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How many times has Disney closed for hurricane?

Since opening in 1971, Disney World has only been forced to close eight times as a result of a hurricane, according to the unofficial Disney blog Inside the Magic. The most recent closure happened in 2019 as Hurricane Dorian approached.



Since opening in 1971, Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, has closed its theme parks due to hurricanes a total of 13 times (as of early 2026). Given that the resort has been open for over 19,000 days, this is a remarkably low number, highlighting the resort's robust infrastructure and status as a "safe haven" for locals. The first closure didn't occur until 1999 for Hurricane Floyd. The most notable recent closures include Hurricane Ian (2022) and Hurricane Idalia (2023), which saw the parks shut down for two days each. Disney's protocol for hurricanes is incredibly refined; they typically announce a phased closure only when a direct threat is imminent, often keeping resort hotels open and operational with "indoor" activities for stranded guests. These closures are rarely due to fear of structural damage—most Disney buildings are rated for Category 4 or 5 winds—but rather for the safety of "Cast Members" (employees) commuting to work and to prevent guests from being caught in dangerous wind and rain while in the outdoor park environments.

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The closure of the Orlando-area Disney parks has only happened eight times before now, according to media reports: For Disneyland, the two parks, Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure, will close at midnight tonight and will stay closed until next month.

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On August 31, 1985, the Walt Disney World resort closed as early as 5 p.m. because of Hurricane Elena. Roughly 10 years later, on August 2, 1995, Hurricane Erin resulted in a late opening at the theme parks.

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We'll begin with an important caveat: Disney World's hotels are all generally considered safe when it comes to hurricanes (though limited spots like Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, or the Treehouse Villas may be evacuated in some situations for certain safety concerns).

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On Monday and Tuesday, Disney posted a hurricane update online: Walt Disney World Resort is currently operating under normal conditions.

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Lucie County, FL, (Figure 7) with maximum sustained winds of 120 mph (Category 3), the third of the three major hurricanes to strike Florida in the 2004 season.

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Hundreds of Kissimmee residents have been rescued from floodwaters by the Osceola County Sheriff's Office and the Florida National Guard. And over at Pebble Pointe in Kissimmee where there are 600 homes, Osceola deputies rescued people of all ages using airboats.

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Considering hurricanes of Categories 1 to 5, the most secure regions in Florida include Central Florida (for instance, Orlando), Northeast Florida (such as Palatka), Central West Florida (Tampa), and North Central Florida (including Gainesville).

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