In less than 24 hours, Milton has become a hurricane and strengthened from a Category 1 to a Category 5 hurricane. The storm is racing across the Gulf of Mexico toward Florida and is expected to slam into Florida in the region around Tampa Bay. This could lead to a storm surge of 8 to 12 feet with flash and river flooding coming from the 8-10 inches of rain coming down from the storm in parts of Florida. There could be as much as 15 inches in some places.
The storm is expected to cross Florida, remaining as a hurricane the entire time. However, it isn’t expected to retain its strength as a Category 5 hurricane. How much it weakens remains to be seen. A Category 5 hurricane means that the storm has sustained winds of 157 mph or higher.
“Milton is moving slowly but is expected to strengthen rapidly,” the hurricane center said on Sunday. “There is increasing confidence that a powerful hurricane with life-threatening hazards will be affecting portions of the Florida west coast around the middle of this week.”
At this point, Walt Disney World Resort is operating under normal conditions and monitoring the situation. In a statement on its website, Disney says, “Walt Disney World Resort is currently operating under normal conditions. We are closely monitoring the path of the projected storm as we continue to prioritize the safety of our Guests and Cast Members.”
If it looks like the storm will be having a greater impact on Walt Disney World, it is very likely that Disney will modify its operations. This could mean suspending outdoor offerings if the impact isn’t major or potentially closing its theme parks. Disney has already suspended making new theme park reservations for October 8th and October 9th.
Walt Disney World Resort goes to great efforts to keep its guests and cast members safe. If Hurricane Milton ends up impacting its operations, it has contingencies in place to keep people safe during and after the storm. For those who are visiting during this storm, please listen to cast members and government officials and follow their instructions. While it may not always make sense from one person’s perspective, there is a bigger picture of safety for everyone that is an overriding concern.
For those who are scheduled to arrive at Walt Disney World in the coming days during the storms, check with both Disney and airlines for how the storm may be impacting your trip. This is a very serious weather event. Disney will be updating its operational changes on the Walt Disney World Resort website. Daps Magic will be following these updates and sharing them as well.
