So you have a Disney World trip booked during Tropical Storm Ian. Now what?

Well, first off — don’t panic! Disney World has stayed open throughout many rough hurricane seasons, and they have protocols in place for the most severe weather. So, here is what you should do if you’re going to Disney World during Tropical Storm Ian.

Tropical Storm Ian began as Tropical Depression 9, and was upgraded once the storm was forecasted to strengthen into a major hurricane threat for Florida. In anticipation of the storm, Governor Ron DeSantis has issued a state of emergency for Florida, and Orlando International Airport has shifted operations. So…what about Disney?

As of now, Disney World has not made an official statement on the storm. We will let you know if and when they do.

There are several things you should do while preparing to visit the resort during a severe storm. The main thing you should do is pack for the weather! We encourage bringing Ziploc bags for your important items. If the rain picks up, your bag won’t be a safe, dry place for those items. You’ll want to pack your electronics, wallet, cash, and important documents in closed plastic bags. This also makes them easier to find in an emergency.

Pack your poncho! You’ll regret not bringing one, and it may be difficult to find one to purchase when everyone else is grabbing them too. Also, ponchos allow you to stay out in the rain while other people are hiding out in dry areas…which means short lines!

You’ll want to consider bringing extra shoes and socks with you into the parks. Your feet will absolutely get wet, and there’s nothing worse than wet feet. You can pack them in large Ziploc bags and keep them in your park bag, or you can store them in a locker. Either way, this is a huge key to a successful Disney trip in a tropical storm!

Bringing food for your hotel room is also a must! If the parks close (and they have in the past for hurricanes), you’ll be riding out the storm in your hotel, and food options and locations will be limited. You’ll might want to keep your hotel room full of food, just in case. But do not worry if that is not an option, Disney will take care of you, they just might not have your most favorite goodies on hand.

Keep an eye on the weather forecast as you get closer to your trip! Storm predictions can change by the hour, so you’ll want to monitor the weather. Sometimes the storm will decrease in severity before it actually hits the area. Other times, the storm will increase in strength, which may cause you to choose to cancel the trip. The storm has been shifting east and west and a lot can change in the days leading up to this storm.

Know where you can shelter from the storm! There are plenty of areas around Disney World that are great for riding out a storm — stores, restaurants, hotels, etc. Make sure you keep an eye on what’s around you, just in case you need to hide out from the storm.

You also may want to consider changing hotels. Some hotels are better for tropical storms and hurricanes — they’re completely enclosed, have in-room kitchens, and have other great features for storms.

Here’s our list of the best hotels for a hurricane or major storm.

And lastly, you need to be aware of Disney’s cancelation policy. Here’s what Disney says:

If a hurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area—or for your place of residence—within 7 days of your scheduled arrival date, you may call in advance to reschedule or cancel your Walt Disney Travel Company Disney Resort hotel packages and most room only reservations (booked directly with Disney) without any cancellation or change fees imposed by Disney.

If you have products and services provided by third-party suppliers included in your vacation—such as airlines, hotels, car rental agencies or travel insurance companies—you will continue to be responsible for any non-refundable payments, as well as cancellation or change fees assessed by those suppliers. The policy does not apply to certain special events or dining experiences.

Disney’s cancelation rules are pretty stringent, but they allow for rescheduling and canceling (without any fees imposed by Disney), in the case that the National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane warning for Orlando (or your place of residence) within 7 days of your arrival date. We’ll let you know if such a warning is issued.

So there you have it — what to do if you’re visiting Disney World during Tropical Storm Ian. Check out the latest on the tropical storm here. Or take a look at the 6 tips for planning a Disney World trip during hurricane season.

Here are a few more hurricane resources if you are interested: 

• 6 Tips for Planning a Disney World Trip During Hurricane Season
• The Best Hurricane Ready Hotels During Hurricane Season
• 8 Tips for Riding Out a Hurricane in Disney World

And we’ll continue to bring you the latest regarding this storm, so stay tuned to DFB.

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Do you have a trip planned during Tropical Storm Ian? Let us know in the comments.

The post What to Do If You’re Going to Disney World During Tropical Storm Ian first appeared on the disney food blog.