Disney Cracks Down on Snack Purchases with New Limits on Unhealthy Food

Did you know that Disney was barring the sale of chips during Hurricane Milton?

A row of strollers in front of Cinderella Castle at Walt Disney World Resort ahead of Hurricane Milton. — Credit: Jamie S., Inside the Magic

Hurricane Milton tore through Florida last week, devastating many parts of the state before it hit the Tampa Bay coastline not even two weeks after Hurricane Helene. During Milton’s run, Orlando was in the direct path of the storm which forced Walt Disney World to do something it seldom ever does — shut down.

With Milton making landfall on the evening of October 9, Disney closed their parks at 2:00 p.m. on October, which was past the shelter in place notice by weather experts. They then confirmed that the parks would remain closed on Thursday October 10.

With Hurricane Milton now mostly dissipated from Florida’s coastline, the focus has shifted to recovery efforts.

Fortunately for Disney, the impact was relatively mild. Investors responded positively, with Disney’s stock seeing a slight uptick in Monday afternoon trading. By Friday, Disney parks had reopened and were operating on a “normal schedule,” as confirmed by CBS News.

There were lots of tree debris that had to be picked up, as well as knocked down signage, light poles, awnings, and even some roofs, as we saw at Disney’s Polynesian Beach Resort — but nothing too major.

Both Disney Springs and the various theme parks under Disney’s banner in Florida were fully operational by Friday morning, with some areas even reopening as early as 7:30 a.m.

Prince Charming's Royal Carousel at Magic Kingdom Park in the rain. — Credit: Jamie S., Inside the Magic

Power companies also indicated that Florida’s power grid would be fully restored by Tuesday, providing relief to residents who had been left without electricity over the weekend.

Despite the relatively quick reopening, Disney faced some significant challenges. Dr. Mark Penning, Vice President of Animals, Science, and Environment at Disney, shared on Instagram how the park’s animals—and their caretakers—had to be relocated to safer areas ahead of the storm. Afterward, habitats required cleanup and repairs before the animals could return.

Fortunately, reports confirmed that many of the animals were safely returned to their habitats at Animal Kingdom Lodge once the storm passed.

While the hurricane was ongoing, Walt Disney World guests who were staying in a Disney hotel were provided food and entertainment, and during the crux of the storm, guests were asked to remain in their hotel rooms for safety.

Walt Disney World Resorts are all made to withstand a Category 5 hurricane, and while Milton did hit Category 5 status, in the end, it hit landfall as a Category 3, which ensured that Disney’s structures would be a safe shelter for guests.

While Disney was meant to provide food at a discount, they have been under fire for some of their pricing.

Disney is facing backlash for selling $10 peanut butter and jelly sandwich kits to guests stranded at one of its Orlando resorts during the life-threatening impact of Hurricane Milton, which made landfall last night and has already claimed at least nine lives.

A viral TikTok, posted by a guest stuck at Disney World, showcased the kits containing jars of peanut butter and jelly, a loaf of bread, and plastic utensils. While some viewers saw the offering as considerate, many were quick to criticize the price.

“I thought it was a nice gesture!” commented @alessandra_racanelli, adding, “Then I saw they were charging $10.”

“It should be free,” added @lovelylexi95.

The video also highlighted Disney selling its themed board games at a 25% discount, seemingly to provide entertainment for guests stuck inside while 3.4 million Floridians are without power.

Other videos posted by the same guest, @alyssaksprake, a self-described Disney enthusiast, showed heavy rain and winds shaking trees on the resort grounds as Disney cast members in costume continued to entertain guests indoors. @alyssaksprake, also known as “Disney Mama,” sheltered at the resort with her partner and their one-year-old child.

In one clip, she expressed that while she enjoyed staying at Disney’s Moderate Resorts, she would have felt more secure staying at a Deluxe Resort during the hurricane.

Both Disney World and Universal Studios closed ahead of Hurricane Milton on Wednesday, but Disney assured that food would be available for those remaining on property.

In the days before the storm, officials urged residents in the path of the hurricane to evacuate or face life-threatening consequences. The region was already recovering from damage caused by Hurricane Helene just days prior.

Tampa Bay Mayor Jane Castor emphasized the seriousness of the situation, stating, “This is the real deal with Milton. If you think you can take on Mother Nature, she wins every time.”

You can watch the viral TikTok below.

“Such a good idea and they discounted board games”

@alyssaksprake Such a good idea and they discounted board games #creatorsearchinsights #hurricane #disney #disneyworld #disneyresort #portorleansriverside #sandwich #preparation #hurricaneprep #groceries #hotel #fyp #foryou #foryoupage #florida #orlando #milton #storm ♬ Mary Poppins Winds In The East – The_Delirious_DM

One thing that was not highly discussed was Disney’s chip ban.

As you can see below, Disney put out a 2-per-person limit on their bags of chips, which are already sold at a premium in comparison to your local Wal-Mart.

A grocery store shelf displays various flavors of Doritos, Lay's, and Baked Lay's chips. A sign in the middle shelf reads, "LIMIT TWO (2) PER ITEM, PER GUEST. — Credit: Inside the Magic

We have seen this signage come out in the past; however, it is typically used on retail items, so resellers cannot purchase all of the new items and then turn a profit online. Never has it had to come out on bags of chips.

It appears that Disney was worried that they did not have enough chips for the demand that they were expecting. In the end, the sign wasn’t too necessary, as the chips did not run out.

A display of bags of Doritos with a sign in front that says, "LIMIT TWO (2) PER ITEM, PER GUEST. While supplies last. Discounts do not apply. — Credit: Inside the Magic

Disney World was also under fire for their choice to shut down at 2:00 p.m. when local experts and officials were ordering a shelter-in-place beginning at 2:00 p.m. By doing this, not only were guests under the idea that it was safe to be at the parks until 2:oo p.m., but cast members were forced to be there far past that point.

When a park closes at Disney, cast members must wait for all guests to vacate the premises, and must close everything down before they can leave, which often lasts hours past the closure time seen on the My Disney Experience app.

Emerging Tropical Systems on the Radar

Meteorologists are keeping a close eye on a newly formed low-pressure system in the eastern Atlantic. According to the National Hurricane Center, this system could potentially develop into a tropical depression by the end of the week. While the chances of immediate formation are low—around 10% over the next two days—improving conditions may increase the likelihood of further development.

How do you feel Disney handled Hurricane Milton?