Disney leaves it late to announce any Walt Disney World theme park closures

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Tropical Storm Nicole approaches Magic Kingdom

Posted: Wednesday November 9, 2022 8:53am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Tropical Storm Nicole is expected to make landfall in the early hours of Thursday, with wind gusts in Central Florida approaching hurricane-force winds throughout the day.

Tropical Storm Nicole forecast track - November 9 2022 7am

Surprisingly, Disney is still to announce changes to operating hours or closures at its four main Walt Disney World theme parks.

Apart from a handful of operational changes already announced, we are also waiting on the status of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party on Thursday night. It seems unlikely that the party will go ahead with high winds and heavy rain forecast. Last night's opening party was essentially a complete washout, leaving many guests asking for tickets to a future party or other forms of recovery.

Effects of Tropical Storm Nicole were felt at the opening night of Mickey's Very Merry Christmas Party November 8IMG]We understand that a final decision is still to be made, but we should expect to hear more about Disney's plans for Walt Disney World later today. Options range from delayed opening at the parks to a complete closure for the day on Thursday.Nearby Universal Orlando has announced its Volcano Bay water park will be closed but is following Disney and waiting on an announcement about its two main theme parks.[IMG[49245|640|0|Normal|

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CosmicCarolNov 13, 2022

Thanks! We got a reservation at around 3pm, so worked out well! :)

TrainsOfDisneyNov 12, 2022

MK opened at noon - I got on a Disney Springs resort bus at 11:00 to the TTC.

ILoveWDW4everNov 12, 2022

Ok so you were not here. The weather was FINE.

CntrlFlPeteNov 12, 2022

I felt the winds in the area where still kicking until at least 2 PM. I cannot imagine how tough it must be to drive a high profile vehicle such as a bus with those winds and those gusts. I am sort of surprised to hear they had busses running at what noon? I am also certain it must have been tough to get folks into work for many reasons that day.

TrainsOfDisneyNov 12, 2022

i waited 40+ minutes for a bus back to Disney Springs. Finally someone else (who had waited longer than me) talked to a driver of another bus and he said he would take us there. I think there was a lack of drivers yesterday, which makes sense. Could be some of the data wasn’t working as well? I know the mobile ordering wasn’t working at the contemporary.

HauntedPirateNov 11, 2022

No. I only watched the radar off and on for hours, tracking the storm as it made its way across Florida, not to mention checking weather stations in and around the property. I'm sure that provided zero pertinent weather information for the area. :rolleyes: I'll bet you would have thought the parks should have been opened the afternoon after Ian came through because, "it looks fine to me, no storm here!". Have a magical day.

ILoveWDW4everNov 11, 2022

They did not offer anything like this.

ILoveWDW4everNov 11, 2022

Were you here yesterday?

wdwmagicNov 11, 2022

Disney to resume enforcing cancellation policies at Disney World suspended during Storm Nicole https://www.wdwmagic.com/other/severe-weather-information/news/11nov2022-disney-to-resume-enforcing-cancellations-policies-suspended-during-storm-nicole.htm

HauntedPirateNov 11, 2022

I do as well, but you still are out a full-day admission for 6 hours of park time. If they have any semblance of a clue left when it comes to customer service, they would have granted anyone visiting a park yesterday a complimentary park day on the DME account, expiration at the end of 2023. That would have been the old-guard response, because they valued guests. The new guard just sees consumers and wants their money. It costs them nothing to do that, plus they have to book a trip if they want to use it.

MagicHappens1971Nov 11, 2022

While I agree with what is being said, I highly doubt anyone bought a one day ticket for MK yesterday.

HauntedPirateNov 11, 2022

"There was no storm yesterday" The storm passed through the area in the early morning, but you do you. I was there for Ian, so I have a frame of reference. However, I agree with the sentiment of MK being only open for 6 hours, yet they gladly charged full price. That's criminal, for lack of a better term at the moment.