Walt Disney World has not announced a resort-wide closure as Tropical Storm Isaias strengthens in the Gulf, though visitors in Central Florida could face several days of rain and thunderstorms.
In its 10 a.m. CDT advisory on October 7, the National Hurricane Center placed Isaias about 260 miles west-northwest of Progreso, Mexico, with maximum sustained winds of 45 mph. The storm was moving east-northeast at 8 mph, with hurricane and storm-surge watches issued for parts of the northern Gulf Coast, including a section of the Florida Panhandle. The Orlando area was not under a hurricane watch.
For Disney World guests, the more immediate concern is local weather. The National Weather Service forecast for Orlando called for a 90% chance of showers and possible thunderstorms October 7, with three-quarters of an inch to one inch of rainfall possible. More showers and thunderstorms were forecast for Thursday and Friday.
Rain does not automatically close Disney’s theme parks, and Disney continued to post operating hours for Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom as of the report. But lightning, heavy downpours and other severe conditions can temporarily interrupt outdoor attractions, entertainment and other resort experiences. Disney says weather can also delay, reschedule or cancel some experiences, while water parks may close because of inclement weather.
Planning Your Trip
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Disney notes that its parks can close on rare occasions for tropical storms, hurricanes or other acute weather, with limited ticket adjustments possible for affected guests. For those planning to visit, travelers can check Walt Disney World tickets and park plans alongside Disney’s official weather updates, National Hurricane Center advisories and the Orlando-area forecast as conditions change.
