Incoming Tropical Depression Could Impact Disney Travel Plans 

Recent news might rain on your parade if you head to the Disney World Resort before Memorial Day Weekend.

‘Tis the season for hurricanes, and just a week before hurricane season officially kicks off, the NHC (National Hurricane Center) spotted a system of storms in the Atlantic east of Florida that could head to Orlando. In a tweet, the NHC shared the following report:

21 May 8AM EDT: NHC is monitoring a large area of disturbed weather in the southwestern Atlantic.  The chance of formation in the next 48 hours is low (10%). For the latest information, please visit http://hurricanes.gov.

21 May 8AM EDT: NHC is monitoring a large area of disturbed weather in the southwestern Atlantic. The chance of formation in the next 48 hours is low (🟡10%). For the latest information, please visit https://t.co/tW4KeGe9uJ. pic.twitter.com/WTnE5pxE0H

— National Hurricane Center (@NHC_Atlantic) May 21, 2023

Forecasters added the following update:

Strong upper-level winds and dry air are expected to prevent development while the system moves generally north-northeastward at 5 to 10 mph over the southwestern Atlantic during the next day or so.

With the spotted storms on the horizon, forecasters predict a 10% chance of them becoming a tropical depression in the next two days. What exactly is a tropical depression? (Hint: it’s not crying at the Polynesian Village Resort with a piña colada in hand). The NHC describes a tropical disturbance, or depression, as the following:

​​A tropical weather system with organized convection (generally 100-300 miles in diameter) originating in the tropics or subtropics, having a non-frontal migratory character and maintaining its identity for 24 hours or longer. It may or may not be associated with a detectable perturbation of the wind field.

Disney World Guests should watch for severe storms on Monday afternoon as the budding tropical depression develops. Some Guests at the Walt Disney World Resort may have gotten a sneak peek into the premature hurricane season storms yesterday, judging by a tweet from @bioreconstruct at the Universal Orlando Resort.

Thunderstorm moving into the Universal Orlando area. pic.twitter.com/aPJi1wbARE

— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) May 22, 2023

Hurricane Survival Tips at Disney

The good news is the storm formation might dissipate, and the better news is Disney Guests are resilient in the rain. Long before a hurricane warning is issued, pro-Disney goers know to pack quick-dry shoes, moisture-wicking threads, a Disney-themed rain poncho, and a change of clothes in their Disney bag. A stormy Disney day isn’t like one at typical theme parks. There’s a competitive sport to chasing down a dining reservation, pivoting to Disney Springs, or snagging a Lightning Lane opportunity.

If you’re singin’ in the rain this summer at Disney World, rest assured the Parks are well-equipped for hurricanes, featuring tropical-storm-resistant attractions at each Park. Mickey’s PhilHarMagic in Magic Kingdom, Festival of the Lion King in Animal Kingdom, Living with the Land featuring Soarin’ Around the World in EPCOT, and Muppet*Vision 3D in Hollywood Studios are rides to keep you dry—just to name a few. If you’re a Guest on hurricane watch in Disney, water parks like Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon might be the only Disney Parks to avoid.

Not to mention, Resorts typically offer crafts and snacks for kiddos when storms strike the Parks, so you’ll be able to soak in the magic even while you’re—well, soaking.