Hurricane Warning Issued for Disney World & Resorts Closing (UPDATE)
Hurricane Milton is forecast to make landfall in Florida near Tampa Bay with a projected path through Orlando. Walt Disney World has started to announce resort closures & adjustments as a result of the storm–here are updates on all of the changes, policies, impacts and more. (Updated October 8, 2024 at 11:30 am.)
If you’re just curious about what Walt Disney World and other Central Florida theme parks are doing, we finally have received news from all of the major players. See Walt Disney World is Closing Due to Hurricane Milton for a rundown of the closures and operational changes at WDW, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, and beyond.
As of its 5 p.m. update on Tuesday, the National Hurricane Center reported that Milton had regained Category 5 major storm status with maximum-sustained winds of 165 mph and higher gusts. Milton is located 480 miles southwest of Tampa moving east-northeast at 9 mph. The National Hurricane Center warns that Milton is a potentially catastrophic hurricane at the top of its wind scale, and one of the most destructive hurricanes on record for west-central Florida.
The center of Hurricane Milton is likely to make landfall along the west-central coast of Florida sometime on Wednesday night, and move east-northeastward across central Florida through Thursday. The system has slowed down since yesterday, resulting in the delayed-arrival as contrasted with previous forecasts. Milton will continue to weaken ahead of making landfall, but as it does, The forecast shows its wind field roughly doubling in size by landfall.
The latest NHC forecast track ranges from Cape Coral in southwest Florida’s Gulf Coast north up to near Homosassa Springs, and the consensus path has now drifted slightly south of Tampa Bay with landfall late Wednesday or after midnight Thursday still a major Category 3 hurricane with 125 mph winds and 155 mph gusts. The system is now tracking south of Walt Disney World through Central Florida, too. A shift to the south is an optimistic development and will be a silver lining in what’s sure to be a damaging storm if this trend continues.
However, the NHC reiterates that it is critical to remember that even at ~30 hours away, NHC’s track forecasts can be off by an average of 60-70 miles, which means we still can’t pinpoint an exact landfall location, especially if the hurricane wobbles as it approaches the coast. After landfall, Milton is forecast to cross Florida and emerge over the Atlantic waters on Thursday.
All of Walt Disney World is now under a hurricane warning, as both Osceola and Orange Counties have been upgraded from watch status to fully-fledged hurricane warnings. As of the latest update at 11 am on October 8, 2024 from the National Hurricane Center, here are the key messages for Hurricane Milton:
A large area of destructive storm surge, with highest inundations of 10 ft or greater, is expected along a portion of the west-central coast of the Florida Peninsula. If you are in the Storm Surge Warning area, this is an extremely life-threatening situation, and you should evacuate today if ordered by local officials. There will likely not be enough time to wait to leave on Wednesday.
Devastating hurricane-force winds are expected along portions of the west coast of Florida, where a Hurricane Warning is in effect. Milton is forecast to remain a hurricane as it crosses the Florida Peninsula and life-threatening hurricane-force winds, especially in gusts, are expected to spread inland across the peninsula. Preparations to protect life and property, and to be ready for long-duration power outages, should be complete by tonight.
Heavy rainfall across the Florida Peninsula through Thursday brings the risk of life-threatening flash and urban flooding along with moderate to major river flooding, especially in areas where coastal and inland flooding combine to increase the overall flood threat.
For the most, it’s currently business as usual at Walt Disney World. As of right now, the company has not indicated that it plans on closing Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, or Disney Springs. However, there are other closures and less significant operational impacts due to Hurricane Milton (see below).
As Milton continues to slow down and no longer appears it’ll impact Central Florida until Thursday, we’re no longer expecting any major closures, cancellations, or shortened hours on Tuesday, October 8. It also wouldn’t surprise us if Walt Disney World will try to salvage a portion of Wednesday, operating with a reduced schedule. We’re expecting an announcement later today (October 8, 2024), potentially around 3 or 4 pm Eastern.
With that said, we do have a couple of material updates. The first is that Walt Disney World has extended its hurricane policy. This had been informally instituted on a case-by-case basis, and was officially enacted for all guests wanting to cancel their vacations through Saturday. Now, that has been officially extended to through at least Monday, October 14, 2024.
Due to potential weather impacts to guest travel plans, change and cancellation fees imposed by Disney will be waived for check-in dates through Sunday, October 13, 2024 Monday, October, 2024 (extended again).
