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Disney World, closed due to Hurricane Matthew, will reopen Saturday

Closure is theme parks' first since 2004
Disney World, closed due to Hurricane Matthew, will reopen Saturday
Posted at 2:07 PM, Oct 06, 2016
and last updated 2016-10-07 14:24:02-04

Walt Disney World announced its four theme parks that closed due to Hurricane Matthew will reopen to the public at 8 a.m. Saturday.

The closures Thursday and Friday mark only the fifth time the resort's theme parks closed since the resort opened on Oct. 1, 1971.

Three of the four previous closures were hurricane weather related:

  • Sept. 15, 1999: Hurricane Floyd
  • Sept. 11, 2001: The theme parks closed following the 9/11 terrorist attacks. 
  • Sept. 4-5, 2004: Hurricane Frances
  • Sept. 25, 2004: Hurricane Jeanne

Disney officials began relocating guests staying at a number of their hotels on Wednesday, including Fort Wilderness, the Treehouse Villas at Saratoga Springs and Disney's Polynesian Resort Bungalows. 

Other Orlando-area theme parks, including Universal Studios, SeaWorld Orlando and Legoland closed for hurricane weather.