by Donald Wood
Last updated: 10:00 AM ET, Wed September 28, 2022
Update: September 30, 2022 at 8:50 a.m. ET
After regaining strength over the Atlantic Ocean, Hurricane Ian was expected to make landfall in South Carolina near Charleston as a Category 1 storm with maximum sustained wind speeds of 75 mph on Friday afternoon.
The National Hurricane Center said Ian would bring potentially life-threatening flooding, storm surges and winds to Georgia, South Carolina and North Carolina, which are all currently under a hurricane warning.
Theme parks were also impacted by Ian, with the Walt Disney World Resort reopening its theme parks "in a phased approach," starting Friday. Disney parks will have staggered openings in the morning for hotel guests, followed by openings to all guests two hours later.
Ian also dumped around 14 inches of rain and winds up to 60 mph in Orlando, leaving areas of Universal Studios Florida under water, including the Incredible Hulk roller coaster. Park official said they expect to begin a phased reopening for portions of the destination for hotel guests only beginning Friday.
Update: September 29, 2022 at 8:55 a.m. ET
The National Weather Service said Hurricane Ian was one of the strongest hurricanes ever to strike the United States when it made landfall in Florida on Wednesday as a Category 4 storm.
Tropical storm force winds are expected in Florida, Georgia and the Carolina coasts through Friday and hurricane conditions are possible. The storm is expected to bring life-threatening flooding to Florida, southern Georgia and eastern South Carolina.
The major theme parks in Florida remain closed Thursday, but officials are considering reopening on Friday. Reports suggest the Swan and Dolphin Resort at Disney World experienced heavy flooding, according to Fox Orlando.
Universal Orlando said its hotels would remain operational as they focus on taking care of guests. Travelers with an existing reservation for arrival through Friday will be able to cancel or modify them without fees.
Legoland Florida will remain closed through Thursday, and tickets dated through October 2 will be automatically extended through December 31. Vacation stays during this time can also be rebooked without penalty.
Update: September 28, 2022 at 8:45 a.m. ET
While several theme parks announced closures this week due to Hurricane Ian, the Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Studios Florida were the last to announce they would shut their doors on Wednesday and Thursday.
Disney announced its major Florida theme parks would remain closed on Wednesday and Thursday as Ian made its way across the state as a Category 4 hurricane. Disney Springs will also be closed Wednesday, with officials likely to shutter the area on Thursday as well.
Universal Studios announced it would close their theme parks and CityWalk on Wednesday and Thursday, but all Universal hotels are operating as scheduled. Halloween Horror Nights events were also canceled for Wednesday and Thursday, but officials plan to reopen the park to guests on Friday, as long is it's safe to for guests.
The National Hurricane Center announced that Hurricane Ian will bring catastrophic storm surge, wind damage, rainfall and flooding to central Florida as it makes make landfall Wednesday as a Category 4 storm.
Widespread and life-threatening flooding is expected in North and South Florida, southeastern Georgia and coastal South Carolina through Friday. Storm surge is expected to reach 12-16 feet above ground level, causing destructive waves along the southwest Florida coastline.
Original Text
Hurricane Ian continues to impact every aspect of the travel industry in Florida and theme parks are no exception.
According to Fox Orlando, the Walt Disney World Resort remains open to the public, but officials said the company is preparing to "make necessary adjustments based on the latest information from the National Weather Service."
As Ian approaches, Disney announced the Typhoon Lagoon water park and Winter Summerland and Fantasia Gardens miniature golf courses would be closed on Wednesday and Thursday. The park also revealed several resorts would be closed Wednesday through Friday, including Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Wilderness Lodge, Treehouse Villas at Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and Bungalows at Polynesian Village Resort.
To help impacted guests, Disney will allow them to modify park and resort reservations without penalty and reservations will be automatically canceled and refunded while venues are closed.
At Universal Orlando Resort, the theme park will continue to operate as normal while officials monitor the weather. The property has "plans and procedures for significant weather that are both time-proven and constantly updated," a Universal spokesperson told USA Today.
Universal's official website said guests with tickets or reservations in the coming days could cancel or push back their trips without penalty in booked through the theme park. Tourists who arraigned their stay with a travel agent should reach out to them directly.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay announced it had completely closed its properties to guests through Thursday "to ensure the safety of our ambassadors, guests and animals as Hurricane Ian moves through Florida."
Busch Gardens officials said all tickets for impacted dates would be automatically extended through the end of 2022.
LEGOLAND Florida Resort will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday due to the storm, but Resort Hotels will remain open to guests with existing reservations. Any tickets dated through October 2 will be automatically extended through December 31, with vacation stays for this closure period that can be rebooked without penalty once the call center reopens.
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