DisneyTips.com Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
Many things can disrupt a day at the theme parks or a Walt Disney World Resort vacation. These can be weather, traffic, construction, crowds, power outages, and many other terrible things.
Credit: Inside the Magic
Disney Trip Disruptions
The most likely situation is a problem with the weather. In central Florida, you can experience extreme weather at any time of the year. Guests visiting Magic Kingdom Park, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, or EPCOT can experience anything from raging storms to blistering heat and sometimes even on the same day.
Credit: Disney Tips
But if you are visiting Walt Disney World Resort on October 4, you will be in for a surprise.
Related: Disney World Guests Forced to Evacuate This Resort
Emergency Alert at Disney World
Every year on October 4, every TV, radio, and cell phone in the United States will blast out a jarring electronic tone. But this will only be a test. Officially, it is called the Nationwide Emergency Alert Test.
This alert will be conducted in two parts. One part will go to all cell phones, while the other will go to radio and TV broadcasters as well as cable systems and satellite services.
Credit: Disney
You will hear (and potentially see) this alert everywhere. This test is conducted for about one minute.
Related: National Weather Service Warning for Central Florida
However, if you are on vacation or in a Walt Disney World theme park, the test may interfere with using your Disney app, Genie+, or other functionality.
Credit: Disney
Your phone (assuming it is on) will be occupied by the warning for that one minute.
Related: Disney World May Be in Danger as New Virus Spreads
There is little anyone can do to “prepare” for this test, as it requires nothing from you. It is only important to know in advance that it is only a test and there is no cause for alarm.
So if you’re in a Walt Disney World theme park, boarding a plane, or just sitting at home and a blaring alarm goes off, stay calm.
Credit: Disney
Related: WARNING: If You Share Disney+, Disney Is Coming For You!
It does not mean the country is under attack or a national emergency is happening. However, the warning tone will be loud and may initially make you jump upon hearing it.
This Nationwide Emergency Alert Test will take place at the same time across different timezones:
- 2:20 p.m. EDT
- 1:20 p.m. CDT
- 12:20 p.m. MDT
- 11:20 a.m. PDT
- 10:20 a.m. ADT
- 8:20 a.m. HST
So for guests visiting Walt Disney World Resort, this test will take place at 2:20 p.m.
Credit: Disney Tips
And if at that time, you’re in line for TRON Lightcycle/Run, The Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, or Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, there’s no need to think the grid is going down; you’ve entered the Twilight Zone, or there’s a glitch in space.
It’s only a test.
