At Disney now..should we leave? (Frances)

[DizGeek]

Well its just days before the big hurricane...should we hang around or fly back to Boston? Can anyone that stayed at a resort (we're at Pop!) during Charley give any tips?

I think we'll be safe...am I crazy?

 

[ruttie]

we are in the process of evacuating I would get on the first plane out of here if i were you... No WAY would I stay if itgets hit hard no planes, power,etcc for up to a week or more Why would any one who does not have to be here stay??? I wish i could choose to leave... I am evacuating to orlando tomorrow could not oimagine being a tourist and deciding to stay?! I would get my behind to the airport and camp out till I found a flight if the worst happens and orlando is hit it is going ot be horrible with many places less than sanitary or habitable... Again just my opinion and (we have to leave our home tomorrw) i would not want to be stuck anyhwhere that was unfamiliar if power goes out you will not even be able to rent a car to get home caus eno money .... hope you make a good decsion and sorry that your vacation is not gonna be the vest....

 

[kbkids]

I wholeheartedly agree with the above poster. I have lived in Florida all my life and gone through numerous hurricanes. Yes, you could most likely make it through the storm safely - BUT - life after the hurricane is awful!! I simply wouldn't risk it. Wouldn't be a vacation you'd want to remember.

 

[LibertyBelle]

Definetly if you can get out early GO! You would be safe during the storm and Disney would take good care of you but as the others stated it is the aftermath that is bad. It could be days before you could get out with all the backed up flights and/or damage that may occur at the airport itself. After Sept 11 there were people that we stranded at WDW for over a week (international flights were ever longer) because of all the backed up flights. One day of closure at an airport is going to screw every flight in and out up. If you can get out ahead of the storm...I would suggest you do.

 

[KathyTX]

Looks like most of the forecasters predict the storm will hit the FL coast Friday night, and it will cover a huge area.

Floridians are evacuating in huge numbers, and many of those who stay will likely be hard pressed taking care of themselves and their own property. Tourists are more people who must share limited resources in a crisis if this storm is as bad as it looks.

If you have a good chance to leave before the chaos of the storm hits, it's probably a good idea.

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

We left Orlando at noon on the Friday just a few hours before the rains from Charley hit. If you plan to leave, do it soon. The airport will get crazy and the flights will fill up quickly. Also, damage from Charley caused the airports to shut down for a few days. You could get stuck there for a few extra days. Not a bad place to be stuck but the storms can be dangerous.

 

[ruttie]

if you can get out again i suggest get out while orlandoi may not be a bad place to get stuck it would be if the storm does what it says it will do... I have to evacuate to orlando with my 2 young kids we are faced with not beaing able to return to a home for several days (if it even stands) the resources in orlando will be greatly appreciated by us and others who have to evac it seems a sensless waste to have to use those supplies for people who choose to stay when they could leave.. I do understand some are stuck and i feel horrible for them thats why i say if youcan get out RUN!! Very fast and camp out at the airport to get away again i wish i could goog luck

 

[Kay1]

I wouldn't compare Frances to Charley. Someone said last night Frances is Charley's big, angry sister. Charley could make things worse though because of all the dangereous debris that's lying around. I agree with the others.

 

[Grumpy92]

The airlines are allowing you to reschedule with no penalty. Ofcourse there are some restrictions. THat was on CNN this morning.

As for Disney they said this in the local paper.
But as of Wednesday, Disney temporarily is allowing people to cancel reservations without penalty. For every visitor who calls to cancel, Disney will make a room available for locals in need, said Jacquee Polak, spokeswoman for Walt Disney World. " If we could make it [rooms] available, we would like to," Polak said, including time-share resort rooms.

As a native I would advise anyone who does not live here to stay away this weekend. Even the Governor is advising visitors not to come. This is a very big and powerful storm. It should be taken VERY seriously. It looks like it will hit late Friday or early Saturday. So if you were planning on arriving on Friday or Saturday you can forget it. They have already announced closiers of area airports.

 

[seashoreCM]

Current forecasts suggest that Disney will get a direct hit.

I am guessing that it is very likely that parks will be closed for two days or maybe more. Keep this in mind when planningyour vacation because it is unlikely you will get room refunds for nights actually stayed. You should not, since the resources are better left for local evacuees. Also, to better manage short staff, some benefits such as Fastpass may be turned off. The quality of your vacation will definitely be impaired.

On the other hand, if you are already here and have many days of vacation remaining, I do not expect you should consume your return tickets now, if you want to stay after the storm. You will be on your own, if your hotel reservations are cancelled although I doubt that existing WDW resort ressies will be cancelled.

Caution: Get permission before driving beyond the geographical limits stated in your rental car contract to get further away from the storm. Also ask about rental car costs for an early return. No guarantee but you should not have to pay a higher daily rate for a car rented for a week but returned early in this circumstance.

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

When you reach someone's voice mail, are you often guilty of sending an empty envelope?

 

[Viki]

After Sept 11 there were people that we stranded at WDW for over a week (international flights were ever longer) because of all the backed up flights.

