How Disney World Hotels Are Battening Down the Hatches as Hurricane Milton Bears Down on Florida (Exclusive)

Disney World is preparing for the arrival of Hurricane Milton — preparing the parks, hotels and guests staying there through the Category 4 storm.

Nicole Wolfe of Fishers, Ind. was at Disney with her husband, their children (ages 8 and 5), brother and parents when it was announced on Tuesday, October 8 that all parks would begin closing the following day due to the approaching storm.

The family had planned to end their vacation on Thursday, but in light of the hurricane, they decided to change their flights to Friday and received a discounted rate for an extra day at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, where they stayed in the Bay Lake Tower.

“We are in line for our last ride of the day before Magic Kingdom closes at 2 p.m.,” Wolfe told PEOPLE early Wednesday afternoon. “I saw more preparations at the hotel today – window coverings, sandbags at the front door, setting up sunbeds for the pool.”

Wolfe said the pool at her hotel was still open, but the outdoor lounge chairs were stacked.

Nicole Wolfe

Disney World will close all parks as Hurricane Milton Barrels toward Orlando

Wolfe later said Disney staff told them the parks would be closed Thursday, and asked guests to stay in their rooms Wednesday night starting at 10 p.m. The staff provided extra towels to put on the inside of their balcony door.

She added that family-friendly activities, including free arcade games, have been posted, and that restaurants — with sit-down service and mobile phone pickup — are still open as of Wednesday night. Everyone at the hotel was “kind and positive,” she notes.

“All the park employees we talked to said the same thing — that being at the resort is the best place to be,” says Wolfe.

Sandbags are placed along the walkways between the hotel buildings.

Nicole Wolfe

As for other preparations the hotel is making, Wolfe says staff have installed double glass partitions along the walkway that connects the tower to the hotel’s main building, which is usually outdoors.

She also said she saw “a lot of plastic wrap and caution tape” as the park wrapped up its freestanding merchandise stands.

At noon Wednesday, Wolfe reported that Disney’s monorail and riverboats were still running.

While in the hotel lobby, the mom of two says she heard staff would set up food stations in each building if guests didn’t leave the hotel’s various separate structures during the worst of the storm.

Double glass partitions have been installed along the track.

Nicole Wolfe

In the family room, staff arrived to set up balcony chairs and tables inside, Wolfe said, adding that all outdoor furniture was stacked while the hotel pool was still open.

What happens if you get stuck at Disney World during a hurricane, according to people who lived through it

Photos from Nicole Wolfe’s hotel room at Disney World’s Contemporary Resort.

Nicole Wolfe

Disney previously announced on Monday that its more rustic accommodations will close at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9. These include Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground (including dining and recreation areas), Copper Creek Cabins at Wilderness Lodge, and Treehouse Villas at Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa.

Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up to date with the best PEOPLE has to offer, from juicy celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.

Disney announced the phased closures Tuesday: Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom will close at 1 p.m. Wednesday, and Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Disney Springs will close at 2 p.m.

“It is likely that the theme parks will remain closed on Thursday, October 10. We will consider opening Disney Springs on Thursday in the late afternoon, with limited offerings,” the statement added.

Photos from Nicole Wolfe’s hotel room at Disney World’s Contemporary Resort.

Nicole Wolfe

The closing also means the cancellation of the park’s popular Halloween event, Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party, on Thursday. Tickets for the event will be refunded.

Hurricane Milton is expected to reach Florida’s west coast late Wednesday or early Thursday after moving through the Gulf of Mexico, where it has gained strength.

The National Hurricane Center warned that Milton would bring “life-threatening” hazards to Florida, centered on the Tampa Bay area.

Categories: Trends
Source: HIS Education