Hurricane Irma and Disney World

I have never stayed at Disney World during a hurricane so I can't speak for what it might be like as Disney tourist, but I do have Disney plans around Hurricane Irma, so I can kind of give you an idea of what to plan for if you future plans bring you to Disney World during Hurricane Season.

Last Monday we were at Epcot and the Magic Kingdom when the State of Emergency order came in from Governor Scott one week before Irma was expected to reach the Orlando Metro.  Today, it is Saturday and we are expecting Irma to get here by Monday, September 11th, at 2 a.m.

Fortunately, most tourists already have bags packed full of many of the items one would have to pack if they were going to have to go to a shelter.  And fortunately, most Disney tourists are staying on Disney property, where the buildings have been built to withstand at least 110 mph winds, or so I have been told by a cast member at Disney Hollywood.

So, if you get caught at Disney during a hurricane, you will mostly be safe if you follow the instructions that Disney gives you.  The worst recent hurricane to go through Orlando was Hurricane Charley in 2004 and as far as I know all Disney tourists were safe.  There was damage to Disney property in the form of the downing of very large trees, and the parks were not reopened until everything was inspected and damage was cleaned up and/or made secure.

Disney did close for one day during Hurricane Matthew, but for the Orlando Metro it was no more exciting than good old thunderstorm.  There was no damage.

The real bummer is when you don't get to go to the parks during your stay.

Be sure to be kind and courteous to all of the cast members on Disney property during a hurricane.  Rude and dangerous tourists have caused strain on the system during hurricanes that have put the cast members and their families at risk.

Please remember that they are just as concerned about their own safety as they are yours and they are away from their homes, their families, and pets in order to ensure your safety.

We have been told we need to be in our homes today by around 5 to 7 p.m.  Because of the safety measures needing to be put in place some cast members have to wait until other cast members leave the park safely, and those cast members will have to leave after the tropical storm conditions start.  This is all do to unruly guests, so please keep in mind that these casts members also have a life to live, worries, and concerns.

If you are staying, you will most likely lose about two days in the parks.  With Hurricane Irma, Disney announced they will be modifying hours for Saturday, September 9th, meaning closing a little earlier, and then will be closed Sunday, September 10th, and Monday, September 11th.

We have FastPasses for Tuesday, September 12th, and fully expect to be able to go, so long as there is no damage and so long as the highways are driveable.

 We are not expecting any problems, although we are on the dirty side of the hurricane.  My expectation is that Disney will have things cleaned up before we get there, unless a building has collapsed.  I'll definitely report on that later.

My recommendation to you is, if you plan on visiting Walt Disney World during the peak of hurricane season, bring a few extra items, i.e. a small flashlight, a few little card games, and other things to keep you busy when you have to wait in the hotel, and bring an extra cellphone charger bank, in case of loss of power.

I know that Disney has their own generators, but I also know that sometimes they can take a while to kick in.  I don't know if every department of Disney has generators, so plan ahead just in case.

Many images that come out of Florida to the rest of the country shows mass destruction and might make you terrified of going to Disney during hurricane season.  This is unlikely to happen.  I'm not saying it wouldn't but it hasn't happened yet.  Hoping it won't happen this weekend.

Orange County Florida is the second safest county during a hurricane.

Disney when it's raining:  Disney does not close just for rain or severe thunderstorms  unless they associated with hurricane forces.  This closure for Hurricane Irma will be the fifth time it has closed for a hurricane in it's history.

When it's raining at Disney, you need to be mindful of the lightning.  Disney will not kick you out of the park or do any extra measures for lightning, except get you off of their watercraft, lakes, and ponds.  You are on your own and it's up to you to be mindful of it.

I also would not base my lightning decisions based on what other people are doing.  Remember most of those people are tourist and don't really know what to do with the lightning.  Locals know to get out of it.

Disney will, however, keep you off of rides and out of the water that have a potential to be struck by lightning, but you could be walking down Mainstreet with lightning dancing all around you.  There will be no one announcing to you the dangers of what you are doing.  You need to use your own common sense and find a place to get inside and wait.

Disney will bend rules and let you wait indoor locations that they normally scoot you through.

One time we waited for a hour for a storm to pass in the American Adventure exit area.  There were a lot of people who came in from the outside to shelter in that exit area and it was a lot of fun getting to know each other.

Walt Disney World is located in the lightning capital of the world and the locals know that lightning is not something you want to flirt with.  Cast members will go inside and off the streets when lightning gets too close, so watch the cast members and do what they do.

I was in a severe thunderstorm at Epcot once when all of the sudden the outdoor cast members packed up and disappeared.  Minutes afterwards we were in a deluge and lightning was dancing all around us.... we were inside watching the lightning dance all around the doorway.

Well, I guess that's about all of the advice I have.  I thought it would be fun to give you a firsthand account of a major hurricane in Florida, so stay tuned for future posts and vlogs as I record what happens in Central Florida with the arrival of the historic Hurricane Irma!

Prior to Irma we are getting quite a bit of rain.  This is our Pre-Irma full rainbow!