Disney, Universal Studios, SeaWorld and Busch Gardens theme parks will close this Wednesday (9) in anticipation of the arrival of Hurricane Milton in Florida.
The storm is forecast to make landfall Wednesday night local time as a Category 3 hurricane somewhere in Florida’s Central Gulf Coast region. The storm is expected to be one of the most destructive storms on record.
Walt Disney World
In a note published on the website, Disney informed that the parks will be closed in phases from 1pm local time this Wednesday (9).
Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Disney Springs will close at 2pm local time.
The company informs that it is likely that the parks will remain closed this Thursday (10).
“We will consider opening Disney Springs on Thursday in the late afternoon with limited offerings,” the statement adds.
Disney also informs that the Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party at Magic Kingdom Park this Thursday (10) has also been cancelled. Event tickets will be refunded.
Universal Studios
Due to Hurricane Milton, Universal parks also announced operational changes for this Wednesday (9) and Thursday (10).
The company informed that Universal Studios Florida, Islands of Adventure and Universal CityWalk will be open until 2pm on Wednesday (9), local time, and will be closed on Thursday (10).
Universal highlighted that “hours of operation are subject to change based on changes in the forecast” and that “availability of some attractions and experiences may be limited on Wednesday as we prepare for an early closure.”
Universal Volcano Bay and Halloween night at Universal Studios Florida, for example, will both be closed on the 9th and 10th.
The company adds that it expects a complete reopening of the attractions this Friday (11) during normal opening hours, but will be awaiting the outcome of the impacts of the storm.
Sea World and Busch Gardens
The Busch Gardens Tampa and SeaWorld Orlando theme parks will also be closed on days this week, according to their parent company United Parks & Resorts Inc.
SeaWorld will close on Wednesday (9) and Thursday (10), while Busch Gardens Tampa will be closed from Tuesday (8) to Thursday (11).
Almost unprecedented rapid intensification
Hurricane Milton rapidly intensified to a nearly unprecedented level, reaching Category 5 status due to record heat in the waters of the Gulf of Mexico. It is currently in category 4.
It is expected to grow in size, meaning that while it may shrink in category, its dangerous impacts will be spread over a much larger area. The storm is expected to reach the Florida Gulf coast this Wednesday (9), when it should be category 3.
Hurricane Milton was considered the strongest storm on the planet in 2024, with sustained winds of 281 km/h.
Recently, Hurricane Helene made landfall on Florida’s Gulf Coast as a storm surge and made landfall in the marshlands as a Category 4 hurricane. Authorities are urging residents — still recovering from Helene’s damage — to evacuate or prepare for another life-threatening storm.
With information from CNN .
This content was originally published in Hurricane in the USA: Disney, Universal, Sea World and Busch Gardens parks will close tomorrow (9) on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil
Bruce Belcher is a seasoned author with over 5 years of experience in world news. He writes for online news websites and provides in-depth analysis on the world stock market. Bruce is known for his insightful perspectives and commitment to keeping the public informed.
