Hurricane Helene is currently heading toward Florida, and the local theme parks are taking action. While some events and services have been canceled, most of the parks intend to remain open, with some notable exceptions. Below, we’ve outlined the current status of the parks in the Central Florida area.
Updated 9/26/24 with Universal changes
Please note: Conditions can change rapidly. Please be safe, and always consult the National Weather Service and the official theme parks’ websites and/or social media for the latest information before heading out into the elements.
Universal Orlando
As of Wednesday, September 25, Universal Orlando Resort planned on operating normally through Thursday, September 26, with the exception of Volcano Bay, which would close. Both theme parks, all the hotels, and Halloween Horror Nights were scheduled to remain open.
But plans changed today (September 26), with Halloween Horror Nights now canceled for the day. Volcano Bay is closed as scheduled, and Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure remain open. Universal CityWalk will experience an early closure at 8:00 p.m. and currently, Universal Orlando plans for a full reopening on Friday, September 27 – Halloween Horror Nights included.
Guests with a single night dated ticket to Halloween Horror Nights on Thursday, September 26 can use it on another night through Sunday, September 29.
Walt Disney World
As of this writing, Walt Disney World will continue normal operation on Wednesday, September 25, but will have modified operations on Thursday, September 26. Typhoon Lagoon will be closed on Thursday (Blizzard Beach is already closed for planned maintenance), along with both miniature golf courses — Fantasia Gardens and Fairways and Winter Summerland.
Disney has also announced that Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween party has been canceled for Thursday night. Guests who have tickets to that party can contact the Company for a refund. Because of this, operating hours at the Magic Kingdom have been extended to 8:00pm.
Certain tours have been canceled on Thursday as well, including Savor the Savanna, Up Close with Rhinos, Walking with Giants, and the Wild Africa Trek.
All pools at the resort are scheduled to remain open through Thursday.
SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld Orlando will remain open on Thursday. Aquatica Orlando and Discovery Cove will be closed. All date-intended tickets will be extended through September 30, 2024, so guests will not have to take any action. Guests with Discovery Cove reservations should contact Guest Services to rebook.
Busch Gardens Tampa
Busch Gardens Tampa and Adventure Island have announced they will be closed on Thursday. All date-intended tickets will be extended through September 30, 2024, so guests will not have to take any action.
Legoland Florida Resort
Legoland Florida has posted that they are planning to operate normally on Thursday, but are continuing to monitor the weather, so they advise guests to check back often to see their latest updates.
As always, we want to remind our readers to stay safe. Hurricane Helene is predicted to reach Category 4 before making landfall, and is a wide storm, so the impact radius might be bigger than expected. Be sure to double-check the parks’ official channels to ensure their operations have not changed.
if you were planning to visit the parks, how has the storm altered your plans? Do you enjoy rainy days in the parks? If so, how much is too much? At what point do you decide to just stay home or safely in your hotel room? We look forward to hearing from you in the comment section below.
