About Frances...

[avaughan]

Not counting on it - just trying to find something positive in a tough situation.

 

[craziefortigger]

Newest update puts the storm north of Orlando into Jacksonville. Now to keep praying that it continues Northeast and heads out to sea!
Within the last 24-30 some hours the forecast has gone from North Miami to W.P.B. to Ft Pierce to Coco Bch to Jacksonville. So do I hear middle of Atlantic??? PLEASE

Go AWAY FRANCES

I know anything can change at any moment but let's hope for a safe and pleasant Labor Day for EVERYONE EVERYWHERE!

Here's to alittle pixie dust spread out over the entire East Coast!

 

[jwfla422]

I'm with you!! LET'S KEEP OUR FINGERS CROSSED BUT, just keep in mind that the hurricane experts also said there can be a several hundred mile error (kinda what happened with Charley). Although early on it was predicted to strike SW Fl later predictions brought it to Tampa but they said they can be off by 100 miles or more and that's just what happened and why so many in SW FL were unprepared (not to mention it went from a Cat 2 - 4 in no time).

Also keep in mind Frances is a BIG storm and the hurricane people were saying that tropical storm force winds can be felt 175 miles from the eye! That's just 20 miles shy of our (3 hr) drive from here to WDW, so it is likely FL will be under lots of watches and warnings come Thurs. So, if it does pass through Jax tropical force winds WILL be felt in WDW!

No matter what it will likely hamper travel plans-if you have non-cancelable ressies then you just have to be flexible and next time just keep in mind planning any trips to FL from Aug-Oct is hurricane season with the peak being late Aug/early Sept.

Only wish if it has to strike land let it strike some NON INHABITED area, ok wishful thinking STAY SAFE EVERYONE!

 

[Magickndm]

I'm in Jacksonville and just cancelled my res. for WDW over the weekend. I'd rather be prepared than be stuck down there if it hits here. Why'd this have to happen on a 3 day weekend?!

 

[LibertyBelle]

Originally posted by craziefortigger
Newest update puts the storm north of Orlando into Jacksonville.

Changed again.. the 11pm brings it back to Melbourne and straight through Orlando.

Until Thursday or Friday this storm is going to be up in the air. We could be on a direct path here in Orlando or we could be missed all together. Those that live here are taking precautions as we watch every minute of the news. For those that are traveling to WDW this weekend, just be aware, know what the latest is and be prepared.

In the last 24 hours it has changed a lot. When I went to bed last night it was going in at Vero Beach, when I got up this morning it was melbourne, when I left for work it was Jacksonville, at work it was moved north (Georgia, maybe the Carolinas) now it is back to Melbourne. Unpredictable seems to be the point.

Here are the links to our local news in case you would liketo check through them as well as NOAA.

National Hurricane Center (NOAA)
http://www.noaa.gov

NBC:
http://www.wesh.com/index.html

ABC:
http://www.wftv.com/index.html

CBS:
http://www.local6.com/index.html

We live locally and are getting prepared (better safe than sorry) for those that are also local, I wish you the best if Frances does come this way, we all know this area really can't take another hit like Charley.

 

[susy]

This morning-Wed-it is headed mosre south than was previously though-not good! It is a very big hurricane that extends about 170 miles. I was supposed to go Fri-Mon am now probably cancelling. I will try to get them to use my deposit for a new trip (next weekend if there is availability). I spoke with Kerigan on Monday who said that I could do that. That's why I wrote down her name and the date/time I called-in case I need to speak with a manager.

 

[LibertyBelle]

Good luck Susy (and everyone else that has plans for this weekend). I just woke up and while it is still a few days away and the track could (and probably will shift) a little more it is definetly going to affect us in some way. Just got done making my "need to get list" and will be heading to the store when they open. as of the 5am track it has it coming directly over my house as a cat 2... (Safetymom if you are reading this good luck, I know you live a block away). We weathered Charley fairly well (the neighbor lost some of his fence but that was it) so hopefully we will be ok with Frances as well. Wasn't worried too much in days past but now I am have to admit I am getting antsy. We will just have to wait and see. Good luck everyone!

 

[safetymom]

Good luck Liberty Belle. We are set and prepared for the hurricane. My oldest daughter lives in Melbourne and I want her to come her. It would still be a hurricane but the winds would be less.

Good luck to everyone when Hurricane Frances hits.

 

[bunny]

I am praying that Frances doesn't come inland, but if she does, how long does the heavy rain last? I am from PA and have never encountered a hurricane before. My husband is afraid that it will rain all week. Also for you locals when is the hurricane supposed to hit Saturday or Sunday?

