Hurricane Milton threatens to wreak havoc on Orlando’s tourism industry as major theme parks and the main airport announce closures ahead of the storm’s expected hit. Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld will close their theme parks and entertainment facilities, with Universal also canceling its Halloween Horror Nights event. Orlando International Airport, the nation’s seventh busiest airport, will cease operations on Wednesday morning. The closures are likely to disrupt the vacations of tens of thousands of tourists visiting Disney World during one of the busiest times of the year.
The Downs family, who had traveled from Arkansas for a 12-day vacation in Florida, is among the tourists contemplating cutting their trip short due to the impending storm. With Hurricane Milton set to make landfall on Wednesday, many visitors to the Orlando area are faced with the possibility of their vacation plans being ruined. The closure of major theme parks such as Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort, and SeaWorld not only impacts tourists but also affects the local economy, as October is a busy time for theme parks due to Halloween-related celebrations.
Disney World rarely closes its doors except for extreme circumstances such as dangerous hurricanes, the COVID-19 pandemic, or the September 11 attacks. During past storms, the resort’s hotels have become havens for coastal residents seeking shelter. In 2017, during Hurricane Irma, guests at a Disney hotel were surprised to find themselves stranded with actor Kristen Bell, who sang songs for evacuees at a nearby hurricane shelter. Despite the closures, the theme parks aim to return to normal operations as quickly as possible once the hurricane passes, as was the case after Hurricane Charley struck Orlando in 2004.
The Orlando area, known for being the most visited destination in the United States, faces a significant disruption in its tourism industry with the closures of major theme parks and the main airport. The impact of Hurricane Milton on the local economy and the thousands of tourists visiting the area is evident as families like the Downs contemplate cutting their vacation short. As Florida braces for the impact of the storm, residents and tourists alike are urged to stay safe and prepare for potential disruptions to their plans. The closures of iconic attractions in the Orlando area serve as a reminder of the importance of safety and preparedness during extreme weather events.
