Walt Disney World is among the most secure locations to remain when a hurricane hits Central Florida. Many locals depart dwelling and relocate at resorts to journey out storms as a result of on-site buildings are constructed nicely above code, and engineered to face up to the worst winds & climate. This covers the very best lodges at WDW for hurricane season for individuals who wish to plan forward and hedge their bets throughout the highest threat months.
From the beginning, we wish to emphasize that it is a planning useful resource and never tailor-made in direction of any particular storm or circumstance. If there’s a hurricane approaching Orlando everytime you’re studying this and are questioning whether or not it’s best to cancel your journey, depart early, and so forth., this doesn’t reply that. Moderately, it’s geared toward offering a rundown of reserving standards and greatest choices if you happen to’re visiting throughout storm season, are fearful about hurricanes, and need further peace of thoughts.
I wouldn’t say we’re overly involved about hurricanes hitting Walt Disney World, however we’re positively a bit preoccupied with them. Almost a decade in the past, we ended up caught at Walt Disney World throughout Hurricane Irma at a time after we have been out of state vacationers. As a substitute of going dwelling, on a cruise, or to the parks, we spent a couple of nights “attending to know” the rooms at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn. Suffice to say, it was not enjoyable and we each wished we’d have made the decision earlier to chop brief our journey and head dwelling.
Quick-forward a couple of years, and the circumstances have been comparable with Hurricane Dorian whereas we lived in Florida. That storm reached Class 5 standing, and was the strongest hurricane in trendy report to make landfall within the Bahamas. Whereas parts of Central Florida have been within the cone of uncertainty, fashions didn’t name for it to make landfall in Florida–and it didn’t.
We have been in Florida for a number of different tropical storms and potential hurricanes over the course of the ~5 years we lived within the state. Dorian was forecast to be the worst of those–although it turned out to principally miss us–however none of them have been clean crusing. The unpredictability and concern of the unknown was all the time there, and had us fearful. Maybe it might’ve modified finally, however we by no means received “used” to hurricanes.
We by no means booked rooms at Walt Disney World resorts as locals, however we all the time debated it. Properties in Florida are constructed for hurricanes and most storms weaken by making it to Orlando, however I’d nonetheless take development requirements of Walt Disney World resorts over single-family houses rapidly constructed in subdivisions. A part of the calculus was not eager to “take” the spot from somebody making an attempt to evacuate from the coast who wanted it much more. There have been different issues, however the primary level was that it was all the time on the desk for us, whilst locals, and one thing we thought of lots.
That was when it was simply the 2 of us. If we nonetheless lived in Florida final 12 months for Hurricane Milton now that we’ve got a daughter, we’d’ve completely booked a room at a Walt Disney World resort. Little doubt about it. As out of state vacationers, we nonetheless recreation out our contingency plan for Walt Disney World within the fall, from when to tug the plug to issues about the place to remain. (Be taught from our mistake: simply since you wish to reduce brief a visit doesn’t imply you possibly can!)
That’s mainly what this put up is–our private ideas and conversations we’ve had about storm season stays at Walt Disney World, cleaned up and put to (digital) paper.
Benefits of Staying On-Web site Throughout Storms
In all probability, Walt Disney World’s resort lodges may have electrical energy, operating water, and meals all through the storm. That is most likely the most important purpose why some locals choose to remain on-site throughout hurricanes. There’s a powerful chance {that a} residential dwelling will lose energy (ours did, greater than as soon as), whereas I’ve by no means heard of that taking place at Walt Disney World.
The opposite massive upside is that Forged Members will proceed to employees the Walt Disney World resort lodges. Now, earlier than you cross judgment, pondering that it’s “merciless” of Disney to make Forged Members work throughout hurricanes as an alternative of being at dwelling, be mindful the above sentiment from the locals’ perspective about preferring to remain on-site.
We’ve recognized a number of Forged Members who proactively volunteered to be on the storm “journey out” groups for exactly that purpose. Many lived alone in flats and didn’t wish to be remoted throughout a hurricane, felt safer in a resort, and so forth. Being on the “journey out” crew appears fairly well-liked, and I’d hazard a guess that much more Forged Members would volunteer for these roles if eligible.
Because of the journey out workforce of Forged Members, most indoor services at sure resorts are operational throughout hurricanes. On high of that, Walt Disney World usually goes above and past with leisure and recreation, together with character appearances and extra at choose resorts.
