Credit: Inside The MagicWalt Disney World Resort has begun its damage assessment and has canceled the Resort-wide lockdown orders due to Hurricane Milton, which has now moved off of Orlando and is heading back into the ocean for good.
Meanwhile, over at Orlando International Airport (MCO), Disney World guests’ main transportation hub, over 900 flights have been canceled as MCO looks to reopen at some point over the next 24 hours.
Related: Active Lockdown: Disney World To Give out $17 Million in Refunds as Extended Closure Announced
Disney World, MCO Begin Damage Assessment as Lockdowns End and Nearly 1,000 Flights Terminated
Following a turbulent night as Hurricane Milton swept across Central Florida, Walt Disney World is currently closed as cleanup efforts begin. The hurricane, which brought heavy rain and strong winds, caused primarily wind-related damage across Disney property. At this time, there has been no official announcement on when the theme parks will reopen, though they could potentially resume operations by October 11.
Overnight Report from Disney World Cast: -Some Polynesian Rooms Flooded, Roofing Damage too -Water leaking in some rooms at Contemporary -Someone pulled a fire alarm at the Wilderness Lodge in the middle of the hurricane -Section of World Dr is flooded
Overnight Report from Disney World Cast:
-Some Polynesian Rooms Flooded, Roofing Damage too
-Water leaking in some rooms at Contemporary
-Someone pulled a fire alarm at the Wilderness Lodge in the middle of the hurricane
-Section of World Dr is flooded pic.twitter.com/JT0p3zgUBL— Mickey Views (@MickeyViews) October 10, 2024
Wind Damage Dominates Cleanup Efforts
While no major structural damage has been reported at Walt Disney World, crews have been deployed throughout the property to address wind damage, particularly to trees. The high winds, which peaked at 80 mph in some areas, knocked down trees and caused branches to snap, with most of the impact felt early this morning around 2:30 a.m. Wind-blown debris has also damaged some signage throughout the property.
Though flooding was a concern for much of Central Florida, Walt Disney World has handled it relatively well. There has been only one reported instance of partial roadway blockage near Magic Kingdom. Crews are working to clear the roadway and restore proper drainage. Despite the minimal flooding, with the parks closed and no official reopening time announced, there is little activity on the roads.
Related: Disney Faces $200 Million Loss From Hurricane Milton: Price-Gouging Warning Issued
Guests Remain Sheltered as Disney Monitors Situation
Disney World initially instructed guests to remain sheltered indoors while the damage was assessed. A statement on the Walt Disney World website urged caution, advising visitors at both Disney World and the Vero Beach Resort to stay inside. By 9:30 a.m., the request for guests to remain indoors was lifted, indicating that the worst of the storm had passed.
“Walt Disney World and Vero Beach Resort Hotel Guests: Please continue to shelter inside while we assess the storm’s impact. We’ll let you know when it is safe to be outdoors,” read Disney’s initial message to guests.
As of mid-morning on October 10, Orlando International Airport (MCO) remains closed to commercial flights. According to MCO’s official X (formerly Twitter) account, emergency crews have begun assessing damage at the airport, but nearly 1,000 flight cancellations have been reported for the second day in a row.
Operational Update #7 – Hurricane Milton Emergency crews remained onsite overnight, and damage assessment will start taking place now. Once information becomes available about a specific time that commercial operations will resume, we’ll be sure to post about it.
Operational Update #7 – Hurricane Milton
Emergency crews remained onsite overnight, and damage assessment will start taking place now. Once information becomes available about a specific time that commercial operations will resume, we'll be sure to post about it. pic.twitter.com/YH9Ftlv9fc— Orlando International Airport (@MCO) October 10, 2024
Related: Disney Confirms up to 20% Price Increase on Theme Park Passes Effective Now
Statewide Impact and Response
Hurricane Milton has left a significant impact across Florida, with 3 million residents currently without power as of 10 a.m. on October 10. However, Governor Ron DeSantis expressed relief that the storm’s effects were not as severe as initially feared.
“What we can say is the storm was significant, but thankfully, this was not the worst-case scenario,” DeSantis said during a morning press briefing.
As Hurricane Milton moves out of Florida and into the Atlantic Ocean, officials and residents are beginning to assess the extent of the damage. Disney World, like much of Central Florida, will continue its recovery efforts in the coming days as it evaluates the safety of reopening its parks.
No Official Reopening Plans Yet
As of now, Disney World has not released an official reopening plan, though updates will be posted on their website and app. The company cautioned that the hours displayed on the My Disney Experience app and website reflect standard operations and may not indicate when the parks will actually reopen.
Related: Will Disney World Reopen on Friday? The Latest on Reopening Efforts
While the worst of Hurricane Milton has passed, the region continues to deal with strong wind gusts and ongoing power outages. Central Florida residents, including those in the theme park capital, are now beginning the long process of returning to normal after the storm.
Flight Cancellations and Travel Disruptions
Travel disruptions are widespread due to Milton’s impact. Orlando International Airport remains closed to commercial flights, and damage assessments are ongoing. With thousands of flights canceled, travelers face continued delays, and no specific time has been given for the resumption of operations.
As cleanup efforts continue, Floridians are cautiously optimistic about recovery. For now, guests at Walt Disney World and across the state are advised to stay informed and adhere to safety recommendations as officials work to restore normalcy.