What is Walt Disney World Like During a Hurricane?
Throughout this post, we will be embedding YouTube videos of footage from Hurricane Ian at Walt Disney World. These are not our videos, and the video title page clearly states the authors. We post them so you can see Disney's response in action.
If we've paid any attention to the news this week, we know that Orlando, Florida was just directly in the path of Hurricane Ian, a significant and deadly hurricane. Like others who love the parks, we were glued to livestreams of folks who were at resorts on property, watching the storm as it intensified and then moved on. While I hurricane is deadly at the coast, hurricanes usually weaken by the time they reach something as inland as Orlando. Still, they can be significant. Ian brought 80 mph winds and torrential rain.
So, many might be wondering: What happens at the parks in a hurricane event like this. In this week's blog, we're going to shed some light.
If you've been at Walt Disney World and in the Disney bubble, your first indication that a hurricane may be approaching might be alerts in your MyDisneyExperience app. This is where Disney will post information about modifications to park operations or closures. In the case of Ian, this was a two-full-day closure of the parks.
If you flew in to Orlando, you may have precious little time to fly back out. Shortly after Disney announces modifications, the Orlando airports will begin announcement their closures or cancellations. So if you absolutely do not want to ride out a hurricane, you need to act fast once you are aware its coming, which may mean ending your vacation early. Walt Disney World does have a hurricane policy which entitles you extra time to use unused days on your vacation should you evacuate in the event of a hurricane.
Many guests, however, either choose to stay or can't get a flight out. These guests who are staying at Walt Disney World resorts are well taken care of. In fact, the resorts have such a reputation as safe places to be that residents from the coast, or even elsewhere in Orlando, try to get bookings at Walt Disney World resorts for the added safety and entertainment.
Entertainment, you say? Yep! While being stuck at a resort during a hurricane is not how most people want to spend a vacation day, Disney Cast Members work very hard to ensure guests are comfortable and even happy. We've always been impressed with how Disney operations work like a well-oiled machine, and a hurricane procedure is no different.
The most important thing that happens, from a guest's perspective, is the ride out crew is called in. These Cast Members are called the ride out crew because they have volunteered to "ride out" storms on property with the guests. It is a difficult, but also prestigious, role. Ride out crew Cast Members work 24/7 during the hurricane, and they also get extra pay for doing so. While working, they are put up in a room at the resort, though often they have to share. Generally, the ride out crew is happy to be there, but their job is not easy as they work to entertain and ensure the safety of guests, even while many of them are Florida residents whose own homes and families may be in the path of the storm as well.
Safety has always been Disney's #1 rule, even before guest service, and Disney takes it very seriously. Many of their resorts are built to withstand category 4, or even 5, winds. This is why many locals, either evacuating from coasts, or just relocating from another Orlando area home, choose to ride out storms at Walt Disney World resorts. Disney knows this, and lifts its "no pets" policy during this time, which means pets are allowed everywhere around the resort. If you have pet allergies, this might impact you negatively, but Disney does not want to separate families from their pets in a storm evacuation.
In addition to the construction of the resorts, Disney operates on its own power grid, separate from Orlando's. Therefore, if Orlando loses power, it doesn't mean Disney loses power (and Disney rarely loses power). If they do lose power, Disney operates enough back up generators to power the resorts.
Before the storm, Cast Members secure everything. They cover trash bins so they can't fill with water or debris, they tie down pool furniture, and they bring in umbrellas. Everything that can be secured is secured. In addition, transportation will shut down as soon as sustained winds reach 40 mph. Parks will typically close before that happens, allowing guests a chance to get to their resort.
As the storm approaches, Disney goes through a few levels of lock down. The first is that in which guests are confined to the resort, and not permitted to visit other resorts. During this time, guests can still walk the grounds of the resort. If you are staying in a resort where the lobby and food is in a separate building, its very important to stock up on food during this time.
In the next phase, outside doors are secured with zip ties. During this time, guests can't exit the building they are in, but they can move about the building. Finally, when the storm passes over Orlando, guests are required to stay in their rooms. Cast Members will bring in any patio furniture and secure patio doors. During Ian, guests were also provided tarps in case of leaks, and flashlights in case of loss of power. Guests will be required to stay in their rooms until Disney gives the all clear and is certain it is safe for guests to leave their rooms.
After the storm, the reverse happens. Clean up crews get to work immediately. After Ian, you could see crews pumping water from flooded roads, and sweeping paths free of debris. Because clean up takes time, there is typically a delay before parks re-open, but when they do, some say crowds are lighter because of how many people evacuated before the storm hit.
All of that is about safety, but guest service is not forgotten. Disney Cast Members also do their best to entertain guests while confined to the resort. You can typically expect movies to be shown around the clock whenever it is safe to do so. Sometimes there are craft activities for kids or games for kids and adults. And sometimes characters even show up. Disney knows this can be a scary time for guests, and they do everything in their power to distract guests and keep them entertained.
While it's a good idea to get food ahead of time for when you are in lockdown in your room, Disney does offer very limited food options. In other words, they won't let you starve. And usually these food options are quite reasonably priced compared to usual Disney prices. During Ian, Whispering Canyon Cafe at the Wilderness Lodge was offering a family style breakfast for $12 (and all of the spunk you would expect from this fun restaurant). At other resorts, grab and go lunch bags for $5-$6 are quite common. So it isn't that there isn't food.... the issue is there tend to be long lines for the food, with some guests waiting about 2 hours for a lunch bag.
We can't imagine being in better hands than being at a Disney resort during a hurricane. But that doesn't mean you should get yourself into the path of a hurricane just to experience it. Ian came to Disney with 80 mph winds that rattled walls in the night, and torrential rain that flooded pathways and roadways. Orlando was not without damage. Some roads were completely shut down due to flooding. Even if Disney recovers quickly, it takes time for Orlando to do the same, and if you'll be traveling around the city, this will impact your plans. And Disney resorts are also not impervious to damage, as seen in reports that some panels came off the exterior of the Contemporary resort during the storm. Yes, by a guest room. Yes, that could be you.
This post is mainly written out of appreciation to the Disney Cast Members, especially the ride out crew, but all Cast Members who work so quickly to ensure safety and to clean up our beloved parks.
Have you ridden out a hurricane at Walt Disney World? Tell us about it over on our Facebook page where you can follow us to see when new articles are posted each week.
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