UPDATE: Latest Information on Cancelled Events & More at Disney World Due to Hurricane Matthew

WDWNT on October 14, 2016

The news is rolling in fast, so here is the very latest on how Hurricane Matthew will be affecting Walt Disney World:

  • Blizzard Beach will be closed on both 10/6 and 10/7, Typhoon Lagoon is closed on just the 7th
  • The Spirit of Aloha Dinner Show and Hoop De Doo Musical Revue are cancelled on 10/6 and 10/7
  • UPDATE: The 10/6 Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party has been officially cancelled
  • Characters in Flight at Disney Springs is now closed through 10/9
  • Majority of events at ESPN Wide World of Sports over the weekend were cancelled

Park operating hours have not yet been affected, but should they be, the decision will likely not be made until tomorrow.

UPDATE: Walt Disney World Closes Theme Parks Early Today & All-Day Friday for Hurricane Matthew

WDWNT on October 14, 2016

Walt Disney Workd has now announced that all four of its theme parks and other resort areas will close to guests at 5pm tonight.

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In addition, the Walt Disney World Resort will be closed on Friday, October 7th. This is only the 4th time in history the parks have been closed for an entire day.

The Walt Disney World Resort and its theme parks are expected to reopen on October 8th.

Here’s some official information:

Treehouse Villas and Bungalows unavailable:
With severe weather expected over the next few days, Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Bungalows will be unavailable beginning Thursday afternoon in an abundance of caution
The safety of our Guests and Cast is always our first priority. Guests staying in these select rooms will be offered alternate accommodations.
Any customary cancellation fees will be waived for early departures
As the Emergency Management Team continues to monitor Hurricane Matthew, the Walt Disney World Resort is taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety of our Guests and Cast
Members. Due to potential weather impacts in Central Florida, Walt Disney World Resort will be implementing the following operational changes:

THEME PARKS, WATER PARKS & RESORTS:
The following locations will close at 5:00pm, Thursday, October, 6

  • Magic Kingdom
  • Epcot
  • Hollywood Studios
  • Animal Kingdom
  • Typhoon Lagoon
  • Blizzard Beach (Closed all day)
  • ESPN Wide World of Sports
  • Disney Springs
  • Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf
  • Winter Summerland Miniature Golf

The following locations will be closed Friday, October, 7

  • Magic Kingdom
  • Epcot
  • Hollywood Studios
  • Animal Kingdom
  • Typhoon Lagoon
  • Blizzard Beach
  • ESPN Wide World of Sports
  • Disney Springs
  • Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf
  • Winter Summerland Miniature Golf
  • Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party is cancelled for Thursday night. Guests may call 407-566-4985, option 5, to make alternate plans, anytime from 9:00am to 11:00pm EDT
  • Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground is closed now through Sunday. This includes all Thursday and Friday performances of Hoop-Dee-Doo Revue and Mickey’s Backyard BBQ
  • The Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort and Disney’s Polynesian Bungalows will be unavailable beginning Thursday afternoon.
  • Spirit of Aloha dinner shows at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will be cancelled Thursday and Friday evenings
  • Select spa locations, including La Vida Health Club at Disney’s Coronado Springs Resort, Senses a Disney Spa at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa and at Disney’s Saratoga
    Springs Resort, and Ship Shape Massage, Salon and Fitness at Disney’s Yacht & Beach Club Resorts, will be closed beginning Thursday at 12:00pm through Saturday evening.

ENTERTAINMENT, AMENITIES & OTHER OFFERINGS

  • Characters in Flight at Disney Springs is closed now through Sunday.
  • The Baseball Canada game scheduled for Thursday at 1:00pm at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex has been rescheduled for 10:00am the same day.
  • Select weekend events at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex have been canceled including the 2016 Disney Cross Country Classic and Baseball Canada’s Friday and Saturday
    games/practices

VIDEO: See How Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom Prepares for a Hurricane

WDWNT on October 14, 2016

Walt Disney World’s theme parks have only closed unscheduled on 4 occaisions in history, so the announcement today that the parks would be closing early and would remain closed through Friday is still surreal to many of us. With today being such a historic event, I decided to travel to the Magic Kingdom just to see what the atmosphere was like. What I found was a rather odd scenario.

Guests had shown up, more than I would have expected in fact, just to make the most of the little time they had. What was interesting, shocking, and honestly really cool was the number of steps Disney has already taken to prepares the park for the storm. Tarps around construction projects had been taken down, banners around the park removed, and all manner of flags tied up for safety. Here’s a video of many of the preparation taken to keep The magic Kingdom safe during Hurricane Matthew:

Pretty neat, huh?

While Walt Disney World is closed for the next day and a half, be sure to stay tuned to WDWNT.com for the latest developments. If you are staying at a Walt Disney World Resort hotel this evening, please contact us and let us know how it goes! We would love to hear about the experience (but most importantly, stay safe of course).

UPDATE: Walt Disney World Theme Parks Will Open Earlier Than Originally Scheduled

WDWNT on October 14, 2016

Walt Disney World has just announced that their 4 theme parks will open earlier than originally scheduled at 8am on Saturday, October 8th. Animal Kingdom will open to resort guests at 7am for Extra Magic Hours.

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The Walt Disney World theme parks all closed at 5pm on Thursday in preparation for Hurricane Matthew and remained closed all-day today, October 7th.

UPDATE: Disney Springs Will Open at 5PM Tonight Following Hurricane Matthew

WDWNT on October 14, 2016

A limited number of locations at Disney Springs will be opening to guests at 5pm tonight.

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There is no list of what locations at Disney Springs will be open as of yet. Disney will begin bus service for hotel guests to and from Disney Springs at 6:30PM.

Disney Springs was supposed to be shuttered all day today, but the weather caused by Hurricane Matthew was not as bad as originally expected, at least in the Orlando area.

Update (4:15pm) – Here is a list of what is open tonight:
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VIDEO: Disney Springs Opens to Guests During Hurricane; Polynesian Guests Go Swimming

WDWNT on October 14, 2016

With Disney Springs opening in limited capacity at 5pm, I decided it might be kind of cool to drive on down to Disney World and see exactly what was going on during the final gusts and rain drops of Hurricane Matthew here in Orlando.

We began our evening at Disney Springs, where despite inclement weather, many guests began to show up as establishments opened at 5pm.

Meanwhile at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort, guests make due by going swimming and peering across the lagoon at a shuttered Magic Kingdom:

UPDATE: Disney Waiving Fees on Most Trip Cancellations Due to Hurricane Matthew

WDWNT on October 5, 2016

With Hurricane Matthew looming, Walt Disney World is in many cases waiving cancellation fees for vacations booked by guests at Disney resort hotels.

Hurricane Matthew may effect Walt Disney World vacations

Hurricane Matthew may effect Walt Disney World vacations

Disney is reportedly willing to work out arrangements with any guests staying at the resort Wednesday, October 5th through Sunday, October 9th, 2016. It is not guaranteed than fees will be wavered, but many guests are being offered full refunds without penalization upon contacting Disney.

UPDATE: Guests at Some Disney Resorts Being Moved Due to Hurricane Matthew

WDWNT on October 5, 2016

Guests staying at some Disney resorts hotels at the Walt Disney World Resort are being moved for their safety.

Hurricane Matthew having its effect already on the Walt Disney World Resort.

Hurricane Matthew having its effect already on the Walt Disney World Resort.

Disney is offering a change of accommodations for guests at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds. Disney is offering these guests rooms at many of their other resort hotels on property and not any one specific resort.

The accommodation changes are being made today as Disney hopes to have these guests out of Fort Wilderness by Thursday.