Orlando, Florida — As Hurricane Milton approaches the coast, the looming storm threatens to disrupt one of Florida’s largest industries: tourism. Despite the potential damage, Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort remained operational on Tuesday, ahead of Milton’s anticipated landfall.
Theme Parks Brace for Impact
While most businesses in Orlando began shutting down operations, both Disney and Universal announced they would monitor the situation closely and make any necessary adjustments to park schedules. However, Disney did close its campgrounds and rental cabins, prioritizing safety for visitors staying in wooded areas.
Elsewhere in Orlando, significant shutdowns began, most notably at Orlando International Airport—the nation’s seventh busiest airport—set to cease operations Wednesday morning. For many tourists, the timing could not be worse. Visitors like Nicole and Zeb Downs, who drove 21 hours from Arkansas, were expecting a 12-day vacation with their three young sons. "We are disappointed, but it's kind of out of our hands at this point," said Zeb, speaking from Disney Springs, a popular shopping and dining district still bustling despite the approaching storm.
Orlando: A Tourism Powerhouse
As the most visited destination in the United States, the Orlando area attracts more than 74 million tourists annually, largely due to the appeal of its renowned theme parks. Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando, and others play a critical role in the local economy, generating billions in revenue each year. October is a particularly busy month for these parks due to Halloween-themed events like Universal’s Halloween Horror Nights and Disney’s “Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.” These seasonal events have grown into significant moneymakers over the last two decades.
Although Disney rarely closes its gates—only doing so for dangerous hurricanes, the COVID-19 pandemic, or after the September 11 attacks—its hotels often serve as refuges for coastal residents evacuating before storms. A check of Disney's online reservation system showed no vacancies for the upcoming days, as guests sought safety from Milton’s potential devastation.
After the Storm: A Quick Recovery for Orlando’s Theme Parks
History has shown that Orlando’s theme parks strive to resume normal operations as swiftly as possible following storms. After Hurricane Charley in 2004, Disney’s recovery efforts were immediate, with crews clearing debris and reopening sections of the park within hours.
In 2017, during Hurricane Irma, Disney guests received a special surprise when actress Kristen Bell—the voice of Anna from Disney’s “Frozen”—entertained evacuees at a nearby shelter. These moments help underscore the efforts that theme parks, particularly Disney, make to provide a sense of security for visitors during natural disasters.
Despite these efforts, the unpredictability of the weather can still cause significant economic losses for the parks and the local economy. The upcoming days will be critical for determining how much impact Milton will have, both on Orlando's tourism industry and on the lives of the millions who depend on it for their livelihoods.
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