The storms heading for Florida

[themurrayfamily]

I'm starting to get very worried about this, we are due to arrive Saturday evening and I am starting to fear the worst, I know we'll be devastated if we arrive there and the villa is in a mess if the services are gone etc, etc, where would I stand cancelling? would I be covered with my insurance?

Regards

themurrayfamily

[UKDEB]

I don't think these storms normally affect the Orlando area too much. I think Charley is due to pass over Central Florida, but it will come and go pretty quickly and it could miss Orlando altogether.

[T16GEM]

I wouldn't worry too much about it, the storms don't usually affect Orlando. You will be fine, we have been when there have been severe hurricane warnings on and people are having parties on the beach to celebrate them!!:teeth:

[themurrayfamily]

Thanks for the reassurance! I can't tell you how much that means, I think the first one is due to hit the west cost of Florida then up the east cost of America, I'll keep an eye on what's happening...

Probably panicing over nothing :teeth:

[UKDEB]

Here's (http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=623653) a link to a post over on the UK Community Board from a Central Florida resident.

[sadeeyore]

Hi themurrayfamily:wave: ,
Doesn't sound like the weather is too good does it:( ? Not sure how long it is likely to last. I think I'm going to start panicing now::yes:: ;) .
Helen:wave2:

[themurrayfamily]

Thanks for the link, I hope it's nothing to bad, guess the next 24 hours will tell :rolleyes:

[vernon]

I wouldn't fancy being on the coast, but by the time any storms reach the Orlando area they have lost much of their force. Still means they can deposit A SHED LOAD of rain in the area, but the "danger" area tends to be the coast where storm surges can cause havoc.

Looks like Charley will come in from the Gulf coast side ( as opposed to the Atlantic) , I think the Atlantic ones tend to be the more destructive. I've been in Orlando when one of these storms hit, we just avoided driving when the strong winds were in the area and watched the rain for the day. It washed out a day, but it certainly didn't ruin the holiday, maybe head for DQ on the day it's scheduled.

Anyway it's always good bragging rights to say you were in Florida when a hurricane hit, I've dined/drunk out for years onthe story :cool: . Put it down to one of life's experiences, at leadst you'll have an understanding of what the weatherperson is going through when they are reporting the stories on TV :D

[WDWfan,uk]

You may encounter some storms in the aftermath of Charley and Bonnie but hopefully they should soon subside and the clear away.

I have been following events on www.weather.com as they give regular updates and it looks like Bonnie is about to come in to land this morning (Thurs) in the Panhandle area, so should be out of the way by the time you get there.

Charley is building up in the Caribbean and may get to the Keys on Friday but you know, these things can change course. I hope 'he' does as we have family on Fl east coast. We are probably more worried than they are when I last spoke to them! Hopefully further up the coast and around the Orlando area, you will only get the 'side'effects' such as rain showers or a storm.

[xsred]

We are heading there for Saturday night too, I gather the worst of it will have passed by then, but my concern is the airline rather that the villa, wondering if it will cause flight delays or much turbulance on the trip?? But we just have to go with the flow I guess!! Whatever will be and all that!!

[Netty]

Usuallly the airline will fly around it.
This happened to us last year when the mega one hit the usa, not sure of the name isobel??
We flew above it and the pilot said for us to look out of the window to see it.
But by saturday it would of passed over florida so i wouldnt worry
My sil is there at mo, and isnt worried at all :)
Jeanette:wave:

[themurrayfamily]

Thanks Guy's!

For putting our minds at rest, back to packing now :teeth: I'll keep an eye on weather.com...

Regards

themurrayfamily

[currycook]

Here is the latest as I am keeping a close eye on Hurricane Charlie since I live on the west coast of Florida.

