Florida’s theme parks, including Disney World, resume operations after Hurricane Milton

Recently, Florida was hit by Hurricane Milton which had resulted in shut down of all the theme parks in the system. But now that the hurricane agony is over, the famous theme parks, including Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and SeaWorld, have now reopened. The parks welcomed back visitors on Friday, following assessments of the storm’s impact. While the parks are not yet operating at full capacity and some Halloween events remain on hold, the reopening signals a return to normalcy for Orlando’s tourism sector.

Hurricane Milton

Hurricane Milton made landfall on Wednesday as a powerful storm, forcing the temporary closure of all three major theme parks. This sudden shutdown disrupted the vacations of tens of thousands of tourists, many of whom sheltered in hotels during the storm. The closures lasted through Wednesday and Thursday, with reopening efforts beginning on Friday as conditions improved.

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Orlando International Airport, the busiest in Florida, also faced disruptions due to Hurricane Milton. The airport ceased operations for domestic arrivals on Wednesday, with departures resuming on Friday. Among the travelers affected was Simon Forster, a tourist from Scotland, whose return flight was delayed, extending his family’s two-week vacation by an additional two days. This wasn’t their first encounter with a hurricane in Orlando; two years prior, Hurricane Ian similarly extended their stay. Despite the storm’s intensity, Forster described the experience as both frightening and oddly festive, with hotel guests making the most of the situation during the storm’s approach.

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What’s happening in Tampa?

Meanwhile, in Tampa, popular attractions like ZooTampa and The Florida Aquarium aimed to reopen on Saturday, having weathered the storm with their animal residents in good condition. ZooTampa’s 1,000 animals remained in secure locations as staff began clearing debris from their habitats. The aquarium’s president, Roger German, reported that their facilities and animals were safe, though the zoo itself faced some wind damage and power outages.

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For tourists in Orlando during the park closures, activities were limited, but some, like Craig Greig from Glasgow, Scotland, found entertainment at attractions such as Congo River Golf on International Drive. With the theme parks shut, miniature golf became a popular option for those seeking a way to pass the time while awaiting the return of normal activities.

Orlando remains a major tourist destination, attracting 74 million visitors last year, many of whom flock to the area during October for Halloween celebrations. While hurricanes in the Orlando area are rare, they are not unprecedented—three storms, Charley, Frances, and Jeanne, impacted the region in 2004, and Hurricane Ian caused disruptions in 2022. The reopening of the theme parks following Hurricane Milton is a welcome step towards recovery for the region’s vibrant tourism industry.