Disney World visitors who went for the amusement park rides are now preparing for an unexpected adventure – facing a vicious hurricane poised to hit Florida. This surprising turn of events saw Hurricane Milton change from an annoying storm in the Gulf of Mexico into a historical hurricane that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis warns of as a “monster.” Milton escalated quickly, taking meteorologists off guard, and Disney enthusiasts they were stranded with no idea of when they would be able to return home.
Telissa Carpenter, an Indianapolis resident, found herself in this incredulous situation while holidaying in Disney with her son to celebrate his 30th birthday. A wake-up call to after her arrival in Florida was a notification from Disney about a rapidly evolving storm. The next hammer to drop was from her airline – her Tuesday return flight canceled. All alternative transport options were either fully booked or peeved resulting in them shelling out more than intended on a significantly marked up flight. It was far from similar to any vacations Carpenter had experienced since she started vacationing in Disney with her family in 2017.
In contrast to the regular bustling life, Walt Disney World Resort has been somewhat ordinary. The real shock came when it announced theme park closures from Wednesday at 1 p.m., possibly extending into Thursday. Hurricane Milton intensified into a Category 5 storm with a recorded substantial wind speed of 165 mph. The National Hurricane Center informed that the hurricane was approximately 480 miles northwest of Tampa and would likely advance to the west-central coast of Florida by Wednesday evening, posing a significant threat to the densely populated Tampa Bay.
Milton’s stormy demeanor called for evacuation orders along the coast. Inland, the Orlando airport, where Disney is located, announce it would shut down operations till the tempest calms. On a rare occasion, hurricanes have compelled the parks to close in its over five-decades-long history. Disney World and other parks like Universal Orlando Resort has played a crucial role in Orlando’s economy. Last year alone, these attractions lured 74 million tourists, marking it as the most visited location in the US.
Cara Prior, a preschool teacher, steered towards Disney in their family camper. The campground where they were parked was to be shut down ahead of the storm, and the family was relocated to a Disney hotel at no expense. They were assured of ample backup generators at the Disney hotel where they plan to stay until the storm subsides.
Simultaneously, others like Kensly Williams, a physician’s assistant, and mother of two decided to put safety first and postponed her Disney trip, given the severe weather warnings. Meanwhile, Ashleigh Giliberto, a Miami-based theme park vacation planner, was strongly dissuading travelers from visiting Florida unless absolutely necessary. She stated that new reservations amidst an active hurricane is a risky affair.
Despite the looming fear of the storm, Carpenter is hopeful about securing a flight back home, later in the week, despite her original one being canceled. However, the uncertainty of the situation keeps her anxious. Amid these fears, Disney visitors are making the best of their unexpected adventure, waiting and watching to see the outcome.
