[Susanne]

We are currently planning a 3-generation family vacation to WDW for September. My mother-in-law is freaking out because our guide book shows that September is part of hurricane season. Is this a big problem? I assume not because:

a) the book doesn't mention it any further, aside from showing hurricane season on a weather chart
b) I've already read that Disney has only ever had to close once due to a hurricane
c) i haven't seen dire warnings on this or any other Disney site about visiting in September

But, I need to reassure her nonetheless. Can anyone help me here?

Thanks,

Susanne

[mickey]

I am sure someone like Dawn will be able to help you more, but yes, September is in hurricane season. As you mentioned, WDW was only closed once due to a hurricane, but all the resorts stayed open, and there was virtually no damage to anything. Just a lot of rain and wind.

We have been to WDW five or six times in September or October, and we have yet to see any hurricanes or anything even close. During or last trip in October, there were some down south, but it was more than 600 miles south or where we were, we just got a little rain out of it, nothing more. I don't think this is something you should worry about. Orlando gets hit by a hurricane less than once in ten years. That doesn't mean that a small hurricane can't come inland and hit Orlando. It will just produce a lot of rain, you won't even know the difference between it and a normal fall storm.

I would just go into your trip knowing that there may be a slight possibility that you may miss a day at the parks because of heavy rain and wind. (less than 1 in 1000!) But not going because of hurricanes would be like not going to Disneyland in California because of earthquakes. At least with hurricanes, you get a warning.

[Dawn S]

I have been a FL resident since 1989 & have been coming to Disney since then, living here off & on. I have been here at all points in the year. September & October are beautiful times to go to WDW. Yes, hurricane season is going on then, BUT most hurricanes do not hit that early in the season, plus it's not like where I was in South FL. Here, we're too far inland to even really worry about it. Yes, they've come out here, but it's such a freak occurrence that it cannot possibly be something to be concerned with. It would have to be a hurricane of massive magnitude & even then, this area would probably never see the type of destruction & havok that we saw down south with hurricane Andrew. The hurricane loses force as it hits land. This is why we watch the weather reports on coming hurricanes & they always say "it's about to cross over Puerto Rico, Cuba, the Keys, etc." & they usually fizzle out after hitting land, unless they're massive. I have never encountered hurricane aftermath here in Orlando...maybe, at the worst, some rain storms if a hurricane is on the Central FL eastern coast. Hope that helps a bit...it is DEFINITELY not something to worry about & I give you my word on it. ;)

[trishb]

I have been at DW when there was a hurricane (November 94). The parks stayed open, and we braved the weather to find no lines, and no crowds anywhere. Needless to say, it was a memorable experience.