Best deluxe resort to stay in during a hurricane especially if the parks close?

[DisneyFanatic12]

Don't even use photo pass. Entertainment: Contemporary has character events. Food/Drink: Contempo Cafe, Chef Mickeys, Steakhouse 71, and (if open during a hurricane) California Grill. Given how Disney tries to make things better during a hurricane, Contemporary has the space for games and other forms of entertainment. A lot of these would depend on whether or not they would have the staff to run them.

To be fair, the comment about darting to the Garden Wing or Bay Lake was fairly stupid. I've not endured a hurricane and thus wasn't thinking about the nonstop wind. More used to tornados where it's more of a quick but very violent hit.

There is your sustained wind which will be 45MPH+, and then wind gusts of much higher winds during the rain bands (squalls). There certainly would be times of less wind and lighter rain, but you would have to stick in your building.

An interesting fact about tornadoes vs hurricanes: The wind speed you see on a hurricane is the sustained wind. The wind field is huge and tropical storm forced wind, and possibly even hurricane force wind, extends far from the funnel of the hurricane. Tornadoes on the other hand are typically short lived, and don’t have as very large wind field. You of course know that, but the more interesting fact is that a tornado is measured by the highest wind gust. Always find that detail interesting! In addition, tornadoes often have their wind speed determined by the damage they cause (they’re short enough lived you can’t really measure their wind speed), while a hurricane’s wind is typically measured at a height of 33 feet and the wind speed is the average wind speed over a one minute period.


IF a hurricane were to hit where you were (like Ian hit Central Florida), tropical storm force and hurricane force wind can and will often be felt for hours.



Disney typically has a pretty good sized ride out crew for their resorts, and games are usually played throughout the day. In addition, there are often meet and greets and other special entertainment to keeps guests minds off of the storm.

 

[nickys]

Disney typically has a pretty good sized ride out crew for their resorts, and games are usually played throughout the day. In addition, there are often meet and greets and other special entertainment to keeps guests minds off of the storm.

Which brings us round nicely again to the thread topic. Unless you’re staying at a resort where all the rooms are in one building, you won’t have any of that.

If you’re at BCV or BRV you’ll miss out on the fun in the main building. I’d be interested to know whether day both Kidani and Jambo have the entertainment, whether BLT has any.

But at the value and moderate resorts you’ll be SOL, as will guests at Poly, OKW and SSR. I guess Gran Destino Tower might have some.

 

[King Panda 77]

My vote goes to Aulani .

 

[nickys]

My vote goes to Aulani .

 

[nickys]

Although @Mr Ferret 88 , I think the Art of Marvel hotel at DLP would be quite good too. Not only does France rarely get hurricanes, you’d have all those super heroes to protect you.

 

[brer89]

We were at Coronado when Hurricane Nicole came through in 2022. We actually checked in on Wednesday which was the day the parks closed early. They had a staggered reopening the next day. All in all our kids had some of the best times. They modified the arcade games to be free on Wednesday evening - so our kids had a blast there. The ride out crew was busy Wednesday night - setting up everything for the convention space areas the next day. We came over around 9am Thursday and they had one room set up for Disney movies all through out the day. The bigger conference room was split with tables set up on one side and a free area on the other. The tables had coloring pages, crayons and various card games. The front had hula hoops, giant chess/checker boards, corn hole and shuffle boards. Various characters came and took pictures and stayed for quite a while. My oldest still talks about beating Goofy in shuffleboard.

So I view Gran Destino as a very good option with regards to a ride out resort.

 

[LeighM]

Which brings us round nicely again to the thread topic. Unless you’re staying at a resort where all the rooms are in one building, you won’t have any of that.

If you’re at BCV or BRV you’ll miss out on the fun in the main building. I’d be interested to know whether day both Kidani and Jambo have the entertainment, whether BLT has any.

But at the value and moderate resorts you’ll be SOL, as will guests at Poly, OKW and SSR. I guess Gran Destino Tower might have some.

