Due to the incoming Hurricane Ian, Walt Disney World has just announced the closure of all its theme parks due to the expected severe weather in the Lake Buena Vista area.
Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney's Hollywood Studios, and Disney's Animal Kingdom, will all be closed for at least two days.
The company also announced that Disney Springs will also be closed.
The announcement was first made to Cast Members in an email from Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle.
Here’s the email:
Team, As we keep an eye on Hurricane Ian, the focus of the Walt Disney World leadership team is on all of you – our Cast Members – and our Guests. Our Emergency Operations Center is connected to weather experts and community leaders as we all prepare for severe weather. Given the latest projections, the theme parks and water parks will be closed on Wednesday, Sept. 28 and Thursday, Sept. 29. Disney Springs will be closed on Wednesday, Sept. 28. We anticipate Disney Springs will be closed on Thursday, Sept. 29, and we will provide updates as we continue to track the storm. We are monitoring weather conditions so we can make timely decisions for the safety of our Cast and Guests, including when it’s safe for Cast to return to the site to prepare for reopening. Updates will be posted regularly to the HUB and the Disney Cast Life app as information becomes available. Cast should also call their local hotlines for scheduling information. With storms of this nature, conditions can change quickly, so please check your resources often and stay connected. To our Cast Members in Tampa, we are thinking of you. For everyone in Central Florida, please continue preparing the best you can. The WDW Alerts section on the HUB has many helpful resources to assist you before and after a hurricane. You are an amazing team and I appreciate all you have done to prepare Walt Disney World for the storm. We will get through this storm as we always do: together. Be safe.
Jeff Vahle, Disney World President
In addition to the just announced theme park closures, the following closure announcements have already been announced:
Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon will close Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29.
The Winter Summerland Miniature Golf and Fantasia Gardens Miniature Golf will close Wednesday, September 28 and Thursday, September 29.
The Star Wars: Galactic Starcruiser immersive hotel experience will be closed through September 30th
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort and Campgrounds, Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa and the Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort will temporarily close Wednesday, September 28 through Friday, September 30.
For live updates as Hurricane Ian continues its path towards Central Florida please check out our LIVE UPDATES news page.
We will be updating you with all the latest theme park and amusement park updates throughout the storm.
