A Category 5 hurricane is heading towards Central Florida, leading to two of the region’s theme parks to announce multiple days of closures. 

Hurricane Milton is currently expected to hit Florida on Wednesday with slightly less intensity than the 180 mph winds recorded on Monday, according to the National Hurricane Center. It’s expected to be the first major hurricane to directly hit the Tampa Bay area in more than 100 years, bringing with a possible storm surge of up to 12 feet — nearly double what the region experienced with Hurricane Helene last month. (For the latest forecast info on Milton, go here.)

Hurricane Milton evacuation map near Busch Gardens Tampa Bay on Oct. 7 (FDEM)

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay is outside of the current evacuation zones, though only by a few blocks. The park announced Monday that it would be closed Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. 

The park couldn’t make the closure announcement through its X account because it had been hacked, appearing to have been taken over to promote a cryptocurrency. The hack — first noticed by ParkFans.net — wasn’t related to Hurricane Milton, but may complicate efforts to spread word about the closure. 

Legoland Florida, located further inland in Winter Haven, also announced that it would close its theme parks on Wednesday and Thursday due to the storm. 

All of the Orlando area parks — Disney World, Universal Orlando, SeaWorld Orlando and the two Fun Spot America locations — have yet to announce any park closures. A hurricane warning has been issued for both Orange County and Osceola County. 

Disney has taken what are usually the first steps of a hurricane closure, announcing that Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, the Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will temporarily close beginning at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9. 

The Orlando International Airport will close for commercial flights on Wednesday morning.