Walt Disney World in Orlando, Florida, is closing ahead of Hurricane Milton.
In a statement shared Tuesday afternoon, Disney announced that all theme parks plus Disney Springs will close in phases beginning at 1 pm on Wednesday, October 9. Disney’s Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom will close at 1 pm, and the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, and Disney Springs will close at 2 pm.
“It is likely the theme parks will remain closed on Thursday, October 10,” the statement notes. “We will consider opening Disney Springs on Thursday in the late afternoon, with limited offerings.”
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom park on Thursday, October 10 is also canceled. Full refunds are available.
“The Walt Disney World Emergency Operations Center is connected to weather experts and community leaders,” the theme park said in a statement shared to social media Tuesday. “Please know these adjustments have been made in order to leave plenty of time for our Guests and Cast Members to return to their Resort hotels or homes safely hours before higher winds are expected to reach Central Florida.”
This is reportedly only the 12th time Disney World has closed in its 53-year history. It most recently closed for Hurricane Nicole in November 2022.
Nearby Universal Studios announced its closure as well Tuesday. Universal said it would cease operation of its theme parks and City Walk at 2 p.m. on Wednesday and stay closed on Thursday.
“We anticipate a full reopening of our destination, including Halloween Horror Nights, on Friday, October 11 at our normal operating hours pending the outcome of storm impacts,” an alert on the park’s website reads.
Hurricane Milton restrengthened into a powerful Category 5 storm Tuesday afternoon and is currently expected to make landfall in the Tampa Bay area early Thursday morning.
Orlando is expected to see flooding rains and sustained winds at 60 to 80 mph from Wednesday evening to Thursday afternoon.
States of emergency have been declared in 50 Florida counties and 14 are currently under mandatory evacuation orders.
This is a developing story.