Here on the West coast of Florida it should hit us as a cat-2 on Friday evening. Its a fast moving storm which is good news for us. Bad news is it upgraded from a category 1 to a cat 2 and perhaps will hit cat 3. (Hurricanes are rated on a 1 to 5 scale, 1 being low 5 being high. You almost never see a 5. If you do then just pack your car and go fast). Wind is suppose to be at 100 miles an hour. Tampa Bay area is trying to evacauate 380,000 people. Everything is closing down here on Friday. I went to Walmart today to stock up on various items and everything was already gone. They are getting emergency trucks bringing more supplies in. Same is said of Home Depot as people are buying all the needed supplies. Most likely problem for us is we will be out of power for a few days as I live 15 miles off the coast. But for the folks living on the ocean itself they need to evacuate becuase of tide surge and flooding.

If you have reservations at Disney DO NOT CANCEL THEM. Orlando will be full with lots of people from the west coast of Florida going to Orlando to escape the hurrican. If you remember Floyd which was a cat 4 or 5 several years ago it was the only time ever that every hotel and motel room in Orland was taken. And Orlando has the most hotel rooms of any city in the USA except for LasVagas. I think Floyd was the only time Disney ever closed and then the Hurrican decided to move and stayed out in the Atlantic ocean.

Orlando should be fine. I think all Orlando will see will be rain, not sure how much. Could be a little but also could be LOTS!

This hurrican seems to be a fast mover and by Sunday it should be up north bothering those folks. :D

[horsemouth]

we have been when there have been severe hurricane warnings on and people are having parties on the beach to celebrate them!!

I very much doubt people were celebrating on beaches 2 years ago, was quite a fierce storm, as I recall.

We ran into the Clarion for refuge, trees were uprooted, the traffic lights went scattering all over, and there was loads of cops there to divert the traffic..

Was a lovely mess the next day - I definately thought the windows were gonna come in, due to the gales and the lightning was a sight to behold:(

That was the worst one we have ever seen, whilst there.

[expatscot]

Heading out on Saturday ourselves. Friends already there (on the Gulf Coast) are probably being evacuated tomorrow. Will call them again later this eve and let you know the latest. Hopefully by the time it reaches Orlando it will just be rain!!

[Beth__WDW23/6/02]

what a nightmare for people out there or going.
I just hope everyone is safe, and it doesnt hit that hard where you all are...good luck!!!!!

[currycook]

Things looking a bit worse than my last report. Almost 1,000,000 are being asked to evacuate. (of course most wont). It has been upgraded to a Cat 3 with forcasted 120 winds when it hits the coast. I was hoping it would head out into the Gulf as they sometimes do. Still if you will be in Orlando you will be safe.

I-4 was bumper to bumper and almost a parking lot as so many people from Tampa bay was heading east today.

[themurrayfamily]

That's worrying for everyone on the coast, I hope it doesn't affect them to much? Charley is looking worse than what they initially thought though.

[crim1978]

Ok so everyone's reasured us that Orlando should be fine. And the TV have just said the same.

But does anyone know how this could affect people traveling to Miami and Key West like us?

I realise where not traveling for a few weeks and therefore everything will have past but, how much destruction will there be to the Keys for example?

Any ideas?

[expatscot]

Last I heard it would just skirt key west so hopefully everything will be fine for you.

[expatscot]

Hi Murray Family!

How are you feeling about all this, a bit nervous I guess like us. Maybe if we have to hang around Gatwick we will meet up!! Anyway back to packing for the meantime. When do you set off for Gatwick?

[themurrayfamily]

Hi expatscot,

We're leaving for Gatwick in 2 hours, once I do the on-line check in :teeth: just doubled checked everything again and looks like we're all ready, we're stopping at the Hilton tonight, so I guess our holiday starts now :D, when do you go down yourself?

Regards

themurrayfamily

[currycook]

It is looking worse than expected. Up to Cat 4. Even Orlando will get hit now. This will not be a fun one to ride out as I live in South West Florida near where it will hit.

[disneyholic family]

i doubt the people posting here got out of gatwick...

[Red-Snapper]

Anyone know the latest on flights?

virgin is showing on one page flights due to go yesterday - not going until tomorrow:earseek: but then on takeoffs etc all todays flights are shown as normal.

