Dorian Update: Hurricane Slows and Grows

The National Hurricane Center has issued their 5 PM update and Hurricane Dorian has become nearly stationary this afternoon. A slow westward to west-northwestward motion is expected to resume overnight and into early Tuesday. The hurricane will move “dangerously close to the Florida east coast late Tuesday through Wednesday evening.” This means that life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds are expected along portions of the Florida east coast and Georgia and South Carolina. Dorian’s hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles and tropical storm winds extend out 150 miles from the center.

A hurricane warning and a storm surge warning have been issued for parts of Florida’s east coast. What part of the coast experiences hurricane conditions remains uncertain and is dependent on the exact track.

The track has caused changes to Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Cruise Line and Orlando International Airport.

Walt Disney World Resort

Walt Disney World Resort has issued a statement and is adjusting their operating hours beginning Tuesday, September 3.

  • Magic Kingdom Park: 8 AM – 3 PM (7 AM Opening for EMH)
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 9 AM – 2 PM (6 AM Opening for EMH)
  • Disney’s Animal Kingdom: 8 AM – 2 PM (7 AM Opening for EMH)
  • Disney Springs: 10 AM – 3 PM
  • Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park: 10 AM – 3 PM
  • ESPN Wide World of Sports: Closed
  • Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park: Closed
  • Winter Summerland & Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf: 10 AM – 3 PM

Disney Resort Hotels

All Disney Resort hotels remain open. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will be closing on September 3 at 3 PM and will reopen when safe to do so.

Special Events

Disney After Hours at Animal Kingdom – Cancelled on Tuesday, September 3

Dining & Other Experiences

On September 3:

  • Theme park dining reservations will behonored up to one hour prior to park closing
  • Resort dining reservations will be honored until 5:30 PM

Effective immediately, Disney will not be enforcing cancellation policies for dining and other experiences.

Pre-paid dining and other experiences outside of the modified operating hours for September 3 will be automatically cancelled and refunded.

Orlando International Airport

Orlando International Airport will stop operation on Tuesday September 3 due to Dorian’s track. Please check with your airline for update regarding your specific flight.

Disney Cruise Line

Disney Cruise Line has issued an advisory and changed the itinerary of the Disney Dream sailing on Friday August 30 to extend another day and cancelled the Monday September 2 sailing of the Disney Dream.

Disney Dream – Current Sailing 

Disney Dream’s current sailing was scheduled to return to Port Canaveral on Wednesday, September 4. However, after careful review of the currently forecasted path, and conversations with port officials in Florida, it does not seem likely that Port Canaveral will be available for our return on Wednesday. 

Because of this, we will need to further extend this sailing and now expect Disney Dream to return to Port Canaveral one day later, on Thursday, September 5. 

Since Disney Dream will now have additional time at sea, we have arranged a port call for tomorrow, Monday, September 2, in Grand Cayman. 

Disney Dream – Monday, September 2 changed to Wednesday, September 4 

While we had hoped to preserve some portion of the voyage for our Guests’ enjoyment, we have had to change our plans given the inherently unpredictable nature of tropical storms and hurricanes. After careful review of the currently forecasted path, and conversations with port officials in Florida, we have decided to cancel the sailing completely.

We understand this may be disappointing news, but we feel this was a necessary decision. The safety of our Guests and crew members is always our foremost concern. 

Castaway Cay – UPDATED

Many of our Guests have asked questions about Castaway Cay. Some of our Crew remained on the island and their care and safety is our highest priority. As forecasted, sustained winds on the island did not extend beyond tropical force strength and our Crew has returned to their living quarters after spending a few hours in our storm shelter yesterday. Our thoughts continue to be with the people in areas of The Bahamas that are being impacted by this storm and we stand ready to contribute to recovery efforts.