Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
Florida is bracing itself as Hurricane Ian is taking aim at the state. With much path uncertainty, the National Hurricane Center is forecasting Hurricane Ian will hit Florida, but it’s not completely sure where. Walt Disney World Resort is unleashing its hurricane plans as it sits in the storm’s cone of uncertainty.
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The latest report from the National Hurricane Center shows Tropical Storm Ian has turned into Hurricane Ian and is making an east shift right at the Sunshine State. Heavy rains in Central Florida will be arriving as early as Monday evening. The hurricane is expected to reach Category 4 status before possibly making landfall late Thursday evening into Friday morning on Florida’s west coast. The storm is then forecasted to travel up Florida, into Georiga, and South Carolina.
Currently, Walt Disney World is under a Tropical Storm Watch. With Florida issuing mandatory evacuations along its coast, several residents are looking to flee inland, which leads many to Central Florida’s Walt Disney World and Univeral Orland Resort hotels. But, Disney is pushing people to look elsewhere as it has blocked further Resort hotel reservations.
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According to the Walt Disney World Resort website, all Disney Resort Hotel bookings have been updated to be “unavailable” on select dates in preparation for the storm. Currently, rooms are available for the evening of Monday, September 26, 2022, but from Tuesday through Thursday (September 27 – 29, 2022), all Disney Resort hotel rooms are unavailable. On Friday, September 30, 2022, when the storm is expected to pass through Orlando, Resort rooms once again become available.
But, will the Disney Parks close? Currently, Disney Cast Members via online chat are stating, “At the moment we don’t have enough information as to where this storm is going to land or it’s trajectory. As of right now we are still going to be open till further notice. If this storm is going to impact Walt Disney World then a decision will be made at that time. It will be posted on our website as well as the Disney Parks Blog.”
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It is a rarity for a Disney Park to close due to weather, but there have been occasions when Disney didn’t have much of a choice. There have actually been 10 times the Walt Disney World Resort has closed due to storms. Could Hurricane Ian be added to the list next?
Guests with reservations at Walt Disney World Resort hotels are not kicked out during a hurricane but rather provided with Hurricane meal kits that allow Guests to have food and water in their room rather than venturing out to dine or sit in restaurants. All Parks and venues remain closed, leaving the Guest to shelter in their hotel room.
If Disney vacation Guests are staying at The Campsites at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort, in the past, during hurricanes, Disney has moved these Guests into hotel rooms throughout its property to ensure the Guests’ safety.
We will be sure to keep Disney Tips readers updated as we learn more about what’s to come as Hurricane Ian strengthens and a more defined path is foreseeable. In the meantime, keep a close eye on the National Hurricane Center (NHC) for updates. Stay safe, Disney fans!
