Disney World has officially reopened but the park isn’t exactly looking like the ‘most happiest place on earth’.
Just days after Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc on Florida, the amusement park reopened its doors after shutting down completely on Sunday ahead of the storm.
The park’s closure marked the sixth time that Disney World has eve closed down in its 45-year history.
Walt Disney World, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios started operating under normal hours on Tuesday. But photos posted to social media show a very empty Disney World following its brief closure.
Disney World has officially reopened but the park isn’t exactly looking the ‘most happiest place on earth’. The walkway to Cinderalla’s Castle was completely empty just a day after the park reopened
Just days after Hurricane Irma wreaked havoc on Florida, the amusement park reopened its doors after shutting down completely on Sunday ahead of the storm. The entrance to the Magic Kingdom on Sunday
The park’s closure marked the sixth time that Disney World has eve closed down in its 45-year history. Walt Disney World, Epcot, Animal Kingdom and Disney’s Hollywood Studios started operating under normal hours on Tuesday. Pictured is the entrance to Sea World of Orlando on Sunday
According to the park’s statement ‘there may be modifications to some attractions and entertainment offerings’.
The water parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, remain closed for now, but are expected to reopen later this week.
Several tourist destinations in Florida and the Caribbean affected by Irma and other storms remain off-limits to visitors, in some cases with extensive damage or power outages that will take days if not weeks to resolve.
Irma was at one point the most powerful recorded storm in the open Atlantic and its hit on the tourism industry will be significant, although an exact figure is still unclear.
Tourism accounts for 1.4 million jobs in the Sunshine State, where more than 112 million people visited last year and spent $109 billion.
More than 7 million Americans visited the Caribbean last year, trailing only Europe as a top destination, according to the US Commerce Department.
AIR Worldwide estimates that Irma’s damage to insured property in the US will range between $20 billion and $40 billion, with damage in the Caribbean between $5 billion and $15 billion.
Other estimates go higher, and that only accounts for damage covered by private insurance.
According to the park’s statement ‘there may be modifications to some attractions and entertainment offerings’. The water parks, Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon, remain closed for now, but are expected to reopen later this week. One of the street lights next to Doubloon Lagoon (pictured) was blown down, damaging the railings
The storm knocked down trees at Port Orleans Riverside, one of which crashed into the roof of Parterre Place
On Monday, Cafe Fantasia tweeted this photo at 7.00am showing the damage from Port Orleans French Quarter
The Universal Orlando Resort reported ‘relatively minor damage’ to fences, trees, signs and facades as its theme parks reopened Tuesday.
Its popular Halloween Horror Nights event will go on as scheduled Friday.
The Dali Museum’s massive geodesic glass bubble, known as the Glass Enigma, ‘is fine,’ but its ‘Wish Tree,’ where visitors tie wishes written on their admission wristbands, was felled in the storm.
Museum spokeswoman Kathy Greif said the museum hopes to restore the tree.
Florida Keys tourism spokesman Andy Newman said travelers should postpone trips there until ‘the destination is ready to receive visitors’.
He said Key West’s famous ’90 Miles to Cuba’ marker is solid concrete and ‘ain’t going nowhere’ but cleanup and restoring utilities, communications and other services will take time.
The cafe also tweeted this photo showing a downed lamp post that damaged the railings at Doubloon Lagoon
The Universal Orlando Resort reported ‘relatively minor damage’ to fences, trees, signs and facades as its theme parks reopened Tuesday. A user posted this photo on Twitter with the caption: ‘Caribbean Beach is looking a little flooded and broken’
Florida Keys tourism spokesman Andy Newman said travelers should postpone trips there until ‘the destination is ready to receive visitors’. Pictured is a downed sign at the Caribbean Beach at Disney