Tropical Storm Nicole is already inflicting closures and cancellations exterior of the theme parks at Walt Disney World and elsewhere round Central Florida. We’ll replace you on the storm’s affect on WDW operations, what you are able to do if you happen to’re scheduled to journey to Florida within the close to future that can assist you determine whether or not to reschedule your journey, cancel fully, or experience out the storm at a resort.
We’ve already shared that potential Hurricane Nicole continues to strengthen and shifts in the direction of Central Florida and Walt Disney World. Since then, the system has intensified into Tropical Storm Nicole, with its path persevering with to shift in the direction of Central Florida. Along with that inland tropical storm warnings are actually in place for Orange and Osceola Counties, that are the place Walt Disney World is situated.
The National Hurricane Center updates its Tropical Storm Nicole Advisory each few hours, at which level it shifts the ‘cone of uncertainty’ representing the vary of prospects for the storm’s heart that extends as much as 5 days into the long run. The cone of uncertainty predicts the hurricane’s path, however even exterior of the cone, ferocious winds, storm surge, heavy rains, and different intense climate could be felt.
Now, Walt Disney World has shared its first closures and warnings for Tropical Storm Nicole, with the next announcement at 3:45 pm on November 8, 2022:
“Walt Disney World Resort is currently operating under normal conditions. We are continuing to closely monitor Tropical Storm Nicole and are making necessary operational adjustments to maintain the safety of our Guests and Cast Members.”
Walt Disney World Operational Updates for Tropical Storm Nicole
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon will shut quickly Thursday, November 10, 2022. (Disney’s Blizzard Beach is at the moment closed for the season.)
Winter Summerland Miniature Golf and Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf & Fairways Miniature Golf will even quickly shut Thursday, November 10, 2022.
Disney Resort Hotels: For the protection of our Guests and Cast Members, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and the Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort might be closed Wednesday, November 9 by way of Friday, November 11. Disney is contacting company with present and upcoming reservations since these places might be closing.
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue performances have been canceled November September 11 in gentle of the momentary closure of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Guests with pre-paid reservations might be robotically canceled and refunded.
In a uncommon twist of occasions, Walt Disney World is NOT closing any resorts but. This comes as a reversal to a previously-announced determination earlier as we speak (therefore the strike-through textual content above). Again, this determination has been reversed and people resorts will proceed to function as regular (for now).
Walt Disney World Theme Parks are at the moment working underneath regular circumstances. Please proceed to observe information shops for the newest climate info.
Disney Springs is at the moment working underneath regular circumstances.
Disney Skyliner gondolas are working as regular at current, however sometimes shut for inclement climate–so anticipate lots of downtime beginning Wednesday.
Walt Disney World is at the moment monitoring climate circumstances and can talk any modifications to park working hours or particular occasions at a later time.
Orlando International Airport introduced that it’s closing attributable to Tropical Storm Nicole: “Together with our partners, a decision has been made to cease commercial operations at 4:00 pm on Wednesday, November 9th, until circumstances permit operations resume.”
In response to a query about when the airport will reopen, MCO indicated: “The time for reopening our airport is fluid as it will likely be decided by an evaluation of injury to airport property & amenities. Please be happy to maintain a watch out on our social channels for updates relating to the reopening of our airport. Thank you.
Walt Disney World has not but introduced that its hurricane cancellation coverage has been activated. However, it’s sometimes the case that the corporate begins quietly permitting penalty-free cancellations at this level on a case by case foundation. It needs to be fairly easy provided that the airport is closing, however as at all times, it’s more practical to be well mannered when coping with Cast Members than it’s to be aggressive and impolite. (And being variety is simply the fitting factor to do.)
When in impact, Walt Disney World’s hurricane cancellation coverage applies to reservations booked by the Walt Disney Travel Company or Disney Destinations, LLC. (In different phrases, if you happen to booked by way of Walt Disney World straight–both by telephone or Disneyworld.com–you’re eligible. Same goes for reservations booked through an Authorized Disney Vacation Planner or journey agent.)
Most room-only and trip packages could be modified, or cancelled on-line, together with modifications to journey dates, with out charges. Packages together with air transportation or different providers offered by third events, or these with journey safety, can’t be modified or cancelled on-line. Guests with these reservations might want to name Walt Disney World for help. (Expect longer-than-normal maintain occasions.)
What’s not clear but is whether or not this contains Disney Vacation Club Members or these booked utilizing DVC factors. Normally, that’s the case, however now we have not but heard any updates on the Disney Vacation Club aspect of issues.
Another unknown is whether or not Walt Disney World resort accommodations has lifted the pet restriction coverage for arrivals between now and November 11, 2022. Even if this hasn’t formally occurred but, it nearly actually will happen. This is finished as a result of Disney’s resorts are a preferred relocation choice for coastal Floridians who should evacuate from their houses. (During Hurricane Irma, we met a number of households from the coast who introduced their pets–seeing the entire pups was simply the most important silver lining of being stranded right here.)
Should You Cancel or Reschedule Your Walt Disney World Trip Due to Potential Hurricane Nicole?
That’s a private query and the reply largely relies upon upon your arrival and departure dates, expectations, and myriad different elements which are distinctive to your particular journey.
Rather than being presumptuous and making broad and sweeping statements, we’ll supply ideas from our expertise being stranded at Walt Disney World throughout Hurricane Irma a number of years in the past as out-of-state vacationers, and through Hurricane Dorian as locals a couple of years in the past. From that, you may attain your individual conclusions.
