Disney World 'Assessing the Impacts' of Hurricane Milton As They Announce Reopening Date
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10/10/2024 02:18 PM
The closure on Wednesday and Thursday was only the 12th in the park's 53-year history. Nine of the previous closures were also for hurricanes
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Walt Disney World is taking stock after Hurricane Milton swept across central Florida on Wednesday night.
"We're grateful Walt Disney World Resort weathered the storm, and we are currently assessing the impacts to our property," a statement from the resort issued on Thursday morning reads.
Disney is already preparing for the reopening of its four theme parks, Disney Springs and "possibly other areas on Friday, October 11."
"Our hearts are with our fellow Floridians who were impacted by this storm," the statement concludes.
Disney announced ahead of the storm on Tuesday that it would close on on Wednesday, October 9 "in phases beginning at 1:00 PM." Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom closed at 1 p.m., and the Magic Kingdom, EPCOT and Disney Springs followed at 2 p.m.
At the time, they estimated that it was "likely" the theme parks would remain closed on Thursday, October 10.
Disney had previously announced on Monday, Oct. 7, that its more rustic accommodations would be closing Wednesday morning. That included Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground (including dining and recreation locations), the Copper Creek Cabins at Wilderness Lodge, and the Treehouse Villas at its Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa.
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Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & CampgroundMilton made landfall as a category 3 hurricane near Siesta Key, Florida at 8:30 p.m. ET on Wednesday, Oct. 9, after passing through the Gulf of Mexico, the National Hurricane Center reported.
Milton was previously downgraded to a Category 4 hurricane early Tuesday after strengthening into a Category 5 storm on Monday.
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando ResortOn Sunday, Oct. 6, Disney World had already paused new hotel reservations for Wednesday and Thursday in anticipation of the hurricane making landfall.
However, as of Monday morning, a representative for Disney told PEOPLE the Orlando resort was still operating "under normal conditions."
"We are closely monitoring the path of the projected storm as we continue to prioritize the safety of our Guests and Cast Members," the statement added.
James Borchuck/The Tampa Bay Times via AP
Busch GardensThe park closure marks the 12th time it's done so in Disney World's 53-year history.
Nine of the past 11 closures were due to hurricanes: Floyd (September 1999), Charley (August 2004), Frances (September 2004), Jeanne (September 2004), Matthew (October 2016), Irma (September 2017), Dorian (September 2019), Ian (September 2022) and Nicole (November 2022).
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The parks also closed following the 9/11 terrorist attacks in 2001 and amid the COVID-19 pandemic, which marked its longest closure ever. The park closed in March 2020 and reopened in phases starting in July 2020.
Milton is the second major hurricane to hit Florida's Gulf Coast in the past two weeks.
Hurricane Helene struck the state's Big Bend region on Sept. 26 as a Category 4, and caused devastation throughout the southeast, also impacting Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina.
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