Orlando, FL—As Hurricane Milton battered the Florida coast this week, the Disney World resort in Orlando became a haven for visitors and locals alike seeking shelter from the powerful storm. While the theme parks were shuttered for safety, the Disney staff worked tirelessly to ensure the comfort and well-being of all those who sought refuge within the resort.
Arizona resident Sandra Guadarrama-Baumunk and her family were among the guests who rode out the hurricane from the safety of their Disney World hotel room. Having planned their vacation around avoiding the previous week’s Hurricane Helene, the family was determined to make the most of their trip, even as Milton set its sights on the Sunshine State.
“I thought positively that it was going to miss us,” Guadarrama-Baumunk recalled. “I also felt a resort was one of the safest places to be in a hurricane because they’d been through it before and knew what to expect.”
As the storm landed just 125 miles away from the Disney property, the family hunkered down in their resort room, making the most of the situation. Disney staff went above and beyond to keep guests entertained and comfortable, offering discounted meals, games, and even s’mores-making activities.
“To accommodate the unfortunate circumstances, the hotel offered discounts at the restaurants, which featured limited menus,” Guadarrama-Baumunk wrote in her essay for Business Insider. “The family dined out on a barbecue-themed dinner for $26 a person instead of the usual $40, and a breakfast skillet was being sold for $14 each instead of $26.”
While the family experienced a brief scare when the resort’s fire alarms were set off during the storm, the Disney staff quickly reassured guests and restored a sense of calm. “The Disney staff said the fire station had already arrived, which was reassuring. After barely 10 minutes, they said it was some short circuit, and we were safe to return to our rooms,” Guadarrama-Baumunk recounted.
The resort’s efforts to accommodate guests during the hurricane did not go unnoticed. In addition to the discounted dining options, Disney offered a 40% discount on the Guadarrama-Baumunk family’s extended stay, saving them over $2,000.
“The family’s trip was extended one more day, as their flight out of Florida for Friday was rescheduled to Saturday. The resort offered a 40 percent discount on their two rooms for hurricane relief, saving over $2,000 for the extra night,” the report stated.
While Hurricane Milton caused widespread devastation across Florida, claiming at least 17 lives, the Disney World resort emerged largely unscathed. The company announced that the theme parks would reopen to guests on Friday, just two days after the storm’s landfall.
“We’re grateful Walt Disney World Resort weathered the storm, and we are currently assessing the impacts to our property to prepare for reopening the theme parks, Disney Springs, and possibly other areas on Friday, October 11,” Disney said in a statement.
As Floridians grapple with the aftermath of the powerful hurricane, the Disney World resort has proven to be a beacon of hope and resilience. By offering its guests refuge, relief, and a sense of normalcy, the company has demonstrated the true magic of the Disney experience, even in the face of nature’s fury.