Disney World Slapped With Safety Warning, All Guests Warned

Walt Disney World has long prided itself on being “The Most Magical Place on Earth,” and much of that magic stems from its relentless focus on guest safety. From cutting-edge surveillance to world-class medical teams and emergency protocols, Disney takes extensive measures to protect visitors throughout its sprawling resort. Still, even Disney can’t control everything.

Despite its preparations, the resort occasionally faces threats that are simply unavoidable. Hurricanes, global pandemics, and guest altercations all pose real challenges. Due to Florida’s geographical location, one of the most dangerous factors is, unsurprisingly, extreme heat.

The region’s tropical‑subtropical climate means elevated heat index readings – the “feels‑like” temperature that includes humidity – are common, often pushing the body’s cooling mechanisms to their limits. In humid air, sweat evaporates more slowly, reducing its effectiveness and making even moderate exertion much more taxing.

This environment increases risks of heat rash, cramps, exhaustion, and even potentially fatal heat stroke if precautions aren’t taken.

This year, the National Weather Service has repeatedly issued Heat Advisories and Extreme Heat Warnings specifically covering Central Florida – including Orange and Osceola Counties, where Walt Disney World is located. These warnings have been issued multiple times already.

At the end of July, for example, the parks fell under an Extreme Heat Warning, with highs near 100 degrees Fahrenheit and feels-like temperatures of up to 115 degrees Fahrenheit.

Disney World Slapped With Another Heat Warning

Disney World falls under yet another Heat Advisory today.

Both Orange and Osceola County will experience seriously high heat today (August 16). Temperatures are expected to peak at 3 p.m., with a predicted high of around 96 degrees Fahrenheit. The “feels-like” temperature may reach as high as 110 degrees Fahrenheit, and showers and thunderstorms are also expected in the area.

This marks the 14th Heat Advisory of the year in Central Florida, including one on Thursday.

Guests have reported extreme conditions at all four Disney World theme parks – Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom – while the fact that both water parks, Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach, are simultaneously open for the first time since the COVID-19 pandemic is surely a welcome addition to every parkgoer’s vacation right now.

Anyone hoping for a cooler Disney vacation in the coming weeks will be disappointed to hear that the forecast is consistently hot through the end of August. While Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party kicked off last night, fall weather is still a far-off concept for the Orlando area right now.

On the bright side, Florida is expected to avoid the brunt of Hurricane Erin in the coming days. The storm – which has now officially strengthened to a Category 5 hurricane with wind speeds of 160 mph – is not expected to make landfall in the U.S., but will still apparently create dangerous surf conditions along the East Coast.

Are you visiting Disney World this week?