When were at Riverside during a hurricane and after the worst passed over us, the food court was serving hot food, they had the arcades available to play for free, and character meets in the lobby. Most people didn't know it was all available because not all rooms got a notification that they could leave their rooms.

 

[nickys]

When were at Riverside during a hurricane and after the worst passed over us, the food court was serving hot food, they had the arcades available to play for free, and character meets in the lobby. Most people didn't know it was all available because not all rooms got a notification that they could leave their rooms.

That’s good for the guests that were told. How did they notify you?

I guess once the hurricane has passed over they can do this at any resort. But during the hurricane itself only some of the resorts can do those kind of activities.

 

[Nunu]

When were at Riverside during a hurricane and after the worst passed over us, the food court was serving hot food, they had the arcades available to play for free, and character meets in the lobby. Most people didn't know it was all available because not all rooms got a notification that they could leave their rooms.

We were at the French Quarter during hurricane Irma. Your experience at Riverside was very similar to ours. Arcade games were free, hot food at the foodcourt the next day, also characters and CMs entertaining the kids at the lobby.

The day before the hurricane hit, mousekeeping delivered a big bag with extra towels, toiletries, TP, coffee, tea, sugar, linens, and a new flashlight/batteries to our room. We even got a FQ puzzle as a gift.

All the CMs working at our resort during Irma were great.

 

[LeighM]

That’s good for the guests that were told. How did they notify you?

I guess once the hurricane has passed over they can do this at any resort. But during the hurricane itself only some of the resorts can do those kind of activities.

They pushed out notifications to the phones in the room with blinking voicemail light. We didn't get a message because it turned out something was wrong with our phone and the light wasn't working. But we've experienced enough hurricanes to know that the worst of the bands had passed and we could hurry to the food court to eat. Apparently they had been open for a while because they were ending breakfast service and were starting lunch. I don't think any resort does anything like that when the worst of the hurricane is overhead. Every resort is pretty locked down and dealing only with emergencies. We were supposed to change resorts to AKL the day the hurricane was expected to arrive and they were willing to drive us to the resort but we didn't want to put any of the staff at risk. And because we were understanding and put their needs and safety first, they refunded the money that was still left on our dining plan and couldn't use for the last days of our trip. They refunded the full cost of the cancelled AKL resort stay, let us stay in the same room at POR and we didn't have to pay the difference in room since it had increased since the trip was first booked. There was something else too but I can't remember what - maybe room credit to use in the gift shop?

We were at the French Quarter during hurricane Irma. Your experience at Riverside was very similar to ours. Arcade games were free, hot food at the foodcourt the next day, also characters and CMs entertaining the kids at the lobby.

The day before the hurricane hit, mousekeeping delivered a big bag with extra towels, toiletries, TP, coffee, tea, sugar, linens, and a new flashlight/batteries to our room. We even got a FQ puzzle as a gift.

All the CMs working at our resort during Irma were great.

Yep! We got the bag of extra supplies and the flashlight but we didn't get a puzzle lol. All of the staff were so awesome!! There was one woman working at the front desk that was really worried about being away from her young kids because the hurricane was forecast to hit as a Cat 5 (luckily it wobbled and the coast was spared the worst) and she was having to deal with so much attitude from guests demanding everything. I couldn't believe the lack of empathy that some of the resort guests were showing to the ride out crew!

 

[Elizabeth Swann]

I think AKL Jambo could hold folks the best. One negative is that quick service is technically outside but I think that would just be worked around with food available maybe in the lobby or nearby. AKL also has an indoors kids club / community hall. Overall I just feel Jambo would absorb crowds best and allow folks to spread out better than WL. But WL would be my second choice!

My friend was at AKL Jambo last year during Ian and they had some back stairs they opened up so the guests could get down to Mara without going outside.

 

[esskay]

I've done a few Hurricanes. AKL was hands down the best. Worst was POP for obvious reasons.