Staying on-site is a good way to remain protected and comfy throughout the storm. It’s additionally an ideal choice for having enjoyable, taking your thoughts off the hurricane, and making human connections which might be constructive and uplifting.
Tacky as it would sound, it is a enormous benefit of being on-site. You don’t really feel alone or fixated on up-to-the-minute climate updates while you’re surrounded by lots of of different friends, making lemonade out of lemons.
Standards for WDW Resort Storm Choices
You’ll observe the above asterisks about “most indoor services at sure resorts” being operational and “choose resorts” having added programming. These aren’t simply filler phrases–that is essential.
The first standards is enclosed, indoor walkways between visitor rooms and the lodge foyer, eating places, and retail. If a resort lacks this, it’s off the desk for providing the above.
This guidelines out most of Walt Disney World’s Worth and Average resorts. The overwhelming majority of these have clusters of outlying buildings that require a stroll from visitor rooms to the foyer. So every little thing closes down throughout a hurricane and friends shelter in place solely of their rooms.
It’s not simply Worth and Moderates, although. Two of the most costly lodges at Walt Disney World, the Polynesian and Grand Floridian, each have outlying buildings. Whereas the Grand Floridian has some essential constructing rooms (leading to choose facilities staying open), the Polynesian doesn’t.
That means the one method you’ve entry to something is if you happen to’re staying Membership Degree. Talking of which, Membership Degree lounges nearly all the time keep open throughout hurricanes. For that purpose, these are the highest decide for these prepared to splurge regardless of the place you’re staying (even the Poly!).
It’s additionally vital to be conscious of which otherwise-indoor resorts even have out of doors entry to eating. Regardless of all being below the identical roof, the majority of BoardWalk Inn’s eating places shut throughout a hurricane since they require strolling outdoors to entry. Again after we rode out Irma at BoardWalk, this was a particular draw back.
However, resorts with conference facilities have an ideal benefit in with the ability to scale up their eating demand and serving friends through makeshift catered buffets. In order that was a particular win for BoardWalk, and nearly sufficient for it to make this record.
One other promoting level is resorts with a kitchenette or full kitchen within the room. You’ll have advance discover of the hurricane, permitting ample time to go get or have groceries delivered. This was one other upside of our studio at BoardWalk, and would’ve been a fair larger benefit had we booked a bigger villa. (Because of this, the Artwork of Animation Household Suites are the one Worth Resort that nearly makes this record. They’re nonetheless missing in different regards, however if you happen to largely wish to journey out the storm in your room, they’re a great decide.)
In the case of Disney Trip Membership or Deluxe Villa Resorts, if you happen to keep in a one-bedroom or above, you’ll even have in-room laundry. That means you possibly can have some enjoyable doing laundry to cross the time whereas driving out the storm, or maybe extra importantly, have clear garments within the occasion your journey will get unexpectedly prolonged.
With all of that in thoughts, right here’s a rundown of our favourite hurricane-ready resorts at Walt Disney World…
Disney’s Up to date Resort
Every time we recreation out storm season stays, we all the time find yourself on the Up to date. On the one hand, this constructing has flooring to ceiling home windows and is over 50 years outdated. It could not appear to be a main candidate on that foundation.
However, it’s over 50 years outdated and continues to be going sturdy! This pet was constructed to final, and possibly has sufficient metal and concrete that it’ll be the one construction at Walt Disney World nonetheless round 371 years from now throughout the zombie apocalypse. (Facet observe: it’s additionally the place I’d keep at Walt Disney World throughout a zombie apocalypse.)
Joking apart, the large benefits supplied by the Up to date are a number of eating places all below one roof and all kinds of them. Not solely that, however the resort additionally has a conference middle accessible from the primary foyer and loads of area for strolling, frequent areas, and so forth., if you happen to get stressed. Rooms are extra spacious, too. And to every their very own on this one, however I truly view these flooring to ceiling home windows as an asset. They make it straightforward to see what’s happening outdoors, they usually’re nonetheless there 50+ years later.
Simply don’t e-book the Backyard Wing rooms or Bay Lake Tower. These are usually our favorites for being cheaper (through {dollars} or DVC factors) and providing many of the identical upsides as the primary tower on the Up to date, however none of that holds true in the case of a hurricane.
Gran Destino Tower
Very comparable story right here as with the Up to date Resort, however for individuals who need new builds versus older ones. Like the primary A-frame on the Up to date, it is a tower (it’s proper there within the identify). Which may make some individuals uncomfortable, however the main upside is that constructing requirements are extra stringent for taller buildings.
