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The Disneyland Report > Disney News > Theme parks close early as 3rd hurricane bears down Disney NewsTheme parks close early as 3rd hurricane bears downBy Chris Cobbs For the third time in two months, a hurricane is closing down the turnstiles at Orlando's theme parks. Even as Jeanne was marching toward Florida, Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando were open as usual Saturday. But for today, all announced closings. The pattern was similar to hurricanes Charley and Frances, when evacuees from near and tourists from afar packed local hotels and frequented attractions, many vowing to have a good time until the minute the rides closed. A young New Jersey couple on their honeymoon were among the visitors on what seemed a normal Saturday at Walt Disney World's Animal Kingdom. Lindsay and Jeremy Beraldi were spending the day at the park as part of their honeymoon following their Sept. 18 wedding in New Jersey. "I'm not very concerned," Jeremy Beraldi said. "I'm more nervous about driving in a foot of snow. I don't think this will be so bad. At least, we hope not." Slightly more vexed were Tampa's Chrissy and Rocky Devoe and their two children, who didn't want to leave. The family of four planned to return home to avoid the primary track of Hurricane Jeanne. "I've watched the storm moving toward us, and we're going home tonight, a day ahead of our plan," Rocky Devoe said. Orlando hotels were at or near capacity, an unusual happening in September, normally the least-busy month for tourism. "It's been consistent with the previous hurricanes," said Lori Babb, spokeswoman for the Renaissance Orlando Resort at SeaWorld. "Groups cancel reservations and go home, but they are replaced by evacuees." The hotel's 778 rooms were full -- pets welcome, as with Charley and Frances -- and Babb said the hotel staff was doing its best to help guests cope. "Guests are quite nervous during these storms," she said. "They look to us for guidance. We've sent printed messages to each room, explaining safety measures, and we've also provided movies and games in the ballroom, used if rooms need to be evacuated." In contrast, there was little visible sign of concern about the approaching storm among the crowd at Animal Kingdom. Visitors donned ponchos as showers alternated with sunshine, and attendants kept up a cheerful patter on trams taking visitors from parking lots to the main entrance. Animal Kingdom closed at 5 p.m. Saturday, while the other Disney theme parks closed at 7. A similar schedule was in effect at Universal's two parks and at SeaWorld, where attractions closed at 7 p.m. Parks are hoping they can reopen Monday, depending on any damage and cleanup. Just three weeks ago, during the usually busy Labor Day weekend, Hurricane Frances closed many of the attractions for at least two days. Animal Kingdom and Disney MGM-Studios were closed for an unprecedented three days. Charley, which tore across the peninsula in August, was a one-day hit on park attendance. Both storms generally spared the attractions. To read the rest of this story, click here. Return to Disney News. |
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