Florida’s economy is benefitted hugely by tourism – so the closing down of the state’s theme parks during Hurricane Milton is a huge blow.
And who knows how long it’ll take for them to be operational again…
At a glance:
- Walt Disney World and other major theme parks in Orlando are closing in phases as Hurricane Milton, now a Category 5 storm, nears Florida.
- Mandatory evacuations are in place for much of Florida’s west coast, with warnings of deadly storm surges up to 15 feet in Tampa and Sarasota.
- Several park events, including Disney’s Halloween party and Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights, have been canceled, with refunds offered.
As Hurricane Milton barrels toward central Florida, Orlando’s biggest theme parks are battening down the hatches. The storm, which rapidly intensified into a Category 5 hurricane over the Gulf of Mexico, is expected to bring severe weather and dangerous storm surges to the Tampa and Sarasota areas, prompting mandatory evacuations across much of Florida’s west coast.
Walt Disney World is closing its doors in phases starting Wednesday at 1 p.m., with plans to keep the parks closed through Thursday, October 10. Disney Springs may reopen Thursday afternoon, but with limited offerings. Events like Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party have been canceled, and ticket holders will be refunded. The closures affect all Disney parks, including Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and various resort hotels, which are expected to remain closed until Sunday, October 13.
Meanwhile, Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, and Universal CityWalk will also close at 2 p.m. on Wednesday and stay shut on Thursday. Universal’s popular Halloween Horror Nights, slated for Wednesday and Thursday, has been canceled. Universal’s water park, Volcano Bay, will close both days as well. Guests with reservations or event tickets will find updated information online, and the park aims to reopen fully on Friday, October 11, barring any major storm damage.
Other major parks, including SeaWorld Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa, are taking similar precautions. Busch Gardens is closing Wednesday and Thursday, with their Howl-O-Scream event canceled, while SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica Orlando are closing both days to protect staff and visitors.
With the storm’s potentially deadly impact looming, the theme parks’ response is a strong reminder of the seriousness of Hurricane Milton. It’s better to be safe than sorry, especially when the warnings are this clear. Central Florida might be the go-to destination for magic and fun, but when Mother Nature makes an appearance, it’s time to take cover.
