Just months after Hurricane Ian forced Walt Disney World to close temporarily, the resort is preparing to shut down again in the wake of Hurricane Nicole. Nicole began as a tropical storm but was announced as an official hurricane around 6pm on 11/9. The impacts of Nicole will reach Florida before she makes landfall, prompting Walt Disney World to take preventative measures in order to keep guests and cast members safe. Below is an overview of how Walt Disney World is approaching this situation.
Update 11/9/22 8:45pm EST: Walt Disney World has announced a phased closure and reopening for its theme parks. Additional information below.
Hurricane Nicole
Florida’s east coast is expected to receive the worst of Nicole, with possible coastal flooding, beach erosion, and damage to infrastructure. Central Florida is expected to see high winds and possible flash flooding due to the enormous size of this tropical storm. Weather reports indicate that Florida may even see some isolated tornadoes during the storm, and the possibility of power outages is high.
While it isn’t entirely unusual for a hurricane to hit central Florida this time of year, this would be the first hurricane to hit the state in November in 40 years! Many theme park guests from other parts of the country are unprepared for this kind of intense weather Thankfully, Walt Disney World takes many precautions when confronted by this scenario.
Walt Disney World Closures
While Walt Disney World had previously stated the parks would continue operating under normal conditions, as of 11 AM November 9, 20222, plans have changed. Here are the latest updates from the Walt Disney World website.
While this schedule may change, as of 7:00 PM Wednesday, November 9, we are planning to make the following operational adjustments as we continue to prioritize the safety of our Cast Members and Guests during the storm:
THEME PARKS
Walt Disney World Resort theme parks will reopen in a phased approach beginning at 12:00 PM Thursday, November 10. Planned theme park operating hours based on current projections are as follows.
- Magic Kingdom Park: Noon to 6:00 PM (Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party is scheduled for 7:00 PM to midnight.)
- EPCOT: 1:00 PM to 9:00 PM
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park: 1:00 PM to 7:00 PM
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios: 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM (Fantasmic! will not be presented on Thursday, November 10.)
Transportation to theme parks will begin 30 minutes prior to the scheduled park reopening time.
Reservations for bookable experiences within the theme parks will resume at the scheduled park reopening time
As previously shared, extended evening theme park hours at Magic Kingdom will be canceled Wednesday, November 9.
To align with modified theme park hours, nighttime spectaculars will be canceled Wednesday, November 9, including Disney Enchantment at Magic Kingdom park, Harmonious at EPCOT, and Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Partially used multi-day theme park tickets with a validity window impacted by Hurricane Nicole will be automatically extended within 24 hours to allow use of the remaining unused ticket days through September 20, 2023. In order to enter a park, both a park reservation and valid ticket for the same park on the same date are required.
WATER PARKS AND MINI GOLF
- Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park will remain closed Thursday, November 10. (Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park is currently closed.)
- Winter Summerland Miniature Golf and Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf will remain closed Thursday, November 10.
Disney Springs
- Disney Springs will begin a phased reopening at 12:00 PM, Thursday, November 10.
- Disney Bus transportation from Disney Springs will resume at 2:00 PM Thursday, November 10.
Walt Disney World Resort Hotels
- Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground is anticipated to reopen Thursday, November 10, following an assessment of storm impacts.
- Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will reopen for Guests checking in Thursday, November 10.
- The Galactic Starcruiser voyage scheduled to begin tomorrow, November 10, will be canceled. Disney is reaching out to guests with reservations to provide more info.
- At this time, all other Walt Disney World Resort hotels remain open to Guests.
- Character breakfasts at Disney Resort hotels will not include Characters Thursday morning, November 10, so we can accommodate more Resort Guests staying at these locations for breakfast.
The Fort Wilderness campsite at Walt Disney World shared that it is requiring guests to leave the property by 3pm November 9. And Disney further recommends that those guests either book alternative lodging or cut their WDW trip short due to the tropical storm/hurricane.
Cancellation Policies
In the event of extreme weather conditions, Disney has policies in place to make things more convenient for guests. Effective immediately, Disney is not enforcing cancellation policies for dining and upcharge experiences, such as Savi’s Workshop and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique. Guest with pre-paid reservations will have their reservation canceled and will be refunded to the original form of payment. For more information, you can either check out WDW’s Weather Updates page or give Disney a call at (407) 939-5277.
How To Prepare For A Hurricane
Many Florida residents have already begun preparing for the storm, and Disney resort guests should consider doing the same. During times of extreme weather, Disney has instructed guests to remain inside their hotel rooms for extended periods of time. It’s a good idea to stock up on key items such as water bottles, snacks that don’t require refrigeration, and activities to keep everyone occupied should you lose power. Guests should consider charging any items with a battery, such as mobile devices, MagicBand+, and portable chargers/battery packs. Keep in mind that this is especially important for guests without Key to the World cards, since you’ll need a MagicBand, MagicBand+, or mobile phone for hotel room entry.
You’ll also want to get your hands on some raincoats or ponchos now because you’re guaranteed to need them. Even navigating around your hotel for a few minutes can leave you feeling like you’ve just hopped off of Splash Mountain.
Other Theme Park Closures & Updates
Walt Disney World isn’t the only theme park that is bracing for Hurricane Nicole. Here are some of the other major theme parks in Florida’s responses to handling the current situation.
Seaworld
The following is an update from the Universal Orlando Resort website:
Due to Tropical Storm Nicole, Universal’s Volcano Bay is currently closed and Universal Orlando Resort, including CityWalk, will close early on Wednesday, Nov. 9 at 5 p.m. Our hotels will remain operational as they focus on taking care of our guests.
We anticipate a phased and delayed reopening on Thursday, Nov. 10 and will update once we assess conditions. Please check back for updates.
The Universal Orlando Resort Guest Contact Center is currently experiencing higher than expected wait times and is currently assisting guests whose travel is directly affected by the approaching storm. If your travel dates are after November 13, we would appreciate if you would call us back at a later date.
Our hotels will remain operational as they focus on taking care of our guests. If you have an existing reservation for arrival through Friday that you would like to cancel or modify, please continue to hold.
We want you to feel safe and will work with you directly to best accommodate your needs. If you have additional questions or need to change or cancel your travel plans, please contact a member of our Guest Contact Center team by calling 800-711-0080.
Busch Gardens
Stay Safe, Everyone!
We hope that Hurricane Nicole passes by without causing too much of a scene, but it’s always a good idea to be prepared… just in case.
Have you ever been to Walt Disney World during a tropical storm or hurricane? Do you have any advice for first-timers? Let us know in the comments below!
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