Disney world closed

[griffinstorme]

Just a question for those who might know. Disney sometimes has to close for hurricanes but just how many times has it closed in the past? Just a round about number. Thanks

 

[WDWBarb]

I'm going to guess... two times? Once on 9/11.

 

[JessicaR]

I'm not sure if this is correct but I found this info:

1st time - Hurricane Andrew (did not pass through orlando, but closed all the same for 1 day)

2nd time- 9/11

3rd time- Hurricane Charlie

4th time- Hurricane Francis

5th time- Hurricane Ivan

 

[Orangeandwild]

I'm not sure if this is correct but I found this info:

1st time - Hurricane Andrew (did not pass through orlando, but closed all the same for 1 day)

2nd time- 9/11

3rd time- Hurricane Charlie

4th time- Hurricane Francis

5th time- Hurricane Ivan

That is pretty correct and I have been there or affected by it three times

 

[mrsmom]

it was closed for hurricane jeanne too ,i was there and staying at akl , we had a great time!
kim

 

[Tiggerlover91]

I can't find info anywhere! But I do know for a fact it was closed for Andrew and 9/11....I was there on 9/11.

 

[N&B'smom]

it was closed for hurricane jeanne too ,i was there and staying at akl , we had a great time!
kim

I was there for Hurricane Jeanne as well and it was closed for 24 hours. We were told to stay in our rooms and they had food available at different locations throughout the resort. We knew it was coming so we got a movie, some frozen pizzas, etc. We hung out in our room (2 bedroom at VWL) and had a great time! The next morning it was blue skies and everything was open!

 

[GeorgeG]

That's a pretty amazing record. Just about the whole country closed for 9/11 and a handful of hurricanes over all those years is pretty good for a state that's supposed to be notorious for hurricanes.

 

[Minniemama350]

We heard it was closed the day before we went about 5 years ago. When we got there, you couldn't tell. It was amazing!! I also was astonished that when I called the WDW#, the recording assured us they would be open and ALSO their competitors would be open.

 

[DVC-Don]

I was there for Charlie (SSR) and the parks closed at 3 PM. The next day they opened an hour or so later than normal.

 

[Kim in TN]

I know it closed in 99 for Hurricane Floyd, we were told to stay in our rooms and fill the bathtub with water. Luckily it wasn't as bad as they predicted and the parks opened the next afternoon. It did alter the DCL destinations as well.

 

[Disney-Kim]

We were at the Beach Club during Hurricane Floyd 1999 also.
I belive that this is the FIRST time WDW was ever closed as I have the newspaper clippings from that day and they all stated that this was a the first time in history that WDW had actually closed.

We were also there on 9/11....which I thought was the 2nd time it has closed.

then I think it may have happened a couple more times for hurricanes as other disers have said.

 

[Disney-Kim]

Since its opening in 1971, Walt Disney World has never closed its doors until Hurricane Floyd. Floyd, a Category 4 storm, was forecast to place hurricane force winds over Walt Disney World early on 15 Sept 1999. Disney closed its doors in the afternoon of September 14 to prepare and ride out the storm and stayed closed to the public on September 15. Two notices were provided on the web. You can read a copy of the first and second ones. Luckily, the actual hurricane track stayed futher out to sea but did produce gusty winds over Walt Disney World in the early morning. Disney's park workers spent Tuesday securing benches, trash bins and boarding up windows. At Animal Kingdom, park employees used large nets to capture birds, which were moved to a warehouse to ride out the storm. Other animals' shelters are designed to withstand hurricane-force winds. Additionally, Port Canaveral required all ships, including Disney Cruise Lines, to evacuate the Port. All Disney ships, the Magic and the Wonder were on the high seas during the storm. Only essential employees were asked to report to work, Disney World spokeswoman Diane Ledder said, and guests who were staying at Disney's campgrounds were given shelter at the convention center at the Contemporary Resort. "Because the storm is so big and powerful and it truly is unpredictable, we are erring on the side of safety and making sure that everybody can be in a place of safety when the weather gets worse," Ledder said. It is the first time in Disney's 28-year history that it has been forced to close its parks. Like Disney, Universal has never shut down its theme parks for a full day in the nine years it has been operating in Florida and Orlando International Airport also shut down for the first time in its history

 

[castmemberb4]

Great information Disney-Kim, thank you !
I knew the parks didn't close for Andrew I was a castmember and on the
rideout crew. Thought I was going to get to spend the night in the underground tunnel. I was pretty disappointed but my mom was very relieved ! I knew that when I left in '94 the parks had not been closed for
any unscheduled reason, thought 9/11 was the first time, good job on finding that info.

 

[Eeyores Butterfly]

I was there when Charlie closed. Living in Vista Way at the time. All but AK opened the next day. It took DAK three days open to clear hte habitats of the destruction. Disney was awesome! When I left about a week and a half later half of Orlando still did not have power. They were allowing CMs to stay on property for little either or no cost and were giving away ice to any CM without electricity because this was in the middle of August and it was hot!

 

[SetzKitten]

It was closed until 1:00pm on Oct. 24, 2005 due to Hurricane Wilma. I was supposed to have a Fairy Tale Wedding that day at 10:00am, but it was cancelled. We went to the parks at 1:00 instead.

 

[Silent1CB]

I'm going to guess... two times? Once on 9/11.

On 9/11, it wasn't closed all day however. The parks closed around noon.

 

[castmemberb4]

It was closed until 1:00pm on Oct. 24, 2005 due to Hurricane Wilma. I was supposed to have a Fairy Tale Wedding that day at 10:00am, but it was cancelled. We went to the parks at 1:00 instead.

OMG What a wedding story! Were you able to have the Fairy Tale wedding later?

 

[pansmermaidzlagoon]

we were there for Frances:

parks closed early Friday except for DTD and EPCOT. It was still eerily quiet that night at EPCOT - you could find a space anywhere for the show. We sat at a table at the burrito stand and there were open tables the whole time.

Everything was closed Saturday and Sunday. At the Poly, we were allowed to use the pool until about 2ish. We could come and go to the main house until about 4 or 5. Sunday the main house opened around 4 or 5 with Ohana serving a "Hurricane Menu" - buffet style with a special printed menu we got to keep. We were in concierge, so had the run of the building and concierge lobby. We had food and drink the whole time, though they did run out of wine Sunday.

Monday the parks opened. We went to MK. I am pretty sure AK opened late (possibly EPCOT as well) or maybe not all all...not sure about that. No monorail service.

A hurricane had just been through right before. (there were logs stacked as Mickey ears at the MK Monorail entrance line). There was another on the way. We were told as we were leaving Tues that occupancy was under 30% for the rest of that week.

 

[DisneyMom81]

I know it closed in 99 for Hurricane Floyd, we were told to stay in our rooms and fill the bathtub with water. Luckily it wasn't as bad as they predicted and the parks opened the next afternoon. It did alter the DCL destinations as well.

I don't know much about hurricanes, but why fill the bath tub with water??