The four Walt Disney World theme parks are closing early on Wednesday, October 9, 2024 with Disney Springs and resort-wide transportion also impacted.
On Wednesday, October 9 Disney's Hollywood Studios and Disney's Animal Kingdom were set to close at 1:00pm eastern. Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Disney Springs follow with a 2:00pm closure. Plans currently call for these locations to remain closed on Thursday, October 10. Mickey's Not So Scary Halloween Party scheduled for October 10 is also cancelled, and ticket holders will automatically receive a refund.
Walt Disney World transportation will be unavailable during the park closure. This includes buses, watercraft, monorail and Disney's Skyliner. Minnie Vans are set to cease operations at 4:00pm on October 10.
Also closed on Wednesday and Thursday are Disney's minigolf courses and Typhoon Lagoon waterpark.
Current guests are being accommodated at Walt Disney World resorts. The resorts typically recruit staff members for a "ride out" team to remain on property throughout the storm. Additional grab-and-go food options are typically made available to guests. Resort management will communicate regarding the status of amenities.
Guests were previously evacuated from the Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort, the cabins at Disney's Wilderness Lodge and the Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort.
Hurricane Milton is currently a category 4 storm, though it is expected to weaken as it makes landfall in the Tampa area and proceeds across the state. It should move over the Orlando area around 7am on Thursday morning, though the storm center will be preceeded by strong winds and rain. The Disney area is likely to see sustained winds around 70 miles per hour along with more than 12 inches of rain.
Disney will continue to update the status of its resorts and theme parks on their weather information page.
