Walt Disney World Cancels Tours and Experiences as Hurricane Helene Strengthens

2 hours ago in "Severe Weather impacts to Walt Disney World"

Hurricane Helene
Posted: Wednesday September 25, 2024 2:20pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Updated 2:45pm: Since publishing this article, additional closures have been announced at Walt Disney World due to Hurricane Helene.

Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, originally scheduled for September 26, 2024, has been canceled, and guests will receive refunds. Additionally, Typhoon Lagoon and all miniature golf courses will be closed for the entire day. At Disney's Animal Kingdom, the following Enchanting Extras Collection experiences are also canceled: Savor the Savanna, Up Close with Rhinos, Walking with Giants, and Wild Africa Trek. To accommodate guests, Magic Kingdom's operating hours have been extended until 8 pm on September 26.

Original Article:

As Hurricane Helene intensifies, Walt Disney World has announced additional closures for Thursday, September 26, 2024. Along with the previously announced closure of Typhoon Lagoon, several tours will also be canceled to prioritize guest and Cast Member safety.

Canceled Experiences for September 26:

  • Savor the Savanna
  • Up Close with Rhinos
  • Walking with Giants
  • Wild Africa Trek

These experiences, offered at Disney’s Animal Kingdom, will not operate on Thursday. Guests with reservations for these activities will be contacted by Disney to reschedule or receive refunds.

Disney Resort Pools Operating Normally

Disney has stated that pools at Disney Resort hotels will continue to operate under normal conditions, suggesting that we may not see further significant closures at this time.

Hurricane Helene’s Forecast

As of the latest forecast, Hurricane Helene is located 570 miles southwest of Orlando, with sustained winds of 80 mph. The storm is moving north-northwest at 10 mph and is expected to strengthen into a major hurricane as it moves across the Gulf of Mexico. Landfall is anticipated near Florida’s Panhandle or Big Bend region on Thursday evening.

While Central Florida won’t experience a direct hit, tropical storm conditions are expected around Walt Disney World. Wind gusts of up to 60 mph and 1 to 3 inches of rain, with isolated areas receiving up to 6 inches, are expected starting Thursday.

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Captain Barbossa11 minutes ago

5pm (eastern) peak storm surge update:

