We are starting to see some hurricanes and tropical storms show up this month. Because of that, we thought it would be a good time to go over some tips for being prepared for hurricane season at Walt Disney World.
Typically, the Walt Disney World Resort will be impacted by strong rains and winds as hurricanes made landfall on the East or West coasts. Although you can’t predict when these storms are coming, there are ways to prepare for them just in case.
Know When Hurricane Season Is
Hurricane season is a lot longer than most people realize. This season lasts from June through November in Florida. If you are really worried about missing out on hurricane season, consider scheduling your trip from December to May.
Although you will always have the chance of rain at Walt Disney World, avoiding June through November does help lower the chances of heavy rain storms and hurricanes.
August through October seem to be the months with the most activity when it comes to hurricanes. Knowing this, be aware when planning your trips.
Think Ahead
If you are planning on visiting during hurricane season, think ahead about how you can set yourself up to be prepared if a hurricane would happen to form.
First, think about where you are staying. During hurricane season, staying at a Disney Resort that offers interior rooms is extremely beneficial. When staying at a Disney Resort such as Beach and Yacht Club or Disney’s Contemporary Resort, you have interior walkways providing you access to dining and other amenities. Not only does this keep you out of the elements, but if Disney does have to lock down for a few hours, you are still able to move about these Resorts.
If you are staying at one of the moderate Resorts such as Caribbean Beach Resort, the only way to get to food is outside. This can be extremely difficult when hurricane rains show up. At Resorts that do have exterior entrances to rooms such as Caribbean Beach or Pop Century, if Disney does need to lock down for a few hours, it can be isolating as well.
Although you don’t want to assume that a hurricane will impact your trip, thinking about what accommodations would be beneficial if one does happen can be important.
Pack Well
Before heading down for your Walt Disney World vacation, think through what will be helpful to have if a hurricane does impact your travel. Start with making sure that everyone does have rain gear. These can be rain jackets, ponchos, or umbrellas. Knowing how you are going to tackle the rain is important.
Think about what footwear you have that will do well if the Disney streets flood (because they do and will). Do you prefer sandals, do you have waterproof shoes, are you going to go with wet tennis shoes? We highly recommend packing more than one pair of shoes no matter what you bring. Having backup shoes will allow for those that get wet to dry out. No one wants to walk miles in wet, soggy shoes.
We also recommend thinking about packing clothes that will dry fast. Denim remains wet for a long time which can cause discomfort while walking around. Think about packing moisture-wicking fabric. This will dry quickly but also keep you cooler in the Parks as the humidity sticks around.
Packing for success is important as you head down during hurricane season. Disney will always be there to help with what you need and forget, but it is a lot cheaper and less stressful if you have it ahead of time.
Be Flexible
As with all Disney vacations, during hurricane season it is important to be flexible with your plans. The weather might impact what rides and shows are able to run, but there are always fun, magical experiences going on throughout Walt Disney World.
If your top choices are closed or a parade is canceled, use that time to try to experience something new. Visit a store, try out a new show, or visit a Disney Resort you haven’t seen yet.
Don’t let the rain ruin your trip. Adjust and see what surprise, magical experiences you can experience.
Stay Connected
Our final way to handle hurricane season at Walt Disney World is to make sure you are staying connected. Make sure that you have a weather app that will keep you up to date on what is coming and what is predicted.
Make sure that you have My Disney Experience updated as well. Disney will use this app to push out information to Guests in times of emergencies.
Also, make sure you talk with Cast Members and listen to what they are telling you. Disney is well equipped for hurricanes, but it is up to Guests to follow procedures to keep themselves protected.
By staying connected, you will be able to stay prepared and educated on what is happening regarding the weather. This is a big step in keeping everyone safe while still enjoying the magic.
Hurricane season is here and Walt Disney World can be impacted by it. If you are traveling down during hurricane season, use these tips to make sure that you are well prepared. Just because it is hurricane season at Walt Disney World doesn’t mean that it isn’t a good time to visit the magic. Just make sure that if you do choose to travel during this time you are prepared with these tips. Doing so will allow you to not only stay safe, but also keep the magic going strong. We hope that you have a wonderful vacation.
