Disney World to close Wednesday and Thursday due to Hurricane Ian

Rob Wile
Joseph Prezioso

Disney said Tuesday that Walt Disney World Resort theme parks and water parks would close Wednesday, Sept. 28 and Thursday, Sept. 29 as Hurricane Ian threatens the Florida peninsula.

In an email, a company representative also said the Disney Springs shopping area would be closed Wednesday and likely Thursday.

"We are monitoring weather conditions so we can make timely decisions for the safety of our Cast and Guests, including when it’s safe for Cast to return to the site to prepare for reopening," the company said.

Follow along for NBC News' live coverage of Hurricane Ian

Earlier Tuesday, the company announced it was closing a range of nearby properties in advance of the storm. Those included:

  • Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground. Performances of "Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue" have also been canceled; the statement said prepaid reservations will be automatically canceled and refunded.

  • Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge

  • Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa

  • The Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort

Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser resort will also be closed through Friday.

Disney said it is contacting guests with current and upcoming reservations since these locations will be closing. It also said it is not enforcing cancellation policies for dining and other experiences like Savi’s Workshop and Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique.

According to Disney's hurricane policy, if the National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane warning for the Orlando area within seven days of a guest's scheduled arrival date, they may call in advance to reschedule or cancel Walt Disney Travel Company Disney resort hotel packages and most room-only reservations without any cancellation or change fees imposed by Disney.

The policy does not apply if their stay was not booked through the Walt Disney Travel Company.

According to The Points Guy travel blog, much of Disney World, including the landmark Cinderella Castle, is built to withstand hurricanes, and it is common for Floridians exposed to a hurricane elsewhere in the state to ride out the storm at the park.

Since opening in 1971, Disney World has only been forced to close eight times as a result of a hurricane, according to the unofficial Disney blog Inside the Magic. The most recent closure happened in 2019 as Hurricane Dorian approached.

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