John park hopper14 minutes ago

Gringrinngghost14 minutes ago

Gringrinngghost23 minutes ago

000 WTNT34 KNHC 252056 TCPAT4 BULLETIN Hurricane Helene Advisory Number 10 NWS National Hurricane Center Miami FL AL092024 400 PM CDT Wed Sep 25 2024 ...HELENE STRENGTHENING... ...PREPARATIONS TO PROTECT LIFE AND PROPERTY FROM STORM SURGE AND DAMAGING WINDS ALONG THE FLORIDA BIG BEND COAST SHOULD BE RUSHED TO COMPLETION TODAY... SUMMARY OF 400 PM CDT...2100 UTC...INFORMATION ---------------------------------------------- LOCATION...22.5N 86.6W ABOUT 460 MI...735 KM SW OF TAMPA FLORIDA ABOUT 505 MI...815 KM SSW OF APALACHICOLA FLORIDA MAXIMUM SUSTAINED WINDS...85 MPH...140 KM/H PRESENT MOVEMENT...N OR 355 DEGREES AT 12 MPH...19 KM/H MINIMUM CENTRAL PRESSURE...978 MB...28.88 INCHES WATCHES AND WARNINGS -------------------- CHANGES WITH THIS ADVISORY: The Storm Surge Watch east of Mexico Beach to Indian Pass has been upgraded to a Storm Surge Warning. The Tropical Storm Watch north of South Santee River to Little River Inlet has been upgraded to a Tropical Storm Warning. SUMMARY OF WATCHES AND WARNINGS IN EFFECT: A Storm Surge Warning is in effect for... * Mexico Beach eastward and southward to Flamingo * Tampa Bay * Charlotte Harbor A Hurricane Warning is in effect for... * Anclote River to Mexico Beach * Cabo Catoche to Tulum, Mexico including Cozumel A Storm Surge Watch is in effect for... * West of Indian Pass to Mexico Beach A Hurricane Watch is in effect for... * Cuban province of Pinar del Rio * Englewood to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay A Tropical Storm Warning is in effect for... * Florida Keys, including the Dry Tortugas * Flamingo to Anclote River, including Tampa Bay * West of Mexico Beach to the Okaloosa/Walton County Line * Flamingo northward to Little River Inlet * Lake Okeechobee * Rio Lagartos to Cabo Catoche, Mexico * Cuban provinces of Artemisa, Pinar del Rio, and the Isle of Youth A Storm Surge Warning means there is a danger of life-threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, during the next 36 hours in the indicated locations. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. This is a life-threatening situation. Persons located within these areas should take all necessary actions to protect life and property from rising water and the potential for other dangerous conditions. Promptly follow evacuation and other instructions from local officials. A Hurricane Warning means that hurricane conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area. A warning is typically issued 36 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. Preparations to protect life and property should be rushed to completion. A Tropical Storm Warning means that tropical storm conditions are expected somewhere within the warning area within the next 36 hours. A Storm Surge Watch means there is a possibility of life- threatening inundation, from rising water moving inland from the coastline, in the indicated locations during the next 48 hours. For a depiction of areas at risk, please see the National Weather Service Storm Surge Watch/Warning Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov. A Hurricane Watch means that hurricane conditions are possible within the watch area. A watch is typically issued 48 hours before the anticipated first occurrence of tropical-storm-force winds, conditions that make outside preparations difficult or dangerous. For storm information specific to your area in the United States, including possible inland watches and warnings, please monitor products issued by your local National Weather Service forecast office. For storm information specific to your area outside of the United States, please monitor products issued by your national meteorological service. DISCUSSION AND OUTLOOK ---------------------- At 400 PM CDT (2100 UTC), the center of Hurricane Helene was located near latitude 22.5 North, longitude 86.6 West. Helene is moving toward the north near 12 mph (19 km/h). A northward or north-northeastward motion at a faster forward speed is expected during the next 36 hours. On the forecast track, Helene will move across the eastern Gulf of Mexico tonight and Thursday and cross the Florida Big Bend coast Thursday evening. After landfall, Helene is expected to turn northwestward and slow down over the Tennessee Valley on Friday and Saturday. Maximum sustained winds are near 85 mph (140 km/h) with higher gusts. Strengthening is forecast, and Helene is expected to be a major hurricane when it reaches the Florida Big Bend coast Thursday evening. Weakening is expected after landfall, but Helene's fast forward speed will allow strong, damaging winds, especially in gusts, to penetrate well inland across the southeastern United States, including over the higher terrain of the southern Appalachians. Hurricane-force winds extend outward up to 25 miles (35 km) from the center and tropical-storm-force winds extend outward up to 345 miles (555 km). The estimated minimum central pressure is 978 mb (28.88 inches). HAZARDS AFFECTING LAND ---------------------- Key Messages for Helene can be found in the Tropical Cyclone Discussion under AWIPS header MIATCDAT4 and WMO header WTNT44 KNHC and on the web at hurricanes.gov/text/MIATCDAT4.shtml STORM SURGE: The combination of a life-threatening storm surge and the tide will cause normally dry areas near the coast to be flooded by rising waters moving inland from the shoreline. The water could reach the following heights above ground somewhere in the indicated areas if the peak surge occurs at the time of high tide... Carrabelle, FL to Suwannee River, FL...15-20 ft Apalachicola, FL to Carrabelle, FL...10-15 ft Suwannee River, FL to Chassahowitzka, FL...10-15 ft Chassahowitzka, FL to Anclote River, FL...8-12 ft Indian Pass, FL to Apalachicola, FL...6-10 ft Anclote River, FL to Middle of Longboat Key, FL...5-8 ft Tampa Bay...5-8 ft Middle of Longboat Key, FL to Englewood, FL...4-7 ft East of Mexico Beach, FL to Indian Pass, FL...3-5 ft Englewood, FL to Flamingo, FL...3-5 ft Charlotte Harbor...3-5 ft For a complete depiction of areas at risk of storm surge inundation, please see the National Weather Service Peak Storm Surge Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?peakSurge. Storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 2 to 4 feet above normal tide levels in areas of onshore winds along the southern coast of Pinar del Rio, Cuba, including the Isle of Youth. Storm surge could raise water levels by as much as 3 to 5 feet above ground level in areas of onshore winds within the warning area along the north coast of the Yucatan Peninsula. WIND: Hurricane conditions are expected within the U.S. hurricane warning area late Thursday, with tropical storm conditions beginning Thursday morning. Tropical storm conditions are expected in southern Florida later this evening and will spread northward across the rest of Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina through Thursday night. Hurricane conditions, especially in gusts, are expected in the hurricane warning area in Mexico during the next several hours. Tropical storm conditions are occurring in the warning area in Cuba, and hurricane conditions are possible for the western portion of Cuba this evening. RAINFALL: Hurricane Helene is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 4 to 8 inches over western Cuba, the Cayman Islands and the northeast Yucatan Peninsula, with isolated totals around 12 inches. This rainfall brings a risk of considerable flooding. Over portions of the Southeastern U.S. into the Southern Appalachians, Helene is expected to produce total rain accumulations of 6 to 12 inches with isolated totals around 18 inches. This rainfall will likely result in catastrophic and potentially life-threatening flash and urban flooding, along with significant river flooding. Landslides are possible in steep terrain across the southern Appalachians. For a complete depiction of forecast rainfall associated with Hurricane Helene, please see the National Weather Service Storm Total Rainfall Graphic, available at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?rainqpf and the Flash Flood Risk graphic at hurricanes.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?ero. TORNADOES: A tornado or two may occur tonight over parts of the Florida Peninsula and southern Alabama. The risk of tornadoes will increase on Thursday, expanding northward across Florida into parts of Georgia and South Carolina. SURF: Swells generated by Helene will affect the southern coast of Cuba and the Yucatan Peninsula of Mexico during the next couple of days. Swells will spread northward toward the west coast of Florida and the northeastern Gulf Coast later today and Thursday. These swells are likely to cause life-threatening surf and rip current conditions. Please consult products from your local weather office. NEXT ADVISORY ------------- Next intermediate advisory at 700 PM CDT. Next complete advisory at 1000 PM CDT. $$ Forecaster Berg

