Disney World has a long history of being affected by hurricanes due to its Central Florida location, most notably by Hurricane Milton in October 2024. During that event, the resort was forced into a phased closure of all four theme parks, Disney Springs, and several resort areas like Fort Wilderness for two full days. While the parks are built to extremely high wind-resistance standards and rarely suffer catastrophic structural damage, Milton caused significant tree debris, localized flooding, and minor exterior damage at resorts like Port Orleans Riverside and Caribbean Beach. Disney's standard protocol during such events includes sheltering guests in place at their hotels, often providing indoor entertainment like character meet-and-greets and movie screenings in the lobbies. In 2026, Disney continues to operate under a comprehensive "Hurricane Policy," which allows guests to reschedule or cancel their trips without penalty if a hurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center within seven days of their arrival date, ensuring safety remains the top priority.