As Walt Disney World prepares to shut down ahead of Hurricane Milton, many are wondering about the parks’ ability to withstand a direct hit from the category 4 storm.
The resort’s planned closure — which will begin Wednesday afternoon and including all four theme parks and Disney Springs — will only be its 12th in Disney World’s 53-year history, but the park has faced down many more storms and, at least to the public eye, shockingly little can seem to shake it.
So what about Disney World makes it fare so well in hurricanes?
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Its Buildings Are Constructed Specifically to Withstand Strong Storms
A 2019 Orlando Weekly feature debunking some of the urban legends about Disney World’s hurricane preparations, notes structures at the resort “are built to withstand at least a mid to high-level Category 3 hurricane with little to no preparation.” This includes massive structures like Animal Kingdom’s Tree of Life and Epcot’s Spaceship Earth.
In fact, all buildings at Walt Disney World must adhere to the EPCOT Building Codes established in 1970, according to the outlet. These codes were developed to pave the way for innovative construction and design suitable for the “Experimental Prototype Community of Tomorrow,” while still meeting strict safety standards.
The EPCOT codes “exceed traditional regulation” per the Central Florida Tourism Oversight District, both to accommodate the park’s unique and sizable attractions, and to ensure the safety of the buildings that house them.
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Cinderella Castle Is Made From Extremely Durable Materials
Disney World’s most famous sight, Cinderella Castle, is made of materials including concrete, steel, cement, plaster, and fiberglass, according to the official Disney Parks Blog.
In 2021, Disney Imagineers made special adjustments to the castle in honor of Walt Disney World’s 50th anniversary celebration. Disney World’s senior project manager Elaine Schomburg-LaFleur told the Orlando Sentinel at the time that the new pieces adorning the castle, including 10 fiberglass ribbons, were designed to “handle any hurricane.”
Orlando Weekly put to rest the decades-old rumor that Disney removes the spires from the castle ahead of a hurricane, noting they’re simply not detachable.
Disney Has Its Own Power Sources
Another reason Disney is able to withstand hurricane conditions so well is due to its power plants. This includes the energy plant operated by Reedy Creek Energy Services located near Magic Kingdom, according to Orlando Weekly.
Power lines at the resort are also buried underground, meaning they’re not susceptible to being taken out by fallen trees during wind storms.
Its Location Was Carefully Chosen
The location of the resort was chosen specifically with tropical storms in mind.
Before his death in 1966, Walt Disney had originally considered putting Disney World in coastal cities like Miami and Ormond Beach, according to Fox Weather. But he intentionally selected central Florida in order to avoid the worst of the region’s hurricanes, which typically batter the Atlantic and Gulf coastline. The presence of two major highways, Interstates 4 and 528, likely also contributed to the decision.
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Cast Members Participate in Fast Clean-Up
With any storm, fallen trees and other debris are expected to be scattered around hard-hit areas. Orlando Weekly reports that an important reason why Disney World is able to bounce back to normal operating procedure so quickly after a storm is because of the dedication of its employees.
Cast members volunteer to be part of the parks’ “ride out” teams, staying on site during major storms in order to continue to run the resort hotels and ensure the safety of the guests staying there and, per Orlando Weekly, to make sure “the entire complex reopens as quickly as possible” as soon as it’s safe to do so.
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In the aftermath of Hurricane Irma in 2017, fallen trees and other debris was spotted around Magic Kingdom, as seen in images shared by the unofficial Disney blog AllEars.
Typically within 48 hours, cast members will clean up the entire resort after a storm, the blog DVC Shop reports. According to that unofficial site, “Cast Members on the hurricane team will pack enough clothes for 2 to 4 days” in preparation for the storm and to avoid traveling during severe weather.
Hurricane Milton, which is a category 4 storm as of Wednesday morning, will be one of the most severe the region has faced, so it’s yet to be seen how the parks will be impacted and how quickly they can recover and reopen.
The other nine storms that Disney World has closed for were: Floyd (September 1999, category 4), Charley (August 2004, category 4), Frances (September 2004, category 2), Jeanne (September 2004, category 3), Matthew (October 2016, category 4), Irma (September 2017, category 3), Dorian (September 2019, category 3), Ian (September 2022, category 4) and Nicole (November 2022, category 1).
