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Hurricane Milton remains a fierce storm that could direct hit that only happens once a century over Tampa and St. Petersburg, engulfing the populated region with towering storm surges and turning debris from Helen's devastation 12 days ago into projectiles.
While the storm had previously weakened, the U.S. National Hurricane Center declared Hurricane Milton once again a Category 5 storm on Tuesday.
“Milton has the potential to be one of the most destructive hurricanes on record in the Mid-West. Florida” the hurricane center said.
The news forced Orlando's tourism machine to grind to a halt Tuesday, with at least three major theme parks and the main airport announcing closures ahead of Hurricane Milton.
Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld closed their respective theme parks and entertainment facilities today (Wednesday), with the latter two also closed on Thursday and Disney expected to remain closed.
Universal also canceled Halloween Horror Nights planned for both days.
The theme parks join Orlando International Airport, which ceased operations Wednesday morning. The airport is the seventh busiest in the country and the busiest in Florida.
Earlier, Disney World said it was open and only planned to close its campgrounds and rental cabins ahead of the storm.
The only indication at Disney Springs that a hurricane was coming had been the closure of a hot air balloon flight. “Closed due to hurricane,” an electronic sign said. “Be careful.”
All other stores and restaurants in the outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment complex inside the complex were open and doing good business.
Milton, who is expected to arrive on Wednesday, has threatened to ruin the vacation of tens of thousands of tourists at Disney World.
Nicole and Zeb Downs arrived Monday after a 21-hour drive from Arkansas, expecting to spend a 12-day vacation in Florida with their three young sons. By Tuesday afternoon, they were planning to pack up their car and head home.
“We're disappointed, but it's out of our hands at this point,” Zeb Downs said as he walked with his family through the park's always-bustling Disney Springs shopping and dining district.
None of them had ever experienced a hurricane and weren't sure they wanted to try it.
The Orlando area is the most visited destination in the United States thanks to Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and other theme parks, attracting 74 million tourists last year alone.
October is also one of the busiest times for theme parks due to Halloween-related celebrations, which have become major money generators over the past two decades. Universal Orlando hosts “Halloween Horror Nights,” featuring ghoulish haunted houses based on slasher films and other pop culture horror films, and Disney has its tamer “Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.”
While Disney rarely closes its doors – except for dangerous hurricanes in recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic and the attacks of September 11, 2001 – its hotels are often refuges for coastal residents fleeing impending storms. A check of Disney World's online reservation system Tuesday morning revealed no vacancies.
Those lucky enough to secure a hotel reservation received unexpected gifts during past storms. During Hurricane Irma in 2017, guests at a hotel on Disney property found themselves stranded with actress Kristen Bell, who played the role of Anna in the beloved Disney film “Frozen.” In Orlando, the actor found time to sing songs for evacuees at a nearby hurricane shelter.
Once the hurricane passes, theme parks try to return to normal operations as quickly as possible. After Hurricane Charley carved a devastating path through Orlando in 2004, Disney World had utility vehicles to pick up downed tree branches and clear roads on its property within an hour in the dark of night.
