UPDATE 9/2/19 at 5 PM
The National Hurricane Center has issued their 5 PM update and Hurricane Dorian has become nearly stationary this afternoon. A slow westward to west-northwestward motion is expected to resume overnight and into early Tuesday. The hurricane will move "dangerously close to the Florida east coast late Tuesday through Wednesday evening." This means that life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds are expected along portions of the Florida east coast and Georgia and South Carolina. Dorian's hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 45 miles and tropical storm winds extend out 150 miles from the center.
A hurricane warning and a storm surge warning have been issued for parts of Florida's east coast. What part of the coast experiences hurricane conditions remains uncertain and is dependent on the exact track.
The track has caused changes to Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Cruise Line and Orlando International Airport.
Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort has issued a statement and is adjusting their operating hours beginning Tuesday, September 3.
Magic Kingdom Park: 8 AM - 3 PM (7 AM Opening for EMH)
Disney's Hollywood Studios: 9 AM - 2 PM (6 AM Opening for EMH)
Disney's Animal Kingdom: 8 AM - 2 PM (7 AM Opening for EMH)
Disney Springs: 10 AM - 3 PM
Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park: 10 AM - 3 PM
ESPN Wide World of Sports: Closed
Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park: Closed
Winter Summerland & Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf: 10 AM - 3 PM
Disney Resort Hotels
All Disney Resort hotels remain open. Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground will be closing on September 3 at 3 PM and will reopen when safe to do so.
Special Events
Disney After Hours at Animal Kingdom - Cancelled on Tuesday, September 3
Dining & Other Experiences
On September 3:
Theme park dining reservations will behonored up to one hour prior to park closing
Resort dining reservations will be honored until 5:30 PM
Effective immediately, Disney will not be enforcing cancellation policies for dining and other experiences.
Pre-paid dining and other experiences outside of the modified operating hours for September 3 will be automatically cancelled and refunded.
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport will stop operation on Tuesday September 3 due to Dorian's track. Please check with your airline for update regarding your specific flight.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line has issued an advisory and changed the itinerary of the Disney Dream sailing on Friday August 30 to extend another day and cancelled the Monday September 2 sailing of the Disney Dream.
Disney Dream – Current SailingÂ
Disney Dream’s current sailing was scheduled to return to Port Canaveral on Wednesday, September 4. However, after careful review of the currently forecasted path, and conversations with port officials in Florida, it does not seem likely that Port Canaveral will be available for our return on Wednesday.Â
Because of this, we will need to further extend this sailing and now expect Disney Dream to return to Port Canaveral one day later, on Thursday, September 5.Â
Since Disney Dream will now have additional time at sea, we have arranged a port call for tomorrow, Monday, September 2, in Grand Cayman.Â
Disney Dream – Monday, September 2 changed to Wednesday, September 4Â
While we had hoped to preserve some portion of the voyage for our Guests’ enjoyment, we have had to change our plans given the inherently unpredictable nature of tropical storms and hurricanes. After careful review of the currently forecasted path, and conversations with port officials in Florida, we have decided to cancel the sailing completely.
We understand this may be disappointing news, but we feel this was a necessary decision. The safety of our Guests and crew members is always our foremost concern.Â
Castaway Cay - UPDATED
Many of our Guests have asked questions about Castaway Cay. Some of our Crew remained on the island and their care and safety is our highest priority. As forecasted, sustained winds on the island did not extend beyond tropical force strength and our Crew has returned to their living quarters after spending a few hours in our storm shelter yesterday. Our thoughts continue to be with the people in areas of The Bahamas that are being impacted by this storm and we stand ready to contribute to recovery efforts.
UPDATE 9/1/19 at 11 AM
The National Hurricane Center has issued their 11 AM update and the maximum sustained winds have increased to near 180 mph with higher gusts which raises Dorian to a Category 5 hurricane. Dorian has also grown larger in size with winds extending outward up to 45 miles from the center. The dangerous hurricane is still a threat to Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and southeast Virginia.
According to the Weather Channel, Dorian's track is still uncertain:
"The myriad of track possibilities range from a Florida landfall and track northward through part of the Florida Peninsula to a landfall somewhere in the Carolinas to a scrape of the Southeast coast without the center ever moving ashore to a sharper northeast turn well offshore.
The uncertainty in Dorian's exact track is mainly related to an area of high pressure off the East Coast when it fizzles."
Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World Resort is operating under normal conditions but has taken precautions including closing Disney's Blizzard Beach Water Park on Sunday.
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport has decided to lift their previously planned closure on Monday, September 2.
