Fact Check: Hurricane Milton Did Not Destroy Disney World

Claims that Hurricane Milton destroyed Walt Disney World have been determined to be false. The park sustained only minor damage and reopened shortly after the storm, despite misleading social media posts suggesting severe destruction. Fact-checks have confirmed the correctness of this information.

Recent claims asserting that Hurricane Milton has “destroyed” Walt Disney World have been debunked as false. A Facebook post, which garnered over 12,000 shares, featured a video depicting apparent destruction and flooding at the Orlando resort. However, the truth is that Disney World experienced only minor damage and was able to reopen following the storm. The park had temporarily closed at 2 p.m. on October 9, ahead of the hurricane’s landfall as a Category 3 storm. This marked only a few instances of closures in the park’s history. Despite the alarming visuals in the video, these were largely taken from unrelated sources, including a satirical website, which created a misleading impression of the actual circumstances at the theme park. Reports from reputable news outlets confirmed that Disney World and other major theme parks sustained no significant damage in the aftermath of the storm.

Hurricane Milton made landfall on October 10, 2023, prompting the closure of Disney World and other theme parks in the Orlando area as a precautionary measure. Disney World, renowned for its year-round operation, has a history of temporarily closing during extreme weather events. Nonetheless, misinformation about the extent of damage from the storm, particularly in social media, raises concerns regarding the impact of fake news on public perception. This incident highlights the critical need for verifying information disseminated through various platforms, especially concerning significant events such as hurricanes that can cause widespread panic and misinformation.

In conclusion, the assertion that Hurricane Milton destroyed Disney World is without merit. The theme park was closed for a brief duration and reopened shortly thereafter, having suffered only minor damage, contrary to the exaggerations present in social media claims. Fact-checking by various reputable organizations confirms that major damage did not occur, reinforcing the importance of critical evaluation of sensational claims made online.

Original Source: www.usatoday.com