Current:Home > reviewsDisney World and other Orlando parks to reopen Friday after Hurricane Milton shutdown -文件: temp/data/webname/news/nam2.txt
Disney World and other Orlando parks to reopen Friday after Hurricane Milton shutdown
View
Date:2025-04-12 02:55:08
Stay up to date: Follow AP’s live coverage of Hurricane Milton and the 2024 hurricane season.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Florida theme parks including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld planned to reopen Friday after an assessment of the effects of Hurricane Milton.
Disney World said in a statement that its theme parks, Disney Springs, and possibly other areas will be open. The parks said some Halloween special events won’t be offered and they won’t necessarily be fully functioning Friday, but the public is welcome back.
As Milton came ashore as a major storm Wednesday, all three Orlando-based parks shut down, putting a damper on the vacations of tens of thousands of tourists, many of whom hunkered down in hotels. SeaWorld closed for all of Wednesday, Disney World and Universal for the afternoon. All three were closed all day Thursday.
Orlando International Airport, the nation’s seventh busiest and Florida’s most trafficked, planned to resume domestic arrivals on Thursday night and departures on Friday morning. It had stopped commercial operations early Wednesday.
The airport’s closure prevented Simon Forster, his wife and their two children from returning to Scotland, so they enjoyed an extra two days of their two-week vacation on the bustling International Drive in Orlando’s tourism district on Thursday. Hurricanes seem to follow them since two years ago Hurricane Ian kept them from returning to Scotland after another Orlando vacation.
“Last night, it was quite intense, Forster said. “I was watching the palm trees sway back and forth outside my hotel room. How they didn’t come down, I don’t know. Scary stuff.”
Their hotel at Universal Orlando Resort had a party atmosphere Wednesday night ahead of Milton’s arrival.
“The bar was good fun,” he said. “Two extra days here, there are are worst places we could be.”
Miniature golf was among the few activities available to tourists who had been locked down in their hotel rooms and rental condos. There was a line getting into Congo River Golf on International Drive.
Craig Greig of Glasgow, Scotland, would have been at the Magic Kingdom with his wife and 10-year-old if the theme parks had been open. Instead he was clutching a putter ready to putt golf balls over a man made lagoon filled with baby alligators.
“We just wanted to stretch our legs and get out of the hotel,” he said. “Especially for the little one.” Even though it was his first experience with a hurricane, he was unfazed and slept through the night as it roared through central Florida.
Disney World, Universal and other attractions make Orlando the United States’ most visited destination, drawing 74 million tourists last year alone.
And Halloween-related celebrations have made October one of the busiest and most lucrative times for the parks.
Hurricanes in the Orlando area are uncommon but not unheard of. Three crossed the area in 2004 – Charley, Frances and Jeanne. Hurricane Irma in 2017 tracked just west of metro Orlando, and Hurricane Ian caused some flooding as it plowed through as a downgraded tropical storm in 2022.
___
AP Entertainment Writer Andrew Dalton contributed from Los Angeles.
___
Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform X: @MikeSchneiderAP.
veryGood! (15)
Related
- What were Tom Selleck's juicy final 'Blue Bloods' words in Reagan family
- Who can vote in US elections, and what steps must you take to do so?
- Investigation finds widespread discrimination against Section 8 tenants in California
- In new book, Melania Trump discusses Barron, pro-choice stance, and more
- John Galliano out at Maison Margiela, capping year of fashion designer musical chairs
- Don’t count on a recount to change the winner in close elections this fall. They rarely do
- Why and how AP counts the vote for thousands of US elections
- Honolulu morgue aims to start giving families answers faster with new deputy
- Connie Chiume, South African 'Black Panther' actress, dies at 72
- Who can vote in US elections, and what steps must you take to do so?
Ranking
- DoorDash steps up driver ID checks after traffic safety complaints
- West Virginia lawmakers OK bills on income tax cut, child care tax credit
- New York Jets retain OC Nathaniel Hackett despite dismissing head coach Robert Saleh
- Padres warn fans about abusive behavior ahead of NLDS Game 3 against Dodgers
- Jury selection set for Monday for ex-politician accused of killing Las Vegas investigative reporter
- EPA reaches $4.2M settlement over 2019 explosion, fire at major Philadelphia refinery
- Hoda Kotb details 'weird' decision to leave 'Today' show after 16 years
- Honolulu’s dying palms to be replaced with this new tree — for now
Recommendation
Audit: California risked millions in homelessness funds due to poor anti-fraud protections
News media don’t run elections. Why do they call the winners?
A Georgia mayor indicted for allegedly trying to give inmates alcohol has been suspended
43 Incredible Skincare Deals on Amazon Prime Day 2024 Starting at Just $9.09
Immigration issues sorted, Guatemala runner Luis Grijalva can now focus solely on sports
How will Hurricane Milton stack up against other major recent storms?
Troy Landry from 'Swamp People' cited following alligator hunting bust: Reports
Law letting Tennessee attorney general argue certain capital cases is constitutional, court rules