{"id":25587,"date":"2022-09-27T13:34:07","date_gmt":"2022-09-27T17:34:07","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/?p=25587"},"modified":"2022-09-27T17:42:26","modified_gmt":"2022-09-27T21:42:26","slug":"disney-world-and-busch-gardens-announce-closures-ahead-of-hurricane-ians-arrival-in-florida","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/lakelandgazette.info\/news\/2022\/09\/27\/disney-world-and-busch-gardens-announce-closures-ahead-of-hurricane-ians-arrival-in-florida\/","title":{"rendered":"Disney World and Busch Gardens announce closures ahead of Hurricane Ian’s arrival in Florida"},"content":{"rendered":"\n
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Busch Gardens Tampa Bay\u00a0is just miles from the stretch of Florida’s Gulf Coast\u00a0where Ian\u00a0is\u00a0expected to make landfall<\/a>. It\u00a0was the first\u00a0park to shutter ahead of the storm.\u00a0LEGOLAND\u00a0Florida also will close.\u00a0Precautionary measures are underway elsewhere, including at Walt Disney World, which announced several\u00a0closures.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

“Everything revolves around the safety of our guests and team members,” Universal Orlando Resort said in a statement to USA TODAY.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Here’s how Florida’s biggest theme parks are preparing for Hurricane Ian.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Busch Gardens closes<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“To ensure the safety of our ambassadors, guests and animals as Hurricane Ian moves through Florida, Busch Gardens will be closed today, Sept. 27, through Thursday, Sept. 29,” the Tampa theme park posted on Twitter Tuesday.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The safari-inspired park houses a wide array of animals<\/a>, including penguins and giraffes.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In an email to annual pass holders, Busch Gardens said all tickets for canceled dates would be automatically extended through the end of the year. And annual pass member guest tickets expiring Sept. 30 will be extended through Oct. 16. Guests with ticket questions can email BGA.GuestInformation@seaworld.com.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

LEGOLAND Florida closing<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

LEGOLAND Florida, LEGOLAND Water Park and Peppa Pig Theme Park will be closed Wednesday and Thursday. Hotel guests with existing reservations will be allowed on the property, according to the resort’s website<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

The resort told us that any park tickets dated for Wednesday through Sunday will automatically be extended through the end of the year, and vacation stays for canceled dates may be rebooked without penalty. Details on the resort’s hurricane policy can be found at legoland.com\/hurricane<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Will Disney World close?<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Disney World has rarely closed for severe weather in its five decades of operation. All four of its main theme parks and Disney Springs are operating under normal conditions for now, but Disney World says it’s preparing to “make necessary adjustments based on the latest information from the National Weather Service.”<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n

“We continue to put the safety of our cast members and guests first and will share updates with you as we monitor Hurricane Ian,” the resort said in a special weather<\/a> section of its website.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

For now, the resort has announced that Typhoon Lagoon water park and its Winter Summerland and Fantasia Gardens miniature golf courses will close Wednesday and Thursday. Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park was already closed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Several resort accommodations also will be closed Wednesday through Friday. Guests with existing and upcoming reservations at the following locations are being contacted individually.<\/p>\n\n\n\n