ORLANDO, Fla. -- Florida's major theme parks were either closed or planned to shutdown early Friday as Hurricane Charley approached in the first weather-related closings for the parks in five years.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, the major park closest to the path of Hurricane Charley, didn't open Friday and workers were posted outside to turn guests away.

Most of the park's animals were being placed in secure night quarters, although some animals, such as giraffes and antelopes, would be allowed to stay on a 65-acre plot that is part of the park's Serengeti Plain attraction, said park spokesman Gerard Hoeppner.

"If they elect to come in the barn, the gates will be open," Hoeppner said. "A lot of times in severe weather they like to stay out there because the terrain replicates what you will find in the wild."

Park workers secured furniture, awnings and trash cans since the park was expected to be anywhere from 15 to 70 miles from the hurricane.

In Orlando, about 80 miles inland from Tampa Bay, Walt Disney World, Universal Orlando and SeaWorld Orlando planned to close in the early afternoon to allow employees and visitors enough time to get home before fierce weather struck. Disney's Animal Kingdom and water parks didn't open at all.

"We've been advised to make sure people stay off the roads," said Disney spokeswoman Jacquee Polak.

The last time the parks closed because of the weather was in 1999 during Hurricane Floyd, although the parks closed immediately after the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks.

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