 

[SharBear4]

I too am from Pennsylvania and traveling on Friday evening. We're supposed to fly out Friday at 6:30pm from Erie and arrive in Orlando at 10:53pm. I've been watching the US Airways site as they have posted for the islands that ticket changes could be made without the $100 change fee. If they do that for Florida, we'll try to get on an earlier flight.

 

[LibertyBelle]

The current projections is showing that it would be making landfall around 2am Saturday and slowly moving across the state... with an early Sunday timeframe for the Orlando area. But again this is just the current prediction and can (and will) change over the next few days. Keep a watchful eye on it and know what the changes are.

As for the rain, FLA weather is so unprdeictable as far as the storm is concerned it will wreak havoc and then leave and we will be back to normal FLA weather, noce mornings into mid afternnon and then the afternoon storms roll in making way for nice evenings.

 

[SnackyStacky]

Just watched the today show. Katie did an interview with someone at NOAA in Miami.

They said that there is no one definite path at this time. They were showing 2 possibilities. One that put coming ashore on the middle of Florida (I'm really not good with geography! Sorry!) The other path showed it making landfall at South Carolina.

 

[HumphreytheBear]

Here is a link to the current path that both NOAA and the local central florida news stations are showing on their web pages:

http://www.wftv.com/sponsor/3693911/detail.html

Our local weatherman in Orlando stated this morning that it is still to far out to be 100 percent accurate so make sure you are advised of changes as the updates come in... However at this time the strike zone will be somewhere on the coast of Florida. Then he reminded us again that the 5 day forecast is never right (on any normal day) so just be patient, be prepared and keep informed.

Now I understand why my friends in California always say they prefer earthquakes. Shake you out of bed unexpectidly and be on your way for the day, no waiting around... I personally still like to be prepared, but the anticipation is killing me.

 

[sweet maxine]

I'm leaving a week from today. How concerned should I be about the hurricane and my trip? I know it's hard to predict just what will happen, but I'm wondering if I should just try to reschedule for next month.

 

[safetymom]

By this time next week it will all be over with. All you have to worry about is the damage that may have been done.

 

[sweet maxine]

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound cold. I'm just really worried as I will be traveling with my 4 y/o grandson. I don't want to endanger either of our lives over this trip, and I also feel sympathy for those that are in the direct path of the oncoming storms.

 

[HumphreytheBear]

Originally posted by sweet maxine
I'm sorry, I didn't mean to sound cold. I'm just really worried as I will be traveling with my 4 y/o grandson. I don't want to endanger either of our lives over this trip, and I also feel sympathy for those that are in the direct path of the oncoming storms.

I don't think that it was taken that way. It was a good question and you are allowed to be concerned for your well being. As Safetymom said though by this time next week it will be long gone and the clean up will be underway.

Now if we can just get through this, every update they put out changes the course...it's driving me nuts

 

[safetymom]

I didn't take it as cold. Just wanted to let you know that the storm will be over.

 

[seashoreCM]

Boarding up your windows with plywood? If possible use screws rather than nails, "drywall screws" are quite good for this.

Have a generator? Run it just for one or two hours out of every ten hours, just enough until the refrigerator and/or deep freezer "charge up" and shut off. Then your limited fuel will last longer. Note: All frost free 'fridges have a defrost cycle. Check the instructions to see if that cycle can be bypassed with a screw adjustment so the 'fridge will come to life as soon as power is restored.

Try to fly out earlier if you think your Disney bound flight will be cancelled. Show up at the airport even if calling ahead doesn't get you anything, then the chances are better of getting on the plane without change fees. I would not plan on flying home early to beat a storm unless something really really urgent was coming up.

If Frances hits WDW chances are things will be done the same way as for Charley. If the parks closed for part or all of a day, folks with Unlimited Magic can get the day dropped, for those folks with hopper passes, the partial day won't be ticked off of the pass.

Attendance is going down as summer ends so ther probably won't be difficulty getting your room because other guests stayed for extra days. The most likely irregularity appears to be the need to put some value resort guests in moderate resorts since the value resorts normally have higher occupancy. First night free or entire stay at the moderate (at the originally booked rate) look like reasonable accommodations.

Guests will have to choose between waiting out the storm in the food court area or in their rooms (or may be directed by CM's without that choice). Nobody will starve when confined to their rooms for 12 hours which is probably the most time guests will not be allowed outdoors or through glass enclosed corridors, but bringing along a few boxes of cereal won't hurt.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

Last trip, late Aug. 2004, off site. Spent one day sightseeing looking at the aftermath of Charley, which meant one fewer day in the parks.
Next trip (undecided)

 

[Barbday62]

We was in WDW with a 5 month old and 2 1/2 year old during the last Hurricane Charley. We stayed in Shades of Green. I read a few posts back about worrying about little ones safety. I know the parks closed long before the hurricane was scheduled to hit. Then they asked people to be off the roads too by 3pm. The hurricane came though in 2 waves of sever stuff. The first part came through at about 6ish. We was able to record on our video a lot then because it was still daylight. The second wave came through about 7:30 or 8PM. Both times the severest of the wind and rain lasted about 30 minutes to 45 mintes.

