Disney World, Universal reopen today in phases
Disney World and Universal Orlando will reopen their resorts in “phased approaches” starting Friday after Hurricane Ian closed both Wednesday and Thursday.
Disney, the first to announce its reopening plan around 2:45 p.m. Thursday, also unveiled its Friday reopening times. At Magic Kingdom, early entry time is at 8 a.m. with general admission at 10 a.m. Early opening time at Epcot is at 9 a.m. with the park opening to all guests at 11 a.m. Early entry times at Hollywood Studios and Animal Kingdom are at 10 a.m. and 11 a.m., respectively, with general admission open two hours later.
Disney Springs will be open from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m.
“We thank our first responders and community leaders for their courageous efforts in preparing for and managing the storm’s impact. To our cast members in Florida and in South Carolina, thank you for selflessly taking care of our guests,” Disney said in a statement.
Universal Orlando declared its intent to reopen just before 7 p.m. Thursday, after spokespeople said that afternoon the resort was undergoing detailed inspections to assess storm damage.
Universal will only open to hotel guests at first, according to the resort. Further details were not immediately available Thursday night.
Universal began recalling employees to work that night, according to its employee website. Before publicly announcing the phased reopening Thursday, Universal told employees scheduled for Friday they should be prepared to return to work.
It was unclear what damage either resort may have sustained in the storm.
Photos from Universal show a hole torn in paneling on the side of the building for Jurassic Park River Adventure at the Islands of Adventure theme park, but Universal spokespeople have not commented on that.
Areas near Universal appeared to experience major flooding Thursday morning as Ian struck the region.
Video taken by Spectrum News 13 reporter Jeff Allen showed standing water several feet deep at the DoubleTree by Hilton hotel near the entrance to the resort.
Footage posted to Twitter by Spectrum reporter Jerry Hume showed the westbound lanes of I-4 Express flooding at Kirkman Road near Universal at about 7:45 a.m.
SeaWorld Orlando, including its Aquatica and Discovery Cove parks, will remain closed Friday with plans to reopen Saturday.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, which is also operated by SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment, will also remain closed Friday.
Visitors with tickets to the SeaWorld-owned theme parks during the closure dates can use them through Dec. 31.
Those with tickets for SeaWorld or Busch Gardens’ Howl-O-Scream Halloween events will be allowed to visit on another date through Oct. 31.
Passholders whose passes were scheduled to expire Sept. 30 and Oct. 2 can now visit through Oct. 16.
Legoland Florida in Winter Haven said it would remain closed through Friday. The resort will allow guests with tickets dated Wednesday, Sept. 28 through Sunday, Oct. 2 to redeem the tickets on another date through the end of the year.
krice@orlandosentinel.com and @katievrice on Twitter