Most room-only and vacation packages can be modified, or cancelled online, including changes to travel dates, without fees. Packages including air transportation or other services provided by third parties, or those with travel protection, cannot be modified or cancelled online. For Guests with these reservations, please call us for assistance.
Unofficially, it’s also likely that guests currently staying at Walt Disney World resort hotels whose travel plans are impacted by Hurricane Milton may receive a discounted rate to extend their stay, if needed, by visiting the front desk. Prior to this, Walt Disney World blocked new bookings over the weekend. Between that and cancellations, there should be wide open availability for those who need to extend or evacuate from the coast.
Additionally, Walt Disney World has announced that it is currently operating under normal conditions and will continue to be on Tuesday, October 8, 2024.
Looking ahead, Walt Disney World is making adjustments based on the latest weather forecast and some areas with unique environments. The following resorts will temporarily close beginning at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, October 9, 2024:
- Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground
- Cascade Cabins at Copper Creek Villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge
- Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa
Note that Wilderness Lodge and Saratoga Springs Resort are not closing–just the rustic cabins that are nestled in wooded areas at each resort.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa are likely to remain closed until Sunday, October 13, 2024. The Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge will likely reopen on Friday, October 11, 2024.
The reopening timeline for these resorts remains tentative, and subject to safety conditions. Guests who need assistance in booking alternative accommodations at another Disney Resort hotel should call 407-939-2744.
Elsewhere around Central Florida, park operations and hours are continuing as normal at Universal Orlando. However, it’s a near-certainty that Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and CityWalk will all close for portions or the entirety of Wednesday and Thursday. Universal and Disney almost always mirror the closures of one another.
LEGOLAND Florida Resort will be closed Wednesday and Thursday due to Hurricane Milton. This closure also includes Peppa Pig Theme Park. LEGOLAND Florida Resort will be OPEN in a limited capacity, including to guests with existing reservations.
Due to the projected path of Hurricane Milton, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando, and Discovery Cove parks have enacted its Named Storm Policy and will be temporarily closed on:
- Busch Gardens Tampa will be closed on Tuesday, October 8; Wednesday, October 9; and Thursday, October 10. Please check social media for updates regarding park opening on Friday, October 11. Howl-O-Scream is cancelled for Thursday, October 10. Tickets may be used for any remaining Howl-O-Scream event nights.
- Adventure Island remains running on its seasonal schedule without changes at this time. Please check social media for updates regarding park opening on Friday, October 11.
- SeaWorld Orlando remains OPEN and is continuing to monitor conditions and the path of Hurricane Milton.
- Discovery Cove remains OPEN. The park has enacted its named Storm Policy for Wednesday, October 9 and Thursday, October 10.
All date-intended tickets for closure days have been extended through December 31, 2024 and requires no action to be taken. Precautions are in place following the parks’ comprehensive weather preparedness plan to ensure the safety of animals and ambassadors during this time. Guests are encouraged to check back on our website and follow our social media channels for updates.
It’s worth emphasizing that Walt Disney World currently intends upon operating under normal conditions on Tuesday. With past hurricanes or tropical storms, it’s become commonplace for the parks to close early or cancel nighttime spectaculars, often with a same-day announcement. Walt Disney World’s intention is to operate as normal, but safety comes first in the order of the Four Keys.
We still think there’s a chance that Walt Disney World will cancel Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party. It really depends upon the forecast for rain, which is currently a bit spotty. If Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party looks like it’s going to be a total rainout–with both parades, stage shows and other entertainment almost certainly cancelled–they’ll probably just cut their losses and cancel it preemptively.
In past such scenarios, we’ve seen one of two things happen: either hour-plus lines at City Hall with guests requesting refunds or Walt Disney World getting ahead of that by simply offering them automatically because they anticipated as much. That seems possible with tomorrow night’s MNSSHP, so Disney might just go ahead and cancel it. That might disappoint guests today, but it beats wasting everyone’s time and even more money to host the event only to end up disappointing them tomorrow.
That’s it in terms of official announcements or changes from Walt Disney World. At least, for now. There absolutely will be operational changes, cancellations, and closures. That will happen, without a doubt, given Milton’s strength and tracking.
The bulk of Hurricane Milton’s impact on Central Florida is forecast to be felt late on Wednesday and into Thursday, so the company likely views it as premature for any announcements about operations. While this is a bit frustrating given the consensus models on Milton, it’s also understandable given that Disney has been burned by past storms slowing down or shifting at the last minute. Our expectation is that Walt Disney World will announce a closure of the parks on before end-of-business on Tuesday, as it becomes increasingly clear that Milton will pose an actual threat–beyond just wet weather and wind–to Walt Disney World.
