What happens during a hurricane at Legoland Florida? The truth is if you are visiting the greater Florida area during the rainy season which runs from September to end of November then there is a chance that you may experience a hurricane during your vacation. But don’t panic, in this guide we will explain the Legoland Florida Hurricane Policy, how often Legoland Florida has been forced to close for hurricanes historically and of course some tips should you be visiting during a hurricane at Legoland Florida.
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Note: Hurricanes are dangerous, health and safety should always be at the forefront of your mind at locations where hurricanes may hit and you should always follow local safety and travel advice.
Have hurricanes Closed Legoland Florida in the Past
The truth is that in the past Legoland Florida has indeed had to shut due to hurricanes. Times that Legoland Florida has had to shut most recently due to hurricanes include:
- Hurricane Irma in 2017 shut the park for three days over the weekend.
- Hurricane Dorian in 2019 where the park was forced to close for a day due to the hurricane threat.
- Hurricane Ian in 2022 where the park was shut for at least 3 days, while the resorts and hotels remained opened for prebooked guests.
Is Legoland Florida Likely to Shut for a hurricane?
Yes there is every chance that Legoland Florida will shut for hurricanes as it has done in the past. However you can be assured that the parks will stay open for as long as they can and will reopen again as soon as possible once the hurricane is over.
How Much notice does Legoland Florida give for hurricane closure?
Hurricanes are fast moving and change in severity constantly. The parks will always give as much notice as they can of a closure. Usually they aim for giving a days notice for closure however this can not be always guaranteed.
What is the Legoland Florida Hurricane Policy
Legoland Florida Hurricane Policy / Legoland Florida in the rain
Legoland Florida has a hurricane policy not dissimilar to the Disney World hurricane policy or the Universal Studios Hurricane Policy. As all of the parks are located in close proximity the chances of hurricane are similar and as such the conditions for cancellation and rescheduling are also very similar across all the parks.
The Legoland Florida Hurricane Policy states that if a tropical storm or a hurricane forecast is issued within 7 days by either the National Hurricane Center for the central Florida area—or for your place of residence you may call in advance or reschedule your trip (for those things booked directly with Legoland, everything else will be dependent on the terms and conditions of your bookings)
This policy applies to
- Legoland Florida Theme Park tickets
- Legoland Florida Water Park Tickets
- Legoland Pirate Island Hotel, the Legoland Hotel and the Legoland Beach retreat providing the bookings have been direct with the Legoland Florida Resort, Legoland Vacations or package booked through Legoland Vacations
You can read the policy in full here and if you have any further questions then you can contact Merlin Entertainments Customer Service Center daily from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Eastern at +1 888-690-5346
We strongly advise considering booking your trip to Legoland Florida if you are traveling during the rainy season directly with Legoland as this will allow for the greatest flexibility should you be unfortunate yo have severe weather warnings issued during your vacation.
For more information on other Orlando theme park hurricane policies check out this post.
Hurricane at Legoland Florida Tips
Don’t Panic
My first tip if you are visiting and there is a potential for a hurricane at Legoland Florida is don’t panic. Unfortunately hurricanes are not a rarity in the greater Florida area so the theme parks in Florida are well prepared for what to do in case of a hurricane hitting. So all you need to to is
Listen to Staff at the Parks and Hotels
Staff are trained for what to do for hurricanes in both the Legoland Park and Hotels. Just be sure to follow their instructions to the letter.
The hotels in Florida will usually either ask guests to stay in their rooms during a hurricane or else they will ask people to take shelter in an indoor room with no windows such the storm be particularly severe.
Check the Forecast regularly
Be sure to listen to news and weather updates regularly. Hurricanes and tropical storms can change in trajectory and strength very frequently so you should listen to local news updates regular and adjust your plans accordingly.
Staff at hotels and parks are also able to provide regular updates on weather and contingencies in the parks and the hotels so all you need to do is follow their instructions. And if you have any questions be sure to speak to guest relations who will be happy to help you with your query.
Pack for the Weather
It is important whenever you travel to theme parks to pack for the weather accordingly but it is especially important if you are traveling during hurricane or storm season in Florida.
We recommend packing ponchos, an extra set of clothes and shoes that can deal with getting wet. And maybe an extra pair of socks and sandals just in case of terrible weather.
One of the things we have found in theme parks in heavy rain (not hurricanes or storms though) is that although some rides may close, the lines for outdoor rides that remain open ill be short as everyone else heads indoor to escape the rain. If you have a poncho with you then you will be able to enjoy the short queues without getting too wet.
