Hurricane Milton - WDW Resorts Related Updates & Planning Thread

[Marrila]

Anyone know what Disney does if you are supposed to check-out the day the hurricane hits/is there?

Might be a good idea to talk to the front desk asap.

 

[mrsap]

Walt Disney World Hurricane Policy Extended for Second Time as Milton Approaches Florida


Walt Disney World Extends Hurricane Policy Through Oct. 14th

The Hurricane Policy was originally set to run through Saturday, October 12th, but Walt Disney World extended the validity period yesterday to run through October 13th. In an update this morning, Walt Disney World has extended that validity period again, and the Hurricane Policy will now be in effect through Monday, October 14th. Interestingly, they also changed the start date of the policy from Oct. 6th to Oct. 8th, but both dates are in the past anyway at this point. Here’s the announcement:

• Due to potential weather impacts to guest travel plans, change and cancellation fees imposed by Disney will be waived for check-in dates of Tuesday, 10/8 – Monday, 10/14.
• Most room-only and vacation packages can be modified, or cancelled online, including changes to travel dates, without fees. Packages including air transportation or other services provided by third parties, or those with travel protection, cannot be modified or cancelled online. For Guests with these reservations, please call us for assistance.

As a reminder, Walt Disney World will begin closing select locations starting tomorrow morning, but we still don’t have an announcement about any theme park operational changes.

 

[lanejudy]

Anyone know what Disney does if you are supposed to check-out the day the hurricane hits/is there?

If you are already at WDW, go to the front desk and ask about your options.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Anyone know what Disney does if you are supposed to check-out the day the hurricane hits/is there?

You talk to the front desk in person to extend and you will have to pay for extending your stay. The sooner you talk to the front desk, the better odds of availability at your current resort.

 

[matt_in_nh]

Walt Disney World Hurricane Policy Extended for Second Time as Milton Approaches Florida


Walt Disney World Extends Hurricane Policy Through Oct. 14th

The Hurricane Policy was originally set to run through Saturday, October 12th, but Walt Disney World extended the validity period yesterday to run through October 13th. In an update this morning, Walt Disney World has extended that validity period again, and the Hurricane Policy will now be in effect through Monday, October 14th. Interestingly, they also changed the start date of the policy from Oct. 6th to Oct. 8th, but both dates are in the past anyway at this point. Here’s the announcement:

• Due to potential weather impacts to guest travel plans, change and cancellation fees imposed by Disney will be waived for check-in dates of Tuesday, 10/8 – Monday, 10/14.
• Most room-only and vacation packages can be modified, or cancelled online, including changes to travel dates, without fees. Packages including air transportation or other services provided by third parties, or those with travel protection, cannot be modified or cancelled online. For Guests with these reservations, please call us for assistance.

As a reminder, Walt Disney World will begin closing select locations starting tomorrow morning, but we still don’t have an announcement about any theme park operational changes.

I chatted with them this morning and the CM said the storm would be long gone by the 13th when we arrive and everything will be perfectly magical. Color me skeptical.

 

[gottalovepluto]

I chatted with them this morning and the CM said the storm would be long gone by the 13th when we arrive and everything will be perfectly magical. Color me skeptical.

Like, what did you expect them to say regarding Sunday? Everything right now indicates you won’t be impacted at all…

 

[matt_in_nh]

Like, what did you expect them to say regarding Sunday? Everything right now indicates you won’t be impacted at all…

Skyliner will be open, Water park open, all restaurants open as usual? I dont doubt parks will be open but I anticipate some limited offereings within that. Happy to be wrong....depends on how impacted they are.

 

[Mr. Drauer]

Skyliner will be open, Water park open, all restaurants open as usual? I dont doubt parks will be open but I anticipate some limited offereings within that. Happy to be wrong....depends on how impacted they are.

so you want them to predict the future? no one evens knows where the storm is going to hit or how powerful it will be. THe projections today represent the models that still have a 100 mile error (50 each way). What they can tell you is that the storm will be long gone by Thursday evening (October 10) so that by the 13th, the expectation is that everything will be up an running. So will it? They don't know, but they are being positive, and that WDW has never had to shut everything down for an extended period of time when a storm comes through.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Skyliner will be open, Water park open, all restaurants open as usual? I dont doubt parks will be open but I anticipate some limited offereings within that. Happy to be wrong....depends on how impacted they are.

Yes, at this time they anticipate everything functioning on Sunday. Can that change? Yes, that’s why your ticket has fine print.

If you’re worried about disappointment go in expecting none of that to be functioning then it will be a happy surprise if you find out it is!

 

[matt_in_nh]

so you want them to predict the future? no one evens knows where the storm is going to hit or how powerful it will be. THe projections today represent the models that still have a 100 mile error (50 each way). What they can tell you is that the storm will be long gone by Thursday evening (October 10) so that by the 13th, the expectation is that everything will be up an running. So will it? They don't know, but they are being positive, and that WDW has never had to shut everything down for an extended period of time when a storm comes through.

If you read the conversation you will see that I am admitting I dont know the future.....come on.

 

[Mr. Drauer]

If you read the conversation you will see that I am admitting I dont know the future.....come on.

Like, what did you expect them to say regarding Sunday? Everything right now indicates you won’t be impacted at all…

Skyliner will be open, Water park open, all restaurants open as usual?

This conversation? Where you are asking if they will have the Skyliner open, or the water park open, or all the restaurants open?