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Are you concerned that Hurricane Milton will impact Walt Disney World? Are you currently in Central Florida? Have you visited during past tropical storms or hurricanes? Any additional info, thoughts, or first-hand experiences to share about riding out a hurricane at Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with our assessment? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
We plan to go again in 26, looks like we’ll have to take out $$ loan!!
I booked October 6th to 12th at Disney World. I was going with grandson who has a wish with Wishing Star Origination. I was staying on Disney property and my family was staying at the Give the kids the world. We arrived October 6th at 10:30pm. But was I informed after we landed that Give the kids the world was closing October 7th and we had a return flight October 7th.
I did not even get to my resort at Disney World but I did check in on line (I did not get my “key”). As I was trying to get a refund from Disney World I learned that if I had not done the early check in on line the first Disney cast member could have done the refund but since I had checked in and started the check in process
I had to go to guest services to be helped. I would have saved myself over 3 hours on hold (yes I understand that everyone was incredible busy, I was not upset of the hold time).
But I suggest not doing check in early, wait until you arrive on site to check in. Save yourself and others time if you need to cancel your reservations for any unexpected reason.
The entire Disney World cast members were wonderful help!! We will be going back next year and I can’t wait.
At discovery cove they said leave the dolphins in their enclosure (keeper told us during our encounter) and when we went on a safari at wilderness ranch safari they leave the animals out as well. They say they panic inside and can cause harm to themselves trying to get to safety but they know what to do instinctively in the wild. We are supposed to fly out Friday night, not sure what to do. Hoping all the residents and visitors stay safe, that is the most concerning priority.
Fly into Florida that is…
Looks like Universal just pulled the trigger.
Closing at 2 pm October 9th and close all day October 10th.
That includes obviously the HHN parties on the 9th and 10th, both cancelled.
Assuming Disney is going to follow very soon.
My wife and I lived in Lakeland for about 5 years and were lucky to never have to deal with a hurricane of this magnitude, let alone one that is going through Central Florida. My thoughts are with those who are in Florida. Out of curiosity, now that Dinsey has gone to “pre-purchase” with lighting lanes, how do they handle cancellations of vacations and those who have already purchased everything ahead of arrival. Is this on a case-by-case basis? Will they be refunded just like their hotel accommodations? Will the pre-purchases be moved to when/if they reschedule their trip? I assume you could ask the same question about MNSSHP. This was one of the things I thought about when Disney went to pre-purchased lighting lanes: They already have your money, and what happens when it is out of everyone’s control?
They will refund you but you may have to proactively ask. I had a Lightning Lane for Tron purchased for this Friday, so when I knew I was leaving early I went up to guest relations and she refunded it without any questions whatsoever. There is also the option within the app to move your dates around (pending availability for ILLs). But moving my park reservation did not change anything…it’s just like dining in that regard.
Hi – long time Disney fans and love your newsletters, website, etc. We were there when Andrew went through and have pics of all the parks with basically a million ponchos every day LOL. Just curious – Tom, do you know what they can do protection-wise for the animals at the Animal Kingdom? Are there barns or buildings that are built to withstand hurricanes? Or do they have underground areas? Also, would they (or have they ever) utilize the Utilidors in any way that you know of? Thanks!
I am so glad you asked this! I was wondering the same thing.
My friend and I love the Animal Kingdom and the Lodge so much it inspired us to go to Tanzania a few years ago. Of course worried about all the people, but also the wonderful animals we love to be near!
We were in Epcot the evening before a hurricane was arriving and they closed the park around 6 and that was totally understandable. As a Californian, I still prefer hurricanes to earthquakes. At least you have some warning and CA is unfortunately very due.
Spent the night in Daytona Beach for my first and only hurricane during Charley 2004, the year they had four hurricanes. That one was fierce, but fast. I was supposed to go to Disney World the next day, but added a day at my resort, which was the only place to have power except Krispy Kreme donuts in Daytona (and I don’t mean they had a generator). I was on the first floor and my French doors were leaking loads of water. It was quite hair raising. I understand Disney’s power is underground, so they can ride out a storm better than most. I still pray for all those staying there and working during the event for safe and sound outcomes.
