Right now, Irma's eye is forecast to hit the Florida Keys and spare the state's mainland. But a storm this massive brings damaging winds and rains far beyond its core. Much of south Florida will get hit with major hurricane-force winds if Irma keeps to its predicted path. And central Florida's theme parks are not out of danger, should the storm bear just a little to the north.
What does this mean if you have planned a Walt Disney World or Universal Orlando vacation for the next week or so?
First, both Disney and Universal have policies that allow you to cancel or reschedule your vacation booked through them without penalty should a hurricane warning be issued for the Orlando area (or your hometown) within seven days of your scheduled arrival date. (Here are the details for Disney and for Universal.) Right now, there is no hurricane warning for the Orlando area, though schools in the Miami area are calling off classes for later this week, as people there prepare for the storm's possible arrival.
Call +1-407-939-7675 for Disney and +1-800-711-0080 for Universal to cancel or rebook, if a hurricane warning is issued and you don't want to travel to the area. Do note that anything not booked through the resorts, including airfare, rental cars and tickets for other attractions, is not included under these guarantees. You're still on the hook for those. And if you booked your own deal, not through the resorts, you're also on your own.
Beyond that, last year during hurricane season we detailed Everything you need to know about Disney World and hurricanes, and that information still applies. Yes, the parks can close, and will, if hurricane force winds are anywhere near the parks. People will remain on staff at local hotels, but food options might be severely limited during the storm. Keep checking the National Hurricane Center for forecasts, and if you are in the area when a storm is forecast to hit, stock up with the food, water, medicine, and entertainment you will need to get you through the storm, should you lose power and access to other utilities.
Irma is forecast to hit the Keys on Sunday afternoon. A Category 5 storm (on a scale of 1-5) with sustained winds of 185 mph, Irma right now is more powerful than Hurricane Andrew, which obliterated many areas south of Miami in 1992. (And provided many of those permanently twisted palm trees you now see in Seuss Landing at Islands of Adventure, because I have to slip in some theme park trivia here.)
And don't overlook Hurricane Jose, now hanging out in the Atlantic Ocean behind Irma. Jose's tracking cone has that storm heading north up the coast and avoiding Florida, but it's really too early to tell where, or if, that storm will hit land.
On a personal note, I have a reservation to fly to Orlando at the end of next week for the opening of Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Orlando on Sept. 15. I'm not canceling anything right now... but I am paying attention to the NHC, just as many Florida residents are. If you are planning a trip to the state this month, you should be watching the tropical forecasts, too.
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We have been watching this and I was going to look up disney's policies on storms tonight.
HHN starts next Friday? Might have to stay an extra couple of nights if we end up going. I missed it last year and regret it.
To add to @Makorider's account of the full-on freak out happening here in Florida ... traffic is unimaginable and will just get worse
Ultimately what happens with attractions is down to the storm - what it damages, whether power goes out, whether access is blocked, etc. It's a big bundle of unknown.
I have a friend who works on a golf course down to the south and the last direct hit slugged them for 12 days... but they don't have a Disney budget and are coastal.
I would suggest taking the fact that an official watch hasn't been called to your advantage and ensure you have travel insurance that will cover cancellation or early abandonment of your trip in the event a storm watch is called.
I speak from experience when I say that you do *not* want to be out in one of the All Star buildings in a hurricane. Unlike the much-publicized storm accommodations at the high end and mid-tier resorts, food service provided will be minimal, and you will have to walk outside in the wind/rain to reach it.
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To add to your advice ... most of Orlando is in panic mode with bottled water, bread, chips and numerous other food items impossible to find. Gas stations, especially Costco and Sams are 5-6 deep with cars filling up. I have friends who work at Publix and they say they can't keep anything on the store shelves. It's totally insane here right now, but anyone coming needs to know what they are going to be facing once they touch down at OIA.
We will know for sure later in the week just what will be coming our way.