As Hurricane Milton barrels towards Florida, the nation holds its breath, wondering about the fate of the beloved Disney World. Scheduled to make landfall along the central Gulf Coast, particularly affecting the Tampa Bay region, the hurricane is expected between 11 p.m. on October 9 and 2 a.m. on October 10. Experts predict that Milton could strike as a Category 3 or 4 hurricane, bringing devastating damage across the state before exiting into the Atlantic by Thursday afternoon.

Key Closure Details:

- **October 9**: Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom will close at 1 p.m. ET.

- **October 9**: Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney Springs will follow suit, closing at 2 p.m. ET.

- The popular **Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party** scheduled for October 10 has been canceled, with refunds to be issued for guests.

Special accommodations have been made for areas with specific environmental conditions, with various resorts also undergoing closures: - **Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground**, **Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge**, and **Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa** will shut down starting at 11 a.m. on October 9. The campground and treehouse villas may remain closed until Sunday, October 13, while the cabins are expected to reopen on October 11.

As for reopening timelines, while the theme parks will likely remain closed on October 10, Disney is contemplating re-opening Disney Springs later in the day with limited services.

Hurricane Policy Insights

Walt Disney World Resort has specific provisions in its hurricane policy. The company will issue refunds and allow date modifications for missed reservations if a hurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center within seven days of a guest's scheduled arrival. Note that this applies only to those who booked directly through Disney; guests who used third-party suppliers will need to contact them for assistance.

In past storms, there have been discussions about guests evacuating to Disney World for shelter during hurricanes, raising curiosity about the resort’s role in community safety.

As Hurricane Milton approaches, all eyes are on Florida—and especially on Disney World. Stay tuned for updates and consider watching the livestream from Walt Disney World Resort as the storm unfolds. The magic may pause, but safety comes first!