Walt Disney World announced it will close its gates 5:00 p.m. Thursday and remain closed through Friday, Oct. 7 thanks to Hurricane Matthew.
The company's official website posted the announcement, which marks only the fifth time the resort's theme parks will be closed since the resort opened on October 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 have also decided to close until Hurricane Matthew passes, according to the Orlando Sentinel.