We also recommend packing some items that will help protect your electronics. If you are going to the water parks in Orlando such as Aquatica, Universal’s Volcano Bay or Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon or if your Legoland trip also encompasses time at the Legoland Waterpark, we recommend taking a water proof phone cover with you to protect your phone from water damage. If you have one of these and you are going to be in the parks during severe downpours we recommend putting your phone in this as your bag is likely to get drenched and your electronics will not be well protected without one.
If you don’t have one of these we recommend going to the parks with a few plastic bags and some ziplock bags which you can use to protect some of your more valuable or sensitive items and any important documents that you are carrying with your.
Know where to take refuge in bad weather
Florida has storms and strong rain showers frequently throughout the whole of the rainy season It is therefore a good idea to familiarise yourself with good places to take refuge during a downpour if you are traveling during the rainy season even if you are not traveling during a hurricane.
Be sure to check out our Legoland Florida in the rain guide for more comprehensive information. However generally speaking if you are in Legoland during the rain we recommend heading for – a quick service restaurant ( shops and shopping arcades, indoor attractions) .
Have food in your room
Whether you are staying on site at a on-site Legoland Hotel or at an off site hotel, if a hurricane hits and is severe enough to close the parks for a day (which has happened only on a handful of occasions at Legoland Florida) then you will want to have plenty of food and drink with you.
Even in a resort hotel you will be asked to wait out a hurricane in your room and the dining and room service menus will be limited and likely have very long waits. Therefore we recommend having a good amount of food and snacks just in case.
We also recommend having plenty of bottled water with you in case the water goes out during the hurricane. Again the local news and staff will be able to provide more information in advance of a hurricane or tropical storm hitting. If they offer any advice on what things you should have in your room be sure to do as they advise.
Cancel or Reschedule your Trip
If a hurricane is forecast 7 days before your arrival then there are some caveats at some resorts relating to cancellations and rescheduling of holidays. If you don’t fancy dealing with a hurricane on your vacation and you have refund options then you could consider canceling or rescheduling your trip for outside of rainy or hurricane season.
What happens during a Hurricane at Legoland Florida FAQs
Can you cancel your Legoland Vacation or Tickets in event of a hurricane
As we said above, you can indeed cancel or reschedule your Legoland Vacation if it has been booked directly with Legoland. The Legoland Florida team members and staff at the Guest Services hotline are well versed in hurricane preparedness and can let you know your options for cancellation or reschedule if a hurricane or tropical storm is forecast for your trip.
What happens at a on site Legoland Resort during a hurricane
Staff at the on site resorts at Legoland are well trained for dealing with a hurricane given the fact that hurricanes are a frequent occurrence in Florida and the Orlando area.
If you are staying at a Legoland hotel then our best advice is to follow the advice and instructions of the hotel resort staff to the letter – they know what they are doing and safety is of paramount importance to them. The staff will always communicate with you at the earliest possible opportunity.
However we also recommend having plenty of food and snacks and lots of bottled water with you just in case the hurricane is particularly severe.
During a hurricane you will wither be confined to your room or be asked to shelter in place at an indoor location with no windows if the hurricane is particularly severe. Whatever advice is given to you by staff please do follow it to the letter.
When will Legoland Florida reopen after a hurricane?
It is hard to say for certain when Legoland Florida will reopen after a hurricane as it really does depend on the severity and impact of each individual hurricane or tropical storm. For Irma the parks were shut for three days while the most recent closure for hurricane Dorian forced the parks to only close for one day.
The parks will reopen at the earliest possible opportunity but be assured that safety is of paramount importance to the staff and the parks will not reopen until it is safe to do so.
Should I cancel my trip if there is likely to be a hurricane at Legoland Florida?
This is such a hard one to say as it is such a personal choice. While I am not going to recommend anyone actively go to a place during a hurricane things you might want to consider if and when you are considering cancelling your trip are:
How far out is the hurricane and how far out is your trip
If the hurricane is due to hit tomorrow and your trip starts tomorrow it is probably wise to cancel or delay by a few days. However if your trip and hurricane forecast is seven days away then you may want to wait it out before canceling. Hurricanes can change path and strength quickly so monitoring is worth while.
How long is your vacation
if you are going for a month and the hurricane is one day of it then you may want to postpone however if you are only going for a couple of days and the hurricane is hitting over this period then you may well be better rescheduling
Have you traveled to Legoland during a hurricane? We would love to hear your experience below?