As Hurricane Idalia advances toward the Florida coast, major theme parks in the Orlando area, including Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort, are taking measures to ensure the safety of visitors and staff. With the storm expected to reach the coast near Tallahassee as a Category 3 or stronger hurricane, both resorts have decided to modify their operations.
Walt Disney World has announced the closure of several attractions due to the anticipated inclement weather. Notably, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park, Winter Summerland Miniature Golf, and Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf will all be closed on August 30. The resort posted a statement on their weather page to inform visitors of these closures.
On the other hand, Universal Orlando Resort is planning to maintain its regular opening hours for its theme parks, which include Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Universal Volcano Bay. The parks are scheduled to open at 9:00 am on August 30. However, the resort will not provide its typical Early Park Admission benefit on this day, as the teams are making preparations for park operations after the storm. The resort’s management emphasized that they are striving to ensure normal operations on Wednesday.
Although the Orlando area is not expected to bear the brunt of the hurricane’s impact, Orange County, where both Disney World and Universal Orlando are located, is under a tropical storm warning. This means that the region may experience tropical storm-force winds ranging from 39 to 74 mph. In response to the impending storm, Governor Ron DeSantis has declared a state of emergency for the Orlando area and 49 other counties in the state.
Thankfully, the latest hurricane trajectory indicates that Hurricane Idalia is projected to move approximately 15-20 miles further westward, reducing the direct threat to the Orlando region. Despite this positive development, both Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort are taking the necessary precautions to ensure the safety of their guests and staff members. Visitors and residents in the affected areas are advised to stay updated with weather forecasts and heed the guidance of local authorities as the situation unfolds.
Disclaimer: The views, suggestions, and opinions expressed here are the sole responsibility of the experts. No Daily Insight 360 journalist was involved in the writing and production of this article.
