Disney World and other Florida attractions are making preparations as Hurricane Irma looks poised to impact the state over the weekend.
Disney World has not yet announced it will close. The park has closed only four times since 1971 when a hurricane was approaching, with the last time in 2016 when Hurricane Matthew threatened the coast but didn’t materialize as expected.
For those who had planned vacations to Disney World, Disney’s policy is to allow cancellations with a full refund if a hurricane warning is issued within seven days of guests' scheduled arrival, the Orlando Sentinel reported.
While the policy applies to room reservations and park tickets, it does not cover certain special events or dining experiences. Disney Tourist Blog reported Wednesday morning that cancellations are being accepted, but that wait times might be as long as two to three hours.
A few special events have begun to be canceled for the weekend, such as the Night of Joy on Sept. 9 and Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party on Sept. 10 at Disney's Magic Kingdom. Blizzard Beach also will also be closed starting Friday. The Disney Tourist blog advised guests planning to arrive between now and Tuesday to “strongly consider postponing.”
Other Florida attractions such as SeaWorld and LegoLand also allow refunds as hurricanes approach. Additionally, cruise lines — including Disney cruises — are canceling or postponing trips scheduled to leave on Friday and Saturday. Some cruises already at sea are modifying their itineraries to avoid the storm.
Attractions and theme parks could lose millions of dollars if Hurricane Irma's wrath is as bad as feared, the Sentinel reported.
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