Should you travel to Florida during hurricane season? For those planning a Disney vacation, knowing the best Walt Disney World hurricane travel tips can make a big difference! The official hurricane season for the Atlantic is June 1 to November 30. That’s five months out of the year! Most hurricane activity occurs between mid-August and mid-October, which is also the time for special events at Walt Disney World, including EPCOT’s International Food & Wine Festival and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. As someone who has visited the past three years in a row during this time, I’d say, don’t avoid visiting, but be prepared with these Essential Walt Disney World Hurricane Travel Tips.

How Disney handles Hurricanes

Linked here. When there’s a hurricane warning issued, Disney allows cancellations and changes to Disney packages without penalty. Your travel agent can help with this! 

Consider trip insurance

When Disney’s hurricane policy is not applicable, you may still choose not to travel during a hurricane threat, so purchasing trip insurance may help give you some peace of mind. But make sure you find the right policy for you, that includes protections for weather events and be aware of policies with your airline if you’re flying.

Prepare for rain

In most cases, Walt Disney World will not be in the direct path of a hurricane. As long as it’s safe for guests and cast members, the parks will remain open. But keep in mind, some outdoor attractions may have to close, and there could be changes to things like fireworks shows, special events, or skyliner access. Pay attention to the local forecast, and pack ponchos/rain jackets and proper footwear. A rainy day at Disney can still be magical and is usually less crowded!

Why Booking with a Travel Agent Helps During Hurricane Season

I’ve assisted clients who needed to delay or cancel their trips when a hurricane warning was issued. This included changes through Disney, but also adjusting things like transportation reservations or stroller rentals. It’s so nice to have help with this, so everything can be changed with as little stress and hassle as possible! Remember, we are here for you through the entirety of your trip to help with any issues that may arise. 

Here’s my experience being at the Most Magical Place on Earth during one of the worst hurricanes in Florida’s history. These Walt Disney World hurricane travel tips helped my family feel more prepared and less stressed during Hurricane Ian.

In the Fall of 2022, I was closely watching the hurricane forecast leading up to our trip. When we flew to Orlando, the storm’s path was still very uncertain and there was no hurricane warning issued. I even remember searching Google at the airport, “how many times has Walt Disney World closed for a hurricane?” At that point, the answer was only seven times in 50 years, so I figured our odds were pretty good that nothing would happen. Many Floridians along the coasts even evacuate to Disney World, because of its location and infrastructure. We landed on a Saturday evening, checked into our room at Disney’s Art of Animation resort, and enjoyed Sunday and Monday at Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios.

Tuesday, however, is when the situation took a turn. Hurricane Ian was getting closer and its expected path went right through Orlando. On the bus that afternoon, our flight home Friday morning was canceled. I quickly rescheduled our flights for Saturday morning, then went to guest services at the resort to add another night to our stay. We were able to get a discounted rate for our additional night. Then Disney announced that the parks would be closed Wednesday and Thursday, the Halloween party was canceled for Thursday night, and transportation services would be limited. That meant no ability to resort hop. So we were indeed going to experience one of the few Disney closures in history. 

Luckily, we were still able to enjoy Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party on Tuesday evening. We enjoyed rides, snacks, and the Not So Spooky Spectacular fireworks, but with wind and rain moving to the area, the Hocus Pocus stage show was abbreviated, and the Boo to You parade was canceled and replaced with a rainy day cavalcade. When we got back to our resort, we got alerts on the My Disney Experience app that Disney gave us a complimentary park-hopper ticket to use in the next year, since many elements at the party were limited due to weather conditions. This event is non-refundable and we didn’t ask to be compensated, so it was a nice gesture from Disney for guests that night. 

Wednesday morning, we prepared to hunker down in our room. We went to the Landscape of Flavors for breakfast and it was very crowded, since no one could go to the parks. There were signs posted around the lobby, dining area, and gift shop that they would close later that afternoon, and food kits were available for purchase. I could tell people were feeling on edge about the impending weather, but Disney was working hard to keep people happy and entertained. Cast members had dance parties with characters in the lobby, movies and popcorn, plus coloring pages to keep kids busy. They also made all the arcade games free, for another form of entertainment at the resort.

We returned to our room and watched the local news, which was announcing several closures in the area, including the airport and grocery stores. I quickly called Costco and found an Uber ride to the store to stock up on some food items, so we could have more options in our room. With the food courts closing and a kitchenette in our room, it was easier to have some meals in our room, rather than purchasing the meal kits. When we returned from the store, the weather was still not too bad, so we let the kids run around the splash pad and playground until it shut down that afternoon. That evening, cast members came around to hand out flashlights and ask if we needed anything for our rooms, since we were going to have to stay put for a while. They posted signs around the resort and sent push alert notifications through the app for everyone to stay in their rooms while the storm moved through.

The hardest part was watching the destruction on TV, knowing that people in the area were losing their homes and businesses. We also thought about the cast members who were there working to give us a magical experience, while they may have been losing their own homes or worrying about their loved ones. As strong storms moved through, we never lost power and there were only a few plants and trees out of place outside when it was over.

Thursday afternoon, the resort food court and gift shop reopened. More characters were in the lobby, greeting stir-crazy families. Disney announced that parks would reopen with staggered arrival times on Friday, giving on-site guests earlier access before letting other guests into the park. We headed to EPCOT on Friday, with beautiful weather to wrap up our trip, before catching our flight home on Saturday.

Keep in mind, this was my personal experience, and every storm or situation could be completely different!

Wondering what to do if a hurricane hits during your Disney vacation? Get real-life experience and smart Walt Disney World hurricane travel tips from a seasoned traveler and travel agent.

By Valerie Paxton

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