Hurricane Beryl is first hurricane of 2024 season. How do Florida theme parks handle hurricanes?
Only a little over a month into hurricane season and it's already proving to be chaotic with Hurricane Beryl forming on Friday and strengthening to the earliest Atlantic Category 5, according to the Weather Channel.
Beating the previous record set by 2005's Hurricane Emily by two weeks, Beryl remains a Category 5 with maximum sustained winds of 165 mph over the eastern Caribbean Sea.
Where is Hurricane Beryl? Will it hit Florida?
According to the National Hurricane Center, the storm's center was on track to move across the southeastern and central Caribbean Sea into Tuesday and is expected to pass near Jamaica on Wednesday.
Beryl is forecast to weaken after reaching Jamaica, according to the hurricane center, but it's expected to remain a hurricane in the northwestern Caribbean. It should end up east of the Yucatan Peninsula by the Fourth of July and shouldn't be an issue for holiday plans for Florida.
While Beryl is not headed toward Florida's theme parks, here's what to know about each park's hurricane policies as we head further into hurricane season:
Walt Disney World Resorts
Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista has rarely closed for severe weather in its five decades of operation. Typically, the four parks will stay open while certain rides or attractions will close in light of the weather.
The theme parks and water parks have closed six times for hurricanes since its opening in 1971 — Floyd in 1999, Frances in 2004, Jeanne in 2004, Irma in 2017 and Ian in 2022.
According to its website, they will make exceptions to its standard policy and issue refunds in the event of a hurricane if the National Hurricane Center issues a warning for the Orlando area or a visitor’s place of residence within seven days of their “scheduled arrival date." They can also modify dates as well.
They do note the reservations have to be booked directly with Disney. You will have to reach out to any third-party suppliers you booked with.
In previous hurricanes, the company has also offers deals to residents needing a safe place to evacuate and hunker down in the storm. During 2023's Hurricane Nicole, they offered 50% Disney Resort hotel stays on select dates for evacuees, adding they had strict check-in times.
Universal Orlando
Universal Orlando's website states that while they "can't make guarantees about the weather, but your travel plans can still be stress-free."
"In the event that a hurricane or tropical storm warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center or a state of emergency is declared for the Orlando area or in your place of residence, within seven days of your arrival, you can contact our team in advance to reschedule or cancel your Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations Package, hotel room only accommodations and Universal Orlando theme park tickets booked directly with Universal Orlando, without any cancellation or change fees imposed."
Similar to Disney World, they note these reservations need to have been booked through their website. Guests calling to cancel or modify bookings must be 18 or older.
They also advise that those who have purchased airline tickets as part of your Universal Parks and Resorts Vacations package may still be subject to cancellation and change fees assessed by those airlines.
SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay
Historically, SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay have closed down their parks and offered refunds to parkgoers in light of approaching hurricanes. They have also extended annual passholders expiration dates to account for the closed days.
While the theme parks remain open when the weather isn't cooperating, both websites state they offer a "Weather-or-Not Assurance" with their tickets.
"Your visit is covered through our Weather-or-Not Assurance program. This program guarantees the value of your park admission and applies year-round, covering weather events such as rain, lightning, extreme heat, wind, snow, hail and more," park officials share.
Eligibility includes:
The following are not eligible for Weather-or-Not Assurance tickets: Pass Member admission; complimentary tickets (including Weather-or-Not Assurance tickets); 14-Day Length of Stay tickets and packages; Discovery Cove ticket packages.
The following may not be eligible and should be verified at Guest Relations: Promotional/discount tickets (group sales tickets) and promotional multi-day tickets.
Weather-or-Not Assurance does not apply to parking or additional in-park products or experiences
You'll have to stop by Guest Relations at the park or submit your information online to request your return visit. Make sure you have your original admission ticket or order number.
Legoland Florida
On its website, Legoland Florida states the safety of "guests and Model Citizens is our highest priority."
"If the National Hurricane Center issues a tropical storm or hurricane warning for the Central Florida area — or for your place of residence — within seven days preceding your scheduled arrival date, you may reschedule or cancel your Legoland Florida Resort visit without any penalties or fees imposed by Legoland and/or Merlin Entertainments."
This policy applies only to Legoland Florida Theme Park tickets, Legoland Water Park tickets, Peppa Pig Theme Park Florida tickets and the theme park's various hotel reservations booked directly with Legoland Florida Resort or Legoland Vacations, as well as partner hotel reservations and packages booked through Legoland Vacations.
Like Disney World and Universal Orlando, they advise guests who booked through third-party services are responsible for any nonrefundable payments as well as any cancellation or change fees charged by those suppliers.
This article originally appeared on Fort Myers News-Press: Hurricane season 2024: What happens at Disney, Universal for storms
