Hurricane Season officially starts next week, and unfortunately, if you’re visiting Disney between now and November, hurricanes and storms are something you’ll need to consider.

It is almost unavoidable not to have any summer storms on your Disney trip. However, when things get more serious and become Tropical Storms or Hurricanes, there is a lot of information you need to know about how it could affect your Disney vacation, so let’s get into it.

Attraction Closures

Disney has put in place several policies and procedures to ensure both Cast Members and Guests remain safe, and one of those relates to ride closures. Unfortunately, in any storm, outdoor attractions are subject to closure if the winds are too high or if there is lightning within 10 miles.

This does mean that if a hurricane hits during your trip, it is likely that some of the outdoor attractions will be closed. However, this policy obviously does not apply to any indoor attractions, so there are still lots of rides to do even on a stormy day.

And if there is only rain, some outdoor attractions may stay open. A stormy day doesn’t have to be a bad one if you plan and are prepared!

Park Closures

It is very rare for the Disney World parks to fully close for a hurricane; however, if the conditions are dangerous enough, the parks will close. In fact, the parks have been closed several times due to hurricanes, with the most recent in 2017, when they closed for one day during Hurricane Irma.

If the parks are to close on your Disney vacation, you will most likely be stuck in your Disney World resort. Don’t worry, we will get more into that process later. Usually, Disney provides advance notice if the parks are to close; however, if conditions worsen quickly, Disney may also close the parks midday.

In this case, the Cast Members would work to get everyone out of the park as quickly and safely as possible by closing stores and attractions, so everyone makes it out of the park as quickly as possible.

Shelter

If a Hurricane closes down the Disney Parks and you are staying on property, it means you will be confined to your Disney World resort.

On the surface, this feels like a nightmare scenario for your Disney vacation; however, Disney does everything they can to help you make the most out of the experience. This includes Hurricane meal kits, which typically contain snacks, sandwiches, and water.

Cast Members are also known to go above and beyond, hosting indoor activities, special character appearances, or crafts to help everyone stay safe but still have some fun on their vacation. Plus, there are worse things than being stuck at a Disney resort!

Hurricane Ride Out Crew

In order for the Cast Members to ensure the safety and well-being of guests, Disney has a Hurricane Ride Out Crew, which is a group of Cast Members who stay on-site during Hurricanes and help ensure operations, security, maintenance, food, and custodial services are all maintained.

They are scheduled for longer periods of time, at times up to 72 hours, and are paid for their regular hours and then overtime and hazard-related pay premiums depending on how many hours they worked.

Cast Members truly are the magic, and there is no way Disney, hurricane or not, could function and thrive without the work of Cast Members.

Hurricane Cancellation Policy

If a hurricane warning is issued within seven days of your arrival, you can reschedule or cancel your Disney hotel, tickets, packages, and most room-only reservations if you booked directly with Disney without any cancellation fees.

However, this policy only applies to packages booked through Disney. Meaning, that any flights, rental cars, or third-party Disney bookings are not guaranteed to share that policy, and we always recommend checking with every provider you booked with to make sure you know every policy.

If you cancel a reservation booked with Disney, you will receive a refund. However, you can also reschedule and use everything on your original reservation towards your new one. However, this means if you booked under a specific deal or promotion, it is not guaranteed that the promotion will apply to your new days.

It’s always best to talk with Disney when looking to rebook, and a Cast Member will try their best to accommodate you and figure everything out.

Here is a full explanation of the Disney Hurricane Cancellation Policy. 

Hurricane Season is not usually a major issue for the Orlando area, given that it is so far inland. However, it is still important to know all the hurricane info if you are planning to visit over the next few months, so that if a hurricane or bad weather impacts your trip, you are prepared. And no matter the conditions, Disney always does their best to make sure you have the most magical vacation possible.

We always make sure to keep you updated on any hurricane news that pops up, so stay tuned with All Ears so you never miss anything!

What I Wish I’d Known Before Visiting Disney World During Hurricane Season 

Have you ever visited Disney World during a Hurricane? Let us know about your experience in the comments!

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