7 tips on riding out Hurricane Milton at Disney World

Hurricane Milton is coming and you’re on vacation and Walt Disney World. What do you do? 

Luckily, one of the safe places to stay when a storm like this comes will be at a Disney resort. The exact path of Hurricane Milton is still unknown, but the latest track today has the storm following Interstate 4 and taking it over Walt Disney World.

As of 11 a.m. today (Oct. 7) the eye of Hurricane Milton is about 720 miles southwest of Tampa. Milton is
moving toward the east-southeast near 9 mph. An eastward to east-southeastward motion is forecast through tonight, followed by a turn toward the east and northeast on Tuesday and Wednesday, according to the National Hurricane Center.

Milton is now a Category 5 as it goes over the eastern Gulf of Mexico. The storm is expected to make landfall Wednesday at 7 p.m. and then cross the state following the Interstate 4 corridor and downgrading to Category 1. According to meteorologists, as the storm is so far out there is a still a 100-mile shift where the center of the storm can move.

No matter where it moves, this is still going to be a major storm with winds that could reach from winds 75 to 110 mph, according to the National Weather Service.

Disney World now is still operating under normal conditions and is monitoring the storm and should have updates, possibly by later today. (We will be updating our website and Facebook page with the latest information a as well.)

If you are on vacation at the resort, here are some things to consider:

1 .Stay informed: Don’t hesitate to ask Guest Services what you should be doing. In addition, Disney will be communicating with you, so check to see if the room phone has a blinking light and for any piece of paper placed under a door or on a door knob. In addition, check the local weather such as  WESH.com, the NBC affiliate. The local meteorologists know the area and can give informed updates. Keep your family and friends updated. Even if you are staying at an off-site resort, they have been through this before and know how to handle the situation. VisitFlorida.com has a good up to date list of what is happeing in the state and links for tourists.

2. Charge your electronic devices: Disney has its own power grid, but you should always make sure that your phones, small batteries, everything is charged before the storm comes. If you have a charger, you will want to make that is fully charged.

3. Get supplies: Make a list and get what you need from the store and you should be getting it now, in case. This might include: water, snacks (non-perishable items), plastic utensils, plastic cups, a small flashlight with batteries, non-electronic forms of entertainment such as cards and books, a rechargeable and swappable FuelRod (if you did not bring a spare phone battery).

4. Get cash: Head to an ATM and grab some cash so you have money on hand. You might need this if networks go down.

5. Prepare the room: If you have a balcony and there is furniture, bring it inside. Close the curtains and stay away from the windows during the storm. If you have a tub, fill it with water. It can be used to help flush toilets if there is a problem.

6. Prepare individual Go Bags: If there is a need to evacuate, Disney will communicate. In case you need to leave immediately put together a bag of essentials, including important papers, pen, paper, medicines, etc. Have it ready, in case you need to leave immediately.

7. Don’t panic: The worst thing to do in a situation like this is to get angry and lash out at the people who work there. Remember, the employees also live in town, have family and have their own homes to worry about. Staying calm will also help kids remain calm as well.

When it’s over you will get the all clear and Disney will have the parks running as soon as possible and the airport will reopen as fast as possible as well.

Please all, be safe.