Some of Central Florida’s theme parks are announcing further closures as the region surveys the damage caused by Hurricane Ian, but Disney World and Universal Orlando plan to reopen Friday.
Busch Gardens Tampa and SeaWorld Orlando will remain closed through Friday but plan to reopen on Saturday, Oct. 1. That also means Friday’s Howl-O-Scream events at both parks will be cancelled. Discovery Cove and SeaWorld’s two Florida water parks, Aquatica Orlando and Tampa’s Adventure Island, will also stay closed Friday.
Legoland Florida in Winter Haven will stay closed Friday, as well, along with its water park and Peppa Pig Theme Park Florida. The two Fun Spot America parks in the area, in Orlando and Kissimmee, plan to reopen at 10 a.m. Friday.
Universal Orlando Resort will open in phases “for our hotel guests only” starting Friday.
Whether all its attractions will be available is not clear. The Jurassic Park River Adventure ride at Islands of Adventure looks to have sustained damage during the storm.
🚨 We have Assets Out Of Containment 🚨
Hole in the side of Jurassic Park River Ride. #Universal #IslandsOfAdventure #HurricaneIan pic.twitter.com/zf9d4gKns2
— Stu 🎃 – Blinding Frights (@youngie88) September 29, 2022
Hole Ripped on the side of Jurassic Park River Adventure at Universal Orlando Resort During Hurricane Ian.
📸 @UpperLotPodcast pic.twitter.com/Ojkm2DhScl
— Universally Addicted (@UniversallyAdd) September 29, 2022
Other photos circulating around social media have shown flooding both in and out of Universal’s theme parks.
@Attractions pic.twitter.com/UDJdCWhX3g
— Lissainflorida (@lissainbama) September 29, 2022
Comparison of water level in a Universal Orlando resort waterway yesterday and today after Hurricane Ian.
A good reference between the two photos is the long reaches of Spanish Moss on a tree. pic.twitter.com/BkRQ7o7tEl— bioreconstruct (@bioreconstruct) September 29, 2022
Unfortunate status of the boat dock at Royal Pacific, which is currently underwater. #UniversalOrlando pic.twitter.com/cHwxM5dWTp
— Nyanners (@Ryoneko) September 29, 2022
Walt Disney World will also have a phased reopening Friday. The four theme parks will have staggered openings for on-site hotel guests, starting with Magic Kingdom at 8 a.m., Epcot at 9 a.m., Disney’s Hollywood Studios at 10 a.m. and Animal Kingdom at 11 a.m. Off-site guests and annual passholders won’t be able to enter until two hours after those openings, greatly expanding the early park entry perk offered to people staying at Disney hotels. The Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party at Magic Kingdom on Friday will proceed as scheduled.
Disney Springs will reopen at 10 a.m. Friday. Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park will remain shuttered until Sunday.
Following the hurricane, flooding was reported at the Disney Swan and Dolphin Resorts, along with minor damage at Disney’s Contemporary Resort near the Magic Kingdom.
DISNEY FLOODS | Flooding started picking up in Orlando Wednesday night at Disney Swan and Dolphin Resort. Viewer video shows what it looked like as Hurricane Ian moves over Central Florida. pic.twitter.com/Yop8HoM944
— WESH 2 News (@WESH) September 29, 2022
For guests hoping to get in and out of Orlando, Orlando International Airport will resume flights after 12 p.m. Friday. Orlando Sanford Airport has not yet announced when it will resume operations.