UPDATE 8/31/19 at 7 PM
Hurricane Dorian is forecast to slow down and turn northward as it approaches the Florida cost but life-threatening storm surge and dangerous hurricane-force winds are still possible along portions of the Florida east coast by the early to middle part of next week. The National Hurricane Center has issued their 5 PM update and a tropical storm watch is in effect for a portion of the Florida east coast meaning that tropical storm conditions are possible, generally within the next 48 hours. A 'gradual turn toward the northwest' should begin after the next day or two and 'on this track, the core of Dorian should move closer to the Florida east coast late Monday through Tuesday.'
Please be aware that with the storm predicted to shift north that there is 'an increasing risk of strong winds and dangerous storm surge along the coasts of Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina during the middle of next week.'
Walt Disney World
In response to the storm, Walt Disney World is taking precautions and have cancelled some activities and are planning on closing the Blizzard Beach water park!
Walt Disney World states "Walt Disney World is operating under normal conditions. We are closely monitoring the path of the projected weather, as nothing is more important than the safety of our guests and Cast Members. We are taking precautions, including cancelling weekend sporting events and closing Disney's Blizzard Beach water park on Sunday. "
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport stills plans to stop commercial flight operations on Monday, September 2, 2019 at 2 a.m, but they are continuing to monitor the latest forecasts.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney has released a statement on August 31, 2019:
We continue to closely monitor the path and progress of Hurricane Dorian to ensure our guests enjoy safe and comfortable cruises, and to make certain our ships steer clear of the storm. The safety of our guests and crew is always our foremost concern. Since all tropical storms and hurricanes are inherently unpredictable, our plans may change from day to day based on the most current information. Please check this site often for the most up to date information.Â
Disney Dream – Monday, September 2
Based on our most recent conversations with ports in Florida and to help our Guests better finalize their travel plans, we have decided to turn this cruise into a two-night sailing, with an expected departure from Port Canaveral on Wednesday, September 4, and an expected return to Port Canaveral on Friday, September 6.
At this time, we anticipate Disney Dream will visit Disney Castaway Cay on Thursday, September 5, dependent on whether it is impacted by Hurricane Dorian.Â
Guests that choose to continue with this sailing will receive a 50% refund of your voyage fare and a $250 onboard credit per stateroom.Â
Guests who do not want to sail on Wednesday must call us at 866-325-3905 or 407-566-7032 by noon on Sunday, September 1. Guests will then have until October 31, 2019 to choose a new sail date. They may change their reservation to a later date without incurring a change fee, though there may be a difference in price depending on the new sailing selected.
Hurricane Dorian is intensifying rapidly as it approaches the southeast portion of the United States including Florida. The latest update from the National Hurricane Center states:
"Data from the NOAA Hurricane Hunters indicate that Dorian has strengthened to an extremely dangerous category 4 hurricane with maximum sustained winds near 130 mph (215 km/h). This increase in intensity will be reflected in the forecast issued at 1100 pm EDT"
According to the Weather Channel, Hurricane Dorian's impact is too early to tell but there is an increasing likelihood of a prolonged period of dangerous weather conditions in parts of Florida :
"It's too early to know the exact magnitude and location of any impacts from damaging winds, storm surge or flooding rainfall at this time in Florida and the rest of the Southeast. However, there is an increasing likelihood of a prolonged period of hazardous weather conditions that could last a couple of days in parts of Florida early next week.
"The biggest concern will be Dorian's slow motion when it is near Florida, placing some areas of the state at an increasing risk of a prolonged, drawn-out event of strong winds, dangerous storm surge and heavy rainfall," the National Hurricane Center said early Friday."
In response to the storm strengthening, Walt Disney World, the Orlando International Airport, and Disney Cruise Line are taking precautions and have cancelled some activities, changed cruise itineraries and are planning on closing the water parks and airport!
Walt Disney World states "Walt Disney World is operating under normal conditions. We are closely monitoring the path of the projected weather, as nothing is more important than the safety of our guests and Cast Members. We are taking precautions, including cancelling weekend sporting events and closing Disney's Blizzard Beach water park on Sunday. "
Orlando International Airport
Orlando International Airport plans to stop commercial flight operations on Monday, September 2, 2019 at 2 a.m.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line has issued an advisory and changed the itineraries of the Disney Dream sailing on Friday August 30 and Monday September 4.
Disney Fantasy – Saturday, August 31
At this time, based on the current predicted storm timing and path, we do not anticipate any changes to the Disney Fantasy sailing on Saturday, Aug. 31.Â
Disney Dream – Monday, September 2
Based on our most recent conversations with ports in Florida and to help our Guests better finalize their travel plans, we have decided to turn this cruise into a two-night sailing, with an expected departure from Port Canaveral on Wednesday, September 4, and an expected return to Port Canaveral on Friday, September 6.
Please be careful and take this storm seriously!
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