Gringrinngghost1 hour ago

I am going to be running for the duration of the storm continuous weather info (unless it breaks)

IanDLBZF2 hours ago

Tampa Airport will be closed tomorrow. https://news.tampaairport.com/tampa-international-airport-will-suspend-operations-thursday-ahead-of-hurricane-helene/

Gringrinngghost2 hours ago

That's just the NAM 3KM. It was thinking 877 a few nights ago.

Yodasnuggs2 hours ago

Aw sad, but thank you! At least we can plan ahead a bit, hopefully with indoor activities.

Yodasnuggs2 hours ago

Dumb question, but as a person with tickets to this, where do you see the cancelation on the app and/or website? Not doubting you, just have a sort of annoyed husband and want to show him the proof of cancelation 😬

Captain Barbossa2 hours ago

2pm (eastern) update:

DCBaker3 hours ago

Here is the latest update from Walt Disney World on park operations: Monitoring Hurricane Helene Walt Disney World Resort is currently operating under normal conditions; however, some experiences will be cancelled or unavailable on September 26. See details below. We are closely monitoring the path of the storm as we continue to prioritize the safety of our Guests and Cast Members. Walt Disney World Water Parks Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park is temporarily closed on Thursday, September 26 (Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park is currently closed for the season). Beachcomber Shack (cabanas) and Typhoon Lagoon Umbrella rentals are cancelled for Thursday, September 26. Tours & Enchanting Extras Collection The following tours and Enchanting Extras Collection experiences are cancelled for Thursday, September 26: Savor the Savanna Up Close with Rhinos Walking with Giants Wild Africa Trek Miniature Golf Miniature golf courses at Walt Disney World Resort are temporarily closed on Thursday, September 26. These include: Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Pools at Disney Resort Hotels Pools at Disney Resort hotels will continue to operate or close under normal conditions.

Unbanshee3 hours ago

https://blogmickey.com/2024/09/mickeys-not-so-scary-halloween-party-canceled-due-to-hurricane-helene-magic-kingdom-hours-adjusted/

IanDLBZF3 hours ago

And now tomorrow’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party is cancelled. Magic Kingdom park hours were extended to an 8pm close.