As Hurricane Milton approaches, major last-minute preparations are being made throughout a wide area of Florida. The hurricane is anticipated to hit land on Wednesday night with significant force.

According to the National Hurricane Center, as of 3 p.m., tropical storm winds are reaching Florida’s west coast, accompanied by several tornado warnings across the state.

All major airports and theme parks in Central Florida have shut down. While some travelers are cutting their trips short or canceling their plans, others are opting to stay and weather the storm.

Here’s what travelers need to know.

Flight Cancellations Due to Hurricane Milton

There have been over 1,900 flight cancellations in the U.S. for Wednesday and more than 2,100 for Thursday, based on data from FlightAware.

Airlines such as American Airlines, Delta Air Lines, Southwest Airlines, and United Airlines are providing waivers that enable passengers traveling to or from specific Florida airports to alter their tickets without extra fees, even if they originally bought basic economy tickets. For particular travel advisories, customers should check their airline’s website.

On Monday and Tuesday, American and United Airlines also added additional flights to assist individuals evacuating the area.

Airports Closed Due to Hurricane Milton

• Daytona Beach International Airport closed at 10 a.m. on Wednesday.
• Gainesville Regional Airport will close at 9:30 p.m. on Wednesday and plans to reopen at 7:30 a.m. on Thursday.
• Lakeland Linder International Airport has closed.
• Melbourne Orlando International Airport stopped commercial flights at 2 p.m. on Wednesday and will stay closed on Thursday.
• Orlando International Airport halted operations at 8 a.m. on Wednesday.
• Orlando Sanford International Airport is now closed.
• Sarasota Bradenton International Airport is closed.
• Southwest Florida International Airport is closed on Wednesday and Thursday.
• St. Pete-Clearwater International Airport is closed, and all flights are canceled on Wednesday and Thursday.
• Tampa International Airport has also closed.

These airports will resume operations when conditions are deemed safe.

For more information, see below.

Which Florida Airports Remain Open?

Currently, Fort Lauderdale-Hollywood International Airport, Jacksonville International Airport, Key West International Airport, Miami International Airport, Northwest Florida Beaches International Airport, and Palm Beach International Airport are still operational but are closely monitoring the hurricane’s progress. Some flights at these airports have been canceled.

Travelers are encouraged to stay updated with their airline and take advantage of flexible change policies if travel is not necessary.

In the event of a flight cancellation for any reason, passengers are entitled to a refund as per Department of Transportation regulations.

Are Walt Disney World and its Parks Operating?

Walt Disney World Resort’s theme parks and Disney Springs are currently closed and will not reopen until Thursday. Transportation services at Disney resorts have also been suspended. Minnie Van and Mears taxi services are further restricted.

Visitors can find the latest updates on Disney World’s official site.

Disney’s Typhoon Lagoon water park and mini-golf venues are closed on Wednesday, while Disney’s Blizzard Beach water park was already shut down for the season. No events are scheduled at the ESPN Wide World of Sports until the weekend.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, the Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa started closing late Wednesday morning and are expected to remain closed until Sunday, according to statements from the resort.

If the National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane warning for Orlando or for where guests live within a week of their planned arrival, guests may cancel or alter vacation packages or hotel bookings made through the Walt Disney Travel Company without facing penalties. Any unused tickets will keep their value, and guests have the option to change ticket dates for future use.

For further updates, see below.

Are Universal Orlando Parks Open?

Universal Studios Florida, Universal Islands of Adventure, and Universal CityWalk are now closed and will continue to be shut on Thursday, as stated on the park’s website.

Universal Volcano Bay Water Park is closed on Wednesday and Thursday. Halloween Horror Nights are canceled on these two days but should resume on Friday, depending on the storm’s impact.

Hotels within Universal Orlando are still fully operational.

When the National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane or tropical storm warning for the Orlando area or for where a guest lives within seven days of their trip, guests may cancel or change their vacation packages, hotel bookings, or park tickets purchased directly through Universal without any penalties.

Is Busch Gardens Tampa Bay Operating?

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday, as reported by its parent company United Parks & Resorts. The park was already closed on Tuesday. Tickets that have specific dates are automatically valid for any day until the end of the year.

Howl-O-Scream is called off for Thursday, but bought tickets can be redeemed for any other Howl-O-Scream event this season.

Adventure Island, the sister water park of Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, was already set to be closed through Thursday as per its operational schedule.

Visitors should keep an eye on the United Parks & Resorts website and their social media pages for information about reopening and any updates.

Is SeaWorld Orlando currently open?

SeaWorld Orlando, along with Aquatica Orlando, will be closed on Wednesday and Thursday. Tickets valid for these dates can be used any day through the end of the year.

