On Wednesday evening, Hurricane Milton made landfall in Florida as a Category 3 storm, affecting over 3 million customers who lost power and causing significant flooding and high winds in various communities. This storm struck just two weeks after Hurricane Helene impacted the state. As Milton began to intensify earlier in the week, Annette Devlin and her daughter opted to seek shelter at the Walt Disney Swan and Dolphin Hotel. They joined many families who checked into hotels at the Walt Disney World Resort to ride out the storm. This decision sparked some controversy online, with critics suggesting residents should evacuate elsewhere. Additionally, the fact that Disney parks did not close until Wednesday afternoon contributed to the backlash, as workers had to show up for shifts instead of having time to prepare for the storm.
Devlin, a 59-year-old nurse, noted that sheltering at the hotel was the best option for her and her 28-year-old daughter Kayla, who has multiple sclerosis and other medical conditions. The two are avid Disney fans and annual passholders who divide their time between Winter Garden, Florida, and Bucks County, Pennsylvania. This marked their second experience of being in Florida during a hurricane, and Devlin shared insights about their experience at the Happiest Place on Earth.
Regarding her reaction to Hurricane Milton, Devlin expressed that she had never faced a hurricane of such magnitude before. Although she had dealt with severe blizzards in Pennsylvania, the storm’s details frightened her, particularly considering her daughter’s medical needs and the potential for flooding that could hinder access to medical assistance.
The decision to shelter at a Disney hotel came quickly. They briefly considered driving back to Pennsylvania or heading to South Carolina but ultimately felt more secure staying at the hotel. Having previously sheltered at the Animal Kingdom Lodge during Hurricane Dorian in 2019, Devlin appreciated Disney’s safety measures, access to air conditioning, and availability of medical personnel.
Upon arrival at the hotel, Devlin found staff working hard to reassure guests and provide assistance as needed. She felt relieved, trusting in Disney’s power infrastructure to avoid outages and was pleased with the staff’s commitment to safety and comfort.
Devlin shared her experience on TikTok, receiving mostly supportive comments alongside a few misunderstandings from those unfamiliar with the area. She emphasized that their decision was purely about safety and the well-being of her daughter.
When Hurricane Milton made landfall, the situation escalated around 10:30 p.m. as emergency alerts began to sound. The high winds caused water to seep into their fifth-floor room, prompting staff to relocate them to another room to avoid flooding concerns. Devlin spent most of the night awake due to the violent weather, describing the noise and intensity as unprecedented.
The following morning, the atmosphere was markedly calmer compared to the chaos of the previous night. Although there was visible damage, including fallen trees and debris in the parking lot, hotel staff worked diligently to restore order. Thankfully, Devlin confirmed that her home was safe and that they had power. Initially booked through Saturday, they planned to return home that day.