The skies might be blue for now, but in Central Florida, the countdown is on. June 1 marks the official start of the 2025 hurricane season, and if recent years have taught us anything, it’s this: landlocked doesn’t mean safe.
Yes, Walt Disney World is nestled far from the crashing waves of Florida’s coasts. But it’s not the ocean that’s causing the most trouble anymore — it’s the sky. Or more specifically, the torrents of water it can dump in a matter of hours.
After years of record-breaking rainfall and inland flooding, Disney and the communities that surround it are shifting their storm prep playbooks. The winds may get the headlines, but the floods are what linger — and leave lasting damage.
Disney World’s Evolving Storm Strategy
Walt Disney World has always been regarded as a fortress of preparedness. When hurricanes approach, cast members mobilize with near-military precision, tying down furniture, securing show elements, and ensuring guest safety. But after hurricanes like Ian and Milton left parts of Central Florida underwater, even Disney had to take a harder look at how it handles water.
The Reedy Creek emergency team — the specialized government district that oversees services across Disney property — has reportedly doubled down on infrastructure upgrades. Stormwater systems have been expanded, transportation routes evaluated for water vulnerability, and resort flood maps updated with predictive modeling tech to respond faster when heavy rain is inbound.
This comes as the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) forecasts yet another above-normal storm season. The agency predicts 13 to 19 named storms, with a significant chance of several becoming major hurricanes. And in Florida, even tropical storms have proven capable of catastrophic flooding.
Beyond the Parks: Real Lives, Real Impact
While Disney’s 27,000-acre resort has the resources to bounce back quickly, nearby communities often don’t.
Just west of the resort, in Orlo Vista, Levi Williams has seen her home flooded — not once, but twice. During Hurricane Irma in 2017, her floors were teeming with fish and tadpoles. Hurricane Ian brought it all back five years later. She had to be rescued as water swirled into her home. Her story is far from unique.
In neighborhoods across Kissimmee, Altamonte Springs, and Sanford, the scenes were eerily similar: boats in the streets, families stranded, entire blocks submerged.
“You don’t expect it this far inland,” said Jimmy Tadlock, a resident of the Bonnie Brook community near Disney. “But it just keeps getting worse.”
The issue isn’t just more rain — it’s where that rain ends up. With new development booming near older neighborhoods, longtime residents say the land simply can’t absorb the water like it used to. Outdated drainage, overgrown ditches, and blocked canals have created an environment where a few hours of rain can lead to a full-blown disaster.
Community Fatigue and Government Catch-Up
Some residents have had enough. In Seminole County’s Midway community, Emory Green Jr. says flooding has become a way of life.
“It’s been woefully neglected,” he said. “Every year it’s worse, and every year they promise to fix it.”
In response, Central Florida counties are starting to roll out smarter solutions. Osceola County, for example, plans to use new predictive software called FloodWise that models flooding scenarios up to three days in advance. The hope is to deploy equipment or evacuate vulnerable residents before the worst hits. Disney is rumored to be incorporating similar forecasting tools internally this summer.
Yet for some, it may be too little too late. Jean and James Brower, who lived in a mobile home park near Disney, were displaced after Ian. Jean suffered a stroke in the months that followed. She blames the stress.
“It changed our lives forever,” she said. “And now they’re saying this year could be just as bad?”
The Guest Experience During Storm Season
For visitors planning a trip to Disney World this summer or fall, there’s no need to panic — but there is a reason to plan smart.
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Storms can move quickly and flood roads, disrupt airport operations, and shut down parts of the park.
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Disney typically does a phenomenal job sheltering guests in place when needed.
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But trip insurance is strongly advised, especially for those coming from out of state or overseas.
Parkgoers should also consider packing rain gear, emergency snacks, and portable chargers. Those staying at on-property resorts will be notified via app or in-room alerts if any storms are approaching.
And while the parks are built to handle water, remember that flooding doesn’t stop at the resort gates. A few miles away, families are watching rising waters threaten their homes.
A Region Rewriting Its Relationship with Water
Central Florida is having to rethink everything it thought it knew about hurricanes. Inland areas like Orlando were once seen as safer refuges — less risk of storm surge, fewer building evacuations. But today, that reputation is being tested by the sheer volume of rainfall each storm brings.
Senator Rick Scott summed it up at a recent emergency management event:
“If you really look at these hurricanes… they’ve become big water events.”
And that’s exactly what Disney — and everyone who lives or vacations near it — must now prepare for.
Because as Levi Williams put it, “You can’t stop the rain. But you can stop being surprised by it.”
