As the Southeastern United States braces for the arrival of Hurricane Helene today, a few of the area’s theme park destinations are suspending operations in preparation for the storm. This includes Walt Disney World, Universal Studios Orlando, Sea World, Busch Gardens, and even Dollywood.
Cinderella’s Castle in Walt Disney World via 4K WDW YouTube
Walt Disney World and Universal Studios are sitting right in the middle of a tornado watch that will remain in place until 8 pm on Thursday, September 26.
However, both theme park giants are keeping their regular parks open for the duration of the storm. It should be noted that a tornado watch doesn’t mean a tornado is imminent. It only means that the potential for a tornado to form exists.
Universal Studios, Orlando. Photo Credit: Bob Linsdell, CC BY 3.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
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Walt Disney World
Walt Disney World will keep all four of its theme parks open today, including Magic Kingdom, Disney’s Hollywood Studios, Epcot, and Disney’s Animal Kingdom. However, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park is closed for the day, with operations resuming on Friday, September 27.
The House of Mouse has also closed a few additional experiences, including the Savor the Savanna, Up Close with Rhinos, Walking with Giants, and Wild Africa Trek tours at Animal Kingdom. Disney’s miniature golf courses will also close for the day.
Tonight’s Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party in the Magic Kingdom has been cancelled.
Walt Disney World has closed for hurricanes in the past, including:
- Hurricane Floyd – September 1999
- Hurricane Charley – August 2004
- Hurricane Frances – August 2004
- Hurricane Jeanne – August 2004
- Hurricane Matthew – October 2016
- Hurricane Irma – October 2017
- Hurricane Ian – September 2022
It also closed early for Hurricane Elena in August of 1985.
Typhoon Lagoon via Theme Park 101 YouTube
Universal Orlando Resort
Universal Orlando Resort has closed its water park, Volcano Bay, for the day with normal operations resuming on Friday, September 27. However, the company’s two theme parks, Universal Studios and Universal Islands of Adventure, will remain open.
Universal has also cancelled its Halloween Horror Nights after hours event tonight in the Universal Studios park. Anyone with a Halloween Horror Nights ticket for tonight can redeem it any night through September 29.
Update from Universal Orlando Resort.
For more information and FAQs, visit https://t.co/TVZoVRmijO pic.twitter.com/s6LgtoxV1O
— Halloween Horror Nights (@HorrorNightsORL) September 26, 2024
Sea World Orlando and Busch Gardens Tampa
Sea World Orlando is also open today as usual, but the company’s water parks, Aquatica and Discovery Cove, will be closed. Both will re-open on Friday, September 27.
Busch Gardens Tampa will be closed today along with its accompanying water park, Adventure Island. Both will re-open on Friday, September 27.
The hurricane policy for Sea World and Busch Gardens reads:
“Rest assured, our Guest Services team is prepared to assist you with shifting your date to a surrounding date,” SeaWorld and Busch Gardens’ parent company, United Parks & Resorts, said on its website. “Please contact our Guest Services team, you may email dco-guestrelations@discoverycove.com. Please include your reservation number and “Hurricane rebooking” in the subject line of the email. We apologize for any inconvenience to your party and look forward to welcoming you.”
The Port of Entry lighthouse at SeaWorld Orlando. Photo Credit: Jeremy Thompson, CC BY 2.0 <https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0>, via Wikimedia Commons
Dollywood
Dollywood will be closed today, as announced on the company’s social media accounts.
IMPORTANT NOTICE: The National Weather Service has indicated that Hurricane Helene is projected to affect our area over the next several days. As a precaution and for the safety of our hosts and guests, Dollywood Theme Park will be closed today (Thursday, Sept. 26). pic.twitter.com/jL0Zw0DffI
— Dollywood Parks & Resorts (@Dollywood) September 26, 2024
While the park itself is closed, the DreamMore Resort and Spa along with Dollywood’s HeartSong Lodge and Resort will remain open. Guests who purchased tickets for today will be allowed to use them on the next operating day. You can request a refund by calling 1-800-DOLLYWOOD.
The park has not yet made a decision about Friday September 27. Dollywood has stated it will have an update on this later today.
The main sign at Dollywood. Photo Credit: Sarah Stierch (CC BY 4.0)
While closing down for hurricanes is a common occurrence to the central Florida parks, this marks the first time in recent memory that Dollywood has closed down due to a hurricane. The theme park experienced heavy flooding this past summer on July 28 from torrential rains, but the only impact to operations was a slight delayed opening on July 29.
That Park Place urges all of our readers in the affected areas to stay safe for the duration of the storm.
Marvin The Movie Monster Montanaro is a YouTube commentator and personality specializing in movies, TV, video games, and professional wrestling. He can be found on his channels Tooney Town TV and Tooney Town Wrestling with daily content and weekly livestreams. He can also be found on That Game Place, the That Park Place video game channel.
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