Hurricane Milton Forces Disney World Closures
We’ll continue to update this article with any Hurricane Milton-related information.
Thursday, October 10, 6:30 PM
Disney shared park hours for tomorrow. Annual Passholder park reservations are all gone, so those without one will have to wait until 2 PM to enter the parks. You can expect to see plenty of vloggers with their cameras at the ready at rope drop tomorrow morning.
Magic Kingdom
- Early entry from 7:30 AM to 8 AM
- Regular park hours from 8 AM to 6 PM
- Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party from 7 PM to 12 AM
EPCOT
- Early Entry from 8:30 AM to 9 AM
- Regular park hours from 9 AM to 9 PM
Hollywood Studios
- Early Entry from 8:30 AM to 9 AM
- Regular park hours from 9 AM to 9 PM
Animal Kingdom
- Early Entry from 7:30 AM to 8 AM
- Regular park hours from 8 AM to 8 PM
- Extended Evening Hours from 8 PM to 10 PM
Animal Kingdom at night is the best! If you’re staying at a deluxe resort, get over there to see the Tree of Life Awakenings during Extended Evening Hours.
Thursday, October 10, 12:15 PM
Universal Orlando will reopen tomorrow:
“Our hearts are with all those impacted by Hurricane Milton, and we are dedicated to helping our community recovery. We are also grateful for the hard work of our Team Members during this challenging time.
“On Friday, Oct. 11, we look forward to welcoming back our guests as we return to our normal operation across all our theme parks, CityWalk and Halloween Horror Nights inclusive of Early Park Admission for Universal Orlando Hotel guests, Premier Passholders and Preferred Passholders.”
This is great news all around.
Thursday, October 10, 12:10 PM
This is a great sign that Hurricane Milton didn’t wreak too much havoc on Disney World. The parks will be open tomorrow.
“We’re grateful Walt Disney World Resort weathered the storm, and we are currently assessing the impacts to our property to prepare for reopening the theme parks, Disney Springs and possibly other areas on Friday, October 11. Our hearts are with our fellow Floridians who were impacted by this storm.”
Wednesday, October 9, 8:00 PM
Disney has requested hotel guests shelter in their rooms:
Walt Disney World and Vero Beach Resort Hotel Guests: Please prepare to shelter indoors in your room or building beginning at 8:30 PM, as the storm is expected to intensify.
Wednesday, October 9, 1:45 PM
Disney announced that parks will be closed on Thursday, October 10. Disney Springs will not open in the evening.
On Thursday, October 10, our theme parks and Disney Springs will remain closed, and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will be cancelled (event tickets will be refunded).
For partially used multi-day tickets, ticket expiration dates will be adjusted to expire on October 11, 2025.
Tuesday, October 8, 3:30 PM
The last theme park domino has fallen. Disney World has finally announced that its parks will close tomorrow afternoon.
On Oct. 9, our theme parks and Disney Springs will be closed in phases beginning at 1 p.m. Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom will close at 1 p.m. Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Disney Springs will close at 2 p.m.
It is likely the theme parks will remain closed on Thursday, Oct. 10. We will consider opening Disney Springs Thursday late afternoon with limited offerings.
This includes the cancellation of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom on Oct. 10. Event tickets will be refunded.
Some have questioned why Disney would open the parks at all tomorrow, but Disney feels confident in their decision:
“The Walt Disney World Emergency Operations Center is connected to weather experts and community leaders. Please know these adjustments have been made in order to leave plenty of time for our Guests and Cast Members to return to their Resort hotels or homes safely hours before higher winds are expected to reach Central Florida.”
Disney also made the following hurricane-related announcements.
- Walt Disney World Transportation will stop operating on Wednesday, October 9 after Disney Springs and the Walt Disney World theme parks close.
- Limited Minnie Van and Mears taxi service will be available to Walt Disney World Resort Guests.
- Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park, Winter Summerland Miniature Golf and Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf will be closed on Wednesday, October 9. Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park remains closed for planned refurbishment.
- There are no events planned for ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex until the weekend.
- Effective immediately, we will not enforce cancellation policies until further notice for dining and other experiences.
- Prepaid bookable experiences will be automatically refunded within 7 to 10 business days.
Tuesday, October 8, 2:30 PM
Universal Orlando just announced it will close tomorrow at 2 PM and will remain closed until Friday morning.
On Wednesday, Oct. 9, Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Universal CityWalk will be open until 2 p.m., weather permitting, and will be closed on Thursday, Oct. 10. Volcano Bay will be closed Wednesday and Thursday. Hotel operations will continue.
Tuesday, October 8, 10 AM
Thankfully, Milton lost a little steam overnight. Now a Category 4 storm, it’s expected to make landfall as a Cat 3. It will pass over Orlando as a Cat 2. Still not great but much better than yesterday’s news.
Disney has extended its hurricane policy until Monday.
Due to potential weather impacts to guest travel plans, change and cancellation fees imposed by Disney will be waived for check-in dates of Tuesday, 10/8 – Monday, 10/14.
Learn more about Disney’s hurricane policies here.
Monday, October 7, 6 PM
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, Wilderness Lodge’s Copper Creek Cabins, and the Treehouse Villas will close on Wednesday morning at 11 AM. We still don’t know when the parks will close, but Disney confirmed that it will be business as usual on Tuesday. Milton will make landfall Wednesday evening.
While other Disney World hotels will remain open during the storm, no new reservations are being accepted. That will allow Disney to relocate impacted guests to other properties. Here are the full details:
- Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground (including dining and recreation locations), the Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will temporarily close beginning at 11:00 AM on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
- Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa are likely to remain closed until Sunday, Oct. 13.
- The Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge will likely reopen on Friday, Oct. 11.
The National Weather Service issued a hurricane Warning for most of Florida this afternoon: “This warning is issued up to 36 hours before hazardous conditions begin. Urgently complete efforts to protect life and property.”
This marks the third time in three years that Disney World will have to alter operations due to hurricanes. In September 2022, Hurricane Ian caused a two-day closure, followed by Hurricane Nicole, which led to a day-and-a-half closure in November 2022.
Hurricane Milton, heading east through the Gulf Of Mexico, is gaining strength at an incredible rate. The second fastest to reach Category 5, the storm is currently packing winds of 175 mph. And while Disney World is roughly 80 miles inland, high winds and torrential rain are forecasted for Central Florida. Wind damage and flooding could be significant.
Tampa International Airport (TPA) has announced it will suspend all operations starting at 9 AM on Tuesday, October 8. Orlando International Airport (MCO) is ceasing commercial operations on Wednesday morning. Evacuation routes will soon allow for “emergency shoulder use” to help mitigate the crowded highways.
It’s important to remember that thousands of Cast Members will have to work during this storm, helping guests while worrying about their own homes, families, and friends. I’m sure they’ll appreciate smiles, thank yous, and plenty of Cast Member compliments. You can send those in the MDE app.
Hurricane Milton is a significant weather event and will affect Disney World Cast Members and guests. We’re thinking about our friends in Florida this week.
Read more: Hurricane Milton Diary
