fbpx
Menu

Major Disney Competitor Announces Theme Park Closure Ahead of Hurricane Ian

Universal Orlando
Credit: Universal

Hurricane Ian is currently barreling through Cuba with winds of more than 125 miles per hour and has its sights set on Florida’s Gulf Coast. Ian is expected to hit the Gulf Coast in the next day or so as a Category 2 or Category 3 storm. Once it hits land, the storm will decrease in strength, but it is still expected to hit the Orlando area as a Category 1 hurricane. Both Orange County and Osceola County — where the Walt Disney World Resort is situated — are currently under a Hurricane Watch.

Hurricane Ian

Credit: AP

In preparation for Hurricane Ian, both the Orlando International Airport and Orlando Sanford Airport will close from September 28 until September 30. Orlando International will remain open for emergencies only. Walt Disney World Resort has also informed its Cast Members that its theme parks and water parks will be closed Wednesday and Thursday as well. Disney Springs will close on Wednesday, but a decision has not yet been made about Thursday.

Magic Kingdom

Credit: Disney

Now, we also know that Walt Disney World Resort will not be the only theme park in the area to close its gates. Around the same time that Disney World announced that it would be closing, its biggest competitor also announced its closure. Universal Orlando Resort announced that it would be closing on Wednesday the 28th and Thursday the 29th.

The closure news was shared on Twitter by Spectrum News Reporter Ashley Carter.

JUST IN: Universal Orlando Resort (theme parks and CityWalk) will be closed Wednesday and Thursday due to Hurricane Ian. As a result, Halloween Horror Nights is canceled for Wednesday and Thursday. The resort anticipates reopening on Friday “as conditions permit.”

After it makes its way through Florida, Hurricane Ian is expected to make its way up the East Coast and go through Georgia, South Carolina, and North Carolina. However, the path of a hurricane can be unpredictable and Ian could change course at any moment.

Disney Dining will keep readers updated as more news is released on Hurricane Ian’s course and if Walt Disney World or the Universal Orlando Resort releases any more information on her closures.

About Krysten Swensen

A born and bred New England girl living the Disney life in Southern California. I love to read, to watch The Golden Girls, and love everything to do with Disney and Universal. I also love to share daily doses of Disney on my Disney Instagram @BrazzleDazzleDisney!