When Orlando theme parks opened on Wednesday morning, a handful of tourists showed up — determined to enjoy even a half-day of fun before Hurricane Milton ripped through central Florida — while the employees who greeted them worried about what the storm’s wrath would do to their homes.
“It’s about to get interesting,” Dr. Craig Chavis, a chiropractor from Maryland, posted on Instagram, along with pictures of his rain-soaked family enjoying the Magic Kingdom.
“But the park was almost empty today.”
Spokespeople for Walt Disney World and Universal Studios told The Post that they monitored the weather and decided to remain open Wednesday morning and that guests were welcome to join them.
But not everyone was happy to see the undeterred guests.
Surrounding restaurants, shops and gas stations also remained open — sometimes over the objections of their employees.
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“They got their precious few hours of fun in,” said Amy Chavers, who waits tables at a family eatery near the theme parks.
“Good for them. Meanwhile, I don’t know what’s happening at home with my kids, and the rains are just getting worse. But good for them that they got to see Mickey.”
A Disney employee echoed the sentiment.
“I really didn’t want to go to work today,” said the woman, who works at one of the shops in the Magic Kingdom.
“Everyone who worked today has a home and a life outside work, and we don’t know if it’s going to be washed away. But we had to be cheerful and upbeat anyway. It’s sort of f–ked up.”
When the parks closed at 1 p.m. on Wednesday, most workers were sent home, although some essential employees stayed through the evening.
Both Disney and Universal Studios will be closed Thursday and are expected to reopen Friday after Milton passes through.
