Tue Oct 08 20:14:24 UTC 2024: ## Disney World Braces for Hurricane Milton, Expected to Take Nine-Figure Hit

**Orlando, Florida** – As Hurricane Milton, now a Category 4 storm, barrels towards Florida, Walt Disney World remains open, but with significant closures and a projected financial hit. While the theme park giant has not announced any theme park closures yet, Goldman Sachs analysts predict Disney will lose between $150 million and $200 million in earnings from its parks division this quarter due to the storm’s impact.

The storm’s expected arrival in the Orlando area, home to Walt Disney World, will cause a decline in park attendance by approximately 6% this quarter, according to Goldman Sachs.

Disney has already announced the closure of its Fort Wilderness campground and villas at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Saratoga Springs resorts starting Wednesday morning. These closures are likely to last until Sunday, or Friday for the Wilderness Lodge cabins.

The company is closely monitoring the storm’s path and making adjustments based on the latest weather forecasts. However, the decision on theme park closures remains pending.

Meanwhile, other major theme parks in the region have already announced closures. Universal Resort Orlando will close at 2 p.m. EDT Wednesday and remain closed Thursday, cancelling its Halloween Horror Nights events. Legoland Florida Resort, SeaWorld Orlando, and Busch Gardens Tampa will also be closed on Wednesday and Thursday.

Orlando International Airport will be closed for commercial air travel starting at 8 a.m. on Wednesday, but will remain open for emergency relief flights.

The Orlando area is under a hurricane warning with hurricane-force winds expected Thursday morning and tropical storm-force winds projected to continue through Thursday afternoon. Wind speeds are expected to reach between 74 to 100 miles per hour, accompanied by heavy rainfall.

If Goldman Sachs’ estimates are accurate, Hurricane Milton would be the costliest Florida storm for Disney since Hurricane Irma in 2017.

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