Latest Update: 9/30/22 8:57 pm EDT – Disney World Theme Parks Return to Normal Operation Saturday
Published: 9/24/22 9:36 am EDT
Previous Updates: 9/24/22
11:25 am EDT – Tropical Weather Update: Path Moves Slightly West, Cape Canaveral Begins Preparations
5:22 pm EDT – Ian to Become Category 4 Hurricane, DeSantis Expands State of Emergency
11:26 pm EDT –Ian to Become Hurricane Sunday, Biden Cancels Disney World Visit
Previous Updates: 9/25/22
8:45 am EDT – Update: Ian Still Tropical Storm, Still Moving West
11:45 am EDT – Ian Update: Path to Panhandle Narrows, Disney World Still at Risk
5:41 pm EDT – TS Ian Still Low and Slow, But Some Tracks Stay Over Disney World
11:33 pm EDT – Topical Storm Ian Building Strength, Turning Closer to Disney World
Previous Updates: 9/26/22
9:00 am EDT – Hurricane Ian Forms in Caribbean – Disney World Weekly Forecast
11:39 am EDT – Hurricane Ian Strengthens, Disney World Under Tropical Storm Watch
5:34 pm EDT – Hurricane Ian Now Category 2, Could Still Hit Disney World
11:25 pm EDT – Ian Expected to Become Major Hurricane, Disney Theme Parks Still Opening
Previous Updates: 9/27/22
8:45 am EDT – Ian Now a Category 3, Disney World Still Open Today
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 –Â Disney World Guests Hunker Down as Hurricane Ian Makes Landfall
6:02 pm EDT –Â Hurricane Ian Makes Landfall, Passing Through Disney World Area Tonight
11:30 pm EDT –Â 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 –Â 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 Hurrican Center issued an intermediate advisory at 8:00 am EDT this morning showing Tropical Storm Ian has gown by also apparently slowed.
The storm appears to be moving West/Southwest at about 15 mph, with its windspeed increasing to 45 mph sustained. The Cayman Islands remain under a hurricane watch, and South Florida and the Florida Keys could start seeing heavy rains as early as Monday. It is still expected to develop into a Category 3 hurricane by Wednesday in the Gulf of Mexico before weakening slightly as it makes its way inland.
8am #Ian intermediate advisory has been issued; Here's the latest on the storm… pic.twitter.com/m1aoUZxEZ8
— Eric Burris (@EricBurrisWESH) September 24, 2022
But it appears that the storm is not expected to be in the vicinity of Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and the rest of South Florida by this coming Thursday, with Tropical Storm-force winds currently expecting to precede it on Wednesday morning. The general vicinity of the Theme Park Capital appears to be in the middle of the “Cone of Uncertainty.” Previous reports had the storm making landfall earlier on Tuesday or Wednesday.
Tropical Storm #Ian is expected to continue to strengthen over the central Caribbean today before turning towards the north later in the weekend. #Ian is expected to strengthen into a hurricane before it enters the Gulf of Mexico early this upcoming week. pic.twitter.com/UMJcndueaF
— National Weather Service (@NWS) September 24, 2022
Orange County, where a majority of Walt Disney World Resort is located, has begun official storm preparations, announcing that the Office of Emergency Management is monitoring the storm and opening a free sandbag program for residents looking to keep their homes dry in the event of heavy rains and potential flooding. The other Disney World district, Osceola County, was one of the counties included in Governor Ron DeSantis’ State of Emergency issued yesterday.
NOW OPEN: @OrangeCoFL's Office of Emergency Management is monitoring Tropical Storm Ian. To ensure that residents are prepared for the potential impact of a storm, we have re-opened our free, self-serve sandbag program. Sites open starting today, at 8 a.m. https://t.co/tVzNipWHHA pic.twitter.com/kgLObhzFgc
— Orange County FL (@OrangeCoFL) September 24, 2022
Over on the Space Coast, speculation rises regarding NASA’s plans with the scheduled Artemis 1 launch, which could further hint at the developing situations with Disney Cruise Line operations at nearby Port Canaveral. While preparations are underway, it is still too early to tell just what kind of impacts Central Florida can expect. All would-be vacationers going to Walt Disney World Resort or a Disney Cruise Line ship at either Port Canaveral or Port of Miami should continue to monitor email and other forms of contact regarding reservations as well as any flights that may be involved for any weather-related updates in the days ahead.
Tropical Storm Ian is currently moving W at 14 mph over the central Caribbean Sea & is forecast to strength into a Major Hurricane as it approaches the FL Peninsula by mid week. It's too early to tell what impacts there will be across E central FL. Review your plans & supplies. pic.twitter.com/YPIFG6KdXi
— NWS Melbourne (@NWSMelbourne) September 24, 2022
It should be noted, again, that Walt Disney World Resort’s Theme Park and Resort Hotels are built to the highest quality of durability and protection, and its Cast Members are trained to assist all Guests in any hurricane situation. There are few places safer to be in Florida during a hurricane than the Walt Disney World Resort.
We at Disney Fanatic will continue to monitor Tropical Storm Ian as more developments come to light.
Previous Coverage
- Tropical Storm Ian Forms, Category 2 Hurricane Now Expected to Reach Disney World Area
- Tropical Weather Update: DeSantis Declares State of Emergency, MCO Issues Update for Travelers
- Tropical Weather Update: Hurricane Likely to Hit Florida as Category 3
- Storm Update: Hurricane Likely to Form, Head for Florida
- Going to Disney World Next Week? Might Want to Start Watching the Weather