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 impression on WDW operations, what you are able to do in the event you’re scheduled to journey to Florida within the close to future that can assist you determine whether or not to reschedule your journey, cancel completely, or experience out the storm at a lodge.
We’ve already shared that potential Hurricane Nicole continues to strengthen and shifts in 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 direction of Central Florida. Along with that inland tropical storm warnings at the moment are in place for Orange and Osceola Counties, that are the place Walt Disney World is positioned.
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 potentialities 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 briefly 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 may also briefly 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 means of Friday, November 11. Disney is contacting visitors with present and upcoming reservations since these areas might be closing.
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue performances have been canceled November 11th of September in gentle of the non permanent closure of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Guests with pre-paid reservations might be mechanically 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 choice earlier at the moment (therefore the strike-through textual content above). Again, this choice 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 watch information retailers for the most recent climate data.
Disney Springs is at the moment working underneath regular circumstances.
Disney Skyliner gondolas are working as regular at current, however usually shut for inclement climate–so anticipate quite a lot 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 as a consequence of 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 is going to be decided by an evaluation of harm to airport property & services. Please be at liberty to maintain an eye fixed 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 usually 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 simpler to be well mannered when coping with Cast Members than it’s to be aggressive and impolite. (And being variety is simply the correct 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, in the event you booked by means of Walt Disney World straight–both by cellphone 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 supplied 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 we have now not but heard any updates on the Disney Vacation Club facet 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 definitely will happen. This is finished as a result of Disney’s resorts are a well-liked relocation possibility for coastal Floridians who should evacuate from their properties. (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 components which can be distinctive to your particular journey.
Rather than being presumptuous and making broad and sweeping statements, we’ll provide 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 personal conclusions.
Hurricane Irma precipitated 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 moderately 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 have been unable to rebook our flight because of the mass exodus of individuals attempting to go away Florida. We spent numerous hours on the cellphone with Delta, and checked always as flights have been added and modified, however saved arising empty. Instead of going dwelling, 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 organize for the storm, how Walt Disney World’s “ride out” Cast Members dealt with operations, and rather more.
One factor we’ll stress right here is that, opposite to common 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 dropping 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 effective. Cast Members have been nice, we felt secure all through our keep, and Disney went above and past to profit from the state of affairs through leisure and actions.
The hurricane itself didn’t trigger a lot harm past some downed bushes, which meant every part was again up and working rapidly. Things might’ve gone worse; the parks might’ve been closed longer or sights might’ve gone down, and many others. Moreover, MCO might’ve stayed closed longer, and we might’ve had extra problem reserving a return flight dwelling.
Things might’ve simply as simply been far worse for us, and will nonetheless be worse for Hurricane Ian. Unfortunately, that’s one thing really unknowable upfront. Walt Disney World is positioned in Central Florida and is much less prone to see the identical ranges of devastation as coastal areas, however that doesn’t rule out catastrophic harm.
A couple of years in the past, the circumstances have been comparable with Hurricane Dorian. That storm reached Category 5 standing, and was the strongest hurricane in fashionable data to make landfall within the Bahamas. While parts of Central Florida have 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–a number of rain and wind, however I don’t recall the rest. What I do recall have 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 have been low each earlier than and after Dorian.
So it’s doable 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 doable that the next events might be busier, as visitors are allowed to reschedule to different dates–together with ones which can be already bought 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 latest 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 measurement of Nicole means your entire state of Florida might really feel results as tropical-storm-force winds lengthen out 380 miles. As such, the National Hurricane Center warns of risks that broaden lots of of miles away from its heart and cautions towards 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 very best case consequence is the the storm weakening considerably, during which case, the most important impact on Walt Disney World journeys can 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, a number of rain might be the base-case situation–and one thing that’s going to occur regardless.
It appears that every time there’s a hurricane forecast to impression Walt Disney World, it’s met with quite a lot of optimistic wishful pondering and other people touting the very best case situation outcomes. This might be a mixture of reassurances to those that are freaked out, and naivety concerning the potential risks of hurricanes. We’re not right here to fear-monger, however we’re additionally not right here to supply rosy platitudes concerning 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 choice 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 sort to purchase, learn our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets submit. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips submit 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 very best place to start out is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for every part it’s worthwhile to 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 using out a hurricane at Walt Disney World? Do you agree or disagree with our recommendation? Any questions we will help you reply? Hearing your suggestions–even while you disagree with us–is each attention-grabbing to us and useful to different readers, so please share your ideas beneath within the feedback!