Disney World Closes Fort Wilderness, Cabins, and Treehouse Villas as Category 5 Hurricane Milton Approaches

Disney World Announces Closure of Fort Wilderness, Cabins, and Treehouses Due to Hurricane Milton

With Hurricane Milton now a catastrophic Category 5 storm and on a direct path toward Walt Disney World Resort, Disney has announced the closure of several resort hotels and accommodations. Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, the Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will temporarily close starting Wednesday, October 9th, in anticipation of the hurricane’s impact.

Here is the official statement:

We are closely monitoring the path of the projected storm, and the safety of our Guests and Cast Members remains our top priority. Walt Disney World Resort is currently operating under normal conditions and will continue to be on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Looking ahead, we are making adjustments based on the latest weather forecast and some areas with unique environments.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, the Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will temporarily close beginning at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa are likely to remain closed until Sunday, Oct. 13
The Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge will likely reopen on Friday, Oct. 11.

This decision comes as Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified, exceeding forecasts and becoming a major threat to central Florida. The National Weather Service has issued a Hurricane Warning for Orange County, home to both Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort, indicating that hurricane conditions (sustained winds of 74 mph or higher) are expected within the warning area.

Timeline of Events

• October 5th: A State of Emergency was declared for Orange County as Milton was still a tropical storm.
• October 6th: Milton strengthened into a hurricane.
• October 7th: Milton underwent rapid intensification, reaching Category 4 status and then explosively strengthening into a Category 5 hurricane with sustained winds of 160 mph.
• October 8th: Disney announces the closure of Fort Wilderness, Copper Creek Cabins, and Treehouse Villas.

Other Resort Measures

In addition to the closures, Walt Disney World has taken the following steps in preparation for Hurricane Milton:

• Paused hotel reservations for Wednesday, October 9th and Thursday, October 10th.
• Blocked park reservations for October 9th.
• Waived hotel cancellation and change fees for guests impacted by the storm.

No Announcement of Widespread Park Closures Yet

At this time, Walt Disney World has not announced any widespread closures of its theme parks. However, it is likely that operational adjustments and potential closures will be announced as the storm’s arrival becomes imminent. Guests with upcoming trips are strongly encouraged to monitor official Disney channels for updates and heed all warnings and evacuation orders issued by authorities.

This is a developing situation, and we will continue to provide updates as they become available. Sources and related content

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