Indiana Family of 7 Rode Out Hurricane Milton at Disney World: Here’s What They Experienced (Exclusive)

The morning after Hurricane Milton made landfall, a mother of two is revealing what it’s been like for her family to ride out the storm at Walt Disney World.

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

The family was planning to end their vacation on Thursday, but in light of the hurricane, opted to change their flights to Friday and got a reduced rate for the extra day at Disney’s Contemporary Resort, where they’ve been staying at the Bay Lake Tower.

Wolfe told PEOPLE on Thursday, Oct. 10., that they were “doing well,” before detailing the impact of Milton, which made landfall as a category 3 hurricane at 8:30 p.m. Wednesday near Siesta Key, Fla. before weakening to a category 1 storm.

“The wind was so incredibly loud, battering windows,” she said of the previous night. “The towels by our balcony doors and windows are soaked. From our view, I see lots of down branches and moss but no major debris.”

“I’m sure they’ve already started clean-up efforts,” she added. “It’s still very windy right now but nothing compared to last night.” 

When PEOPLE first reached Wolfe early Wednesday afternoon, the family was in line for their last ride of the day before Magic Kingdom closed at 2 p.m. She said that Disney staff told them the parks would be closed on Thursday, adding, “I’ve seen more preparations at the hotel today — window coverings, sandbags at entryway doors, putting up pool chairs.”

On Wednesday evening, Wolfe said Disney staff asked guests to stay in their rooms that night starting at 10 p.m, and provided extra towels to put on the inside of their balcony doors.

She added that family activities were posted, including free arcade play, and that restaurants — with both sit-down service and mobile pickup — were still running as of Wednesday evening. Everyone at the hotel has been “kind and positive,” she notes.

“All of the park employees we’ve talked to have said the same thing — that staying at a resort is the best place to be,” Wolfe said.

As far as other preparations the hotel was taking, Wolfe said the staff put up double-paned glass partitions along the walkway connecting the tower with the main hotel building, which is usually open air.

She also shared she saw “lots of plastic wrap and some caution tape” as the park wrapped up its free-standing merchandize stands.

As of midday Wednesday, Wolfe reported that the Disney’s monorail and riverboats were still running.

While in the hotel’s lobby, the mom of two said she heard that staff will set up food stations in each building if guests are kept from leaving the hotel’s various separate structures during the worst of the storm.

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

Disney had previously announced on Monday that its more rustic accommodations would be closing as of 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9. That includes Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground (including dining and recreation locations), the Copper Creek Cabins at Wilderness Lodge, and the Treehouse Villas at its Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa.

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On Tuesday, Disney made the announcement of the phased shutdown: Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom would close at 1 p.m. Wednesday, and the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Disney Springs will close at 2 p.m.

“It is likely 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.

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

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