Hurricane Helene: Florida Theme Parks Take Action

In anticipation of the approaching Hurricane Helene, which has now intensified to a Category 3 storm, the Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando have made operational adjustments. The storm is continuing its path through the Gulf of Mexico towards Florida, where residents and businesses alike are preparing for landfall. The National Hurricane Center (NHC) reported early Thursday afternoon that Helene is "almost a major hurricane" and is expected to strengthen further before making landfall in the Florida Big Bend area in the evening. Despite their central location in Florida, both the Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando are closely monitoring the storm. Universal Orlando informed FOX Business that the Universal Studios Florida and Islands of Adventure remained open on Thursday during regular hours. However, the closing time for Universal CityWalk was moved up to 8 p.m. The hotels of Universal Orlando continued operations, focusing on attending to guests. Nevertheless, the "Halloween Horror Nights" were canceled for Thursday, as well as operations at the Universal Volcano Bay water park. "We anticipate a full reopening of our resort, including the Halloween Horror Nights, on Friday, September 27th," stated Universal Orlando. The Walt Disney World emphasized that it is closely watching the projected path of the hurricane and prioritizing the safety of guests and employees. When asked by FOX Business, the resort referred to its "Weather Updates & Information" webpage. The resort operated under normal conditions on Thursday, although some offerings were unavailable due to the storm. The Typhoon Lagoon water park and the mini-golf courses remained closed. Additionally, cabana and umbrella rentals and "Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party" were canceled. Although the Magic Kingdom was originally scheduled to close at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Disney World extended the operating hours until 8 p.m. to give guests more time in the park. The National Weather Service (NHC) called on residents in the predicted path of the storm to "complete preparations to protect life and property immediately." While the storm is expected to weaken after landfall, its high velocity will continue to bring strong winds, particularly in gusts, inland to the southern Appalachians. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 61 counties to enable officials to provide critical resources ahead of potential storm damage.