Hurricane Ian has rocked central Florida over the last 24 hours. As the sun rose on the waterlogged state this morning the storm began to run out of steam and was downgraded to a Tropical Storm. Ian is currently on Florida’s East Coast, with rain bands still affecting much of the state.
The storm is expected to be on its way out to sea and on its way north by Friday. Because of the flooding and damage to the area, albeit minor damage, relatively speaking Disney is acting in an abundance of caution to protect Cast Members and Guests and despite rumors to the contrary, the Resort will be enacting a phased reopening today Friday September 30, 2022.
Hurricane Ian has battered down on the area and as it moves away, time is needed as clean up efforts commence. Many are still without power. Many Cast Members lack the ability to report to work still and as such, the staggered openings help alleviate not only Guest traffic but allows Cast Members ample time to make arrangements.
It is unknown what exactly is meant by the phased reopening. Disney has not yet released Park hours but we would.imagine that each Park will have a different opening time to stagger the demand in the morning. They have promised more information will.come regarding the details and hours later today.
The official announcement from Disney reads:
“Update on Hurricane Ian: We are seeing the impacts of Hurricane Ian across Florida and are thinking of our neighbors in Central Florida and across the state. We will share more information about our plan to support relief efforts for our Florida neighbors soon.
We thank our first responders and community leaders for their courageous efforts in preparing for and managing the storm’s impact. To our cast members in Florida and in South Carolina, thank you for selflessly taking care of our guests.
We continue to closely monitor weather conditions as we assess the impact of Hurricane Ian on our property. While theme parks and many operating areas remain closed to guests today, we anticipate weather conditions to improve this evening. Walt Disney World Resort will resume theme park and Disney Springs operations in a phased approach starting on Friday, Sept. 30. Operating hours will be updated later today on DisneyWorld.com/weather.”
Walt Disney World is located right in hurricane territory. Florida is the number one state impacted by hurricanes in the United States by a large margin, with 102 hurricanes since 1882 (Texas is number two with 64 storms, and North Carolina is number three with 55.)
Hurricane season in the Atlantic lasts from June 1 to November 30. Most hurricanes make landfall in the U.S. in August or September, when the conditions needed- warm water and cooler air temperature are right. However, a June or November hurricane isn’t unheard of.
So what do you do if you happen to be at Disney World when a hurricane hits?
The answer isn’t as simple as “just leave.” Interstates often become parking lots, and flights are often canceled, leaving travelers no choice but to remain where they are and wait for the storm to pass. Luckily Disney is one of the safest places you can be during a hurricane. The best thing for you to do if you’re unable to evacuate is listen to the instructions of all Cast Members. They have been briefed and trained on what to do in these powerful storms. Day-to-day operations may be suspended or altered, but clear instructions will be given.
Will the Parks Remain Open?
Their first priority will always be the safety of Guests and Cast Members. If they make the decision to close the Parks, it’s because experts have deemed it highly unsafe for anyone to be outside in the weather. Disney tries to keep the Parks open for as long as they possibly can. They understand no one wants to be stuck inside their hotel and won’t close Parks until it is absolutely necessary to do so. In fact, since 1971, they have only closed due to weather 8 times. Typically only one operating day is impacted. The longest ever hurricane closure was 3 days for Hurricane Irma.
If they do plan to close, you will be informed at your resort hotel in advance. Sometimes they will close early if a storm is expected to make landfall later in the day. When this happens, you will be told what time the Parks will close when you arrive in the Park that day. There will also be signs throughout the Park as soon as a decision is made.
What Happens at Hotels?
Availability for new room reservations will be paused during a storm that is expected to make a significant impact. This is to keep rooms available for locals who have to evacuate their homes and also for what is known as “The Ride Out Crew.” The Ride Out Crew will be your new best friend in the event of a hurricane. These are Cast Members who have volunteered to weather the storm at work to provide guests with necessities and, in many cases, fun!
Food
Food will be available at your resort. Full operations will likely not occur, but food will be available for every guest. Quick service locations make every effort to remain open during the storm, but often table service restaurants will close, and dining reservations will be canceled. In the event that Quick Service locations close, meal kits will be available. Depending on the resort facilities, sometimes there is a buffet available to guests in lieu of Quick Service restaurants. During Hurricane Irma, snacks were even provided to each guest room.
Activities
Disney does its best to make even a hurricane stay enjoyable. The hotel lobby will become activity central as long as it is safe to do so. Often characters make special appearances in hotel lobbies. It’s not unheard of for a face character to host a story time for kids. Games and special showings of movies usually occur. In many cases, a resort will allow guests to play in the arcade for free. Many bars will remain open under limited hours. Surprisingly, unless the storm is in its worst moments, the pools have been known to stay open, though subject to close at a moment’s notice and completely dependent on ever-changing conditions. Keep in mind none of these special activities are guaranteed. These are just examples of what has happened in the past. Activities will depend on what a resort has available and what their staffing situation is like.
Refunds?
If you’ve already traveled, you’re not guaranteed a refund. Operations This is because of Disney’s generous pre-arrival policy:
“If a hurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area—or for your place of residence—within 7 days of your scheduled arrival date, you may call in advance to reschedule or cancel your Walt Disney Travel Company Disney Resort Hotel Package and most room-only reservations (booked directly with Disney) without any cancellation or change fees imposed by Disney.” View the full policy here.
Should you cancel?
That answer is as varied as the storms in Orlando are. There is no predicting whether a storm will be a doozy or nothing more than a nasty thunderstorm. Orlando is several hours inland, but that doesn’t mean it’s never hit full force. The best thing to do is watch the weather closely before your trip in order to make an informed decision. Disney resorts are safe, but they are not without risk. No two storms are the same so looking at previous storms is not likely to be helpful. Your best bet is to listen to weather experts and make the choice that is best for your family.
