With just a little over a month and a half left in Hurricane season, Hurricane Milton is currently speeding toward Florida.
As a result, Disney World is taking no chances. The resort has extended its Hurricane Policy for a second time, giving guests some much-needed flexibility as the massive Category 4 storm barrels toward the state’s west coast. While the parks are currently open, the big question on everyone’s mind is whether Hurricane Milton could cause Disney to shut down later this week.
Disney World’s Hurricane Policy Gets Another Update
This latest update means the policy now covers bookings through October 14, giving guests the option to cancel or reschedule their trips without penalty. Initially, the policy was only in place through October 12, but Disney quickly adjusted that as Milton’s path became clearer.
If you have a Disney trip planned this week, don’t panic just yet! As of now, Disney has announced that parks will remain open under normal conditions on Tuesday, October 8. However, this could change depending on how Milton affects Central Florida in the coming days.
For those unfamiliar with the policy, Disney’s Hurricane Policy is designed to provide flexibility when a storm threatens to derail your magical vacation. It allows guests with hotel bookings to modify or cancel their plans if a hurricane warning is issued for the Orlando area or their hometown. With Hurricane Milton expected to hit by late Wednesday or early Thursday, Disney has been proactive, ensuring that guests can adjust their plans without penalty.
Will Disney World Close on Wednesday?
It’s too soon to say for sure, but the fact that Disney has extended its Hurricane Policy twice might be a clue that they expect disruptions beyond the storm’s immediate impact. Milton is currently a Category 4 storm, and while Orlando isn’t right on the coast, hurricanes of this strength can still bring heavy rain, high winds, and even flooding to the area.
Disney has closed in the past for hurricanes, and depending on how Milton tracks, they could announce closures for later this week.
So far, the only closures confirmed are for Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and the Copper Creek Cabins, which will shut down starting Wednesday, October 9. But with a storm of this magnitude, more closures could be on the horizon.
Disney’s Proactive Approach to Guest Safety
One thing we can always count on is Disney’s commitment to safety. When Hurricane Irma rolled through in 2017, Disney closed its parks for nearly two full days to ensure the safety of both guests and cast members. So even if Milton causes temporary closures, Disney has a history of bouncing back quickly, often reopening the parks within 24 to 48 hours after a storm.
If you’re planning to visit Disney this week, keep checking the latest updates from Disney World to stay informed. Whether you’re hoping to ride Rise of the Resistance or sip your way around EPCOT’s Food and Wine Festival, you’ll want to stay tuned in case Milton brings more than just some rain to the Happiest Place on Earth!
