Ian Now a Category 3, Disney World Still Open Today

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

Published: 9/27/22 8:44 am EDT
Previous Updates: 9/27/22
11:34 am EDT – Ian Still Cat 3, Disney World Under Hurricane Watch
5:43 pm EDT – Hurricane Ian Eyes Orlando, Disney World Confirms Multi-Day Park Closure
11:27 pm EDT – Hurricane Ian Set to Make Landfall, Still Locked on Disney World Area
Previous Updates: 9/28/22
8:43 am EDT – Hurricane Ian Nearing Cat 5 Strength – Disney World Weather Update
12:38 pm EDT – Disney World Guests Hunker Down as Hurricane Ian Makes Landfall
6:02 pm EDT – Hurricane Ian Makes Landfall, Passing Through Disney World Area Tonight
11:30 pm EDT – 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

The National Hurricane Center (NHC) released its 8:00 am intermediate advisory, and it is a growing Category 3 as it finally enters the Gulf of Mexico, and it is expected to grow even more as it makes its final approach to Florida. It is tracking further east, and the extended “landing zone” appears to be from Tampa Bay down to Charlotte Harbor.

COFFEE TALK: Tracking the latest on Hurricane Ian… Let's chat… https://t.co/z1IJRuFKiU

— WESH 2 News (@WESH) September 27, 2022

According to the NHC,

“At 800 AM EDT (1200 UTC), the center of Hurricane Ian was located by NOAA Hurricane Hunter aircraft, Cuban and Key West radar data near latitude 22.6 North, longitude 83.6 West. Ian is moving toward the north near 12 mph (19 km/h), and this motion is expected to continue today. A turn toward the north-northeast with a reduction in forward speed is forecast tonight and Wednesday… Maximum sustained winds are estimated near 125 mph (205 km/h) with higher gusts. Ian is a category 3 hurricane on the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Wind Scale. Little change in strength is expected while Ian moves over Cuba.”

Tropical Storm Warnings are now in effect for the counties of Walt Disney World Resort, Universal Orlando Resort, and Disney Cruise Line homeport. this means that Tropical Strom conditions can arrive on the scene within the next 36 hours.

The new tracks show that Hurricane Ian could enter the vicinity of Orange County and Osceola County still as a Category 1 hurricane with winds from 45-75 mph winds at this point.

For Orange County, including Disney World, the worst weather is expected Wednesday at 9 am and to continue through Friday afternoon. Eight (8) inches to an entire foot of rain should be expected, with sustained winds of 40-50 mph and gusts as fast as 70 mph. Flood watches are in place.

At this time, WESH2 Meteorologist Eric Burris is expecting that the worst of the worst will be passing over Central Florida Wednesday night starting at 8:00 pm.

Mandatory evacuation orders are underway for the neighboring communities in the Tampa Bay Area.

At this time, The Walt Disney World Resort Theme Parks and Disney Springs are opening under normal operations, but several at-risk Resort Hotel options like the over-water Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort and Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground have been closed. Disney World Cast Members have already begun reaching out to those Guests. Disney’s Water Park Typhoon Lagoon Water Park is also closed.

As of this article’s publication, there are no plans to close Orlando International Airport any time soon, but all would-be fliers should continue to stay up-to-date with their individual airlines regarding any changes to itineraries.

We at Disney Fanatic will continue to update our readers on Hurricane Ian and how it will affect Disney World and Central Florida as more developments come to light.

Previous Coverage

• 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