My only fear that night was if the lights go out then what (We had no flashlight) and the other fear I had was will we have enough water in case the public water supply was bad like sewer or something like that. I purchased as much as I could afford to by at the convience store so the kids had water no matter what.

During the hurricane here is my take on it. I am from Washington so I never see hurricanes or tornadoes heck we rarely even see thunder storms.

The winds were really blowing hard. It sounded like a frieght train on the patio. My husband periodically went onto the patio and filmed what we was seeing. We never felt anything was going to happen to us. My dauhter (Who just got engaged the day before we left on our family trip) tried to call her fiance many times unsucceful during the hurricane but no service. But she was out on the balcony on the top floor stairwell to try and get service. We did not fear she would blow away either. They saw the wind was about 85ish constant blow. It does lose steam once it hits land so we werent in a atagory 4 storm anymore but I htink they said it was catagory 2 when it hit us.

My two daughters wanted to go find if they could get some food to bring back about 7:30 or 8PM (Thats approx when the hurricane was at its strongest) We saw a light on the retaurant across the way. It turned out they were a buffet and dont sell to go but told them to go near the pool and they fast food place was still open. The two of them locked arm in arm and ran across the court yard to get in a long line to get food. They both did not feel like they would die or anything like that.

We did take a few precautions we could think of. We filled the bathtub with water so we could at least flush a toilet if needed. We also had our lap top fully charged so we could have light in the middle of the night when the baby woke for his feeding. We also found my grandaughters little lighted toys we cought for night time because in the dark they illuminated some light too.

One thing also to note. Magic Kingdom is not in Orlando. Its in Lake Buena VIsta. Orlando took quite a hit as did the airport which is also in Orlando. We saw some really terrible things that happened to residents and some funny but after the fact Im sure. Many lost roof shingles or vynal siding but Im certain the power loss was the worst since its so hot and humid. We saw a jacuzzi that was near a sidewalk after it had tumbled out of someones yard, we sae a shed wrapped around a pole. Then one of the things that affected us most on the way to the airport was the amount of power outaged at intersections. Most lost their lights. We saw cords and lines strewed out everwhere and the lights broken in many peices on the grounds. Some had police running the traffic and others it was every man for himself.

Would I go if I had this weekend planned? If I could get there before it all hit I would probably go because once that one waisted day is over they (DIsney) tried to get everything back to normal as fast as possible. If you cant get there before Im certian your flight will be cancelled just before and after the huriicane. I know we had to fly out on Saturday and we were one of the relatively few flights that got to leave that evening. The day of the hurricane (That was scheduled to hit at 6PM that Friday) the airport pretty much closed down early. Their goal was to get as many airplanes out of orlando as possible. The next day when we was scheduled to leave the airport ddnt even open back up until afternoon and the first flight didnt even leave until 5:30PM. Everything scheduled to leave before that was cancelled. We met many people there hoping to find a flight home that evening. Our pilot announced he needed us to hurry and board because everythign was being done by hand due to lack of electricty I guess. Anyway they didnt know until we all sat down if they could add a few more to our flight. He said many wont get to go home tonight because we would most certainly be full.

I pray for all the Florida people. I got to see first hand what happened to you and I certainly can see where you cant be ready for another hit like this.

Oh one last thing. SOmeone mentioned Earthquakes in california. We have many Earthquakes here in Washignton too. I have been through several and I would prefer to be in the Hurricane than the Earthquake after having been through both. With an Earthquake you have no warning. The damge can be as much as a hurricane but probably not as many in a concentrated area. My largest Earthquake was not even really that big I think it was a 4 or 5 and it took down many buildings and caused a total freeway to start shifting through the past few years. It is moving 1/2 inch a year I heard. Also it took down the tower where the air controllers sit at Sea Tac Airport. The damage is there and for that 30 to 60 seconds you sit and pray your roof wont be the one that falls in on you. There is no warning and afterwards many are with out power. That rolling sensation is something I never care to feel again. I remmebr feeing very dizzy after that last big Earthquake we had too. I guess its matter of point of view but I would prefer to have advance notice than a suddenly happening. I would never minimize the hurricane and as you see I choose to live in Earthquake country instead of hurricane country. LOL