Walt Disney World Returns to Normal Operations Following Hurricane Helene

Walt Disney World has resumed normal operations following Hurricane Helene making landfall last night, Thursday, September 26, 2024.

Walt Disney World After Hurricane Helene

People swimming in a large wave pool at a water park with a shipwreck structure on a rocky hill in the background.

The advisory at the top of the Walt Disney World website (and on the My Disney Experience app) currently reads:

Walt Disney World is currently operating under normal conditions; however some experiences will be canceled or unavailable on September 26. We are closely monitoring the path of the storm as we continue to prioritize the safety of our Guests and Cast Members.

Though guests visiting the resort today can expect continuing wind and rain, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park, Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf, and Winter Summerland Miniature Golf are all scheduled to reopen to guests today at 10 a.m. The Walt Disney World weather updates page has not been updated since Wednesday, September 25 at 4 p.m. ET.

During our visit to the parks today, we saw slight flooding in one of the guest lanes past the Magic Kingdom parking booths, with additional water and some fallen branches here and there. Otherwise, damage from the storm appears to be minimal at Walt Disney World.

A weather map depicting the forecast path of Hurricane Helene across the southeastern United States from Sunday, 8 AM to Friday, 8 AM. The map shows wind speed probabilities and potential impact areas while indicating that Walt Disney World will maintain normal operations during this period.

Currently, only a wind advisory remains in place for Orange County, though it will end at 11 a.m. ET this morning. According to the 8 a.m. update from the National Hurricane Center (NHC), storm surges along the Big Bend of Florida and in other parts of the west coast of the state should subside today. Hurricane Helene made landfall last night as a Category 4 storm.

Yesterday, Walt Disney World canceled all of its nighttime spectaculars due to Hurricane Helene — including Luminous: The Symphony of Us at EPCOT, and Fantasmic! and Wonderful World of Animation at Disney’s Hollywood Studios. Happily Ever After was not scheduled to be performed at Magic Kingdom. The three canceled nighttime spectaculars all have scheduled performances tonight, Friday, September 27, at their respective parks.

That same day, Walt Disney World began preparations for the storm in the parks.

On Wednesday, September 25, Walt Disney World preemptively canceled Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party for September 26, as well as select tours at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and closures for the Walt Disney World miniature golf courses; the tours were un-canceled the following day. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park was also announced to close on September 26 for the hurricane.

Walt Disney World’s hurricane policy webpage includes frequently asked questions and their answers regarding things like cancelation fees, rescheduling vacations, and more.

Our thoughts are with those who were severely impacted by Hurricane Helene yesterday.

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