Disney took precautions for Hurricane Dorian in 2019, but the storm didn’t make much of an impactJune 1 is the official start of Hurricane Season, but this is 2020, so of course we’ve had two named storms before the first day. Hurricane Season runs through November 30 each year. Since Florida is surrounded by water and it’s a warm climate, hurricanes and tropical storms are something that we need to take seriously.
While the Hurricane Season seems to last for a very long time, it isn’t really as bad as it seems. Most of the storms in the early and late Hurricane Season never make landfall. August, September, and October are the most dangerous months here, with September 10 being the date that is considered to be smack dab in the middle. In 2017, when Hurricane Irma made landfall and passed directly over Central Florida, we were hit on September 10.
Fortunately, we usually have a decent amount of warning before a hurricane or tropical storm hits. (Then again, it’s 2020…) Disney will close the theme parks if necessary to keep people safe. Sometimes that is because a curfew is set in Orange and Osceola Counties, other times it’s just because the forecast is that bad. Disney has experts on staff who will make the best decision for all those potentially affected.
Disney will allow last minute cancelations under certain conditions. You can read more about the Disney Hurricane Policy here. If you still come and the parks are closed, Disney will have extra activities at the resorts to keep you busy. If that happens, please be nice to the Cast Members. They have family, friends, and homes that they aren’t taking care of, just to take care of you.
Don’t worry about Hurricane Season if you are booking a vacation. There’s a much better chance that there won’t be a hurricane or tropical storm than there will be one. Keep an eye on the weather, but that’s something that you should do any time of the year. Just because Florida is the Sunshine State does not mean that the sun is always shining.