UPDATED with the latest: Approximately 24 hours before Tropical Storm Nicole’s worst impacts in the Orlando area, Walt Disney World began closing some outdoor tourist attractions, including all water parks and golf courses. Specifically, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Winter Summerland Miniature Golf Course, Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf Course were closed Thursday.
Additionally, the city of Orlando declared a state of emergency Tuesday night, according to The Weather Channel, and Orlando International Airport announced that it would “cease commercial operations at 4:00 p.m. on Wednesday, November 9, until Circumstances allow operations to resume.
A statement at the top of the WDW website reads: “Walt Disney World Resort is currently operating under normal conditions. We continue to closely monitor Tropical Storm Nicole and are making any necessary operational adjustments to keep our guests and cast members safe.”
But a reservation system check Tuesday night indicated there were no spaces available for Thursday or Friday at any of the resort’s four parks. That could be a coincidence, but it seems unlikely given that reservations were still available at short notice, on Wednesday and even today, and also for the next few popular weekend days. Walt Disney World did not respond to a request for comment on the parks’ current reservation availability.
On Tuesday, the alert status for the Orlando area was raised from a Tropical Storm Watch to a Tropical Storm Warning. According to NOAA, that means tropical storm conditions are expected, while a watch means [those] conditions are possible.
Nicole is expected to strengthen into a hurricane possibly overnight and, while Orlando is under a Tropical Storm Warning, near Titusville, it is within the Hurricane Warning region.
The region’s other park, Universal Orlando Resort, has yet to announce any closures.
PREVIOUS on Monday: Just over a month after Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort were forced to close by Hurricane Ian, Florida resorts have again been placed under a state of emergency due to the threat of wind and rain from what it is currently a subtropical storm. Nicole. Hurricane watches are in effect for the state’s Atlantic coast from Hallandale Beach, north of Miami, to just above Daytona Beach, and inland to Lake Okeechobee, according to the National Hurricane Center.
Governor Ron DeSantis announced a state of emergency this afternoon in 34 of the state’s 67 counties, including Lake, Orange, Oscoloa and Seminole, that are adjacent to or contain portions of Disney and Universal resorts. As a result, Orlando is under a tropical storm watch, according to the National Weather Service in nearby Melbourne.
The Orlando area faces an elevated risk of moderate rainfall from flooding, with a projection calling for rainfall of more than 4 inches from the storm. Nearby Seminole County can have up to 7 inches. There is also an elevated risk of tropical storm force winds (35 to 57 mph) and tornadoes hitting the Orlando area, according to the NWS.
Hurricane Ian, which was at least a Category 2 storm when it passed through Orlando, dumped debris on Walt Disney World, flooded parts of the Universal Resort and damaged its Jurassic Park attraction.
Deadline has reached out to Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort and will add any comments received. Neither park has any notes on the possible impacts of the storm on its website, and both are still selling tickets for this Thursday, when Nicole is expected to pass through the area. Universal’s annual Christmas celebration kicks off on Saturday.
Coincidentally, on the drought-parched West Coast, Six Flags Magic Mountain in Valencia
will be closed today due to heavy rain. Park officials say tickets for today will be valid on any other regular day of operation through the end of the year.
