NEWS: Tropical Storm Elsa Upgraded to Hurricane With Florida in Projected Path

Update: Since this post was written, Elsa has been downgraded to a tropical storm.

It’s officially hurricane season.

And Hurricane Elsa is the first reported full-strength hurricane of Florida’s 2021 season, which usually begins around June and lasts through September. If you’re heading to Disney in the next few days, here are some things to keep in mind in light of the hurricane.

According to the Orlando Sentinel, Hurricane Elsa has strengthened into a full hurricane on Friday morning and is currently “about 20 miles east-southeast of Barbados moving west-northwest.” In a five-day projected forecast, Elsa is expected to hit Florida on the morning of Tuesday, July 6th.

There is not currently a hurricane warning or watch over Florida, but we can expect to see one when Elsa gets closer to hitting land. If you’re in Disney now or are planning to head down soon, don’t panic. Disney has many precautions in place and is well-equipped to handle a hurricane if one should hit the parks.

Click Here to Read About What Happens If There’s a Hurricane While You’re In Disney World.

If the storm is big enough to put the safety of guests and cast members at risk, Disney will close the parks and have guests shelter-in-place at their resorts. They will provide food and sometimes even entertainment while the guests stay. Generally, though, hurricanes lose some of their strength on the way to Orlando because Orlando is pretty far inland in Florida, and land breaks up the storms. If there are strong winds or tropical storms in Disney World, the outdoor rides will likely close for the safety of guests and cast members, but the parks may remain open, with indoor attractions and restaurants available to guests.

What about if you’re not at Disney World yet, but going there in the next few days? According to Disney World’s Hurricane Cancellation 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 packages and most room only reservations (booked directly with Disney) without any cancellation or change fees imposed by Disney.”

As of right now, there is not a hurricane warning issued for Orlando. If Elsa follows the projected path, it is possible that a warning will be issued in the next few days.

Hurricane Elsa’s Projected Path ©Orlando Sentinel

We’ll keep you updated with the Hurricane Elsa news and more information about what’s going on at Disney World. Keep following AllEars for the latest updates!