 7 no problem. At 8:30, I went back to refill my mug and found out that I had to wait in a LONG LINE just to get into the food court! Not to buy food boxes or anything! I just want to refill my mug, and I can see that the mug stations are empty, but they won’t let me in. In fact, they have people standing at each exit of the food court to guard it, letting people out but not in! And they never said anything about this! If I had known this, I would have refilled my mug earlier.
My guess, is, their food supply is getting low, so they are limiting supply by making people wait. That’s just my guess; they don’t say why there is such a line at all. But otherwise, why would they waste manpower keeping people out of the food court? I counted at least 8 people standing around guarding all the exits, telling people where to wait in line, or explaining their policy without explaining the reason. Because the food court isn’t unusually full or anything. If they could have just mentioned it I would have been OK with it… But so far the hotel has not mentioned anything.
Update at 11 p.m. Went back to food court again. No line, food court mostly empty of customers, but all the workers are still there, I count 6 cashiers working (normally there’s 2 or 3 at this hour) with no customers, all the food stations are still serving food, again with no customers. So obviously they have overestimated the demand. Restricting entry to the food court earlier was completely unnecessary.