Orlando’s tourism machine began grinding to a halt Tuesday with at least three major theme parks and the main airport announcing closures ahead of Hurricane Milton ’s expected hit as a major storm in Florida.
Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld will all close their theme parks and respective entertainment facilities on Wednesday, with the latter two also closed on Thursday and Disney likely to remain closed.
Universal said it would close its theme parks and entertainment district at 2 p.m. Wednesday and remain closed on Thursday, cancelling Halloween Horror Nights scheduled for both days.
Disney World had said earlier in the day that it was open and planned only to close its campgrounds and rental cabins ahead of the storm. The only indication at Disney Springs that a hurricane was coming was the closure of a hot air balloon ride. “Closed due to hurricane,” an electronic sign read. “Stay safe.”
All the other stores and restaurants in the outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment complex inside the resort were open and doing brisk business.
The theme parks join Orlando International Airport, which said it would cease operations Wednesday morning. The airport is the nation’s seventh busiest and Florida’s most trafficked.
Milton, which is expected to come ashore Wednesday, threatens to ruin the vacations of tens of thousands of tourists at Disney World
At a Disney travel agent breakfast in Toronto, Disney Destination’s Marlie Morrison said the company in Canada was holding its breath and wishing for the best for its colleagues and clients in Orlando.
The Orlando area is the most visited destination in the United States due to Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and other theme parks, attracting 74 million tourists last year alone.
October is also among the busier times for theme parks because of Halloween-related celebrations, which have become major money generators over the past couple decades.
While Disney rarely shuts its doors – save for dangerous hurricanes in recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Sept. 11 attacks – its hotels are often havens for coastal residents fleeing impending storms. A check of Disney World’s online reservation system on Tuesday morning showed no vacancies.
Those lucky enough to get a hotel reservation have gotten unexpected treats during past storms. During Hurricane Irma in 2017, guests at a hotel on Disney property found themselves stranded with actress Kristen Bell, who voiced the role of Anna in the beloved Disney film, “Frozen.” While in Orlando, the actress found time to sing songs for evacuees at a nearby hurricane shelter.
Once a hurricane passes, the theme parks try to return operations to normal as quickly as possible. After Hurricane Charley charted a devastating path through Orlando in 2004, Disney World had utility vehicles picking up downed tree limbs and clearing roads on its property within an hour in the pitch-dark night.
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