Disney World halts reservations in preparation for Hurricane Milton

Brady MacDonald, The Orange County Register on Oct 7, 2024

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Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and other Florida theme parks are “closely monitoring” Hurricane Milton as the Category 5 storm moves through the Gulf of Mexico and heads toward the central part of the state.

Hurricane Milton is forecast to make landfall on Wednesday, Oct. 9, on Florida’s west coast and cut across the middle of the state, where Disney World is located.

“Walt Disney World resort is currently operating under normal conditions,” according to the Disney World website. “We are closely monitoring the path of the projected storm as we continue to prioritize the safety of our guests and cast members.”

Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa and Legoland Florida issued similar statements.

“As of now, our park operations and hours are continuing as normal,” according to a Universal Orlando statement posted to Twitter. “We are closely monitoring the weather.”

Walt Disney World has blocked all new theme park reservations for Wednesday, Oct. 9. Reservations remain available for the Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Disney’s Animal Kingdom and Epcot on Tuesday, Oct. 8, and Thursday, Oct. 10.

Disney World has also paused all new hotel reservations to prepare for the storm, according to WDW News Today.

Disney World has waived hotel cancellation and change fees for check-in dates through Saturday, Oct. 12.

Other Florida theme parks have similar inclement weather guidelines that allow visitors to reschedule or cancel theme park and hotel reservations if the National Weather Service issues a hurricane or tropical storm warning.

Florida has declared a state of emergency for the central part of the state where Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, Busch Gardens Tampa and Legoland Florida are located. Florida emergency management officials are preparing for the largest evacuations since 2017’s Hurricane Irma.

Florida’s major theme parks rarely close due to tropical storms that bring rain and wind to the inland vacation destinations. All the parks currently remain open with normal operations.

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