FeaturedNewsParks

Disney World Officially Under TORNADO Watch as Hurricane Nears

After days of waiting and watching as things went from bad to worse, Hurricane Milton is set to make landfall in a matter of hours, and Floridians are bracing for impact. Milton began forming in the Gulf of Mexico last week, and it quickly exploded from a Tropical Storm to a Category 5 hurricane.

It has since dropped to a Category 4 storm, but will still be very dangerous and cause a lot of damage when it makes landfall.

Unfortunately, Hurricane Milton will not only bring damaging winds and serious flooding, but it is also causing another dangerous weather pattern — tornadoes.

Satellite image of a large hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico shows a well-defined eye, swirling clouds covering ocean and land, affecting areas from the coast to regions near Disney World. As Hurricane Milton advances, some closures are anticipated due to its path.
Credit: The National Hurricane Center

Related: Last Evacuation and Safety Protocols in Place at Disney World as Hurricane Milton Approaches

Despite the storm, there are still thousands of people vacationing in Florida and visiting theme parks like Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort. Disney cast members and Universal team members are doing everything they can to keep guests safe and sending out warnings and updates when necessary.

And one recent warning is one that guests need to pay attention to.

Earlier today, multiple areas in Southwest Florida were placed under a tornado watch. Multiple tornadoes have been spotted, and the tornado watch was recently expanded to Orange County and Osceola County, the two counties in which Disney World is located.

Screenshot of a Disney World Tornado Watch alert in Central Florida. Effective from 1:15 PM to 9:00 PM, it urges preparedness due to the potential for damaging winds and dangerous conditions.
Credit: National Weather Service

Related: Universal Orlando Resort Announces Total Closure Due to Hurricane Milton

All Walt Disney World Resort theme parks officially closed by 2 p.m. on October 9. Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom closed at 1 p.m., and the Magic Kingdom and EPCOT closed at 2 p.m. The theme parks will remain closed on Thursday, October 10, along with Disney Springs, and Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has been canceled.

In addition to the theme parks, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa also closed on October 9. They will remain closed until Sunday, October 13.

Disney’s resort management has implemented a robust communication strategy to relay critical updates. Regular notifications regarding the storm’s progression, park operations, and safety measures will be communicated through official channels.

Guests are encouraged to remain informed by following updates on Disney’s websites and social media platforms to stay abreast of developing conditions related to the tornado watch and Hurricane Milton.

Hurricane Milton is going to be a very dangerous storm. Do not ignore weather alerts, and listen to all instructions given by local and state authorities. 

Krysten Swensen

A born and bred New England girl living the Disney life in Southern California. I love to read, to watch The Golden Girls, and love everything to do with Disney and Universal. I also love to share daily doses of Disney on my Disney Instagram @BrazzleDazzleDisney!

Related Articles

Back to top button