Credit: Joe Schlabotnik, FlickrThe National Weather Service Melbourne has issued an immediate, urgent weather warning for Central Florida on Wednesday afternoon, including the Walt Disney World Resort area. Here’s what guests visiting the Most Magical Place on Earth on May 13 need to know.
National Weather Service Issues Warning For Walt Disney World Resort Area
Shortly before 3:00 p.m. on May 13, the Melbourne, Florida, office of the National Weather Service issued a weather warning for Orange County, Osceola County, and Southern Lake County. As of 2:49 p.m., Doppler radar tracked a strong thunderstorm heading East over Bay Lake at 20 miles per hour.
Anyone in the area, including at Walt Disney World Resort, is warned of wind gusts up to 50 miles per hour through mid-afternoon, which could knock down tree limbs and blow around unsecured objects. People who are outdoors during the worst weather conditions are urged to seek shelter indoors.
The National Weather Service Melbourne specifically targeted its warning at people in the following locales: Orlando, Winter Park, Winter Garden, Ocoee, and Kissimmee. Government officials warned anyone in the area to expect “moderate” weather conditions.
The urgency was reported as “expected,” and the certainty as “observed,” indicating that there is no doubt the inclement weather will affect the Central Florida area on Wednesday afternoon. Read the Special Weather Statement below:
⚠️ Special Weather Statement (Disney World FL area) • Severity: Moderate • Urgency: Expected • Until 3:15 PM ET #WDW #DISNEY #Weather
⚠️ Special Weather Statement (Disney World FL area) • Severity: Moderate • Urgency: Expected • Until 3:15 PM ET #WDW #DISNEY #Weather pic.twitter.com/v4cM7Q1mmc
— Walt Disney World: Active Calls (@WDWActiveCrime) May 13, 2026
Thankfully, the thunderstorm and high winds are expected to clear up by the early evening on May 13, so the weather shouldn’t impact Walt Disney World Resort guests for long. However, some outdoor attractions at Magic Kingdom Park, EPCOT, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park may close temporarily due to weather conditions.
What is the worst weather you’ve dealt with at Walt Disney World Resort or Disneyland Resort? Share your story with Inside the Magic in the comments!
