Disney World and other Orlando area theme parks reopen Friday after Hurricane Milton roared across Florida.
Theme parks and resorts closed temporarily Wednesday afternoon, hours before Milton made landfall Wednesday evening near Siesta Key, Florida, as a Category 3 hurricane. They remained closed Thursday then that Milton was moving away from Florida and toward the Atlantic Ocean.
Milton arrived less than two weeks later Hurricane Helene made landfall as a Category 4 storm in the Big Bend region of Florida. More than 230 people died because of Helen, many from flooding in Appalachia, according to the Associated Press.
Here's the latest status on theme park reopenings after Milton.
Is Walt Disney World reopening after Hurricane Milton?
The Walt Disney World and Disney Springs theme parks reopened on Friday according to scheduled operating hours, according to a Friday morning update from Walt Disney World. website.
Disney had closed its theme parks, water parks, miniature golf resorts and nearby Disney Springs as of Wednesday afternoon. The company had also temporarily halted Walt Disney World Transportation service and canceled Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party event at the Magic Kingdom that was scheduled for Thursday.
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Camping and the Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will likely remain closed until Sunday, October 13, according to Disney.
Is Universal Orlando Resort reopening after Hurricane Milton?
Like Disney, Universal Orlando reopens all theme parks, Universal CityWalk and its seasonal Halloween Horror Nights event on Friday.
Universal had closed Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure, Universal Volcano Bay water park and CityWalk after 2 p.m. Wednesday and remained closed Thursday. Halloween Horror Nights were also canceled Wednesday and Thursday.
“On Friday, October 11, we look forward to welcoming our guests back as we resume normal operations at all of our theme parks, CityWalk and Halloween Horror Nights, including early park admission for guests at the Universal Orlando hotel, Premier Pass holders and Preferred Pass holders,” Universal said in an update Friday morning on its. website.
Is SeaWorld Orlando reopening after Hurricane Milton?
SeaWorld Orlando, whose parent company is United Parks & Resorts Inc.reopens Friday but canceled its Spooktacular and Howl-O-Scream events Friday, according to an update on the park's website.
“In the wake of Hurricane Milton, our team is assessing the parks. We are grateful to our dedicated team of animal care experts, including veterinarians, who remained on site during the storm to monitor the animals, and we appreciate our ambassadors who are on hand to help ensure our park is ready to welcome you”, United Parks & Resorts said in its latest update.
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