Discovery Cove Orlando, another park in the family, has implemented its storm policy on Wednesday and Thursday, allowing guests to reschedule their visits.

All three parks fall under United Parks & Resorts, so it’s advisable for guests to check the company’s website and social media for updates related to the storm.

Moreover, Busch Gardens and SeaWorld have a Weather-or-Not Assurance policy, ensuring that park tickets retain their value in the event of adverse weather, enabling guests to visit again later.

Is LEGOLAND Florida currently open?

LEGOLAND Florida Resort is also closed on Wednesday and Thursday, while their hotels are operating at a reduced capacity, as per their website. Visitors are encouraged to visit LEGOLAND Florida’s website and social media for the latest updates.

Should the National Hurricane Center issue a tropical storm or hurricane warning for Central Florida within a week of their planned visit, guests can cancel or change their bookings without any penalty. Additionally, LEGOLAND Florida has a Rainy Day Promise, allowing guests to redeem their tickets for another visit within a year if the park closes due to bad weather.

LEGOLAND Florida Resort includes LEGOLAND Florida, LEGOLAND Florida Water Park, Peppa Pig Theme Park, and multiple resort hotels.

What is the effect of Hurricane Milton on cruises?

▶ Several itineraries from Royal Caribbean International have been affected, with the company notifying all impacted guests directly. If passengers are uncertain whether their cruise is affected, they are advised to check with the cruise line.

▶ Celebrity Cruises altered the Celebrity Reflection’s schedule, replacing a stop in Key West with Nassau on Tuesday.

▶ Carnival Cruise Line’s Carnival Pride adjusted its three-day Bermuda visit, moving it up by one day. It departed from Baltimore, Maryland, on Sunday. Carnival Paradise, departing from Tampa on Sunday, will stop in Costa Maya instead of Cozumel, while Carnival Valor, which left New Orleans on Saturday, will substitute a stop in Cozumel with an extra sea day.

▶ Disney Cruise Line has canceled the October 11 sailing of Disney Wish due to the expected weather conditions. Disney Magic will now visit Disney Lookout Cay at Lighthouse Point a day earlier on Wednesday and will spend Thursday at sea. This ship, which left Fort Lauderdale on Monday, will also stop in Nassau on Friday instead of Wednesday.

▶ The Margaritaville at Sea Islander has departed from Tampa on Monday instead of Tuesday, and its itinerary will be adjusted. Further information regarding these changes will be provided as they are confirmed, according to the cruise line’s website.

▶ MSC Cruises has modified MSC Magnifica’s Monday cruise from Miami, now visiting Puerto Plata on Wednesday and missing its planned stops at Ocean Cay MSC Marine Reserve in the Bahamas on Tuesday and Nassau on Thursday. MSC Seashore is expected to return on Friday, one day later than originally scheduled. MSC Seascape has replaced its stop in George Town on Tuesday with a sea day due to the port’s closure, and its new itinerary includes visiting Roatán on Wednesday instead of Cozumel; Cozumel on Thursday instead of a sea day; and a sea day on Friday instead of visiting Ocean Cay, returning to Port Miami as planned on Saturday.

▶ Virgin Voyages’ Valiant Lady will modify Wednesday’s sea day to include a stop in Cozumel. The ship, which left from Miami on Sunday, will skip its planned stop in Bimini, Bahamas, on Thursday and spend the day at sea instead.

What is Hurricane Milton’s impact on hotels?

▶ Expedia and Hotels.com have released travel waivers for Wednesday for travelers whose plans have been affected by the storm, according to a press release from their parent company, Expedia Group. Customers whose bookings are disrupted by Hurricane Milton can visit the Customer Service Portals for assistance with adjusting their travel plans. Access Expedia’s Customer Service Portal here, and Hotels.com’s Customer Service Portal here.

▶ The vacation rental platform Vrbo has activated its Extenuating Circumstances Policy on Wednesday for certain areas in Florida. Affected travelers will be notified. This policy requires hosts to offer full refunds for impacted reservations or partial refunds for any unused portions of trips already in progress. For reservations in non-eligible areas, the host’s standard cancellation policy applies, and travelers should contact the host directly through the app or website.

▶ Airbnb has activated its Major Disruptive Events Policy starting now through Thursday for areas in Florida currently under government travel restrictions due to the storm. Travelers can determine if their stay or experience qualifies by checking the My Trips page in the Airbnb app or website. Under this policy, hosts can cancel reservations without penalty, allowing customers to receive a full refund if their trip hasn’t started yet; otherwise, a partial refund is available.