We’re just about halfway through the year, and that means that hurricane season is almost here, and it’s time to prepare.

Rainy Day in Magic Kingdom

Hurricane season happens every year in Florida, which means that those planning Disney World or Universal Orlando trips should be aware of any and all storms that could develop. While Disney World is notoriously one of the safest places to be during a hurricane, it’s still not an ideal way to spend a vacation. If you’re heading to Orlando during hurricane season this year, there are TWO big differences you need to keep in mind.

Take FULL Advantage of the 7-Day Rule

One of the worst parts about potentially needing to reschedule a trip to Disney World is the financial aspect of it all, especially if you’re just about a week or less away from your trip. If you’ve booked with Disney, though, you NEED to know every aspect of the 7-day rule. 

Storm season in Magic Kingdom

The rule is this: If a hurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area, or YOUR place of residence (yes, this also applies for where YOU live), within seven days of your arrival in Disney World, you have the ability to cancel or reschedule your Disney World package without any cancellation or change fees imposed by Disney. This is HUGE, as it can easily save you hundreds, if not thousands, if the worst happens. This also applies to most room-only reservations, but we do recommend seeing if you can make changes online instead of over the phone, as phone lines often get very busy ahead of a storm.

Rainy day at Animal Kingdom

Now, if you’ve booked outside of Disney, it’s important to check that hotel, travel service, or third-party service for their policies. We actually really recommend checking their policies BEFORE you book with them, especially if you know you’ll be traveling during hurricane season. This way, you don’t feel like you’ve been screwed over if there is a hurricane and your travel plans are affected. It’s important to note, too, that if you haven’t booked through Disney, you CANNOT reach out to Disney for their help — they won’t be able to do anything for you, so it’s best to reach out directly to the company you booked with.

This Year’s Hurricane Season Outlook

The hurricane season for 2026 officially runs from June 1st through November 30th, and based on the reporting from Colorado State University’s Seasonal Hurricane Forecasting, it’s looking like this season could be LESS intense than usual.

©CSU

From the data, it appears that the expectations for all categories, including Named Storms, Hurricanes, Major Hurricanes, and Accumulated Cyclone Energy, are all lower than the averages we’ve seen from 1991 to 2020. This doesn’t mean there won’t be storms — there WILL be, but it’s possible this season could be less invasive, which means your Orlando trip may not be affected as much, and locals may not need to prep as frequently.

Rainy Day

Still feeling nervous about planning your trip? We suggest reaching out to our friends at Small World Vacations, who will be more than happy to help you book a vacation that’s protected by hurricane policies, while also getting you the best price possible!

We’ll be sure to keep you updated on all the latest news to help you prepare for your upcoming trip, so stay tuned to DFB!

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Have you been to Disney World during hurricane season? Tell us in the comments!