Walt Disney World is preparing to close its parks in Florida as Hurricane Milton approaches. The company announced that its parks in Orlando will begin closing at 1 p.m. on Wednesday.
They are expected to stay closed on Thursday. Other attractions, such as water parks, mini-golf courses, and campgrounds, will also shut down.
Disney World and impacts of Hurricane Milton
This decision follows a similar move by other major parks in Florida. SeaWorld Orlando will close on Wednesday and Thursday. Busch Gardens in Tampa has already shut its doors and will remain closed until Thursday. These closures come as the state braces for the hurricane’s impact.
Orlando, home to some of the largest theme parks in the world, remains the top tourist destination in the US, drawing 74 million visitors last year alone. October is especially busy, with Halloween events boosting park attendance and revenue.
Nicole and Zeb Downs, a family from Arkansas, were among the visitors. After a 21-hour drive with their three young boys, they arrived on Monday for a planned 12-day trip. But by Tuesday, their vacation plans were in jeopardy, and they considered leaving early due to the approaching hurricane, as reported by CBS News.
Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World has begun some of their Hurricane Milton preparations. Halloween props have been removed from Main Street, banners and signs tied down, and lamps wrapped. pic.twitter.com/sBBNhabuXU
— MainGatePass (@maingatepass) October 9, 2024
Zeb Downs expressed his frustration as he walked through the busy Disney Springs shopping area with his family. “We are disappointed but it’s kind of out of our hands at this point,” he said, reflecting on the uncertain situation caused by the storm.
United Parks assures the safety of their animals during Hurricane Milton
Meanwhile, United Parks has assured the public that the safety of their animals is a top priority during Hurricane Milton. In a statement, the company said that a specialized team of animal care experts, including veterinarians, will stay on-site around the clock.
The animals will be kept in buildings built to handle Category 5 hurricanes. Once the storm passes, a recovery team will assess the safety of the habitats before the animals return.
Universal Orlando Resort announced the closure of Universal Studios Florida and other related attractions due to the approaching storm.
The hurricane is also causing widespread disruptions across Florida, particularly in the travel and cruise industries. Tampa’s port has already shut down, and Jacksonville’s port will close by Wednesday.
As a result, some cruise ships are staying longer at ports in Mexico and other destinations, while others are facing delays or cancellations. The storm’s impact is being felt across multiple sectors in the state.
Miami’s port remains open for now but is expected to close as the storm intensifies. Air travel is also being affected. Tampa’s airport stopped operations on Tuesday, and airports in Clearwater, Fort Myers, Orlando, and Sarasota are set to close on Wednesday. The storm is creating widespread disruptions in both sea and air travel across the region.
