UPDATE: Oct. 9, 2024: Walt Disney World’s theme parks and Disney Springs will be closed in phases beginning at 1 p.m. Wednesday, and it is “likely” the theme parks will remain closed on Thursday, Oct. 10, according to the resort. Universal Studios Florida will close at 2 p.m. Wednesday and remain closed on Thursday, though its hotel operations will continue as normal.
Florida’s Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort have waived cancellation fees for hotel guests amid preparations for Hurricane Milton, according to statements on their respective websites. Disney is also closing some of its lodging options, the resort announced Monday evening.
Hurricane Milton was upgraded from a Category 1 to a Category 5 storm on Monday, after it rapidly intensified, according to the National Hurricane Center on the social media platform X. NHC said the storm poses an “extremely serious risk to Florida.”
While the resorts’ theme parks remain open as of Tuesday morning, Disney and Universal said in statements that they are closely monitoring Milton’s path.
Hurricane preparedness
While the Disney World park is currently operating under normal conditions, the resort announced Monday evening that it would be closing its Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, the Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa as of 11 a.m. ET Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Disney anticipates the Copper Creek Cabins to reopen on Friday, Oct. 11, but the others are likely to remain closed until Sunday, Oct. 13.
Universal Orlando Resort’s website similarly states, “Our park operations and hours are continuing as normal. We are closely monitoring the weather.”
According to both resorts’ hurricane policies, guests who have reservations within seven days of the storm’s projected arrival date can cancel or change their reservations at no additional cost if a hurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area within seven days of one’s scheduled arrival date.
Florida in the hurricane’s path
It’s rare for Disney to close its theme park. The park has only closed 10 times since 1971, according to Florida Today. Nine of those times were due to hurricanes, including 2022’s Hurricane Nicole.
Hurricane Milton is expected to hit Orlando on Wednesday after passing over Tampa. “While fluctuations in intensity are expected, Milton is forecast to remain an extremely dangerous hurricane through landfall in Florida,” the NHC said.
According to the National Weather Service, winds are expected to be strongest in the Tampa area, possibly exceeding 110 miles per hour. In Orlando, winds are projected to fall between 74 to 110 mph.
Lodging operators outside of the city’s most iconic resorts are also keeping an eye on the storm.
“We are closely monitoring the storm and taking every precaution to prepare our guests, team members, and resort for Hurricane Milton,” read a statement on Evermore Orlando Resort’s website. “In constant communication with local authorities and weather agencies, we are securing our facilities and reinforcing emergency protocols.”
In 2023, Orlando welcomed more than 73 million visitors, according to Visit Orlando. Florida overall recorded record tourism numbers for the first quarter of 2024, in part due to the number of international visitors moving closer to pre-pandemic levels, according to Orlando Weekly.
Earlier this year, Orlando International Airport recorded its busiest day ever.
Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort did not immediately respond to a Hotel Dive request for comment.
