Walt Disney World Announces Closures Ahead of Subtropical Storm Nicole

UPDATE: As of approximately 10:30 a.m. on Tuesday, November 8, 2022, Disney has changed its severe weather warning. Click here to read the latest update. 

The Walt Disney World Resort has already closed earlier this hurricane season due to the impacts of Hurricane Ian on Central Florida this September. With storms continuing to brew off the coast of Florida, specifically subtropical storm system Nicole, the Resort is once again making plans to change operations due to severe weather.

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The Walt Disney World Resort is currently monitoring storm conditions with have subtropical storm Nicole set to make landfall by Thursday, November 10, 2022. While the storm system is currently classified as a subtropical storm, meteorologists are anticipating the storm becoming a hurricane by the time it makes landfall.

Orange County, where Walt Disney World is located, is on track to experience sustained winds of 35 and 45 MPH with gusts possible as strong as 60 MPH. WESH’s Eric Burris shared an update on the path of subtropical storm Nicole along with a look at what the system could look like when it reaches land in this morning’s update:

Let's talk county by county forecasts.

We've had to tweak this due to shifting forecast data… so here's a look along the coast.

Friends, take today to prep for a storm. #Nicole is forecast to be a hurricane on landfall, and Brevard might just be the landfall point… pic.twitter.com/mZ37ruV7i7

— Eric Burris (@EricBurrisWESH) November 8, 2022

RELATED: Need-To-Know Info For When a Thunderstorm Strikes in Walt Disney World

Walt Disney World is operating as usual as of the time of this writing, however, several closures have already been announced on Disney’s official website in preparation for the storm.

Disney’s website notes:

For the safety 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 will be closed Wednesday, November 9 through Friday, November 11. We are contacting Guests with current and upcoming reservations impacted by this change.

Guests may reschedule their trip or cancel their stay with us; any cancellation fees will be waived.

Performances of Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue have been cancelled for Wednesday, November 9 through Friday, November 11 in light of the temporary closure of Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Guests with pre-paid reservations will be automatically cancelled and refunded.

These Resort areas as well as Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue and select activities at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground are typically the first to announced closures when severe weather hits Walt Disney World. Still, if subtropical storm Nicole does make landfall as a hurricane, it is possible that we will see theme parks and other experiences close, and the Resorts used as a place for Guests to shelter safely as we recently did during Hurricane Ian.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for Orange County ahead of the storm making landfall, signaling that residents and visitors to Central Florida should begin making adequate hurricane preparations. Disney Cruise Line also released a statement ahead of the storm noting that pre-reserved excursions through Disney in Nassau and Castaway Cay will automatically be removed from Guests’ stateroom accounts.

If you have reservations with Disney or Disney Cruise Line, be sure to confirm updates with the company directly as changes can be made frequently when storms are moving toward Central Florida. We will continue to monitor updates on subtropical storm Nicole, and will be back with more information as we have it. Stay safe!