Any "indoor" one is going to be better as you're not crammed in your room all day, although they do tend to ask people to stay in their rooms when the worst part of it is hitting.

Plus half price Boma when you're locked down in the resort, I'll never say no to cheap zebra domes!

 

[Lilofan]

We were at the French Quarter during hurricane Irma. Your experience at Riverside was very similar to ours. Arcade games were free, hot food at the foodcourt the next day, also characters and CMs entertaining the kids at the lobby.

The day before the hurricane hit, mousekeeping delivered a big bag with extra towels, toiletries, TP, coffee, tea, sugar, linens, and a new flashlight/batteries to our room. We even got a FQ puzzle as a gift.

All the CMs working at our resort during Irma were great.

Approx 26 years ago Coronado guests prior to a hurricane , thousands of guests all had to sleep on the carpeted area of the huge convention ballrooms and not in the hotel guest rooms. That was an experience.

 

[thomas998]

I think it depends on just how close you are going to be to the hurricane. If it was truly just passing close and only going to close the parks for a day... then AKL.... but if it was more a direct hit I wouldn't want any of the deluxe resorts, I would want the cabins at fort wilderness, then I would have my own kitchen and supplies which could be running short if you were trapped in a delux... and god forbid you were in a deluxe and the power went off for an extended amount of time. It is one thing to be inconvenienced by a park being closed... but quite another if you are in a storm that has taken out your power. In those situations I want the ability to get in my own car and leave easily if that is what is needed, being on lord knows what floor and having to trek a mile to get out with no power isn't my idea of fun in any hotel.

 

[Marionnette]

I think it depends on just how close you are going to be to the hurricane. If it was truly just passing close and only going to close the parks for a day... then AKL.... but if it was more a direct hit I wouldn't want any of the deluxe resorts, I would want the cabins at fort wilderness, then I would have my own kitchen and supplies which could be running short if you were trapped in a delux... and god forbid you were in a deluxe and the power went off for an extended amount of time. It is one thing to be inconvenienced by a park being closed... but quite another if you are in a storm that has taken out your power. In those situations I want the ability to get in my own car and leave easily if that is what is needed, being on lord knows what floor and having to trek a mile to get out with no power isn't my idea of fun in any hotel.

They typically close FW during a hurricane and evacuate the guests to the hotels. You wouldn't be able to stay in one of the cabins.

 

[NelleBelle]

I think it depends on just how close you are going to be to the hurricane. If it was truly just passing close and only going to close the parks for a day... then AKL.... but if it was more a direct hit I wouldn't want any of the deluxe resorts, I would want the cabins at fort wilderness, then I would have my own kitchen and supplies which could be running short if you were trapped in a delux... and god forbid you were in a deluxe and the power went off for an extended amount of time. It is one thing to be inconvenienced by a park being closed... but quite another if you are in a storm that has taken out your power. In those situations I want the ability to get in my own car and leave easily if that is what is needed, being on lord knows what floor and having to trek a mile to get out with no power isn't my idea of fun in any hotel.

If there was a direct hit, I absolutely would NOT want to be in a cabin—it’s nothing but a mobile home. If your own kitchen is desired, why not one of the DVC bldgs connected to the hotel?

 

[LeighM]

If there was a direct hit, I absolutely would NOT want to be in a cabin—it’s nothing but a mobile home. If your own kitchen is desired, why not one of the DVC bldgs connected to the hotel?

I can't imagine being in one of those cabins during a major hurricane and a tornado forms. We had a minor Cat 1 go over our house and it caused several tornadoes. Luckily, none that touched down at our house but the closest one came down a few minutes down the street so it was really close. I'll never forget the sound of that wind. And being stuck in a FW cabin with no protection and surrounded by trees everywhere? No thank you LOL.

 

[nickys]

Pretty sure they evacuate the cabins as well as the camp sites in the event of a predicted hurricane for WDW.