MIAMI — Ian is crossing the state Thursday, making its way through Central Florida before exiting through the east coast.
Walt Disney World and other Orlando-area theme parks and attractions shut down in anticipation of the storm.
What can Central Florida expect from now Tropical Storm Ian?
Not anything like the onslaught of Southwest Florida, which came face to face with a Category 4 monster and walls of water. But even tropical storms can do damage with wind and flooding, so Central Florida is bracing for Ian.
Can the Magic Kingdom and its landmark Cinderella’s Castle withstand a storm?
Disney World shut down for Category 2 Hurricane Irma five years ago, one of only a handful of times the park has closed since its 1971 opening, and had minimal damage. And those familiar with the castle say it was built to withstand a moderate hurricane of about 100 mph, according to multiple reports through the years. Tropical Storm Ian won’t be that when it passes by sometime Wednesday.
Disney Imagineers have thought about storms when building at the theme parks. Recently, for the 50th anniversary celebration of Walt Disney World, workers used hurricane-proof decor on the castle, according to Inside the Magic.
One thing Disney World is not doing: disassembling the castle in advance of a storm. Through the years, rumors have circulated on social media about that prep plan, but it has been determined false.
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