 

[jo-jo]

Skyliner will be open, Water park open, all restaurants open as usual?

This conversation? Where you are asking if they will have the Skyliner open, or the water park open, or all the restaurants open?

Is there any day of the year where everything is working? There always seems to be at least 10 -15 % of WDW closed , whether it be ride, restaurant or resort offering. Some due to refurb and some due to other last min issues.

But I think if I had a trip in a few days, I'd be thinking twice depending how important getting to do XYZ is. With refurbs , at least you know ahead of time. With this, who knows what might not be ready for guests in two days.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Universal update…

https://twitter.com/x/status/1843718249621385539

 

[matt_in_nh]

Skyliner will be open, Water park open, all restaurants open as usual?

This conversation? Where you are asking if they will have the Skyliner open, or the water park open, or all the restaurants open?

It is there if you want to go read it, I can't understand it for you...

 

[Mr. Drauer]

It is there if you want to go read it, I can't understand it for you...

what are you trying to say? I read (and understand) that you commented on MRSAP's post about the Hurricane Policy extending to the 14th even though you get in on the 13th. Then Gottalovepluto says - what did you expect?..... Then you stated your point that they could have told you that Skyliner or water park or restaurants would be open. So what am I missing. You are skeptical that the cast member told you it was going to be magical. But you aren't expecting them to tell you what will be open? or are you?

 

[lanejudy]

what are you trying to say? I read (and understand) that you commented on MRSAP's post about the Hurricane Policy extending to the 14th even though you get in on the 13th. Then Gottalovepluto says - what did you expect?..... Then you stated your point that they could have told you that Skyliner or water park or restaurants would be open. So what am I missing. You are skeptical that the cast member told you it was going to be magical. But you aren't expecting them to tell you what will be open? or are you?

I think that poster is skeptical that those things will be open, even though the CM told him everything would be back up and running by Sunday. He expected to be told something will still be closed.

The campground may still be closed on Sunday. But I do expect WDW's goal is to have everything running as close to normal as possible by the weekend. How well they can attain that goal remains to be seen.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1843735110467891687

Walt Disney World Theme Parks​

• On Oct. 9, our theme parks and Disney Springs will be closed in phases beginning at 1 p.m.
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom will close at 1 p.m.
  • Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Disney Springs will close at 2 p.m.
• It is likely the theme parks will remain closed on Thursday, Oct. 10. We will consider opening Disney Springs Thursday late afternoon with limited offerings.
  • This includes the cancellation of Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom on Oct. 10. Event tickets will be refunded.

Disney Resort Hotel Closures

• Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will temporarily close beginning at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9. They are likely to remain closed until Sunday, Oct. 13.

Transportation

• Walt Disney World Transportation will stop operating Wednesday, Oct. 9 after Disney Springs and the Walt Disney World theme parks close.
• Limited Minnie Van and Mears taxi service will be available to Walt Disney World Resort Guests.

Recreation

• Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon, Winter Summerland Miniature Golf and Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf will be closed on Wednesday, Oct. 9. Disney’s Blizzard Beach remains closed for planned refurbishment.

Reservations for Dining and Other Experiences

• Effective immediately, we will not enforce cancellation policies until further notice for dining and other experiences.
• Pre-paid bookable experiences will be automatically refunded within 7 to 10 business days.

Disney Resort and Room-Only Cancellation Policy for Reservations Booked Directly with Disney Destinations, LLC or The Walt Disney Travel Company:

• Due to potential weather impacts to guest travel plans, change and cancellation fees imposed by Disney will be waived for check-in dates of Tuesday, 10/8 – Monday, 10/14.
• Most room-only and vacation packages can be modified, or cancelled online, including changes to travel dates, without fees. Packages including air transportation or other services provided by third parties, or those with travel protection, cannot be modified or cancelled online. For Guests with these reservations, please call Disney Central for assistance.

 

[fla4fun]

I think that poster is skeptical that those things will be open, even though the CM told him everything would be back up and running by Sunday. He expected to be told something will still be closed.

The campground may still be closed on Sunday. But I do expect WDW's goal is to have everything running as close to normal as possible by the weekend. How well they can attain that goal remains to be seen.

I think the biggest issue may be staffing if CMs can’t get to work. The ride out crews aren’t large enough to cover fully operational staffing, and people may not be physically able to get to work. That is something that we can’t know until after the storm passes and makes planning difficult. So I think the poster is right to be a bit skeptical about it.

All the news channels are saying that a storm of this strength is unprecedented in the Orlando area, so even knowing how things were handled after Ian and other recent storms won’t be completely accurate when trying to figure this out. I drove through north Florida and South Georgia yesterday and the tree damage was eye opening, and this storm is strong enough to cause similar conditions. However, I agree that Disney wants to be fully operational as soon as possible and will do everything they can to achieve that.

 

[BostonEd]

Walt Disney World Theme Parks

• On Oct. 9, our theme parks and Disney Springs will be closed in phases beginning at 1 p.m.
  • Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom will close at 1 p.m.
  • Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Disney Springs will close at 2 p.m.

Um, isn't this pretty much exactly when the storm will be at its peak in Orlando? Oops, I was looking at an old forecast map. I saw the update right after I posted this.

 

[OKW Lover]

Um, isn't this pretty much exactly when the storm will be at its peak in Orlando?

Right now the storm is expected to arrive in Orlando Wednesday evening.