6 Ways Hurricane Irma Impacted Walt Disney World Guests

2. Hotel Entertainment

With Hurricane Irma forcing parks to close and local curfews, Walt Disney World guests were restricted to remaining in their hotels for two days. Even then there was only a limited service. Pools were closed, housekeeping services cancelled and so was any in-room dining.

With it looking like a bleak couple of days for guests, Disney decided to go all out to make sure that even though their guests were stuck, they certainly weren't bored.

Characters were out in force to entertain guests. Goofy was out dancing in the Yacht Club lobby, Stitch was playing in the Polynesian and the Country Bears were playing with hoola hoops at Wilderness Lodge. Even Chip and Dale were helping out by working behind one resort's check in desk.

Cast Members helped to keep everyone entertained with Halloween costume parties, puppy parades and activities. Yacht Club even had a Year in a Day of activities, with each one themed to a different holiday/season.

Walt Disney World also made sure that there was plenty of in room entertainment too. All Disney movies were free to watch in rooms through the duration of the storm.

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Jen has been a writer and video editor at WhatCulture for over 10 years. She has a BA Hons in History from Newcastle University and in a past life worked at Beamish Open Air Museum and was a corporate trainer (BTC Award in Education and Training). Jen joined WhatCulture to discuss all things Universal Orlando Resort and Walt Disney World, as well as her love of all things movies. She has worked closely with Universal and Disney, giving WhatCulture readers breaking news and exclusives. Her knowledge of Disney parks has lead her to be published by The Sun. If you've ever completed a Disney movies or Friends quiz on WhatCulture it was probably written by Jen. Jen's love of all things Universal's Halloween Horror Nights brought her to WhatCulture's Horror Channel as a video editor. Her video edits can be found across WhatCulture's Film & TV and Horror channels, along with WhatCulture's Facebook, Instagram and TikTok accounts.