Tropical Storm Elsa has been upgraded to a hurricane once again as it approaches Florida’s west coast this evening. The storm is gaining strength as it nears the state.
In anticipation of the adverse weather conditions, Walt Disney World canceled fireworks at EPCOT tonight and plans to present a modified version of Happily Ever After at the Magic Kingdom. Orlando may not be in the “cone of uncertainty” anymore, but as the National Hurricane Center notes, hurricanes often bring hazardous weather to the area around them.
Orange County, where both Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort are located, remains under a flood watch. The National Weather Service is also advising of potential intense wind squalls and tornadoes.
The National Weather Service gives those in affected areas the following advice:
Now is the time to stay inside and away from windows. Listen for updates and be ready in case you lose electrical power. Keep a battery-powered radio, charged cell phone and flashlight handy.
During the peak of the storm be ready to move quickly. Keep your shoes on and rain gear handy. Boots and athletic shoes offer the best foot protection if you become unexpectedly exposed to the weather.
Keep your cell phone charged and in power-saving mode. If you lose power, use it sparingly and mainly for personal emergencies and check-ins.
If a tornado warning is issued for your area, quickly move to the safest place within your shelter. Protect your head and body.
Little by little we are seeing more and more of our favorite Walt Disney World experiences return! As more Disney fans head back to the parks, we thankfully get to see Disney Resort hotels reopen. While Disney’s BoardWalk Inn Disney Vacation Club Villas have been open for some time now, the general public has been unable to book a stay at the BoardWalk until recently. Cast Members took to social media to celebrate the reopening, as well as the 25th Anniversary of the stunning resort.
As shared via Walt Disney World Cast & Community Facebook: “This week, Disney’s BoardWalk Inn officially reopened to Guests, just in time for the resort’s 25th anniversary! It’s been 25 years of classic carnival fun, tasty treats and beautiful nighttime strolls on the BoardWalk. Thank you to all of the Cast Members who have made magic here over the years!”
Disney’s BoardWalk Inn officially reopened on July 2! Welcome back Cast Members! Now, we’re eager to see what Walt Disney World has in store next. We do know thus far that Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will reopen soon, along with Disney’s Animal Kingdom Lodge now having a scheduled reopening date.
Are you headed to Walt Disney World this weekend, into early next week? If so, you’ll want to take note that Tropical Storm Elsa has formed and looks like it could reach Florida by next week. While a rainy day at Disney is still better than a sunny day at the office, you’ll want to keep close watch as Elsa figures out where it is headed. And yes, we’re sure all those Disney fans out there noticed… the storm has been named Elsa!
As shared by OrlandoSentinel: “The National Hurricane Center officially named Tropical Storm Elsa Thursday morning, and showed the fifth named storm of the season could possibly take aim at Florida by next week. The Hurricane Center said it’s too early to tell if the Elsa will impact Florida, although the cone does show parts of the state within Elsa’s five-day path. However, there is significant uncertainty in the track forecast between the weekend and Tuesday, the NHC said. Discrepancies in the track have made meteorologists’ confidence in the projection “lower than usual,” the NHC said.”
The most recent update from the National Hurricane Center was shared via Twitter:
Here are the 5 am AST Thursday, July 1 Key Messages for Tropical Storm #Elsa. Tropical Storm Warnings are in effect for Barbados, St. Lucia, Martinique, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.https://t.co/6zNCsAYIABpic.twitter.com/o5dA3bP3qV
— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) July 1, 2021
Staying at a Walt Disney World resort comes with many benefits. Disney has announced even more benefits for resort guests who visit during the 50th Anniversary celebration. There’s also an update on the popular Disney Dining plan.
From a Disney Cast Member;
We’re just 93 days away from “The World’s Most Magical Celebration” in honor of Walt Disney World Resort’s 50th anniversary, but who’s counting? As we near this special milestone, we are excited to bring you more details on new benefits coming to the Disney Resorts Collection as part of the celebration.
Just in time for the start of this magical celebration, on Oct. 1, we will be rolling out a new early theme park entry benefit for Disney Resort hotel guests and guests of other select hotels, giving them the first chance to enjoy select attractions at EVERY theme park, EVERY day. These guests will also be among the first each day to see the dazzling decorations and EARidescent excitement. Guests will need a valid ticket or pass and a theme park reservation for the same park on the same date for early theme park entry.
In addition, with the kickoff of the 50th anniversary, guests staying at one of our Disney Deluxe or Deluxe Villa Resort hotels will also be able to enjoy extended evening hours on select nights in select theme parks. Extended evening hours will begin in early October with specific dates and parks to be shared at a later time, so please be sure to check back on DisneyWorld.com for the latest.
Please note that guests will need a valid ticket or pass and a theme park reservation for the same park on the same day to experience extended evening hours. Or, guests may visit with a ticket or Annual Pass with the Park Hopper option as long as they entered their first park where they made their reservation earlier in the day.
For both of these options, select attractions, merchandise and food and beverage locations will be available. Be sure to also bring your MagicBand, Disney MagicMobile pass or Key to the World card linked to your stay, or another form of Resort ID.
Back at your Disney Resort hotel, you’ll enjoy even more magic! During the celebration, be on the lookout for surprise appearances by some favorite Disney pals like Goofy and Pluto, who will be dressed in their EARidescent best and dropping by to visit with guests at Disney Resort hotels!
These new offerings will join a number of other great services available for Disney Resort hotel guests such as complimentary on-site transportation and the direct-to-room service available in the My Disney Experience app. We also recently revealed reimagined rooms coming to two of our original Disney Resort hotels that opened alongside Magic Kingdom Park in 1971: Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Contemporary Resort!
Speaking of Disney Resort hotel stays, we know many of you are also wondering when Disney dining plan packages will return. While we’re not quite ready to share an update on timing, we are planning to bring this guest-favorite option back at a later date. We will also continue to reopen more Resort offerings, including restaurants like ‘Ohana (with the noodles!).
With so much excitement in the air, we invite you to be our guest and stay in the magic during “The World’s Most Magical Celebration!”
Disney has announced a new “Disney Family Night Dinner” is coming to select Disney Resorts.
As shared by Disney: “We have a new summer offering the entire family will love starting June 30 – Disney Family Night Dinner. This playful, family-style dining bundle includes a take-out shareable meal, sweet treats, and an original card-type game inspired by some of your favorite Disney friends for your family and friends to enjoy. Disney Family Night Dinner is available from 5-10 p.m. through mobile order and at the two resort locations offering this three-course takeaway meal that serves 3-4.
