Visiting Disney World during hurricane season can mean preparing for an entirely different sort of trip and with a tropical storm on the way you need to stay updated.

Rain in Magic Kingdom

We’ve been keeping an eye on Tropical Storm Idalia which has already caused Florida officials to declare a State of Emergency in 33 counties. And now, Disney World is under a Tropical Storm Watch.

A Tropical Storm Watch has been issued for Orange and Osceola Counties per WESH news — the two in which Disney World is located.

UPDATE: Idalia has strengthened into a hurricane, and Disney has made several statements and updates in preparation. For the latest updates on Hurricane Idalia and how it could impact Disney World, check out this post:

The Latest News and Updates on Hurricane Idalia

Animal Kingdom

As of 9AM ET on August 30th, Hurricane Idalia made landfall at Keaton Beach, Florida, as a Category 3 storm. A tornado watch is also in effect for parts of Florida, including Lake County, Orange County, Osceola County, Seminole County, and Volusia County.

As of 9AM ET on August 28th, the center of Tropical Storm Idalia is around 125 miles south of the tip of western Cuba and moving north at around 7 mph. It’s expected to approach the Gulf Coast on Tuesday night and into Wednesday as a major hurricane.

8am intermediate #Idalia advisory has been issued; Here's the latest on the storm… pic.twitter.com/j26rHRo3ug

— Eric Burris (@EricBurrisWESH) August 28, 2023

This essentially means that Disney World is located in an area with a high chance of tropical storm conditions occurring. That can include showers, squalls, and thunderstorms during the outer rain bands with increasing wind speeds as the storm makes landfall.

Tropical storm force winds are expected to potentially reach inner portions of Central Florida on Tuesday night into Wednesday morning. Experts have shared that two to four inches of rain may impact Osceola and Orange Counties as well.

EPCOT

If you’ll be in Disney World during the storm, make sure you stay updated on the latest news from experts and keep an eye out for any additional information from Disney. In the past, we’ve seen the parks close for safety — but select hotels remain open for those who are already on property.

Hollywood Studios

We’ve been at Disney World during multiple hurricanes, and we’ve got lots of tips on how to prepare for hurricane season at the resort. The most important thing to remember if you’re visiting during a storm like this is to listen to the Cast Members. They’re trained in situations like this to best keep guests safe and Disney will usually have a plan in place.

We’ll continue to monitor Tropical Storm Idalia as it moves toward Florida, so stay tuned to DFB for updates.

How To Handle the WORST-Case Scenario During Hurricane Season in Disney World