Love the Diagon Alley pic! It looks wet, which is probably helped getting a picture of it empty, but that still must have been a difficult shot. You’d need something to set your camera on so it didn’t get wet, and then its difficult to site a shot without looking through the viewfinder. Well done!
Thanks! That was an EXTREMELY rainy night a few years back. We hit both Magic Kingdom and Universal that night because the parks were so empty.
I actually did set the camera directly on the ground (body has weather sealing)–it’s situations like that when the tilt-out LCD screen really comes in handy. There’s no way I could’ve seen through the viewfinder without putting my face in a puddle!
Agree. And castle photo is equally impressive!
Disney is not concerned about the lives or f their guests or employees, only the dollars they might lose. I pray that all these people stay safe and don’t lose their lives.
That’s an awful thing to say and one not accurate at all.
Are you a cast member or know one? Or is this an outside opinion looking in? It is best not to make assumptions on little information.
I’m thinking not just of guests but of all the employees who make the parks run. I hope WDW acts quickly so that employees have time to evacuate.
I’m worried that it’s already too late.
We are at SSR now. We made the decision to ride it out because our adult daughter lives in Kissimmee and works at the parks and we want to be here in case she needs us. So far there has been very little communication from the resort re: Milton. We had a voicemail on our resort room phone stating that a CM would come to our villa tomorrow to bring in our patio furniture. We rode out Matthew years ago at BRV so we know what to expect. We have plenty of food and a full tank of gas when it is time to go.
Yup trademark Disney with little to zero comms about a hurricane that is coming. Been there. Done that. Your situation is unique. If I was an out of stater I’d get out now.
While relocating guests out of Ft. Wilderness was a given: hurricanes and tents don’t mix, trees falling onto RVs, and the new DVC Cabins there is a huge risk, as unfortunately are the Treehouse Villas, one of my favorite spots in WDW. During Hurricane Katrina, my brother’s neighbor across the street took 20 pine trees into his house. The Treehouse Villa area could get wrecked, and don’t be surprised if a number of the cabins at Ft. Wilderness are as well.
Trees are such an important part of the WDW experience, and if this storm holds true, a lot of them are going to come down. Which is sad enough, but some of them might come down in damaging and dangerous ways, such as the cypress trees at the Wilderness Lodge, that could actually go into the main building or smash the walkways leading to the boat transport to the Magic Kingdom.
It’s sad to think about (although obviously nothing compared to the catastrophic damage and loss of life potentially facing Tampa), but you’re right.
I also found it interesting that Walt Disney World is already saying Fort Wilderness and the Treehouse Villas are likely to remain closed until Sunday. IIRC, that’s the first time they’ve ever stated up front that one of the resorts would probably be closed so long after the storm. Obviously there’s good reason for that, but still caught my attention.
Bald Cypress trees, like those big beautiful ones at Wilderness Lodge are very resilient in hurricanes – I think it’s the knees that anchor them so well. Pine trees, on the other hand are not fun during a wind storm.
When I was living in Tampa in 2004, I recall seeing palm trees bent over so far as to almost kiss the ground, then stand straight back up. Pretty amazing. Unlike the taller oak in my back yard, which split in half and popped 4 holes in the roof. Luckily, it landed on a truss and didn’t go right through. I was in New Orleans when it happened and had to stay an extra day while the airport was closed…
We have never been to Disney during a storm or hurricane. We have always been blessed with great weather. We have noticed in the last year or so you have experienced more rain. The main concern is the people’s safety. I hope it will not affect people’s vacation time for long. God bless you.
This appears to be the realization of the worst case scenario. Now will the guests that are currently on property be evacuated from the complex or will they shelter in place in safe facilities? Could they possibly use the utilidors under the Magic Kingdom as storm shelters? The other question is what about all the animals in Animal Kingdom. Granted with the last hurricane that scored a direct hit on WDW wasn’t as powerful as this one and they had most everything back to business as usual in a couple of days. Hopefully everyone that will have to ride the storm out will stay safe.
I read that almost all animals are brought in to their overnight pens (backstage) during a hurricane, except some water-dwellers (e.g. alligators and turtles), which are safest in their habitat. Interestingly, zoo keepers, trainers, and vet staff sleep on site for 2-3 days, as long as required, on a volunteer basis. The dedication these CMs have is exemplary. Got this info from the sisters of Our Magical Disney Moments. I hope Milton fizzles out quicker than expected and everyone stays safe.