Florida Locals Share 5 Best Tips if You’re in Disney World During Hurricane Milton

With Hurricane Milton set to make landfall on the West Coast of Florida soon before heading into Central Florida, you may find yourself on vacation in Disney World at a time when a hurricane may affect your trip.

This is not the first time that Disney World has been in the path of a major storm, so you can trust that Disney knows how to handle preparations and safety concerns. However, there are some things you can do while in Disney World also to prepare yourself to ride out a hurricane.

 

First, you’ll need to know that the theme parks and Disney Springs will begin closing today, October 9th in phases. Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom will close at 1PM, and Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney Springs will close at 2PM. The theme parks are expected to remain closed tomorrow, October 10th. Disney will continue to monitor the storm, though, so look out for additional updates.

You should know that you may still need to stay in your hotel for a few days after the storm while recovery efforts are underway and stores restock.

Here are some other tips to help you during this time:

Listen to Cast Members

Cast Members should instruct you on what you need to do, but it will likely involve staying inside the hotel at all times — and that includes staying off your balcony if you have one.

Listen to Cast Members because they will be doing everything they can to make sure you, and other visitors, stay safe.

Get provisions

You’ll want to have things like water and snacks in your room before the hurricane arrives. If you can go to the store and pick up some necessities, do so. You may be able to order provisions through delivery services like Instacart, but note that these services could be overwhelmed, and your order could get canceled at the last minute.

If shelves are bare, try drug stores, convenience stores, and gas stations. Also, places like Staples and Office Max offer things like bulk size packs of granola bars and bottles of water. Stock up! You will also be able to purchase inexpensive meal kits at hotel food courts and quick-service locations.

If you want to eat something that doesn’t come out of a bag or box, prices for hotel restaurants may go down a bit (this is not guaranteed, but we have seen it happen in the past). You might also see restaurants offering different hours and dishes depending on what’s needed (for example, you might be able to get breakfast even when that restaurant doesn’t normally serve breakfast).

Use the coffee maker

If you pick up things like ramen and soups, you can use your coffee maker for hot water to make quick meals and snacks. Of course, you can use it for things like coffee, tea, and hot chocolate, too.

Disney World hotels have back-up generators, which means you shouldn’t lose power.

Have things for the kids

Since you will be spending a lot of time at your hotel and in your hotel room, be sure to have things on-hand for kids to do. Have games or coloring books, regular books, or small activities to keep kids busy.

You might also want to check with the hotel arcades. Sometimes, during weather events like this, they’re free to play (that’s not guaranteed, but it doesn’t hurt to check).

Visit your hotel lobby

The hotel lobby is where you’ll go for entertainment like character dance parties and other special events. Cast Members will be doing what they can to keep your spirits up (and your kids distracted) during the bad weather. Just keep in mind that if your hotel room does not have indoor access to your resort lobby, you may need to wait until it’s safe to leave your room.

The lobby is also where you’ll need to go if you need food, supplies, or information.

Like we said, Disney World is prepared to do everything it takes to keep you safe and entertained during hurricanes, but the most important thing you can do is be kind to Cast Members. They’re part of Disney World’s storm ride-out crews and they’re staying at the hotels to make sure you have everything you need. They’re likely as tired and stressed out as you are, or even more because they are possibly away from their families who are managing the storm in their absence at home.

Check back with AllEars again soon for more.

Have you ever been to Disney World during a hurricane? Let us know about your experience in the comments!

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