As Hurricane Helene churns towards Florida, upgrading to a Category 3 storm, Central Florida attractions are shuttering their doors and rolling out their severe weather policies, with operations at several major theme parks already grinding to a halt. Walt Disney World, beset by the impending storm, is altering its usual schedule. Universal Orlando Resort is not far behind, curtailing activities and turning away guests for the safety of both the crowds of visitors and its staff.
According to ClickOrlando, Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park and miniature golf courses are preemptively closing tomorrow, Sept. 26, and Magic Kingdom has tossed in the towel on its "Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party," much to the dismay of costume-clad hopefuls. However, they are extending Magic Kingdom's regular hours until 8 p.m. Meanwhile, a "Weather-or-Not Assurance" policy is in place to address the financial and scheduling woes that may arise from storm-related interference.
Similarly, Universal Orlando Resort is bracing for Helene, shutting down Universal Volcano Bay tomorrow while inviting ticket holders to reschedule or cancel bookings without penalty if they are affected by weather warnings or states of emergency, as reported by WFTV. The policy is a move to ensure guests don't have to gamble with their plans, flying into the hurricane’s path, or forgo a much-anticipated vacation due to forces truly beyond their control.
Even LEGOLAND Florida, with its cheerful atmosphere, is affected by Hurricane Helene. While the park hasn’t announced any closures yet, visitors can cancel or reschedule their trips if there’s a warning within a week of their planned visit.
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