As Hurricane Milton crosses the Gulf of Mexico and approaches Florida, Orlando theme parks are closely monitoring the storm's progress and making operational changes.
By early Tuesday evening, Milton had strengthened further, going from a Category 4 hurricane to a Category 5 hurricane, with a maximum sustained winds of 165 mph, according to the National Hurricane Center.
The National Hurricane Center noted in an advisory that “intensity fluctuations are likely as Milton moves across the eastern Gulf of Mexico, but Milton is expected to become a major and dangerous hurricane when it reaches the central coast -west Florida Wednesday evening.”
Milton arrives 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 Helene, according to the Associated Press.
Check back here to see which theme parks are open, closed, or affected by this latest storm.
Is Walt Disney World closing due to Hurricane Milton?
Magic Kingdom guests break out ponchos at Cinderella Castle as weather bands from Hurricane Helene pass through Walt Disney World in Bay Lake, Florida, September 26, 2024.
Joe Burbank/AP
Walt Disney World Resort announced Tuesday afternoon that it will close its theme parks and Disney Springs in phases beginning Wednesday, October 9.
On Wednesday starting at 1 p.m. ET, Disney will close Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom. Then, on Wednesday at 2 p.m. ET, Disney will close nearby Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Disney Springs. Walt Disney World Transportation will also discontinue service following the closure of the theme parks and Disney Springs.
“It is likely that the theme parks will remain closed on Thursday, October 10. We will consider opening Disney Springs late Thursday afternoon, with limited supply,” Disney said on its website. website.
Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom, originally scheduled for Thursday, October 10, will also be canceled. Tickets for the event will be refunded, Disney said.
Disney is also temporarily closing its Fort Wilderness Resort & Camping and Treehouse Villas at Disney's Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa starting at 11 a.m. ET on Wednesday, October 9. They will likely remain closed until Sunday, October 13, according to Disney.
Additionally, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, Winter Summerland Miniature Golf and Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf will be closed Wednesday, the company announced.
Is Universal Orlando Resort closing due to Hurricane Milton?
In this July 18, 2019 file photo, the three-dimensional globe logo at Universal Studios in Orlando, Florida.
Roberto Machado Noa/LightRocket via Getty Images, FILE
Universal Orlando announced Tuesday that it will remain open until 2 p.m. ET on Wednesday, October 9, then close Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Universal CityWalk on Thursday, October 10.
The resort also announced that it is canceling Halloween Horror Nights at Universal Studios Florida and will completely close Universal Volcano Bay on Wednesday, October 9 and Thursday, October 10.
“Our hotels remain operational as they focus on caring for our guests,” Universal added in its statement. website.
Universal Orlando has announced plans to reopen by Friday, October 11.
Is SeaWorld Orlando closing due to Hurricane Milton?
SeaWorld Orlando remained open Tuesday, but its parent company, United Parks & Resorts Inc., declared that the park would close on Wednesday October 9 and Thursday October 10“to ensure the safety of our ambassadors, our guests and our animals”.
Editor's note: This story has been updated to include the latest information about the park and the National Hurricane Center.
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