Disney Tips Your Guide To A Great Disney Vacation
Since this article was composed, new information regarding Park hours at the Walt Disney World Resort has been released. Please refer to this article for updates on the situation.
Many residents and non-residents of the Sunshine State alike have been following the onset of Tropical Storm Nicole, and not just because of its impact on the Walt Disney World Resort. Unfortunately, the National Hurricane Center has just upgraded Tropical Storm Nicole’s categorization to an official hurricane, hours before its set to make landfall along the Florida coast.
Credit: The New York Times
This is Nicole’s second upgrade; meteorologists via the National Hurricane Center had previously bumped the storm’s status from subtropical storm Nicole to a full tropical storm. With Nicole creating sustained winds upwards of 75 miles per hour in the Bahamas, officials have issued a warning that the Tropical Storm has progressed into Hurricane Nicole as residents prepare for the weather anomaly to reach Florida.
Chris Gilson, a meteorologist for Orlando’s Spectrum News posted to Twitter today with more information on Nicole. Apparently, the storm is east of Palm Beach.
BREAKING #Nicole has strengthened to a hurricane with winds of 75 mph.
It is about 105 mile east of West Palm Beach. @MyNews13 #tropics
— Chris Gilson 📺 🌤️ (@GilsonWeather) November 9, 2022
The Walt Disney World Resort had previously released a statement that they would begin a “phased closure” at 5 pm tonight due to the storm and remain closed through tomorrow morning, with implications that it may progress into a longer closure depending on the development of the now Hurricane Nicole. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon and two miniature golf courses will also close until November 10.
Credit: Disney
Their website currently states:
- Walt Disney World Resort theme parks will have a phased closure today, November 9, beginning at 5:00 PM, and will remain closed through tomorrow morning, November 10. Resort Guests are encouraged to enjoy food and beverage options at the theme parks prior to returning to their Disney Resort hotel. Theme parks will likely not reopen at their regularly scheduled time tomorrow, November 10.
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park: Closing today, November 9, at 5:00 PM, with last dining reservations at 5:00 PM.
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Closing today, November 9, at 6:00 PM, with last dining reservations at 6:00 PM
- Magic Kingdom Park: Closing today, November 9, at 7:00 PM. Last dining reservations for Be Our Guest Restaurant, Liberty Tree Tavern, The Diamond Horseshoe and Cinderella’s Royal Table will be at 6:00 PM, and last dining for all other dining reservations will be at 6:30 PM.
- EPCOT: Closing today, November 9, at 7:00 PM. Last dining reservations for Monsieur Paul, Space 220 Restaurant, Akershus Royal Banquet Hall and Garden Grill Restaurant will be at 6:00 PM, and last dining for all other dining reservations will be at 6:30 PM.
As previously shared, extended evening theme park hours at Magic Kingdom cancelled today, November 9.
To align with modified theme park hours, nighttime spectaculars will be cancelled today, November 9, including Disney Enchantment at Magic Kingdom park, Harmonious at EPCOT, and Fantasmic! at Disney’s Hollywood Studios.
Credit: Disney
Disney has yet to update the official weather page of their Walt Disney World website to reflect the storm’s new categorization or provide new information on their current procedures. Hurricane Nicole, of course, comes on the heels of Hurricane Ian, which recently impacted the Parks.
This story is currently developing, and DisneyTips will provide the latest updates on the situation as they become available. East Coast residents can find hurricane resources on the National Hurricane Center website. Stay safe everyone!
