Theme Parks and Attractions in Florida Close as Hurricane Milton Approaches

Walt Disney World has announced a series of theme park closures starting Wednesday due to Hurricane Milton, which is forecasted to impact Central Florida. The closures come in response to a Goldman Sachs report estimating that Disney could suffer financial losses in the nine-figure range due to the storm.

Hurricane Milton is expected to make landfall near Tampa, Florida, and pass through the Orlando area, prompting such preventive measures. As of Tuesday, Disney confirmed that its staggered closures will include Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Disney’s Animal Kingdom closing at 1 p.m. EDT Wednesday, with Magic Kingdom park, EPCOT, and Disney Springs following at 2 p.m. EDT. It is projected that these closures may extend through Thursday.

Additional cancellations include Disney’s Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom, with the company offering ticket refunds. Furthermore, Disney detailed that its Fort Wilderness campground, along with select villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Saratoga Springs resorts, will close on Wednesday morning and are likely to remain shut until Sunday. These decisions follow updates indicating that the resort was “closely monitoring” the hurricane’s trajectory.

The financial impact of the storm on Disney is anticipated to reduce earnings in its parks division by approximately $150 to $200 million, according to the Goldman Sachs analysis. The firm projects a decline in park attendance by about 6% for the current quarter.

While Disney has not provided comments on the situation, the National Weather Service has issued a hurricane warning for the Orlando area. Wind speeds are expected to reach between 74 to 110 miles per hour, along with predictions of eight to 12 inches of rainfall, described as posing a “threat to life and property.”

Other theme parks in Florida are observing similar precautions. Universal Resort Orlando announced it will be closing from Wednesday afternoon through Thursday. Likewise, SeaWorld Orlando, Legoland Florida Resort, and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay have followed suit with closures scheduled through Thursday.

An official notice from the Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex states that it will be closed from Wednesday to Thursday, emphasizing guest safety amidst projected severe conditions. Meanwhile, Gatorland Orlando cited the need to ensure the safety of its animals and guests as it also opted for a temporary closure on the specified dates.

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency covering 54 counties, which includes major theme park territories such as Orange County and Hillsborough County. As the situation continues to develop, authorities and park managers emphasize monitoring official updates for any further changes or safety advisories.