Any Hurricane Data to reassure paranoid hubby?

[goofy4tink]

Speaking just as a 'regular tourist' going to WDW during hurricane season here...we checked into the CR on Aug. 13 '04. Does anyone else remember who else checked into Orlando that night? Yep, H. Charley. I have to say that I never felt threatened or unsafe at WDW during that storm. Yes, they did shut down the parks about 1 hour after we got there. So, we didn't activate our APs until the next day. No big deal. Those with hopper passes were given an addtl. day for later use. The restuarants were all closed so that was an issue but they did feed us, en masse, free that night. There was minor damage, mostly to trees. The only thing that was really impacted was our HDDR PS. Since FW area is so heavily forested it sustained a lot more damage and they had to cancel two nights of HDDR. So, we got lesser seats at a later show, but in the big picture, no biggie.

I wouldn't worry about the hurricanes this coming August. Go and enjoy yourself. We were there the same time the previous year and there was no problem. Tell your dh to stop worrying and start planning!!

 

[erinch]

I can tell you Hurricane Erin hit WDW overnight, Aug 1-2, 1995. It was the last night our honeymoon.

We were in Orlando when "Erin" hit.

Since that's my name too, I took quite a bit of ribbing.

It sounds to me like the group concensus is what I'm trying to convince my hubby of--there's some risk during the first week of August; but it passes quickly if you're inland and why not just take a deep breath and go for it?

Of course, that's what I was saying before I posted this note

 

[debbiedoo]

remember--there is a h0t p0cket that is in the bermuda that never 1eft during the winter m0nths N0t a g00d sign

that p0cket draws them t0 the 1and instead 0f 0ut t0 sea

 

[WDSearcher]

It sounds to me like the group concensus is what I'm trying to convince my hubby of--there's some risk during the first week of August; but it passes quickly if you're inland and why not just take a deep breath and go for it?

Actually ... there's some risk during all of hurricane season. If your DH wants to avoid that risk completely, he needs to schedule the trip between November and May. Anytime between June 1 and November 1 he's got a risk of running into a hurricane. And it's generally the same level of risk throughout. There are currently no "hot spots" on the calendar because no one has seen any indication of how the Atlantic is going to behave this year.



PS. Tell your husband that "Real Men visit WDW in August."

 

[debbiedoo]

n0 f1ames here--it has been rep0rted 0n the news--t0 each his 0wn

 

[Evil Queen]

The Bermuda high that is spoken of, is very much out there. If it doesn't move in a couple of months our chances of having an active season should be a concerned.

Does that mean Florida will get hit? No. It just means be prepared.

I have heard from many people and not just here, Disney was a good place to be. I am going at the end of Sept. will board up my house before going (just in case why worry should one hit south Florida, make sure the animals have enough food), so when their care giver can get here they will be ok. I have bought extra dishes for food and water. Care taker sees a storm is coming fill the bowls, hope for the best they can get back in a day or two. Other than my birds the animals will be fine with that for a couple of days. Their care taker is within walking distance.

I actually worry more about storms in the Gulf that form (I am on the East coast about 30 minutes south of where Jeanne and France made landfall), those seem to be more unpredictable. Weather guys seem to have a better handle on storms moving onto the East coast. I know it's not exact but it's close.

End of Aug. all through Sept. is peak time, but I remember one year with a TS in late October having to pick my Halloween decorations from neighbors yard up the road.

Tell hubby go!! Don't worry. Disney seems safe, and if you are unsure drive more inland or north.

Also remember there are very few places to visit within the U.S. that doesn't have some kind of natural disaster that could happen.

 

[CamColt]

Actually ... Hurricane Erin wasn't a hurricane any more by the time she reached WDW. There was wind and rain, but nothing near hurricane force. The parks opened a bit late, but they did open, although any outside rides were operating sporadically around the weather, and most shows and parades were cancelled. Hurricane Floyd in 1999 was the first time in history that all theme parks, water parks, and recreation areas did not open due to anticipation of a hurricane.

Thats interesting. Ive always been under the impression it was a hurricane since thats what the news called it while we were there and according to the clipping I have from the Orlando Sentinal, Erin was "the first face to face encounter the central Florida region had with a hurricane in a generation". I guess you do learn something new every day.
Along with opening late the next day, the parks all closed early the night it hit(Aug 1) . We got the hurricane warning letter under our door at the Poly that noted safety precautions to take and that all parks would be closing down early.

 

[peter11435]

Most hurricanes have a tendency to head north. Many turn north long before they reach the US and therefore don't hit us. Some stay south and head north in to Mexico and Texas. The reason we were hit so often last years is that the Bermuda high kept the storms from making the turn to the north until it was too late. Now when they began to turn they turned into the state of Florida. While it is rare that a state is hit four times in one year, the reason we were hit so many times still exists. As long as that system stays in the Atlantic the chance for numerous strikes and near misses is strong.

That being said, I would not worry about going to WDW. Even if we were hit by four more this season, the chances are slim it will happen while you are there. Also WDW is extremely safe. The only damage last year was in landscaping and a few minor things. Throughout all the storms WDW maintained power, and sustained zero structural damage. I live in Florida and actually road out two of the storms at WDW. Not because I had a trip planned but because I felt far safer there than in my own home.

 

[Luv2Roam]

http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/local/southflorida/sfl-sridge09feb09,0,2430909.story

I can say as a tourist I was always more inclined to visit during off season to avoid crowds and heat.
As a fairly new FL resident, you just prepare as you can and take what nature throws at you. (As someone mentioned every place has pitfalls and potential disasters.)
WDW is one of the place I would have felt the most safe. I heard exceptional reports from those hunkering down at Gaylord Palms too.

 

[Evil Queen]

Most hurricanes have a tendency to head north. Many turn north long before they reach the US and therefore don't hit us. Some stay south and head north in to Mexico and Texas. The reason we were hit so often last years is that the Bermuda high kept the storms from making the turn to the north until it was too late. Now when they began to turn they turned into the state of Florida. While it is rare that a state is hit four times in one year, the reason we were hit so many times still exists. As long as that system stays in the Atlantic the chance for numerous strikes and near misses is strong.

That being said, I would not worry about going to WDW. Even if we were hit by four more this season, the chances are slim it will happen while you are there. Also WDW is extremely safe. The only damage last year was in landscaping and a few minor things. Throughout all the storms WDW maintained power, and sustained zero structural damage. I live in Florida and actually road out two of the storms at WDW. Not because I had a trip planned but because I felt far safer there than in my own home.

True. Should it happen, WHEN is the biggest question. The odds will depend on your vacation time.

I think July yours odds are better than a late August-Sept, trip to NOT be "threatened" by one.