UPDATE 8/30/23 | 11 a.m.: Hurricane Idalia has been downgraded to a Category 1 as the center of the storm is traveling into Southern Georgia. High water levels continue along the Gulf Coast of Florida.
Idalia is moving toward the north-northeast near 20 mph (31 km/h). A turn toward the northeast is expected later today, followed by an east-northeastward to eastward motion on Thursday. On the forecast track, the center of Idalia will move across southeastern Georgia today, near the coast of South Carolina tonight, and just offshore the coast of southern North Carolina on Thursday. Idalia is then expected to move east-southeastward over the western Atlantic on Friday.
National Hurricane Center
UPDATE 8/30/23 | 9 a.m.: Hurricane Idalia is moving North Northeast at 20mph just inland from the Florida Big Bend Coast. The storm was at Category 3 at 8 a.m. on Wednesday and is expected to reach Category 4 before landfall.
The Walt Disney World Resort continues to operate under normal conditions at this time as they monitor the predicted path of the storm.
UPDATE 8/29/23 | 5 p.m.: Due to forecasted conditions with Hurricane Idalia, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park and miniature golf courses will be closed on Wednesday, August 30th. The remainder of Walt Disney World Resort continues to operate under normal conditions at this time.
The image below shows the earliest arrival times for hurricane-force winds.
UPDATE 8/29/23 | 11 a.m.: Walt Disney World has updated its policies on travel flexibility and is also offering discounts for Florida resident evacuees and first responders to stay in their resorts. They’ve also shared that they’ll once again serve as a staging area for storm-related recovery efforts as they have in the past.
- Travel Flexibility: At this time, change and cancellation fees imposed by Disney will be waived for check-in dates of August 28, 2023 through September 4, 2023. Guests currently staying at our Disney Resort hotels whose travel plans have been impacted by the storm may receive a discounted rate to extend their stay through the evening of August 31, if needed, by visiting the front desk.
- Evacuees & First Responders Support: Florida residents evacuating from the storm and first responders assisting in storm-related recovery efforts may also receive 50% off Disney Resort hotel stays on the evenings of Aug. 29-31, 2023. For evacuees, please call 407-W-DISNEY for details. For first responders, please call 407-828-3200 (Option 3). This applies to new bookings only and is based on availability.
- Storm Recovery: Walt Disney World is prepared to once again serve as a staging area for storm-related recovery efforts for the state of Florida.
UPDATE 8/29/23 | 8 a.m.: Idalia is now a Category 1 Hurricane and is expected to “rapidly intensify into [an] extremely dangerous hurricane before Florida landfall.” Although the “cone” of the hurricane doesn’t appear to be predicted to travel directly across Orlando, it’s essential to keep up with the latest weather advisories.
Walt Disney World has released the following statement for guests staying at Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground:
As we continue to monitor the weather, we are asking that all Fort Wilderness Guests remove and stow all outside items, including tents and décor, and take in camper awnings by 6 PM on Tuesday, August 29. If you’d like to depart early or discuss alternate options for your vacation, please contact us at (407) 939-2744.
Disney
UPDATE 8/28/23 | 3 p.m.: Walt Disney World has begun updating its website ahead of Tropical Storm Idalia becoming a major hurricane. At this time, the storm is predicted to become a Category 3 by the time it makes landfall. As of right now, Walt Disney World is operating under normal conditions as they continue to monitor the weather system’s path.
Disney also states that guests may reschedule their trip or cancel their stay at Walt Disney World, and any customary cancellation fees will be waived. Your Dreams Unlimited Travel agent can now modify or cancel online for the impacted period as well, and fees will be automatically waived.
UPDATE 8/28/23 | 9 a.m.: The National Hurricane Center has issued a Hurricane Watch for the Gulf (West) Coast of Florida from Tampa to the Panhandle.
If you plan on heading to Central Florida this week, you will want to keep tabs on Tropical Storm Idalia heading into the Gulf of Mexico. The National Hurricane Center predicts that tropical-storm-force winds will begin hitting the central Florida area on Tuesday, according to the image below.
The storm is expected to become a hurricane prior to making landfall on the Gulf Coast of Florida. If you have travel plans during the next week, it is recommended that you check with your airline and follow any advisories closely.
Updates will appear at the top of this post as the National Hurricane Center provides them.
Senior Editor for the DIS and DCL Fan | Disney Vacation Club Member | Thrilled to have been a '13/'14 Disney Parks Moms Panelist (now planDisney) | Lover of all things Disney; the Magic of Disneyland, Walt Disney World, and Disney Cruise Line | ºoº