Hurricane Irma induced Walt Disney World to be closed for 2 full days and resulted in some harm across the resort. We obtained caught in Walt Disney World after our Disney Cruise Line Bahamas crusing was canceled. The cancellation of this itinerary occurred comparatively final minute, and slightly than being proactive and cancelling the journey ourselves, we took a wait and see strategy.
That was a mistake, and one we instantly regretted. By that time, we had been unable to rebook our flight as a result of mass exodus of individuals making an attempt to go away Florida. We spent numerous hours on the telephone with Delta, and checked continually as flights had been added and modified, however saved arising empty. Instead of going house, on a cruise, or to the parks, we spent a couple of nights “getting to know” the rooms at Disney’s BoardWalk Inn.
If you’re on the fence about whether or not to cancel or reschedule a Walt Disney World trip proper now, we’d strongly encourage you to learn our extra detailed Our Hurricane Irma Experience at Walt Disney World, which covers what we did to arrange for the storm, how Walt Disney World’s “ride out” Cast Members dealt with operations, and rather more.
One factor we are going to stress right here is that, opposite to standard reassurances, Walt Disney World is not the most secure place to be throughout a hurricane. Wherever you reside–the place the hurricane isn’t–is safer.
Despite shedding round 3 days of park time (and that’s not counting the hours spent wandering round Epcot and Disney’s Hollywood Studios basically doing nothing whereas on maintain with Delta), our expertise with Hurricane Irma turned out high-quality. Cast Members had been nice, we felt protected all through our keep, and Disney went above and past to benefit from the scenario through leisure and actions.
The hurricane itself didn’t trigger a lot harm past some downed timber, which meant every part was again up and working shortly. Things may’ve gone worse; the parks may’ve been closed longer or sights may’ve gone down, and many others. Moreover, MCO may’ve stayed closed longer, and we may’ve had extra issue reserving a return flight house.
Things may’ve simply as simply been far worse for us, and will nonetheless be worse for Hurricane Ian. Unfortunately, that’s one thing actually unknowable prematurely. Walt Disney World is situated in Central Florida and is much less more likely to see the identical ranges of devastation as coastal areas, however that doesn’t rule out catastrophic harm.
A number of years in the past, the circumstances had been comparable with Hurricane Dorian. That storm reached Category 5 standing, and was the strongest hurricane in trendy data to make landfall within the Bahamas. While parts of Central Florida had been within the cone of uncertainty, fashions didn’t name for it to make landfall in Florida–and it didn’t.
Despite that, Walt Disney World’s parks closed at 3 pm on the day that Dorian worst impacted Florida. It was principally uneventful–plenty of rain and wind, however I don’t recall the rest. What I do recall had been deluge of disruptions, and the Duo of Delightfully Dead Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party nights that we attended. Due to cancellations, crowds had been low each earlier than and after Dorian.
So it’s attainable the identical situation will play out for the Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party occasions on November 10 and 11, 2022.
Unfortunately, it’s additionally attainable that the following events might be busier, as company are allowed to reschedule to different dates–together with ones which are already offered out. (Note that this isn’t but official–simply one thing that we’ve noticed occur up to now.)
How Tropical Storm Nicole will play out stays to be seen. At current, it doesn’t seem that it’ll be as dangerous or just like Dorian, Irma, and even the current Hurricane Ian. The newest path projection predicts landfall for potential Hurricane Nicole in between Palm Beach and Brevard counties as a Category 1 hurricane with 75 mph sustained winds and 90 mph gusts. It’s then projected to maneuver northwest throughout the state south of metro Orlando just like how Hurricane Jeanne and Hurricane Frances crossed the state in 2004.
The dimension of Nicole means the whole state of Florida may really feel results as tropical-storm-force winds prolong out 380 miles. As such, the National Hurricane Center warns of risks that broaden a whole lot of miles away from its heart and cautions in opposition to specializing in the cone of uncertainty. The NHC additionally signifies that hurricane circumstances are anticipated throughout parts of east-central Florida starting late Wednesday. Nicole will produce heavy rainfall and flash flooding on Wednesday and Thursday throughout the Florida Peninsula.
With Tropical Storm Nicole, the most effective case end result is the the storm weakening considerably, through which case, the most important impact on Walt Disney World journeys could be a number of days of torrential rains and heavy winds at Walt Disney World, however no theme park closures. One approach or one other, plenty of rain might be the base-case situation–and one thing that’s going to occur regardless.
It appears that at any time when there’s a hurricane forecast to affect Walt Disney World, it’s met with lots of constructive wishful considering and other people touting the most effective case situation outcomes. This might be a mixture of reassurances to those that are freaked out, and naivety in regards to the potential risks of hurricanes. We’re not right here to fear-monger, however we’re additionally not right here to supply rosy platitudes in regards to the magic of Disney or security. Whether to cancel or reschedule is clearly your name, however touring to Florida when a hurricane is forecast is a call you shouldn’t make frivolously.
Planning a Walt Disney World journey? Learn about accommodations on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews web page. For the place to eat, learn our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To lower your expenses on tickets or decide which kind to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets publish. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips publish takes a singular have a look at intelligent objects to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will assist. For complete recommendation, the most effective place to start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for every part you could know!
Your Thoughts
Are you at the moment at Walt Disney World or Central Florida? Have you visited throughout previous hurricanes? Any more information, ideas, or first-hand experiences to share about driving out a hurricane at Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we can assist you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even if you disagree with us–is each fascinating to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!