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Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld will all close ahead of Milton

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Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld will all close ahead of Milton
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Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld will all close ahead of Milton

2024-10-09 05:15 Last Updated At:05:20

ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Orlando’s tourism machine began grinding to a halt Tuesday with at least three major theme parks and the main airport announcing closures ahead of Hurricane Milton ’s expected hit as a major storm in Florida.

Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld will close their theme parks and respective entertainment facilities on Wednesday, with the latter two also closed on Thursday and Disney likely to remain closed.

Universal also canceled Halloween Horror Nights scheduled for both days.

The theme parks join Orlando International Airport, which said it would cease operations Wednesday morning. The airport is the nation’s seventh busiest and Florida’s most trafficked.

Disney World had said earlier in the day that it was open and planned only to close its campgrounds and rental cabins ahead of the storm.

The only indication at Disney Springs that a hurricane was coming had been the closure of a hot air balloon ride. “Closed due to hurricane,” an electronic sign read. “Stay safe.”

All the other stores and restaurants in the outdoor shopping, dining and entertainment complex inside the resort were open and doing brisk business.

Milton, which is expected to come ashore Wednesday, threatened to ruin the vacations of tens of thousands of tourists at Disney World.

Nicole and Zeb Downs arrived on Monday after a 21-hour drive from Arkansas, expecting a 12-day Florida vacation with their three young sons. By Tuesday afternoon, they were contemplating packing up their car and heading back.

“We are disappointed but it’s kind of out of our hands at this point,” said Zeb Downs as he strolled with his family along a still-bustling Disney Springs shopping and restaurant district at the park resort.

Neither of them had experienced a hurricane before and weren’t sure they wanted to try it.

The Orlando area is the most visited destination in the United States due to Disney World, Universal Orlando Resort and other theme parks, attracting 74 million tourists last year alone.

October is also among the busier times for theme parks because of Halloween-related celebrations, which have become major money generators over the past couple decades. Universal Orlando hosts “Halloween Horror Nights,” with ghoulish haunted houses based on slasher films and other pop culture horror, and Disney has its tamer “Mickey's Not-So-Scary Halloween Party.”

While Disney rarely shuts its doors — save for dangerous hurricanes in recent years, the COVID-19 pandemic and the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks — its hotels are often havens for coastal residents fleeing impending storms. A check of Disney World’s online reservation system on Tuesday morning showed no vacancies.

Those lucky enough to get a hotel reservation have gotten unexpected treats during past storms. During Hurricane Irma in 2017, guests at a hotel on Disney property found themselves stranded with actor Kristen Bell, who voiced the role of Anna in the beloved Disney film “Frozen.” While in Orlando, the actor found time to sing songs for evacuees at a nearby hurricane shelter.

Once a hurricane passes, the theme parks try to return operations to normal as quickly as possible. After Hurricane Charley charted a devastating path through Orlando in 2004, Disney World had utility vehicles picking up downed tree limbs and clearing roads on its property within an hour in the pitch-dark night.

Follow Mike Schneider on the social platform X: @MikeSchneiderAP.

Tourists at Icon Park walk by the Orlando Eye ferris wheel that was closed as Hurricane Milton threatened Florida, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Tourists at Icon Park walk by the Orlando Eye ferris wheel that was closed as Hurricane Milton threatened Florida, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Orlando, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Calm weather greets tourists strolling past the various shops at the Disney Springs entertainment complex as Hurricane Milton threatens Florida, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Calm weather greets tourists strolling past the various shops at the Disney Springs entertainment complex as Hurricane Milton threatens Florida, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Calm weather greets tourists strolling past the various shops at the Disney Springs entertainment complex as Hurricane Milton threatens Florida, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

Calm weather greets tourists strolling past the various shops at the Disney Springs entertainment complex as Hurricane Milton threatens Florida, Tuesday, Oct. 8, 2024, in Lake Buena Vista, Fla. (AP Photo/John Raoux)

FILE - Guests at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World brave wind and rain as bands of weather from Hurricane Debby pass through Central Florida, Aug. 5, 2024, in Bay Lake, Fla. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP, file)

FILE - Guests at the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World brave wind and rain as bands of weather from Hurricane Debby pass through Central Florida, Aug. 5, 2024, in Bay Lake, Fla. (Joe Burbank/Orlando Sentinel via AP, file)

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Blues D Philip Broberg leaves game against Maple Leafs with lower body injury

2024-11-03 08:48 Last Updated At:08:50

ST. LOUIS (AP) — Blues defenseman Philip Broberg left Saturday night's game against the Toronto Maple Leafs with a lower body injury in the second period.

Broberg collided with Maple leafs forward Mitch Marner in a battle for the puck 8:08 into the period. Marner landed on Broberg's right leg, and Broberg was unable to put much weight on his leg as he was helped off the ice into the Blues locker room.

The team announced later in the period that Broberg would not return to the game.

Broberg was signed as a restricted free agent this offseason to a two-year, $9.16 million contract, costing St. Louis a 2025 second-round draft pick after Edmonton declined to match the Blues' offer sheet.

Broberg was tied with Jordan Kyrou for the team lead with nine points (two goals, seven assists) in 11 games entering play.

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Toronto Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner (15) controls the puck as St. Louis Blues' Philip Broberg (6) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Connor Hamilton)

Toronto Maple Leafs' Mitch Marner (15) controls the puck as St. Louis Blues' Philip Broberg (6) defends during the first period of an NHL hockey game Saturday, Nov. 2, 2024, in St. Louis. (AP Photo/Connor Hamilton)

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