Disney World closes down for only the FOURTH time in its 45-year history as Hurricane Matthew makes landfall

  • Walt Disney World has shut down for the fourth time since it opened in 1971
  • The theme park closed its doors as Hurricane Matthew approached state
  • Closed three times before for hurricanes and was evacuated on 9/11
  • Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando have also closed for hurricane
  • All parks and their other entities in Orlando will be closed through Friday
  • Walt Disney World will reopen on Saturday, the park said on its Twitter 

Walt Disney World has shuttered up for the fourth time in its history as Hurricane Matthew bears down on the Sunshine State. 

As the storm approached Florida on Thursday night, the park and several of its entities in Orlando also shut their doors. 

Since the park opened in 1971 it has only closed three other times - all for hurricanes.

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Tragic kingdom: Walt Disney World was a total ghost town on Friday afternoon after it closed for only the fourth time in history - the previous three occasions had all been for hurricanes

Tragic kingdom: Walt Disney World was a total ghost town on Friday afternoon after it closed for only the fourth time in history - the previous three occasions had all been for hurricanes

Free parking? The car park near Disney's Epcot Center was completely empty; the park is planning to reopen on Saturday

Free parking? The car park near Disney's Epcot Center was completely empty; the park is planning to reopen on Saturday

Walt Disney World in Orlando (pictured on Thursday with Matthew closing in) has closed

Walt Disney World in Orlando (pictured on Thursday with Matthew closing in) has closed

Disney closed down in September 1999 for Hurricane Floyd, for Hurricane Frances in September 2004 and again in September 2004 for Hurricane Jeanne, according to CNBC

The park was also evacuated within 30 minutes on 9/11 but was not shut down prior. 

The eye of the storm was predicted to be nearing Orlando as of 11am on Friday. 

But by Friday evening, the park announced it would re-open on Saturday along with all of its other Orlando properties. 

'On Oct. 8, all Walt Disney World Theme Parks will open at 8am. Disney Springs, Water Parks and Miniature Golf will open at 10am,' the park said in a Tweet.

Didn't want to visit the park anyway: Another tweet from the same user shows lots of bored looking people stuck indoors at the Wilderness Lodge as they wait for the hurricane to blow over

Didn't want to visit the park anyway: Another tweet from the same user shows lots of bored looking people stuck indoors at the Wilderness Lodge as they wait for the hurricane to blow over

Fort Wilderness Campground (pictured on Friday), the Polynesian Bungalows, and the Saratoga Springs Treehouse Villas were all evacuated as Hurricane Matthew neared

Fort Wilderness Campground (pictured on Friday), the Polynesian Bungalows, and the Saratoga Springs Treehouse Villas were all evacuated as Hurricane Matthew neared

Few people braved the rain on Thursday evening inside the Magic Kingdom as the park prepared to close

Few people braved the rain on Thursday evening inside the Magic Kingdom as the park prepared to close

Ominous, overcast skies hovered about the Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World in Orlando on Thursday afternoon as the storm approached 

Ominous, overcast skies hovered about the Wilderness Lodge at Walt Disney World in Orlando on Thursday afternoon as the storm approached 

However, despite the dire circumstances, some people found humor in the parks closing

However, despite the dire circumstances, some people found humor in the parks closing

'Based on the most recent forecasts for Hurricane Matthew, Walt Disney World theme parks, water parks, Disney Springs, miniature golf courses and ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex will all be closed today by 5pm, and will remain closed through Friday, October 7,' a spokeswoman for Walt Disney World told CNBC. 

Guests were also evacuated from several resorts. 

Fort Wilderness Campground, the Polynesian Bungalows, and the Saratoga Springs Treehouse Villas were all evacuated as Hurricane Matthew neared.  

The resorts were communicating to their guests what they would need to know to prepare and stay safe during the storm, USA Today reported.   

Universal Studios and SeaWorld Orlando also closed their doors as the 'monster' hurricane approached 

Universal Studios and SeaWorld Orlando also closed their doors as the 'monster' hurricane approached 

Universal Studios Florida, Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal Citywalk would close at 5pm on Thursday and remain closed on Friday

Universal Studios Florida, Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal Citywalk would close at 5pm on Thursday and remain closed on Friday

Universal Orlando and SeaWorld also followed Disney's lead and shut down for the evening on Thursday into Friday.   

Alyson Lundell, the director of public relations for Universal Orlando, said in a statement that Universal Studios Florida, Universal's Islands of Adventure and Universal Citywalk would close at 5pm on Thursday and remain closed on Friday.

Earlier Thursday, SeaWorld announced on its website that the park would close at 2pm and remain closed on Friday.  

Disney closed down in September 1990 for Hurricane Floyd, September 2004 for Hurricane Frances and again in September  2004, for Hurricane Jeanne,

Disney closed down in September 1990 for Hurricane Floyd, September 2004 for Hurricane Frances and again in September 2004, for Hurricane Jeanne,

No decision has been made on whether the park will re-open on Saturday or if the guests will be moved back to the resorts 

No decision has been made on whether the park will re-open on Saturday or if the guests will be moved back to the resorts 

 

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