Florida Theme Parks Reopen After Hurricane Milton \ Newslooks \ Washington DC \ Mary Sidiqi \ Evening Edition \ Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld will reopen on Friday after assessing damage from Hurricane Milton. The theme parks, which had shut down as the storm made landfall, will resume operations but with limited Halloween events and some attractions still not fully functioning. Orlando International Airport, which had suspended operations, will also begin resuming flights. Despite the disruption, many tourists extended their stay and enjoyed alternative activities like mini-golf while waiting for the parks to reopen.
Florida Theme Parks Reopen After Hurricane Milton: Quick Looks
- Parks Reopening: Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld plan to reopen on Friday, though some Halloween events are canceled.
- Park Closures: The parks closed Wednesday as Hurricane Milton made landfall, remaining shut through Thursday.
- Airport Reopening: Orlando International Airport will resume flights Thursday night and Friday morning after closing due to the storm.
- Tourists Extend Stay: Visitors like the Forster family from Scotland enjoyed extra vacation days due to the storm, spending time on Orlando’s International Drive.
- October Crowds: Halloween is a major draw for Florida theme parks, making October one of their busiest months.
Deep Look:
After closing down in anticipation of Hurricane Milton’s arrival, Florida’s major theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld, are set to reopen on Friday. The parks were closed all day Thursday, following Hurricane Milton’s landfall as a major storm on Wednesday, which disrupted the vacations of thousands of tourists in the Orlando area.
In a statement, Disney World confirmed that its theme parks and Disney Springs will welcome back guests on Friday, though some Halloween-themed events may be canceled and certain attractions might not be fully operational. Universal Orlando and SeaWorld have also announced plans to reopen on the same day, though all parks have noted the possibility of limited operations as cleanup efforts continue.
Impact on Tourists and Local Attractions
Hurricane Milton put a temporary halt to the vacations of tens of thousands of tourists, many of whom were forced to shelter in hotels as the storm passed through central Florida. SeaWorld was the first to close, shutting down all operations on Wednesday, while Disney World and Universal closed that afternoon. All three parks remained closed on Thursday, and visitors had to find alternative activities to pass the time.
One such visitor, Simon Forster from Scotland, had planned to fly home on Wednesday, but the closure of Orlando International Airport forced his family to extend their stay. The Forsters had experienced something similar two years ago when Hurricane Ian delayed their return to Scotland after another Orlando vacation. Despite the disruption, Forster took it in stride, spending time with his family on International Drive, one of Orlando’s most popular tourist areas.
Forster described the storm’s approach as “quite intense,” recalling how he watched the palm trees outside his hotel bend in the strong winds. “How they didn’t come down, I don’t know,” he said. Despite the intensity of the storm, Forster and his family found ways to enjoy their extra two days in Orlando, with their hotel hosting a lively atmosphere on the night of the storm’s arrival.
Craig Greig, another tourist from Scotland, also extended his stay due to the storm. With the theme parks closed, he and his family visited Congo River Golf, a miniature golf course on International Drive, where they spent time playing around a lagoon filled with baby alligators. “We just wanted to stretch our legs and get out of the hotel,” Greig said, adding that his 10-year-old child enjoyed the activity as an alternative to visiting Disney World’s Magic Kingdom.
Orlando International Airport Resumes Operations
Orlando International Airport, one of the busiest in the United States, also faced significant disruptions. The airport suspended all commercial flights early Wednesday in preparation for Hurricane Milton, halting both departures and arrivals. However, domestic flights were set to resume Thursday night, with regular departures expected by Friday morning. The airport’s temporary closure was a key factor in tourists like the Forsters being forced to extend their vacations.
Halloween Events and Economic Impact
For Florida’s theme parks, October is one of the most profitable months of the year, thanks in part to the array of Halloween-themed events that draw large crowds. Events like Disney’s “Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party” and Universal’s “Halloween Horror Nights” have become key attractions for the parks, helping to make Orlando the most visited destination in the United States. In 2022, the city attracted 74 million tourists, many of whom visit during October for the Halloween festivities.
However, the impact of Hurricane Milton has forced the parks to reassess their schedules. Some Halloween events planned for Friday have been canceled or scaled back as the parks work to ensure that their facilities are safe for visitors. Although the parks will be open, there may still be delays in restoring full operations.
History of Hurricanes in Orlando
Hurricanes in the Orlando area are rare, but not unprecedented. In 2004, three hurricanes—Charley, Frances, and Jeanne—swept through the region, causing widespread damage and temporary park closures. More recently, Hurricane Irma tracked just west of Orlando in 2017, and Hurricane Ian caused flooding as it passed through in 2022. While central Florida is less frequently impacted by hurricanes than coastal areas, storms like Milton still have the potential to cause significant disruption to tourism and local businesses.
Despite the closures, many tourists, like Forster and Greig, have found ways to make the best of their extended stays. For those eager to return to the parks, Friday’s reopening offers a chance to resume their vacation plans, albeit with some limitations on the usual Halloween fanfare.
Conclusion: Parks and Visitors Look Forward
As Florida’s theme parks prepare to reopen, both local residents and tourists are hopeful that the recovery from Hurricane Milton will be swift. For the visitors who weathered the storm, the chance to return to Disney World, Universal, and SeaWorld offers a welcome return to normalcy, even as the parks themselves adjust to the aftermath of the hurricane.
For the parks, this October’s Halloween celebrations, even with some limitations, are a key part of their business strategy, helping to drive tourism in one of the busiest times of the year. Although Hurricane Milton brought some temporary setbacks, the parks’ rapid reopening signals a quick recovery for one of Florida’s most important industries.
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