Hurricane Milton: All theme parks now reopened in central Florida following storm closures
Hurricane Milton impacted Florida the second week of October 2024. This page will be updated with affected theme park operations of Disney, Universal, SeaWorld, Busch Gardens, Legoland, and Fun Spot as needed.
Update, Saturday, Oct. 19, 2024: With today’s reopening of Adventure Island water park in Tampa, all theme parks and water parks in central Florida have reopened following Hurricane Milton.
This page is for storm updates as they relate to theme parks in central Florida for what is now categorized as Hurricane Milton. For real-time weather updates and safety information, consult the Weather Channel and/or your local news.
On Oct. 5, 2024, Florida Governor Ron DeSantis declared a state of emergency for 35 Florida counties in anticipation of the storm, including the counties containing central Florida’s major theme parks and attractions. By Oct. 6, a state of emergency was declared for an additional 15 counties.
Emergency hotel accommodations for Hurricane Milton
Several hotel-booking websites provide information about discounted hotel rates for those seeking emergency accommodations:
Additionally, Rosen Hotels & Resorts initiated its “Florida Resident Distress Rates” for the following locations throughout Orlando:
- $69 per night
- Rosen Inn International
- Rosen Inn (closest to Universal Orlando)
- Rosen Inn Pointe Orlando
- Rosen Inn Lake Buena Vista
- $99 per night
- Rosen Plaza
- $119 per night
- Rosen Centre
- $139 per night
- Rosen Shingle Creek
To book a room, call (866) 337-6736.
Airport closures
Orlando International Airport (MCO)
Status: Reopened.
Orlando International Airport halted commercial passenger and private flights beginning Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024. The airport reopened on Friday, Oct. 11.
Tampa International Airport (TPA)
Status: Reopened.
Tampa International Airport halted commercial and cargo flights beginning Tuesday, Oct. 8 at 9 a.m. The airport resumed operations Oct. 11 at 8 a.m.
Theme park operations
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay updates for Hurricane Milton
Status: Reopened.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay closed beginning Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024. The park reopened Sunday, Oct. 13.
Howl-O-Scream was canceled for the evenings of Oct. 10-12. The event returned Oct. 13.
Adventure Island, Busch Gardens’ adjacent water park, was closed Oct. 11-13. This time of year, Adventure Island is usually only open on the weekends. The park reopened on Saturday, Oct. 19, operational on weekends again.
Busch Gardens’ parent company, United Parks & Resorts, has a dedicated page on its website for operational updates, as well as a park hours calendar and a “weather-or-not” assurance policy.
Fun Spot America updates for Hurricane Milton
Status: Reopened.
Both Florida locations for Fun Spot America (in Kissimmee and Orlando) were closed on Wednesday, Oct. 9, 2024 and reopened at 3 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 10.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Center updates for Hurricane Milton
Status: Reopened.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex closed beginning at 3 p.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9. It reopened Saturday, Oct. 12 at 9 a.m.
Legoland Florida updates for Hurricane Milton
Status: Reopened.
Legoland Theme Park was closed on Wednesday, Oct. 9 & Thursday, Oct. 10, 2024. It reopened on Friday, Oct. 11.
Peppa Pig Theme Park was closed beginning Tuesday, Oct. 8. It reopened on Saturday, Oct. 12.
Legoland’s website has a dedicated page with weather-related operational updates (with cancellation policy) and a park hours calendar.
SeaWorld Orlando updates for Hurricane Milton
Status: Reopened.
SeaWorld Orlando and Aquatica Orlando were closed Wednesday, Oct. 9 & Thursday, Oct. 10. The parks reopened Friday, Oct. 11.
Howl-O-Scream was canceled for the evenings of Oct. 10 & 11. The event will return on Saturday, Oct. 12.
SeaWorld’s parent company, United Parks & Resorts, has a dedicated page on its website for operational updates. Prospective guests can also consult SeaWorld’s park hours calendar and information about its “weather-or-not” assurance policy.
Universal Orlando updates for Hurricane Milton
Status: Reopened.
On Friday, Oct. 11:
- Universal Studios Florida reopened
- Halloween Horror Nights resumed
- Universal Islands of Adventure reopened
- Universal Volcano Bay reopened
- Universal CityWalk reopened
Consult Universal’s park hours page for complete reopening times.
Universal Orlando began phased closings midday on Wednesday, Oct. 9 and remained closed on Thursday, Oct. 10.
Universal has a dedicated page on its website for severe weather updates (with info about its cancellation policy), as well as a park hours calendar.
Walt Disney World updates for Hurricane Milton
Status: Reopened.
Oct. 10 at 12 p.m., Walt Disney Resort Resort issued the following statement:
We’re grateful Walt Disney World Resort weathered the storm, and we are currently assessing the impacts to our property to prepare for reopening the theme parks, Disney Springs, and possibly other areas on Friday, Oct. 11. Our hearts are with our fellow Floridians who were impacted by this storm.
On Friday, Oct. 11:
- Magic Kingdom Park reopened
- Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party will resume
- Epcot reopened
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios reopened
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park reopened
- Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon reopened
- Disney Springs reopened
- Winter Summerland Miniature Golf reopened
- Fantasia Gardens and Fairways Miniature Golf reopened
Consult Disney’s park hours page for complete opening times.
Walt Disney World Resort began abridged and/or closed operations midday on Wednesday, Oct. 9, for all four theme parks, miniature golf courses, Disney Springs, Typhoon Lagoon, Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, and Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa. These remained closed on Thursday, Oct. 10. (Accommodations that are not part of the Copper Creek Cabins or Treehouse Villas at Wilderness Lodge and Saratoga Springs, respectively, remained operational.)
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa reopened on Sunday, Oct. 13.
Since Copper Creek was not specifically mentioned in Disney’s announcement, we assume it reopened on Oct. 11.
Pages on Disney World’s website are dedicated to severe weather updates as they pertain to park operations and Disney’s hurricane cancellation policy. Guests can also consult Disney’s park hours calendar.
Brightline train route closure
Status: Routes back to operating as normal.
The Brightline train route between West Palm Beach, Fla. and Orlando, Fla. did not operate Wednesday, Oct. 9 and Thursday, Oct. 10. It resumed operations on Friday, Oct. 11.
A route from Miami was shortened beginning the evening of Tuesday, Oct. 8.
Travelers can check train statuses on the Brightline website.
More Attractions Magazine stories:
Follow us:
