Hurricane Milton is threatening the state of Florida. As residents evacuate and business shut down, many are preparing for what could be the Sunshine State’s worst storm in decades. But preparations haven’t been easy. As people try to drive upstate or to another location, some can’t find gas stations with enough fuel. Orlando residents are struggling to find an open gas station to fill up their cars.
Orlando Gas Stations With Fuel Available
Anyone in the Orlando area can find local gas stations with either fuel, power, both or neither via this tracker. As of Tuesday, October 8, GasBuddy noted that 14 percent of gas stations across Orlando and Daytona Beach didn’t have fuel.
Is Orlando Evacuating for Hurricane Milton?
Orlando is in Orange County, which is not one of the counties that were given mandatory evacuations. However, Milton will cut straight through the city.
According to The New York Times, the following counties have been issued evacuation orders: Seminole, Charlotte, Citrus, Collier, DeSoto, Hernando, Hillsborough, Lee, Levy, Manatee, Marion, Pasco, Pinellas and St. John’s.
Hurricane Milton has indeed been upgraded to a strong Category 4 storm with sustained winds of 150 mph, making it just 7 mph short of Category 5 status. It is expected to make landfall along Florida's Gulf Coast, with Tampa and Orlando in its projected path. This storm is… pic.twitter.com/z5IMmq8w8y
— Minstra ♫ (@ViceRoyMinstra) October 7, 2024
Is Disney World Closed for Milton?
In a statement posted to its website, Disney World noted it was “closely monitoring the path of the projected storm, and the safety of [its] guests and cast members remains [a] top priority.”
“Looking ahead, we are making adjustments based on the latest weather forecast and some areas with unique environments,” the statement read. 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 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday, October 9.” Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will “remain closed until Sunday, October 13,” and the Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge will “likely reopen on Friday, October 11.”
Disney also noted that its parks Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom theme park will close at 1:00 p.m. on Wednesday, October 9, and Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Disney Springs will close at 2:00 p.m. that day.
WDW noted on October 8 that it’s “likely the theme parks will remain closed on Thursday, October 10” and that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom is canceled for October 10. Event tickets for MNSSHP will be refunded to guests.
What Time Will Milton Make Landfall?
Milton is expected to make landfall between 2:00 a.m. and 3:00 a.m. ET on Thursday, October 10, in Tampa, Florida.