Job search
Job Search
Latest news
More news: (showing 1 - 20 of 13746)           
UK only International

Florida attractions bunker down as Hurricane Irma passes through the state

By Tom Anstey    11 Sep 2017
Orlando's I-Drive 360 will remain closed until further notice / TNS/SIPA USA/PA Images

Major visitor attractions across Florida have been forced to close their doors as Hurricane Irma makes its way up the US state.

Irma – now downgraded from a category three to one after causing chaos in the Caribbean – still has maximum sustained winds of 75mph (120kmph).

So far more than 3.4 million homes in the state are without power, while parts of Miami are underwater. At least four deaths have been linked directly to the storm since it hit Florida, with at least 28 deaths also in the Caribbean. US President Donald Trump has already approved a major disaster declaration and emergency federal aid for the state.

While physical damages at Florida’s attractions are uncertain, the hurricane is reported to cost tens of millions of dollars in lost revenues, both in walk up attendance and cancelled bookings from visiting tourists overseas and out of state.

Disney’s four theme parks in Orlando – Hollywood Studios, Animal Kingdom, Epcot and Magic Kingdom – all closed their doors on Saturday evening (9 September), with the parks expected to remain closed until tomorrow (12 September). The operator has also closed its Typhoon Lagoon and Blizzard Beach waterparks.

Legoland Florida is also shut, with guests staying at its beach retreat moved instead to the Legoland Hotel for the duration of the storm. The operator has however encouraged guests to seek alternative accommodation as it could not “guarantee resort amenities or access to electricity during severe weather.”

Other Merlin attractions on Orlando’s I-Drive are closed, with the Orlando Eye, Madame Tussauds and SeaLife aquarium all closed through the weekend. The entire I-Drive 360 complex closed on Saturday, with a reopening date not currently set.

For Universal, events to be held at its parks over the weekend were cancelled. It closed its attractions on Saturday evening, with a statement from the operator saying it anticipated normal operating hours from Tuesday. Universal’s hotels – all operating at full capacity – have remained open.

For SeaWorld Orlando, which also closed on Saturday, the operator said that it had a “comprehensive weather preparedness plan”, keeping security and zoological staff on-site in secure locations during the storm to take care of the park’s animals.

“We’re also providing support and temporary housing for animals from other zoological facilities in coastal areas expected to have greater impact,” said a statement from the operator.

Orlando's I-Drive 360 will remain closed until further notice / TNS/SIPA USA/PA Images
Hurricane Irma  theme parks  visitor attractions  Disney  SeaWorld  Merlin  Legoland  Miami  Orlando 
Sign up for FREE ezines
Related news
Sports jobs

Swimming Teacher (Saturdays)

New Hall School
Salary: £3,768pa (for 5hrs term-time saturdays)
Location: Boreham, Chelmsford, UK

Recreation Assistant

Everyone Active
Salary: Competitive salary
Location: Romford

Commercial Fitness Manager

Warrington Borough Council
Salary: £46,464 - £49,497pa + excellent benefits package
Location: Warrington, UK

Exercise Referral Co-ordinator

Everyone Active
Salary: £Excellent salary + benefits
Location: Horfield, Bristol, UK

Assistant Regional Director

Parkwood Leisure
Salary: £60,000pa +10% bonus + company car + benefits
Location: London, UK

Sport Centre Team Leader

Harrow School
Salary: £29,500pa + pension + benefits
Location: Harrow, UK

Team Leader BSV

Everyone Active
Salary: £26,175.00
Location: Basildon

Lifeguard/Recreation Assistant

Everyone Active
Salary: £23,856
Location: Basildon

Casual Swim Teacher

Everyone Active
Salary: £18.50 per hour
Location: Basildon
recruiting with sports management

Team Leader

Everyone Active
Salary: £25,925.00
Location: Brentwood

Lifeguard/Recreation Assistant

Everyone Active
Salary: £23,856
Location: Brentwood

Leisure Centre Deputy Manager

Colfe's School
Salary: £Competitive + pension + benefits
Location: Blackheath, London, UK

Duty Manager

Everyone Active
Salary: Competitive
Location: Middlesbrough

Duty Manager Golf and Athletics

Active Luton
Salary: £30,027pa + non-contrib pension + benefits
Location: Stockwood Park Golf Club, London Road, Luton, UK

Centre Manager (Leisure)

Exeter City Council
Salary: £40,221 - £42,403pa + pension + benefits
Location: Exeter, UK

Fitness Motivator

Everyone Active
Salary: Competitive
Location: Lutterworth
recruiting with sports management

Recreation Assistant/Lifeguard (NPLQ required)

Everyone Active
Salary: 9.50 ph
Location: Lutterworth

Recreation Assistant

Everyone Active
Salary: Competitive salary
Location: Wigston

Swimming Teacher

Everyone Active
Salary: Competitive rates of pay
Location: Rickmansworth, UK

Swimming Teacher

Everyone Active
Salary: Competitive rates of pay
Location: Watford, UK
Swimming Teacher jobs  duty manager jobs  Team Leader jobs  Swim Manager jobs  general manager jobs  recreation assistant jobs 
More jobs

Company profile

Company profile: Taylor Made Designs
Taylor Made Designs (TMD) is a ‘leisure specialist’ provider of bespoke leisure workwear, plus branded retail and promotional merchandise.
View full profile >
More company profiles

Featured Supplier

Group exercise complaints now a thing of the past for Reynolds Group
Complaints about group exercise have become a thing of the past for the Reynolds Group thanks to its partnership with CoverMe, a digital platform that simplifies group exercise and PT management for clubs and instructors.
View full details >
More featured suppliers

Property & Tenders

Location: Loughton, IG10
Company: Knight Frank
Location: Grantham, Leicestershire
Company: Belvoir Castle
Location: Verwood, Dorset
Company: AVISON YOUNG
Location: Hall Place House, Bexley, DA5 1PQ
Company: London Borough of Bexley
Location: 15 Concessions across the nation's forests
Company: Forestry England
More properties & tenders

Diary dates

23-24 May 2024
Large Hall of the Chamber of Commerce (Erbprinzenpalais), Wiesbaden, Germany
30 May - 02 Jun 2024
Rimini Exhibition Center, Rimini, Italy
08-08 Jun 2024
Worldwide, Various
11-13 Jun 2024
Raffles City Convention Centre, Singapore, Singapore
More diary dates