Tropical storms and hurricanes

Image: Chad Sparkes, Flickr (license) 

Parks affected: Walt Disney World

Although Walt Disney World is home to the most attended theme parks in the world, it has also been the target of the most natural disasters, with the resort making it through more than two dozen hurricanes and tropical storms over the course of its 40 year history. As a result, the resort is one of the most well-prepared places in the country, with proven strategies for dealing with tropical storms and hurricanes. In fact in 2009, the resort earned the Storm Ready designation from the NOAA, meaning it is one of only a few dozen locations recognized by the federal government as one of the safest places to be in the United States when a hurricane strikes.

One of the conditions of the resort’s Storm Ready status is a continuously staffed disaster relief center. Though guests will never see this facility (it is hidden away on the west side of Walt Disney World, far from view) this location is staffed 365 days a year, with trained professionals ready to spring into action the moment an emergency situation arises. 

When the possibility of a storm is first indicated, staff at this post will continuously monitor weather reports and keeping a close eye on any movement of a tropical storm or hurricane. While the command center is always staffed, additional experts are brought in when a hurricane is projected to hit central Florida, even if the track is uncertain or there are several days before a potential situation could become imminent. During this initial "watch" preparation phase additional employees are put on alert, and emergency protocols and procedures are reviewed. 

Image: NOAA

As any Floridian will tell you, hurricanes can be quite volatile and tracking models change almost hourly as a storm approaches land. However, if a hurricane or tropical storm is projected to hit within 72 hours, Disney switches from "watch" mode into "prepare" mode, with all personnel functioning as if the storm will indeed hit. One of the first things Disney will do at the beginning of this period is issue advisories to guests projected to arrive during the hurricane, offering refunds and allowing those affected to make other arrangements. Supplies will continue to be beefed up during this time, and command posts will be staffed to take care of guests still at the resort. 

Though most of these preparations are behind the scenes, if a storm begins closing in and models show it hitting Walt Disney World within 48 hours, that is when guests will begin noticing some big changes around the resort. All loose items around the parks and hotels, including trash bins, tables, chairs and anything else not firmly attached to the ground are pulled out and stored in a secure location. Anything that is loose but attached to a building (like a hanging sign or banner) will be tied down. Emergency personnel from the command posts will supervise the preparations process, with multiple safety checks happening every hour to ensure that everything is being secured on schedule. 

During this critical period, the theme parks may stay open, but attractions where extensive preparations are being made will be closed. The park-wide PA system will also be used to keep guests informed about the progress of the storm and about changing conditions. If you are in a park when a storm is getting ready to hit, be aware that conditions can change rapidly and a park-wide evacuation could happen at any moment. 

Image: Mike Durkin, Flickr (license)

If the storm does not change course and is expected to hit within 24 hours, guests will be advised about what to do when the storm is imminent. If it is a small tropical depression or Category 1 hurricane, some parks may stay open with only some attractions operational. You can see some interesting video footage of a parade that was performed during tropical storm Fay below:

However, if the storm is more serious, the parks will all close and guests will be advised to shelter in place their resort. Disaster command posts will dispatch supplies and personnel as necessary to each hotel to ensure that safety procedures are being followed and all hotels have adequate supplies (which may include bottled water, food, etc.) Medical teams will also be on hand to respond to any injuries or medical issues that arise during the storm.  

Though the situation is not ideal, in the past Walt Disney World has been known to at least try and keep guests’ spirits up during a hurricane by offering free sandwich buffets, indoor movie festivals and even some character meet and greets at various hotels during a storm. You can check out a video below that features footage shot while a family was sheltering at Walt Disney World during Hurricane Charlie. 

Though guests are normally safe in common areas and in their hotel rooms, if winds exceed a certain amount or a tornado is spotted in the area, guests may be moves to secure interior areas (like ballrooms) until the immediate threat has passed.

Image: CKramer, Flickr (license)

Once the storm is over, Disney will assess the damage to their parks and then reopen them as they are able. Though there may be some property damage, the biggest problem that Walt Disney World has historically had after hurricanes are downed trees. Once again the disaster relief team will spring into action, clearing debris as quickly as possible so the resort can fully recover and return to full operations.