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  1. 2017
  2. WDW Fall 2017

Special Report: Hurricane Irma at Walt Disney World

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  • No crowds at Epcot

    No crowds at Epcot

    Two days before Irma hit, and already the crowds are noticably low.

    EpcotFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanestormwdw

  • Epcot storm prep

    Epcot storm prep

    This was the first storm prep we saw at the parks.

    EpcotFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane prepstormwdw

  • Foreshadowing?

    Foreshadowing?

    Our first hurricane watch weather alert. The background picture did not help our nerves.

    Hurricane IrmaIrmacameraphonehurricanestorm

  • No admittance

    No admittance

    These park entry touchpoints were all wrapped up when we left Epcot for the night.

    EpcotFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane prepstormwdw

  • Lots of utility vehicles

    Lots of utility vehicles

    Literally hundreds of power utility vehicles were staged in the Epcot parking lot.

    EpcotFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane prepstormwdw

  • Early closure

    Early closure

    Animal Kingdom closed early the day before Irma hit. Magic Kingdom was open for another hour or two, so we transferred there midday.

    Animal KingdomFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanestormwdw

  • Hurricane prep markers

    Hurricane prep markers

    We're not sure what these tags were for, but they were all over Animal Kingdom.

    Animal KingdomAsiaFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane prepstormwdw

  • All wrapped up

    All wrapped up

    More storm prep happening at Animal Kingdom

    Animal KingdomAsiaFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane prepstormwdw

  • No facade

    No facade

    24 hours previous, this had a facade wrap on it to hide the construction work.

    FloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaMagic KingdomMain StreetWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane prepstormwdw

  • No wait for Peter Pan!

    No wait for Peter Pan!

    A wait time of 20 minutes at the Peter Pan ride at 5PM? Unheard of, unless there's a hurricane coming.

    FantasylandFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaMagic KingdomPeter Pan rideWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanestormwdw

  • No crowds at Magic Kingdom

    No crowds at Magic Kingdom

    Less than 24 hours before the outskirts of Irma hit Orlando. Skys are darkening, but no rain, and very few people.

    FantasylandFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaMagic KingdomWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanestormwdw

  • Peoplemover view of an empty park

    Peoplemover view of an empty park

    This video, taken from the Peoplemover, shows just how empty the park was.

    hurricane irmahurricanemagic kingdomtomorrowland

  • All tied up

    All tied up

    Making sure the horseless hearse carriage doesn't fly off in the winds.

    FloridaHaunted MansionHurricane IrmaIrmaLiberty SquareMagic KingdomWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane prepstormwdw

  • DAK Lodge Activities Day 1

    DAK Lodge Activities Day 1

    Day 1 of Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (DAKL) activities to keep us guests entertained.

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanestormwdw

  • Resort update

    Resort update

    We were, if nothing else, well cared for.

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanestormwdw

  • Hurricane prep at DAKL

    Hurricane prep at DAKL

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane prepstormwdw

  • Hurricane prep at DAKL

    Hurricane prep at DAKL

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane prepstormwdw

  • So the pool's closed, then?

    So the pool's closed, then?

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane prepstormwdw

  • Sandbags

    Sandbags

    At Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (DAKL)

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane prepstormwdw

  • More sandbags

    More sandbags

    At Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge (DAKL)

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane prepstormwdw

  • Sandbags

    Sandbags

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane prepstormwdw

  • And so it begins

    And so it begins

    This was captured shortly after the outer edge of Irma reached us. Significant rain, and the wind really picked up.

    Hurricane IrmaIrmacameraphonehurricanestorm

  • Big raindrops

    Big raindrops

    The view from our room's lanai. Notice the streaks of very large raindrops.

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanestormwdw

  • Empty hottub

    Empty hottub

    Hottub is drained (it drained while we were in it), and the door ziptied shut.

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanestormwdw

  • Sandbags

    Sandbags

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane prepstormwdw

  • Visiting with Rafiki

    Visiting with Rafiki

    Disney characters were out to keep guests entertained during the storm.

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaRafikiResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanestormwdw

  • Irma arrives

    Irma arrives

    Video taken at Disney's Animal Kingdom Lodge shortly after the leading edge of Hurricane Irma arrived (Sept 10, 2017, taken at 6:30PM).

    hurricane irmahurricaneanimal kingdom lodgerain

  • Chance of rain?

    Chance of rain?

    As the storm progressed, DarkSky predicted 100% chance of rain. You think?

    Hurricane IrmaIrmacameraphonehurricanestorm

  • DAK Lodge Common Area

    DAK Lodge Common Area

    Lots of activities happening here to keep the guests (kids, mostly) entertained.

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanestormwdw

  • For your safety, please do not open these doors

    For your safety, please do not open these doors

    It was, perhaps unsurprisingly, rather windy.

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanestormwdw

  • Zebra Domes!

    Zebra Domes!

    Boma had a full supply of these lovely desserts, so I knew we weren't incredibly bad off.

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanestormwdw

  • Cheap meals!

    Cheap meals!

    Since we were captive audiences, Disney discounted meals at the on-site buffet ("Boma") by about 50%. Stuck in the hotel, sure, but at least we got great food at a fairly cheap rate! Also note that on top of the 50%, we still got our AP discount, too.

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanestormwdw

  • Aftermath outside our room

    Aftermath outside our room

    This is what we woke up to the morning after. Still plenty windy at 7:30AM, but the worst of it was over -- the eye hit us directly somewhere around 1-2AM as a category 1 storm.

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane damagestormwdw

  • Debris

    Debris

    Not exactly Disney spotless in the morning...

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane damagestormwdw

  • Take a hint

    Take a hint

    I'm guessing we're not supposed to go outside yet...

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane damagestormwdw

  • DAK Lodge Activities Day 1

    DAK Lodge Activities Day 1

    The hurricane has passed, but we're still stuck in the hotel, so we had another day of in-hotel activities.

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane damagestormwdw

  • Curfew

    Curfew

    Legally, we weren't allowed to leave the hotel until 6PM due to county-wide curfew, but many people were -- they looked mostly like southern Florida locals who wanted to get back home as soon as possible to survey the damage.

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane damagestormwdw

  • Savanna view

    Savanna view

    With that tree out of the way, we now have a savanna view room.

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane damagestormwdw

  • Savanna view panorama

    Savanna view panorama

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane damagestormwdw

  • All parks closed

    All parks closed

    It's not often you see all 4 parks closed in the middle of the day.

    Hurricane IrmaIrmacameraphonehurricanestorm

  • Getting back to normal

    Getting back to normal

    We received this announcement late afternoon, and were happy to see it.

    Hurricane IrmaIrmacameraphonehurricanestorm

  • Downed bamboo

    Downed bamboo

    There was bamboo down all over the place.

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane damagestormwdw

  • Uprooted tree

    Uprooted tree

    Found in front of the hotel.

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane damagestormwdw

  • Savanna damage

    Savanna damage

    Trees were down on the savanna as well.

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane damagestormwdw

  • Savanna damage

    Savanna damage

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldhurricanehurricane damagestormwdw

  • Savanna damage

    Savanna damage

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldhurricanehurricane damagestormwdw

  • Tree down

    Tree down

    This tree was near the pool. Unsurprisingly, those rooms were evacuated.

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane damagestormwdw

  • Surveying the damage

    Surveying the damage

    Lots of branches and trees down in this view.

    Animal Kingdom LodgeFloridaHurricane IrmaIrmaResort HotelsWalt Disney Worldcameraphonehurricanehurricane damagestormwdw

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