Navigating Climate Change and Extreme Weather: A Case of Walt Disney World

Abstract

<p align="justify">In October 2024, Hurricane Milton forced Walt Disney World to close its theme parks and Disney Springs for 1.5 days, resulting in a 4% drop in annual attendance and a US$125 million profit loss. As climate change increases extreme weather events, Disney’s response—keeping most hotels open, informing guests via its app, offering discounts, and relying on dedicated staff—demonstrated effective crisis management. Investments in resilient infrastructure, like reinforced power lines and steel rides, further enhance preparedness. However, challenges remain, including the need for more indoor attractions and flexible ticket policies. Ultimately, theme parks must adopt broader sustainability initiatives to address climate risks. <p align="justify">2024 年 10 月，飓风“米尔顿”（Hurricane Milton）迫使华特迪士尼世界（Walt Disney World）关闭了旗下主题乐园和迪士尼泉（Disney Springs）达 1.5 天，导致其年入园游客量下降了 4%，利润损失达 1.25 亿美元。随着气候变化导致极端天气事件日益频发，迪士尼的应对措施——保持大多数酒店照常营业、通过官方 App 实时向旅客告知最新动态、提供折扣优惠以及依靠敬业的员工团队——展现出了高效的危机管理能力。此外，其在韧性基础设施方面的投资，例如加固的输电线路和全钢制游乐设施，进一步增强了防灾准备。然而，挑战依然存在，包括需要建设更多室内游乐景点以及制定更具弹性的门票退改政策。归根结底，主题乐园必须采取更广泛的可持续发展举措，以应对长期气候风险。