Whenever a major hurricane is forecasted for Florida, millions of fans start asking — Will Disney World be open?

Forecasters predict that Hurricane Milton will strike the central Gulf Coast, particularly the Tampa Bay area, sometime between 11 p.m. on October 9 and 2 a.m. on October 10.

Florida is bracing for severe damage, as the storm is anticipated to remain a hurricane while moving across the state and will likely enter the Atlantic by Thursday afternoon. Milton may make landfall as either a Category 3 or 4 hurricane.

Disney World has announced that all theme parks and attractions will close in response to the approaching hurricane. Since its grand opening in October 1971, Disney has only temporarily closed for extreme weather conditions and two national emergencies.

Are the Orlando Disney Parks Closed Due to Hurricane Milton?

Walt Disney World Resort’s theme parks and Disney Springs are currently closed, and all transportation services have been suspended. Services like Minnie Van and Mears taxi are experiencing limitations.

According to Disney, it is likely that the theme parks will remain closed on Thursday, October 10. They are considering reopening Disney Springs in the late afternoon with limited offerings. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party scheduled for Thursday is canceled, and refunds will be provided for tickets.

For updates, guests should check Disney World’s official website.

Additionally, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park and mini golf courses will be closed on Wednesday. Disney’s Blizzard Beach is already closed for the season, and ESPN Wide World of Sports has no scheduled events until the weekend.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa began shutting down late Wednesday morning and are expected to remain closed until Sunday.

If the National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane warning for Orlando, as they have for Milton, or for the home area of guests within seven days of their arrival, they can change or cancel any vacation packages or hotel reservations booked directly through the Walt Disney Travel Company without any fees. Unused tickets will keep their value, and guests can change the dates for future use.

What is Disney World’s Policy for Hurricanes?

As stated on its website, Walt Disney World Resort will modify its standard policies and provide refunds in case of a hurricane, if the National Hurricane Center issues a warning for the Orlando area or for a visitor’s area within seven days of their scheduled arrival, *as long as tickets and reservations were booked directly through Disney. Changes to dates are also allowed.

For accommodations booked through third-party providers, guests will need to contact those suppliers directly.

Have People Evacuated to Disney World During Hurricanes?

In past hurricane situations, Disney has offered discounts to residents looking for a safe shelter during storms. For example, during Hurricane Nicole in 2023, Disney provided 50% off stays at Disney resort hotels on certain dates for evacuees, but they did have strict check-in times.