In any other case, the benefits of Gran Destino Tower are nearly similar to the Up to date. It has much more eating choices, each within the tower itself and over at El Centro and the conference middle, all of which is (critically) related to Gran Destino through indoor walkways. This could be my decide if cash have been a difficulty.
Once more, simply don’t completely ‘low cost out’ and e-book the outlying buildings at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort. These supply no benefits over some other Worth or Average Resort since they require an outside stroll to Gran Destino.
Disney’s Riviera Resort
Numerous commonalities between Gran Destino Tower and Disney’s Riviera Resort, each of which opened inside the final decade. Riviera has fewer flooring, if that issues to you for no matter purpose. It additionally lacks a conference middle, and has far fewer completely indoor eating choices.
That is one factor WDW diehards must be cautious about when selecting the place to remain to journey out a hurricane. If it requires any out of doors stroll in any respect, it’s off the desk. That means that Bar Riva, which is a stone’s throw from Primo Piatto, is off the desk. Between the counter service Primo Piatto and desk service Topolino’s Terrace, we nonetheless view Disney’s Riviera Resort as ‘adequate’ in the case of eating.
The large tradeoff right here is that Riviera is a Disney Trip Membership resort, which suggests all the rooms have a minimum of kitchenettes, whereas the bigger items have full kitchens. This makes it a powerful choice for hunkering down in your room and getting ready your individual meals. The downsides are a small foyer and no conference middle, however the resort has loads of lengthy hallways for strolling.
Yacht Membership
This checks lots the identical containers because the above entries. Yacht Membership has an connected conference middle, a good number of indoor eating choices, and loads of indoor areas for roaming.
Once more, the large factor to remember with Yacht Membership is the out of doors walkways round Stormalong Bay. It could appear like all of that’s indoors, however it’s not in the case of hurricane security. That is additionally why solely Yacht Membership, and never Seaside Membership, makes this record.
We additionally like the thought of staying at Crescent Lake for as soon as the storm passes, however we wouldn’t wish to do BoardWalk once more as a result of nearly all eating being outdoor. That makes Yacht Membership our high decide.
Wilderness Lodge
This could be our best choice after Up to date Resort and, fairly truthfully, if I someway received caught at Walt Disney World on my own throughout a solo journey, I’d most likely wish to be at Wilderness Lodge. (I wouldn’t let that occur, Sarah, so don’t fear!)
Upsides of Wilderness Lodge are a number of indoor eating places providing all kinds of choices, in addition to a big foyer with loads of area to maneuver round. One other benefit is the Copper Creek Villas, that are inside the primary constructing however supply DVC-style lodging.
The wildcard for me supplied by Wilderness Lodge is its calming high quality. The design, background music, quiet corners to decompress–the entire vibe is conducive to calm and luxury throughout a excessive stress scenario. On steadiness, that subjective or emotional component outweighs the target benefits of the Up to date, a minimum of for me.
Animal Kingdom Lodge
That is mainly an similar entry to Wilderness Lodge, which ought to be unsurprising for the reason that resorts are so comparable.
One factor price emphasizing right here, as it could matter to some planners, is that Kidani Village has lined parking. In case you’re driving and wish to guarantee your automobile is extra prone to be protected, that makes it a sensible decide. In any other case, I’d most likely select Jambo Home.
Swan & Dolphin
A lot of locations to eat, all below one roof. Effectively technically, there are three separate resorts right here–however every certainly one of them has eating below its personal roof. Past that, I’m considerably reluctant to enthusiastically endorse the Swolphin as a result of I’m undecided of their particular insurance policies or protocol for hurricane ride-out. It’s however a good suggestion in principle if the opposite choices are absolutely booked.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Study lodges on our Walt Disney World Accommodations Critiques web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Critiques. To economize on tickets or decide which sort to purchase, learn our Suggestions for Saving Cash on Walt Disney World Tickets put up. Our What to Pack for Disney Journeys put up takes a singular take a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Journey Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Journey Planning Information for every little thing you want to know!
Your Ideas
Have you ever ever stayed at Walt Disney World throughout a hurricane? In case you reside in Florida, have you ever ever booked an on-site lodge keep only for the peace of thoughts and certainty of not shedding energy, operating water, or meals? Or for the upper constructing requirements? Have you ever visited throughout previous hurricanes? Any more information, ideas, or first-hand experiences to share about driving out a hurricane at Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we may also help you reply? Listening to your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas under within the feedback!