We were among the few guests visiting Magic Kingdom on Wednesday before it closed early due to Hurricane Milton. Like the other Walt Disney World theme parks, Magic Kingdom prepared for the hurricane by securing signs and kiosks, tying up umbrellas, and more.
Magic Kingdom Prepares for Hurricane Milton
Main Street, U.S.A. & Cinderella Castle
Several, but not all, of the lamps on Main Street, U.S.A. were covered in a green mesh.
The American flag was still flying in Town Square, as well as on top of the train station. Most Halloween decorations were also still up.
The Tony’s Town Square Restaurant marquee was tied to the building to hold it in place. The restaurant was open today, and there was no wait to get a table at the normally popular dining location.
We were surprised to see umbrellas open in the seating area outside Casey’s Corner.
We went back by the location on our way out of the park and found that the umbrellas had been closed and were secured with zip ties.
Umbrellas were secured in the same manner at The Plaza Restaurant.
Most other umbrellas were closed and tied shut, including those next to the Guest Experience Team kiosk. No Cast Members were at the kiosk on Wednesday morning.
The only outdoor vending carts open were those with cover for Cast Members, like this kiosk in the Hub. An umbrella was also open here for guests waiting in the queue.
Rain was hitting the park before it opened and not many guests braved the weather. But those who did, experienced short wait times, including for Tiana’s Bayou Adventure. Our boarding group for the new attraction was called early.
The lamps around Cinderella Castle were also wrapped in green mesh. The ramps up to the castle were closed. Cast Members stationed outdoors wore raincoats.
Banners were removed from flagpoles around the castle stage.
The lamps on the ramp between Fantasyland and Liberty Square were also covered.
Speakers among the ferns next to the ramp were wrapped in plastic.
When we headed back down Main Street to leave the park, we saw more preparation. Exterior signs that could be damaged in high winds were covered and tied securely.
Liberty Square
Heading into Liberty Square, we noticed the free-hanging sign was tied to its pole with a rope. This helps prevent it from swinging and potentially breaking off during expected high winds from Hurricane Milton.
No mesh was on the lamps of the Liberty Square bridge.
There was no wait for breakfast at Sleepy Hollow Refreshments.
The umbrellas here were also still open, providing guests a somewhat safe spot to dine.
The Liberty Square popcorn cart was not open. Tarps covered some of the kiosk and umbrellas were tied closed.
Many swinging signs in Liberty Square were tied in place.
Here, the Liberty Tree Tavern sign has been tied to a column of the building.
The above photo shows some non-swinging signs tied tightly in place. In this photo, you can also see how hard it was raining this morning.
Umbrellas in the outdoor dining area near Columbia Harbour House were also tied closed.
The coolers in Liberty Square Market were covered in tarps. Bright orange tarps were wrapped around the cash registers.
Flags were still raised around the Liberty Bell replica.
Adventureland & Frontierland
The Adventureland Spring Roll Cart was closed, with tarps over its cash registers. We were worried it might end up blowing away but then noticed yellow straps ready to secure the kiosk.
The Bwana Bob’s merchandise kiosks were closed. Yellow straps were taut over the larger structures, attached to metal rings in the ground.
Tarps covered the smaller kiosks and the umbrellas were lowered.
A series of ropes held the Sunshine Tree Terrace sign in place.
It was the same story with the “World Famous Jungle Cuisine” sign outside Skipper Canteen.
As usual, not many guests were climbing the Swiss Family Treehouse. Ropes held the “Robinson” crest sign against its pole.
Walt Disney’s Enchanted Tiki Room was business as usual, except for the ropes securing its “Entrance” sign.
Even the “Exotic” Jungle Cruise sign was tied up.
The Adventureland popcorn cart was also closed, with tarps over coolers and cash registers.
Umbrellas in this area were tied up.
Several ropes were wrapped around the Tortuga Treasures sign. The merch location was open.
Merchandise displays were all under cover or closed.
The Adventureland/Frontierland sign at the back of the land was wrapped in ropes, too. Thankfully, it was still legible, so we knew where we were going.
The Pirate’s Adventure sign was secured with ropes stretching from the roof corners.
This snack cart was closed — no churros or pretzels for us, unfortunately. It also had yellow straps keeping it down.
The Big Al’s merchandise location outside Country Bear Musical Jamboree was closed, with tarps over the small kiosks and covering the windows of the large kiosk.
As we made our way towards Fantasyland, more storm clouds rolled in. We heard an announcement about the park closing at 2 p.m. due to inclement weather. Disney expects to keep the parks closed through Thursday, October 10.
Fantasyland
In Fantasyland, banners were removed from poles outside Mickey’s PhilharMagic.
The swinging sign at Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique was tied to the building that houses the experience.
Ropes were tied around many of the signs on the outside of Seven Dwarfs Mine Train.
The main sign for The Many Adventures of Winnie the Pooh was tied securely to the building and queue beneath it.
We spotted more green mesh over the lamps on the back of Cinderella Castle.
Umbrellas near The Friar’s Nook were zip-tied closed.
We saw crew members zip-tying more umbrellas.
Small flags on some attraction façades were not removed, including those on “it’s a small world” and Prince Charming Regal Carrousel.
A Cast Member was rolling up and transporting umbrellas away from this closed snack kiosk.
Be Our Guest Restaurant was closed for the day, and the rain made for an ominous view of the entrance bridge.
Gaston’s Tavern was still serving food, but outdoor seating was rained out, with umbrellas already tied up.
The nearby “Maurice’s Amazing Popping Machine” was closed and strapped down.
Though tarps did not block the entrance of Prince Eric’s Village Market, no food or Cast Members were visible inside.
Storybook Circus
The snack carts outside Storybook Circus were closed, with shades blocking their windows and tarps over their registers.
The left-hand Storybook Circus entrance banner was recently removed, perhaps to be refurbished or replaced. The other welcome banner has been rolled up.
The decorative banners to the sides of the entrance were also rolled up and tied to their poles.
It was the same with most of the themed banners in the land, which advertise various circus acts.
The banners in the back of the land were still up, however. These frame the Big Top Souvenirs side entrance and Pete’s Silly Sideshow meet and greet entrance.
The snack and merchandise carts inside Storybook Circus were closed and strapped down.
The restroom signs were tied with rope.
Tomorrowland
Flags were still raised at Tomorrowland Speedway. The outdoor attraction only had a 5-minute wait at noon.
Sonny Eclipse has safely evacuated — just kidding. He’s on vacation while the Disney Jr. Jam takes his place for Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party. The Thursday party was canceled due to the storm.
Some Tomorrowland merchandise kiosks don’t have tarps so were wrapped in plastic.
We saw more Cast Members with green carts moving unsecured items.
The umbrellas of Tomorrowland are metal so don’t have to be folded up and tied closed.
Speakers have themed shades to cover them.
The speakers on the Galactic Gateway stage were also covered with blue sleeves.
Though the face painting station was open, they had already put tarps over their cash registers.
The MaDe kiosks in Tomorrowland Launch Depot were closed so guests wouldn’t run out of time to collect their custom items.
At Tomorrowland Terrace, chairs and tables were all stacked up against the inner walls.
Transportation and Ticket Center
At the Transportation and Ticket Center, the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party banner was removed from this frame so it wouldn’t blow away.
Hurricane Milton has dropped from a Category 5 to a Category 4 storm. It’s expected to make landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast early Thursday morning and pass over the Orlando area midday.
Universal Orlando Resort is also closing early on Wednesday and remaining closed on Thursday, with Halloween Horror Nights canceled.
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