Disney World Parks Prepare, Close for Hurricane Milton

October 9, 2024 / Leave a Comment

As Hurricane Milton bears down on Florida’s coast, the Happiest Place on Earth is taking no chances. On Wednesday, Walt Disney World began preparations to secure its theme parks ahead of the Category 4 storm’s anticipated impact.

Disney World Prepares for Hurricane Milton

Sign for "Adventureland" hanging from a building with tropical foliage in the background.

At the Magic Kingdom, the effects of the looming hurricane were already apparent. Gray skies and a steady drizzle greeted the few guests who ventured out to enjoy a few final hours in the park before its early closure at 2:00pm.

Facade of the Magic Kingdom entrance featuring decorative landscaping in the shape of Mickey Mouse, under a cloudy sky.
A large lake reflecting a cloudy sky, with a white and red-roofed hotel on the right and several trees and grass along the shore. In the background, another building and a partially completed structure are visible.
A rainy day at a theme park with a view of a fairytale castle in the background. People walk down a wet pathway lined with trees and decorative lanterns. Some individuals are carrying umbrellas and wearing raincoats.

Halloween photo ops and props such as pumpkins and themed scarecrows were removed from Main Street U.S.A. Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party scheduled for tomorrow, October 10th, has already been cancelled.

Empty street scene at a theme park filled with shops, featuring lush green plants in the foreground and a castle in the background under a cloudy sky.
A landscaped area with colorful plants and flowers, surrounded by a green iron fence, in a park-like setting. A bright red food cart is visible nearby, with a few people walking under a cloudy sky. The area is wet, suggesting recent rain.

Lamps along the length of Main Street USA, in the hub, and surrounding Cinderella Castle has their glass housings wrapped with mesh. This is to prevent glass shards from being spread around the park in case lamp glass were to shatter.

A decorative street lamp draped in green mesh stands in the foreground, with a building featuring a brightly lit sign that reads "INFECTIONERY" in the background, adorned with autumn decorations and festive lights.
A bronze statue of Walt Disney and Mickey Mouse stands in the foreground, with a castle featuring blue spires in the background. Several people are walking in the area, including a child holding an umbrella, while lush green plants frame the scene.
A view of a rainy Main Street at a theme park, featuring colorful storefronts and decorations, with a castle in the background and visitors walking down the wet path. Balloons are on display, and some people wear raincoats.

Throughout the park, cast members worked diligently to prepare for Milton’s arrival. Signs all throughout the park were tied down to prevent them from being damaged, or from becoming projectiles, in high winds.

Sign for "Main Street Confectionery," advertising it as the home of Mars candy treats, with decorative lights and colorful graphics. In the background, a marquee for "Main St Cinema" showing "Now Showing Mickey Mousepieces" is visible.
Sign for the Liberty Square Ticket Office, hanging from a decorative bracket on a building, with a background of a brick structure and green shutters.
Sign for "Sunshine Tree Terrace" featuring an orange character, with greenery in the background.

Banners from the front of Cinderella Castle were totally removed from their stanchions. Others, such as at Town Square Theater and the entrance to Storybook Circus, were rolled up and zip tied.

Front view of the Town Square Theater, featuring a decorative sign that reads "THEATER" in bright red letters, surrounded by autumn-themed decorations, with a series of large white lanterns in the foreground and architectural details in a Victorian style.
A close-up view of a castle featuring blue spires, gray stone walls, and gold accents, under a cloudy sky.
Entrance to Storybook Circus, featuring a large, colorful sign and a rainy, reflective ground with people in raincoats.

Merchandise kiosks in Tomorrowland and Adventureland present a particular challenge. Cast members used heavy-duty straps to anchor the structures to the ground and wrapped them in plastic to protect against driving rain.

Two square structures covered in plastic wrap and gray fabric, secured with yellow straps, are positioned under a walkway. The ground is wet, reflecting the surroundings, and there are trees and a building in the background.
Two thatched-roof huts, one marked "Bwana Bob's," are secured with yellow straps, surrounded by lush greenery.
A covered booth secured with yellow straps is shown in a wet outdoor area, with a couple of people in rain gear walking in the background and a large black spherical structure nearby.

Food and snack carts, seen here in Fantasyland and Storybook Circus, were similarly strapped down to the ground.

A vintage popcorn cart named "Popping Machine" with a rustic design, featuring wooden wheels and a glass display for popcorn. It is adorned with signs advertising hot and fresh popcorn, and is surrounded by trees and decorative elements in a rainy outdoor setting.
A colorful food stand resembling a circus wagon, featuring a sign that reads "Storybook Circus Shacks," with blue and red chairs in front, a beach ball, and various decorative elements including striped curtains and flags. The scene is set on a brick pavement with greenery in the background.

Some signage, such as Crystal Arts and Crystal Palace, needed their crystal-styled signs to be better protected from potential hazards. The former was wrapped in padding, while the latter was sandwiched with plywood.

A red cloth is draped over a decorative feature above the entrance of a building, with two carved pumpkins placed on the roof above. The building has columns and is adorned with strings of lights and autumn-themed decorations.
A decorative pavilion structure with intricate white filigree, a blank wooden sign hanging in the center, and autumn leaves draped along the edges.
A decorative entrance featuring intricate white lattice work and a wooden sign covered, adorned with fall leaves and flowers. Above the entrance, glass panels allow light through, and there are hanging lights and ceiling fans visible.

Outdoor seating areas all had their umbrellas lowered and canopies zip tied to keep them from being carried off by the wind.

The exterior of Casey's Corner, a hot dog restaurant, featuring red and white striped umbrellas, decorative autumn garlands, and a Coca-Cola sign.

A Rare Closure for an Unprecedented Storm

Disney World is no stranger to inclement weather, but Hurricane Milton poses an especially serious threat. The storm is projected to bring high winds and dump up to 12 inches of rain on the Orlando area. In response, Disney has taken the steps of closing its theme parks for at least a day and a half. Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Hollywood Studios, and Animal Kingdom will all remain shuttered through Thursday.

The closure is only the eighth in Disney World’s 51-year history. Previous shutdowns were caused by other hurricanes, the 9/11 attacks, and the COVID-19 pandemic.

After the Storm

Once Hurricane Milton passes, Disney’s attention will turn to assessing damage and cleaning up debris. Past experience has shown that the company is adept at getting its parks back up and running as quickly as possible after storms.

For now, however, Disney World sits quiet and empty, bracing for whatever Milton has in store. The Magic Kingdom will undoubtedly soon return, but for now, the only magic to be found is the powerful force of nature bearing down on the Sunshine State.

Stay tuned to MainGatePass.com for continued updates. Always refer to local authorities for guidance on storm preparations and evacuations.

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