Hurricanes can be super scary and they are definitely not something to be taken lightly! But what happens when you’ve been planning a vacation for MONTHS and a hurricane is headed to Disney World? Don’t worry! Let’s go over some tips to help you prepare.

When is hurricane season?

Although it rains year-round in Central Florida, the true rainy season runs from June-November. With that, it could mean hurricanes and tropical storms. Typically the peak months for those is August-October, but that doesn’t mean that they can’t happen during those other months too.

This can be a really important thing to remember when choosing the time of year that you wish to book your trip for. There are lots of fun things happening from Food & Wine Festival and Halloween activities, but if Hurricanes are something that you are leery of, you may want to consider booking your vacation during the other months of the year.

Travel Protection

One of the number one things you are going to hear people say when a hurricane is on it’s ways is ‘this is why you need travel protection’ and I will say that yes, this is important, but it’s also important to understand WHY it could be helpful, but also understanding that in the case of a hurricane, Disney’s Hurricane Policy also will come into play.

What does Travel Protection cover?

You will want to make sure that you read over the fine print of your specific policy, but the best way to think about it is if you are unable to complete your vacation due to an emergency, cancelled flight, or severe illness, this allows you to try and recoup some or all of your vacation cost without penalty. It can also cover other things like insurance for rental cars, lost or damaged luggage, and more.

Travel Protection is NOT hurricane protection, so if there is a hurricane coming, but flights and parks are operating as normal, this won’t really do much good.

Again, some of this will vary from state to state, but you can find more specific information HERE.

This will be helpful in the case that Disney does not close down, but maybe a hurricane or storm causes delays or cancellations for your flights.

What is Disney’s Hurricane Policy

If a severe hurricane is on it’s way, Disney will usually implement their hurricane policy. Typically this will go into effect if they anticipate having to close the parks, so if it’s just a tropical storm, don’t count on this going into play.

Mostly what this means is that Disney will waive any cancellation fees or penalties if you choose to cancel or modify your vacation. They understand that you aren’t getting the full experience, so they would much rather you be able to come back when your able to experience the parks to the fullest.

Typically your hotel and ticket package can be cancelled and modified, but if you have ticket only purchases or special ticketed events, they will usually only let you modify to new dates. In rare occasions they may let you cancel for a refund, but it honestly just depends on if the parks themselves close or events get cancelled. The most important thing is to be KIND to the cast member that you are talking to and understand they they are working within the rules and policies that they are bound.

Disney’s Hurricane Policy is NOT travel protection and it is NOT guaranteed to go into effect, so I wouldn’t rely on something like this as your only means of protecting your trip. But it is good to make sure that you understand both so that if something like this does come up, you know what to do. You can learn more about Disney’s Hurricane Policies HERE.

This can sometimes be alot to navigate, so I do also recommend booking your trip with Travel Advisor as they can help you navigate these situations so that you can continue to enjoy your vacation with as little stress as possible! (this goes for anytime, not just during a hurricane!)

Should You Cancel Your Trip If a Hurricane is on it’s way?

Well, it honestly just depends. I think if you have the warning, you have the ability, and you have the means to move your trip, I would. If a bad enough storm is coming, you are probably going to be missing out on some park days and more limited experiences as some things like live entertainment and outdoor attractions may be unavailable.

Disney is also a place that many locals will evacuate to in severe hurricanes, so if you are able to give up those rooms to people who need it, it makes it much easier for those to find a safe place to ride things out. It may be a bummer for your vacation, but these people are fearing for the safety of their families, their homes, and their livelihoods, so any way we can help, we should!

If you are not able to cancel - maybe Disney hasn’t implemented their hurricane policy, you don’t have Travel Protection, or you have something non-refundable like DVC Rentals, then go ahead and take your trip! I never want you to be out thousands of dollars!

Like I said, Disney is one of the safest places to ride out a hurricane, so you’ll be in good hands. Just make sure that you are managing your expectations and knowing that things may not look 100% like a normal Disney Trip.

Riding Out the Storm at Disney

In the case that the parks close and you are stuck in your hotel, Disney will enlist a ‘ride-out crew’. These are cast members who volunteer to work at the resorts and ride out the storm with the guests to keep things going while also giving them a safe place to stay. So yes, these cast members volunteer to be there, but it is still a good idea to keep kind and understand that anything they tell you do to is for YOUR safety.

It’s not all doom and gloom! Often there will be quite a few fun activities going on at the resorts from surprise character appearances, trivia and games, free arcade play, and crafts. Most of these activities will happen in the lobby of your resort or in convention rooms if the resort has an attached convention center. These activities will vary from resort to resort, but there will usually be a activities board with a list of available activities and times. You can also always ask a recreation cast member in the yellow/red/and navy shirts!

There will also usually be meal kits available for purchase as well as other packaged snacks and games. Typically these will be something like a PB&J kit, but I do recommend that if you know you’re going to be stuck in your room, be prepared and have a few other non-perishable snacks ready.

Are Crowds Lower During a Hurricane?

Yes and no… but regardless, this is NOT a reason to flock to Disney last minute - remember what I said about leaving resources like rooms available for locals who need them?

Typically the day or two before a big storm the crowds can tend to be lower as people have cancelled and moved their trips. However, if the parks do end up closing, the several days afterwards can be VERY busy as people haven’t been able to use their tickets, locals want to get out of the house, and other guests may have only bumped their trips by a few days.

So things might be a little calmer before the storm, but just remember that once the storm hits, things may be a little weird in the park for up to a week. When you’re spending THOUSANDS of dollars on a vacation, you want to make it count!

Pack your Rain Gear

This may be a given, but it’s a good idea to think about this and don’t put it off! Typically I’m an umbrella fan because they also work great on sunny days, but during a hurricane or tropical storm when it’s crazy windy, and umbrella isn’t going to do you any good.

Rain Jackets and Ponchos are definitely your friend. Again because of the wind, make sure you have a decent quality poncho and have MULTIPLE in case they rip.

It’s a good idea to think about your footwear. Flooding is common, so waterproof shoes are a MUST. After the storm, there can usually be a lot of debris and sticks, so closed toed shoes are also a good idea. And of course pack plenty of socks because walking around with wet feet is not fun!

Can you still have a magical time at Disney during a hurricane? Absolutely! But it’s always good to be prepared and know what to do ahead of time, so that you are caught off guard when these things do pop up.

What to do When a Hurricane is Headed to Disney World