The Magic Kingdom and the rest of Walt Disney World are known for planning for every tiny detail—hurricanes included
What Happens at Disney World During a Hurricane?
Published on Oct. 10, 2024
As Hurricane Milton barreled across Florida, you may have wondered what would happen to the state’s famous theme parks, especially Walt Disney World in Orlando. If so, you’re not alone—the image of the fairy-tale kingdom getting slammed by a natural disaster of mythical proportions is a vivid and frightening one. But you can rest assured that the same Magic Kingdom that has thought of everything from Disney code words to themed scents for rides has a detailed plan in place for hurricanes.
Of course, Florida is no stranger to hurricanes, though Orlando’s mid-state placement makes it a little less vulnerable than coastal areas—in Milton’s case, Florida’s western coast, including Sarasota, St. Petersburg and Tampa. (For reference, Tampa is about 70 miles from Disney World.) Before Milton, Disney World had closed just nine times due to hurricanes since it opened in 1971. According to WDW Magazine, the longest weather-related closure was in 2017, during Hurricane Irma, when it was closed for two-and-a-half days.
How will that compare to what’s going on now? Read on to find out how Disney World deals with hurricanes, including how it keeps the park—and stranded tourists—safe.
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What is Disney World doing during Hurricane Milton?
All Walt Disney World theme parks, water parks and recreation activities, as well as Disney Springs, closed on the morning of Wednesday, Oct. 9, and will stay closed through Thursday, Oct. 10. Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will likely remain closed until Sunday, Oct. 13.
What happens to people stranded at Disney World during a hurricane?
Disney World’s disaster plan starts with the Rideout Crew, a super-dedicated group of Disney employees who agree to stay on-site during severe weather events, like hurricanes, to do what they can to protect visitors stuck at the resorts. This crew is made up of essential workers from all over the park, including operations, maintenance, food and beverage, security and custodial services.
The Rideout Crew is in charge of:
- Guest safety: Many guests are stranded at the resorts or have chosen to stay and ride out the storm. The crew keeps them safe and informs them about safety protocols. They also make sure guests are comfortable, providing food and entertainment. Case in point: While guests and staff sheltered in place during Hurricane Milton, Disney cast members dressed as characters including Goofy and Max, and the resorts’ game rooms switched to free-play mode, according to the Streaming the Magic Facebook page.
- Park and property protection: This crew is in charge of boarding up windows, removing outdoor furniture and implementing other protection protocols.
- Operational continuity: The Rideout Crew makes sure that the essentials—like food, water and electricity—are still accessible.
- Post-storm recovery: After the storm, the team clears debris, checks ride safety and assists with any necessary repairs.
How safe is Disney World during a hurricane?
It may be one of the safest places to shelter in the area, as long as guests follow Disney’s protocols. Disney reports that its structures were built with Florida’s weather in mind and are able to withstand most severe weather events, including hurricanes. Aside from the resort buildings, those include Cinderella’s Castle (which is made of very sturdy concrete, cement, steel and fiberglass), the Tree of Life and Epcot’s Spaceship Earth, according to a 2019 story in Orlando Weekly. And no, in case you were wondering, Spaceship Earth (aka the big golf ball) won’t roll away in high winds.
Disney also has its own power source and generators, so things tend to be back up and running quickly. Plus, power lines are underground, which helps ward off potential power outages.
What happens to the animals at Animal Kingdom?
No one wants to see any loss of life during a hurricane—human or animal. So the parks take special care of the animals in Disney’s Animal Kingdom and The Seas with Nemo & Friends. The animals aren’t evacuated but instead shelter in place. Disney reports that its on-site shelters and backstage enclosures were built with hurricanes in mind and are able to withstand most storms while keeping animals safe and comfortable.
A Disney zookeeper posted the following reassuring note on an unofficial Walt Disney World Tips and Tricks Facebook page:
“The animals will have night houses (concrete buildings that are storm safe) that they’ll be shut into. Animals that can be crated and moved to safer buildings such as a commissary, vet hospital, barns, etc., will be moved. Some animals MAY stay out on habitats if they are a more stressed species that would freak out in confinement. These animals have instincts and know where to go to hunker down if necessary. Also to note there will be what’s called a ride out team. Essentially curators, supervisors, vet staff and some other keepers will stay overnight with the animals and check on everyone as the storm passes. Medicate and feed animals. Check habitats for breaches, etc.”
What happens if you were scheduled to visit Disney this week or during any storm?
If you haven’t left home and a hurricane warning is issued within seven days of your trip, Disney recommends that you rebook or cancel your trip. How you do this depends on how you booked your trip, according to Disney World’s official hurricane policy:
- If you booked directly through the Walt Disney Travel Company and a hurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area—or for your place of residence—within seven days of your scheduled arrival date, you may reschedule or cancel without penalty.
- If you booked through a third party, like Costco or a travel website, then you will be held to the terms and conditions of that natural-disaster policy. If there are any change or cancellation fees, you will be responsible for paying those.
How do you get refunded for your park tickets?
Again, it depends on how you booked those tickets:
- If you booked directly through Disney, you can modify or cancel your tickets online—including making changes to travel dates—without any cancellation or change fees.
- If you booked via a third party, you will need to call that company or your travel agent to see if you are eligible for a refund. You will have to pay any associated fees.
For the latest updates, check the Disney World Weather page.
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Sources:
- Walt Disney World: “Hurricane policy”
- Associated Press: “What to know about Hurricane Milton as it barrels toward Florida’s Gulf Coast”
- Facebook: “Streaming the Magic”
- Facebook: “Walt Disney World Tips & Tricks”
- Orlando Weekly: “Why Disney World doesn’t remove the castle spires, and why Spaceship Earth won’t roll away during a hurricane”
- Disney Parks Blog: “Walt Disney World Memories: Cinderella Castle Through the Years”