Walt Disney World has informed Cast Members that all theme parks and water parks will close ahead of Hurricane Ian on Wednesday, September 28, and Thursday, September 29, 2022. Disney Springs will be closed on Wednesday, with a decision to be made for Thursday later today. At this time, there is no information on whether the Parks will remain closed longer than Wednesday and Thursday. Many factors go into the decision to close and the duration of the close. This announcement comes out of an abundance of safety for Cast Members and Guests. The Parks will remain closed until conditions are safe to resume normal operations. Find out what happens when the Parks are closed here.
To date, the longest Walt Disney World has kept Parks closed due to a hurricane is 2.5 days, which occurred due to Hurricane Irma in 2017. That hurricane made landfall as a Category 4 hurricane in the Florida Keys and plowed north directly through Orlando. Disney escaped the storm with minimal damage.
Disney’s first ever Hurricane closure was in 1985 for Hurricane Elena. Since then 7 other hurricanes have forced the Parks to close, for at least part of the day: Hurricane Floyd on 1999, Hurricane Charley in 2004, Hurricane Francis in 2004, Hurricane Jeanne in 2004, Hurricane Mathew in 2016, Hurricane Irma in 2017, and Hurricane Dorian in 2019.
According to the Orlando Sentinel, Orlando has never been hit with stronger than a Category 1 storm. Since Orlando is several hours inland, the storms typically have weakened by the time they reach the Orlando area. Don’t let the name fool you though, a Category 1 hurricane is still dangerous and capable of causing harm and property damage.
Hurricane Ian struck landfall in Cuba early today as a Category 3. It is expected to gain steam in the Gulf of Mexico and strengthen to a Category 4 storm before making landfall in Florida. On Monday the storm experienced rapid intensification with winds increasing from 57mph to 125 mph in 24 hours. Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a direct warning that Floridians should evacuate if at all possible saying, “Our recommendation is to heed evacuation orders. The storm surge can be life threatening…that is not something that you want to be a part of.”
Florida National Guard Adjutant Gen. James Eifert said, “We are assessing constantly the location and path of the storm, and repositioning and prepositioning our resources and our people to be able to most immediately and effectively respond once the landfall has passed. We are here. and we are ready.”
Orlando’s MCO airport closed on Tuesday to all but emergency flight traffic.
Hurricane Ian is projected to impact operations at Walt Disney World this week. While it’s still uncertain whether the storm will greatly impact Central Florida, out of caution, Disney has announced a few closures and is lifting certain cancellation penalties.
Here is the statement from Disney from September 26:
Walt Disney World Resort is currently operating under normal conditions as we prepare to make necessary adjustments based on the latest information from the National Weather Service. We continue to put the safety of our Cast Members and Guests first and will share updates as we monitor Hurricane Ian.
Current Updates:
Disney Resort Hotels: Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and the Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort since these locations will temporarily close Wednesday, Sept. 28 through Friday, Sept. 30 due to the weather. We are contacting Guests with current and upcoming reservations.
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon will close temporarily Wednesday, Sept. 28 and Thursday, Sept. 29. (Disney’s Blizzard Beach is currently closed).
Winter Summerland Miniature Golf and Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf will also temporarily close Wednesday, Sept. 28 and Thursday, Sept. 29.
Reservations for Dining and Other Experiences: Effective immediately, we will not enforce cancelation policies until further notice for dining and other experiences like Savi’s Workshop and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.
We are currently monitoring weather conditions and will communicate any changes to park operating hours or special events at a later time.
The most up-to-date information about temporary closures and impacts will be available via the My Disney Experience app, DisneyWorld.com/Weather.
Please note that all reopening timelines are tentative, and subject to safety conditions.
It’s hard to believe, but the beginning of the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays is less than two months away! One of our favorite festival activities is enjoying the “Candlelight Processional.” The first round of celebrity narrators have been announced and we’re very excited at the new faces.
From a Disney Cast Member;
Get ready to fill your holiday season with songs at the “Candlelight Processional,” returning to the EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth starting Nov. 25. This time-honored tradition has been a part of the holiday season at Walt Disney World since its opening in 1971. Experience the celebrity narrators, the Voices of Liberty acapella ensemble, a 50-piece live orchestra and glorious massed choirs as they present a heartwarming retelling of the traditional Christmas story.
Because the holidays are best celebrated with others, we could not be more excited to again share this tradition with the community as we invite guest choirs from across Florida to take part in the show. Choirs comprised of Disney cast members will also return, bringing magic to their performances as they do in their roles every day.
The 2022 lineup of celebrity narrators features new and returning favorites, including actors from some of your favorite films, world-renowned singers, and other talented artists. Here’s your first look at this year’s narrators:
11/25 – 11/26: TBD
11/27 – 11/29: Edward James Olmos
11/30 – 12/1: Raul Esparza (NEW)
12/2 – 12/3: Whoopi Goldberg
12/4 – 12/6: Isabella Rossellini
12/7 – 12/9: TBD
12/10 – 12/12: Josh Gad (NEW)
12/13 – 12/14: Gloria Estefan (NEW)
12/15 – 12/18: Neil Patrick Harris
12/19 – 12/20: Mariska Hargitay (NEW)
12/21 – 12/23: Cal Ripken Jr.
12/24 – 12/26: Marie Osmond
12/27 – 12/28: Courtney Vance
12/29 – 12/30: Angela Bassett
Secure your spot at the show by booking a “Candlelight Processional” Dining Package! Packages go on sale Sept. 29. Find out more by visiting EPCOTholidays.com.
EPCOT International Festival of the Holidays presented by AdventHealth is available with valid theme park admission and a park reservation for the same date.