I dont see how that info can be both right unless they have magically found another 3 aircraft from somewhere.

Anyone know how they sort these things out ?

:cool:

[mickg7dyd]

Hi,
This is the latest news on Virgin Atlantic's site:

Flights to Florida 14 & 15 August 2004

Due to the weather conditions in Florida a number of our flights in and out of Orlando airport have been delayed. Orlando airport has been damaged by Hurricane Charley. Some equipment in the terminal building has been affected by leaking water and debris, and the electricity supply has also been interrupted. The airport is expected to re-open at 14:00H local time on Saturday 14 August. We apologise for any inconvenience this has caused to our customers.
The following information gives details and revised schedules for the affected flights. All times are local

VS015 from Gatwick to Orlando, originally scheduled 12:30H, 14 August, is currently awaiting confirmation on a new schedule.
VS049 from Gatwick to Orlando, originally scheduled 13:00H, 14 August, has been rescheduled as VS049, 16 August, departing Gatwick at 10:30H and arriving Orlando at 14:40H.
VS016 from Orlando to Gatwick, originally scheduled 20:25H, 13 August, has been rescheduled as VS016, 14 August, departing Orlando at 17:00H and arriving Gatwick at 06:05H, 15 August.
VS050 from Orlando to Gatwick, originally scheduled 21:10H, 13 August, has been rescheduled as VS050, 14 August, departing Orlando at 14:00H and arriving Gatwick at 06:05H, 15 August.
VS016 from Orlando to Gatwick, originally scheduled 20:25H, 14 August, is currently awaiting confirmation on a new schedule.
VS050 from Orlando to Gatwick, originally scheduled 21:10H, 14 August, has been rescheduled as VS050, 16 August, departing Orlando at 14:00H and arriving Gatwick at 06:00H, 17 August.
Passengers departing from Orlando should check in at least 3 hours prior to departure.
Passengers departing from Gatwick should check in 4 hours prior to departure.

MORE INFORMATION RELATING TO THE FLIGHT TIMINGS YET TO BE CONFIRMED WILL BE AVAILABLE ON THIS WEBSITE AND VIA OUR UK AND US RESERVATIONS CENTRES AFTER 13:00H UK time/ 08:00H EST on SUNDAY 15 AUGUST 2004

Mick.

:smooth:

[wendym]

I am just back from MCO. I was on the Disney Magic and we were lucky the Captain avoided the Hurricane - we didn't get back to port until late and couldn't get off until 11.30am. The devastation up to MCO was awful - trees down everywhere and hotels have lost lots of tiles. People are without power and checkin took 3 hours. Not many of the food concessions were working at the airport and many people had found it difficult to get meals on their way to the airport. Getting petrol was almost impossible but seemingly the rental companies still charged for not returning the cars full - one family told us they were charged $50.
Thank goodness we were booked on the sat BA flight as Friday's people were still on standby - they were not put up at hotels or offered compensation or meal vouchers. Not all of them got on our flight - they could be there until Tuesday. I really feel for the locals and very few people bothered to ask how they and their families were coping. My heart goes out to them.
Wendy

[Miffy2003]

That must have been awful Wendy :(

Glad you made it back safe and sound.

[wendym]

We had it easy and avoided the worst of it but am glad to be home! I just felt so bad for those who were due to fly out on friday - I felt BA could have done more for them and if they had asked us we would have given up our seats. To see families sleeping inthe airport is not nice but at least it was better than the poor people in Punta Gorda.
Wendy

[currycook]

I hope those from the UK that were flying in got in. THe Orlando airport was damaged and I hope they did make it without too much of a hassle. The storm turned out to be much worse than expected. Turned into a Cat 4. I just missed it but was still out of power for a good day. This is a rare storm that makes it to Orlando with the force that it had.

[cool chris]

Thanks currycook,

the updates have been great, we hope you and your loved ones are all ok and safe and that you dont have to much damage to your property.

please keep us all informed of the clear up as a lot of us brits are still to come over in the next few weeks.

regards

chris:smooth: