Walt Disney World Resort will close early Saturday as Orlando, Florida, prepares for Hurricane Irma.
The parks will remain closed through Monday, September 11, although resort hotels will remain open. Disney said that it hopes to resume normal operations on Tuesday, September 12, although it will continue to provide regular updates to its guests on all operational changes.
Here’s a breakdown of the early closings and other changes:
- Disney’s Blizzard Beach: Closed September 8
- Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon: Closed early September 9 at 5 p.m.
- ESPN Wide World of Sports: Closed September 9
- Disney’s Animal Kingdom: Closed early September 9 at 7 p.m. The September 9 Rivers of Light performance is canceled.
- Disney’s Hollywood Studios: Closed early September 9 at 7 p.m. The September 9 performances of Fantasmic! and Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular are canceled.
- Epcot: Closed early September 9 at 9 p.m. The September 9 Illuminations Reflections of Earth performance is canceled.
- Magic Kingdom: Closed early September 9 at 9 p.m. The September 9 Happily Ever After fireworks performance is canceled.
- Disney Springs: Closed early September 9 at 9 p.m.
Additionally, Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and the Treehouse Vilas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will be closed starting September 9 at 2 p.m.
Disney is also canceling the Night of Joy at ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex on September 9, although the performances for September 8 will take place as planned. Guests with Saturday tickets can attend Friday’s event instead by exchanging their tickets at the ESPN Wide World of Sports Box Office after 4 p.m. Friday, or guests can opt for a refund on tickets for either night.
Mickey’s Not-So-Scary Halloween Party on September 10 has been canceled. Guests can exchange their tickets for another Halloween Party; an upcoming Mickey’s Very Merry Christmas Party; a one-day Magic Your Way Tickets with Park Hopper Option, to be used within the next two years; or a full refund.
To redeem these offers, guests can call 407-939-7818 by January 31, 2018, between the hours of 7 a.m. and 11: p.m., or email Ticket.Inquiries@DisneyWorld.com.
Finally, Disney will no longer be enforcing dining reservation cancellation policies, meaning guests will not need to cancel dining reservations through September 11. Pre-paid dining and premium experiences will be automatically canceled and refunded.
Hurricane Irma is currently near Cuba and the central Bahamas, where it should remain through Saturday, according to the National Hurricane Center. Maximum sustained winds are near 155 mph, making it a category 4 storm. While some fluctuations in intensity are likely over the next two days, Irma is expected to remain a powerful category 4 hurricane as it moves to strike Florida and the Florida Keys Sunday morning.
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