Walt Disney World is making preperations as Tropical Storm Milton is expected to rapidly intensify and target Florida's West Coast as a major category 3 hurricane, bringing severe weather to Central Florida's tourist districts.
Tropical Storm Milton was formed on Saturday afternoon, October 6, and is expected to rapidly intensify into a hurricane by Monday before making landfall in Florida on Wednesday as a major cat 3 hurriccane.
The storm is forecast to bring the risk of life-threatening impacts to the west coast of Florida next week, with the potential to tear through the I-4 corridor including Orlando.
As residents and visitors are being urged to ready their hurricane preparedness kit and plan now, Walt Disney World is already making operational plans behind the scenes.
The resort has now paused hotel reservations for Wednesday, October 9 and Thursday, October 10.
Walt Disney World typically pause hotel reservations during the threat of a major storm to ensure they have accommodations for Cast Members to support the guests who already have reservations and will be riding out the storm in the resort.
The Cast Members staying on-site during a storm are typically known as the "ride-out crew", these Cast Members will ensure the comfort and safety of guests staying within the resort hotels.
While no other restrictions have been announced as yet for Walt Disney World, if the forcast path of the storm remains the same in the coming hours and days, it is expected that the resort will make more operational changes, including possible closures to the resorts theme parks, water parks and attractions.
Milton is currently expected to rip into Florida as a major Category 3 hurricane close to Tampa Bay, bringing damaging winds, life-threatening storm surge and torrential rain. Here in Orlando, current models show the heaviest rainfall is expected to be from the Interstate 4 corridor affecting the tourist areas of Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando, International Drive and more.
Well in advance of the storm, waves of heavy rain are forecast beginning Sunday, especially in Central and South Florida.
The National Hurricane Center is concerned about the potential impacts this storm couild bring to Florida in the coming week, with the agency commenting, "Regardless of the exact details of the intensity forecast, an intense hurricane with multiple life-threatening hazards is likely to affect the west coast of the Florida Peninsula next week."
Ahed of the storm developing, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for 35 of Florida's 67 counties.
The following counties are under a state of emergency:
Brevard, Broward, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Flagler, Glades, Hardee, Hendry, Hernando, Highlands, Hillsborough, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Manatee, Marion, Martin, Miami-Dade, Monroe, Okeechobee, Orange, Osceola, Palm Beach, Pasco, Pinellas, Polk, Putnam, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Johns, St. Lucie, Sumter, and Volusia.
Here at Gotta Go Orlando we will keep you updated on the latest news as this dangerous storm targets Central Florida.
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