Disney World Guests Hunker Down as Hurricane Ian Makes Landfall

Latest Update: 9/30/22 8:57 pm EDT – Disney World Theme Parks Return to Normal Operation Saturday

Published: 9/28/22 12:37 pm EDT
Previous Updates: 9/28/22
6:02 pm EDT – Hurricane Ian Makes Landfall, Passing Through Disney World Area Tonight
11:30 pm EDT – Hurricane Update: Storm Center Moves into Disney World County
Previous Updates: 9/29/22
9:03 am EDT – VIDEO: Record Flooding Hits Central Florida — Disney World Status Update
12:20 pm EDT – Ian Leaving Florida, But Storm Still Rages in Orlando Area
7:10 pm EDT – Disney World, Disney Cruise Line Assess Damage Reopening Plans
Previous Updates: 9/30/22
8:47 am EDT – Storm has Passed – Disney World, Universal, MCO Begin Reopening
12:34 pm EDT – Post-Storm Update: Crowds Return to Parks, Disney World Weekend Weather Forecast

 

After enjoying one last breakfast, Guests of the Walt Disney World Resort have begun getting comfortable in their Resort Hotel as Hurricane Ian–on the verge of being a Category 5–prepares to make landfall.

The NHC has just issued their 11am advisory for #Ian; Here's a look… More of course today on WESH 2 News… pic.twitter.com/c4KxFCkqkl

— Eric Burris (@EricBurrisWESH) September 28, 2022

According to the National Hurricane Center’s 11:00 am update,

“The center of Ian is expected to move onshore within the hurricane warning area in a few hours, move over central Florida tonight and Thursday morning and emerge over the western Atlantic by late Thursday… Maximum sustained winds remain near 155 mph (250 km/h) with higher gusts. Ian is a category 4 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Ian is forecast to make landfall on the west coast of Florida as a catastrophic hurricane. Weakening is expected after landfall, but Ian could be near hurricane strength when it moves over the Florida East coast tomorrow.”

The NHC updated its advisory at 12 noon, and the eye wall is not making landfall on Sanibel and Captiva islands.

Guests and Residents in the area of Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and the Orlando Metro Area should will be facing tropical storm force winds with high risks of flooding, and tornados. While this storm has slowed slightly, we are still expecting Hurricane Ian to be clear of the area by this weekend.

But the lingering Disney  World Guests have taken to Reddit and begun to share their experiences and what they are planning to do to pass the time rather than watch the weather.

My first time at Coronado! I just wish it wasn’t under terrible circumstances 🌀⛈️
by inWaltDisneyWorld

One family took advantage of Disney Springs and bought a lot of LEGOs to build together.

Another suggested board games and DIY games, saying,

Boardgames from home. We take some basic ones everywhere: uno, love letter, point salad, phase ten.

If you get really bored, there are pub board games that you could recreate fairly easily with pen and paper: Skull, One Night Werewolf, coup, love letter, liars dice, cheese thief.

Then there is the entire standard deck games like Gin, Kings on the Corner, War.

Another shared,

We cleaned up our room and are thinking of going for breakfast in a bit. We’re in coronado, outside buildings, but it looks okay to walk around. I’m hoping to do some laundry later. We have some games and books. We also charged all our powerbanks, we probably won’t lose power but it makes me feel better to know we’ll have power. Stay safe!!!!

Another suggested,

“If you are in a resort that is interconnected indoors, take frequent walks outside your room to stretch your legs and walk around for a bit.

“If not, just try to stay safe and endure it.”

Overall, it appears that morale is high, and Disney World Resort Guests are attempting to stay positive as they brace for this storm.

that sunset over Coronado Springs before storm
byu/RealRipRaw inWaltDisneyWorld

Orlando International Airport closed to all non-emergency traffic at 10:30 am this morning. All remaining Disney World Resort Guests have until 3:00 pm today to check in to their hotel. Special box meals are now available for purchase, and Guests should be prepared to receive special instructions from Cast Members, depending on how the situation develops over the coming hours.

Walt Disney World Resort previously announced that Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon will be closed through Thursday. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is also canceled this week. Disney Cruise Line has also canceled at least one sailing aboard the Disney Wish that was set to depart on Friday, September 30.

Rains continue moving in, with gusty winds to boot; Here's a look now… pic.twitter.com/DKAbMhvG45

— Eric Burris (@EricBurrisWESH) September 28, 2022

We at Dinsey Fanatic will continue to update our readers on Hurricane Ian, and its impact on the Disney World Area as more developments come to light.

Previous Coverage

• Hurricane Ian Nearing Cat 5 Strength – Disney World Weather Update
• Hurricane Ian Set to Make Landfall, Still Locked on Disney World Area
• Hurricane Ian Eyes Orlando, Disney World Confirms Multi-Day Park Closure
• Ian Still Cat 3, Disney World Under Hurricane Watch
• Ian Now a Category 3, Disney World Still Open Today
• Ian to Become Major Hurricane, Disney Theme Parks Still Opening
• Hurricane Ian Now Category 2, Could Still Hit Disney World
• Hurricane Ian Strengthens, Disney World Under Tropical Storm Watch
• Hurricane Ian Forms in Caribbean — Disney World Weekly Forecast
• Tropical Storm Ian Building Strength, Turning Closer to Disney World
• TS Ian Still Low and Slow, But Some Tracks Stay Over Disney World
• Path to Panhandle Narrows, Disney World Still at Risk
•  Ian Still Tropical Storm, Still Moving West
• Ian to Become Hurricane Sunday, Biden Cancels Disney World Visit
• Ian to Become Category 4 Hurricane, DeSantis Expands State of Emergency
• Path Moves Slightly West, Cape Canaveral Begins Preparations
• Tropical Storm Ian Grows, Disney World County Starts Storm Prep
• Tropical Storm Ian Forms, Category 2 Hurricane Now Expected to Reach Disney World Area
• DeSantis Declares State of Emergency, MCO Issues Update for Travelers
• Hurricane Likely to Hit Florida as Category 3
• Hurricane Likely to Form, Head for Florida
• Going to Disney World Next Week? Might Want to Start Watching the Weather