What happens when the power goes out?

[flipflopmom]

After losing power over the weekend for a little over 24 hours, I started thinking, What happens at WDW when the electricity goes out? Does it happen often? Mega generators for resorts? Shut down parks?

 

[Robo]

After losing power over the weekend for a little over 24 hours, I started thinking, What happens at WDW when the electricity goes out? Does it happen often? Mega generators for resorts? Shut down parks?

It doesn't happen very often.

They have their own power plants on-property, and many of the lines are buried underground.

 

[AprilLizbeth]

You got it, mega generators.

 

[flipflopmom]

It doesn't happen very often.

They have their own power plants on-property, and many of the lines are buried underground.

Woah. No wonder it's called Disney WORLD.

 

[Cee]

One of the bus drivers told us a few years back that the power NEVER goes out there because everything is underground.

 

[Cheshire Figment]

There are at least two very large (Megawatt) generating stations on property, as well as smaller generators in some areas. Other than the high tension lines coming onto property there are no aboveground lines anywhere.

 

[ElementCamper]

Power outages are VERY rare at WDW, however they do happen. Parks are less likely due to above posters notes. I have experienced one myself though, DTD back just before Adventurers Club closed in DTD. My friend and I were in there, most of the lights went out except for the ones on emergency power. The Mask Room was totally dark. We had our drinks and figured we'd hang out and wait for the power to come back on. 20 minutes later, they made an annoucement that the 'Wildebeasts were loose in the club and we would need to evacuate the premises' (I know, but it's the Adventurers Club, they do everything in character).

Outside it was pretty dark and there were Disney supervisors everywhere with the red flashing batons, directing people to the exits and parking lots. Disney police at the traffic lights (also not working) directing traffic away from the DTD area. Later found out most of the area around DTD was without power for several hours that night.

So yes, there is the rare occasion parts of WDW can lose power and the Disney management is well prepared to handle these types of situations.

Sad footnote to this story, this was our last visit to the Adventurer's Club, we had no time to go back and it closed except for private events not long after that.

Kungaloosh!

 

[Rose DiVerona]

Wow. I never even thought about this.

 

[brittanyherndon]

Just thinking seens there lines are underground would it be a good plan to evacuate there during huricans. My DFi and I live mainland so we would only be if we loose power.

 

[Robo]

Just thinking seens there lines are underground would it be a good plan to evacuate there during huricans. My DFi and I live mainland so we would only be if we loose power.

I totally agree.

 

[Sammie]

It is rare but it does happen. It happened at Epcot a few years back for a couple of hours. We were in Norway and were lead out by the CMs with flashlights.

 

[brittanyherndon]

It is rare but it does happen. It happened at Epcot a few years back for a couple of hours. We were in Norway and were lead out by the CMs with flashlights.

Feeling stupid for asking but how do they loose power, with the power lines ungerground

 

[seashoreCM]

The last few reported power failures have been internal to WDW, for example a section of Epcot.

Every once in awhile an underground cable fails and an affected portion of a park or resort (or a subway or a big city) can be blacked out. It is common for multiple hot wires (insulated of course) to be run through the same channels (conduits). A hundred years ago the insulation was oiled paper and there have been occasional incidents where the insulation dried out or was chewed by rats and short circuits resulted.

WDW generators cannot run absolutely everything, I was told that they can handle about a third of peak requirements, that is, with air conditioning full blast in the summer.

Should "the grid" (the outside world) go dead, it is possible that Disney's power stations will automatically click off some of the load and some portions of "the inside world" will remain up and running. More likely everything will go down and then power supervisors decide what to turn back on given the limits of the power plants.

 

[goofy4tink]

Does it happen? Sure, but not very often. IF there were to be some kind of 'fire' situation underground, then yes, the power would be affected. But it just isn't all that frequent.
I was in WDW when Hurricane Charley came through...actually we beat Charley to WDW by about 6 hrs. In any case....there was never any interuption in power....not one minute. In fact, since Charley was originally supposed to hit land around Tampa, a ton of people from the Tampa area headed over to WDW and booked rooms for the night. Kind of funny when Charley changed course and came ashore at a different area and travled directly over WDW that night!!!

But loss of power is not something I ever worry about when in WDW. In about 30 trips, it has never happened when I was there.

 

[hbehrman]

You are stuck on It's A Small World until it comes on.

Not a joke. This happened to us on the MNSSHP 9/14/2007. We were on the ride for about an hour, but at least we were dry.

Horrible and violent thunderstorm rarely seen in FL that lasted about 3 hours that night. Power was on and off, most rides were shut down, the fireworks and second parade were delayed. Rain checks (rarely given) were distributed as you left the party.

My suggestion don't worry about it and just have fun around you. It's better than being miserable.

 

[PeterPan09]

We got stuck on the Norway ride one July during a massive thunderstorm and power outage. There was so much rain so fast that the gift shop area where Mom was waiting got completely flooded!

We started singing "Yo, Ho, Yo Ho" while we were sitting on the boat awaiting power restoration or rescue. It was fun!

 

[mesaboy2]

I totally agree.

I second that.

 

[tink576]

We lost power in the MK once about 10+ years ago, all the rides were shut down except for dumbo and the carosaul and the only restaurant operating was pinochoio's pizza...It was crazy...some free power outage, because as others have said, Disney has their own power. They just refunded our tickets for that day. It would stink if that was your only MK day but there's not much else Disney could do for you at that point