I have no opinion on whether you should stay or go. I just wanted to add that I was one of those folk who was at WDW during the week of 9/11. We had flown in the day before and were making our way to Epcot when we got the news of the first plane flying into the WTC. By the time we made it back to the room, from the BW lobby, we saw the second plane collide.

Of course it was horrific beyond words, but if I had to be anywhere in the world that day, and then that whole week, it was WDW. It's such a diverse community with people from all over the world coming together for companionship and comfort.

We're suppossed to fly in Tuesday and of couse that may not happen, but we'll be there as soon as we can.

Peace,
Viki

 

[ebhurleys]

If you do wind up staying. I would make sure I had enough food and water in my room to get me through a couple of days. I would also purchase a couple of flashlights and batteries just in case. I would also make sure I had a full tank of gas if I had a car.

 

[TammiMcMan]

ruttie
I just wanted to wish you well. I have family on Merritt Island and in that immediate area. I haven't heard from them, but I guessed that they were pretty busy boarding up and preparing. Is it a mandatory evacuation in that area? I hope so, because my dad won't leave unless they kick him out.

DizGeek
It's a shame that this weather has to spoil vacation plans, but it is a very serious matter. If you can make arrangements to leave, then that's what I would do. And from the sounds of things, the sooner the better. Don't many airlines move all their major aircraft into other area's for storm preparation? I'm sure they are only going to fly in anything that they can get back out again. This will probably limit any flight availabilities over the next few days. The weather is much more pleasant in Boston right now.

Tammi

 

[Grumpy92]

The local stores and gas stations are already sold out of most of those items. So you will have a hard time stocking up at this point.

On the up side If you have no other choice but to stay. Disney has already enacted their hurricane plan. Hurricane teams will probably be called in the next 24 hours. Unfortunately they do not get to bring their families with them and we do not now what conditions will exist after the hurricane passes.

 

[Mom2Ashli]

I would get out while you still can. This storm is so large that the whole State of Florida is going to feel the impact. I have lived here all my life and even if you don't get the full impact of the eye you are going to get a ton of wind and rain. Possibly no power and the airport might not be operational.

 

[Phrank40]

Something to think about for anyone driving from Orlando up I-4 and I-95 - after driving from North Carolina to Florida and back several times over the past year or so driving on these two Interstates is no picnic normally. Construction work, accidents, heavy traffic, ect., slow down travel a lot. Now add people leaving a hurricane. I guess what I'm saying is anyone thinking about leaving WDW/Orlando by car don't wait to the last minute and think you will bop up the Interstate and out of danger in a few hours. It could be a giant parking lot.


Phrank

 

[pirateofthecarolinas]

DizGeek, I don't think you should feel completely safe just because you are at WDW. No one can guarantee your safety. I have seen the devastation that can come from a hurricane. There may be tornadoes that touch down, along with flooding problems. I would leave as quickly as possible.

Officials in FL. are giving people plenty of warning. Be safe, stay alive and leave.

Lori

 

[TammiMcMan]

Just noticed on another site that the Weather Channel has confirmed a 6pm Friday closing for Orlando Airport. Looks like it's time to head home folks.

Godspeed to everyone trying to get out of harms way.

 

[Barbday62]

We was there for Charley and left the next day. We was one of the few flights that got out Saturday afterwards. We did stand in huge lines and the airport was closed until about 2 or 3ish. The security line opened up about 4:30 (The announced it would open at 5PM but it really started to open for certain flights at 4:30) The worst part was no communication. We had no idea why they made us sit on the other side of security until we finally got through. The ceiling tiles were fallng abd we had almoist no where to sit. We had to basically sit in the isles of the walk way to the gates. Only one gate was operating no matter what airline it was. Most flights were cancelled but we were one of the few not cancelled back to Seattle. In fact while we waited our turn to use that gate a contntintal flight landed and parked in teh danger zone. They had cleaned it up enough to make an alley for the people to disembark then the pilot said as he passed us I hope none of you are flying contential because all flights are now cancelled the rest of the night.

The worst part was there were no gate attendants to talk to. No communication is the worst. I know once we figured things out it wasnt so bad.

Would I go early? IF you can deffinetly get a flight I would consider it but if not i would not camp at the airport. Its terrible with lines for everything. Even the bathroom had a one hour wait to go. The food lines were just as long. My husband needed a wheel chair and he got the last one around. I saw others who also needed them that didnt get one. (HE was too bad off by this time to offer his to anyone) If you cant go early then wait to find out if you have a flght afterwards. Better to wait in a hotel than the airport. I considered waiting longer but we had 6 seats on a flight that was definatly leaving when we called. And when we got there it was still eaving but delayed a couple hours then when we actually got on the flight it was delayed about 3 1/2 hours.

 

[robinb]

Originally posted by DizGeek
Well its just days before the big hurricane...should we hang around or fly back to Boston? Can anyone that stayed at a resort (we're at Pop!) during Charley give any tips?

I think we'll be safe...am I crazy?

We rode out Charley at Pop Century. Our room was one of the inside courtyard rooms (on the top floor!) and we were fine. There was no damage to the buildings, no flooding and no loss of power. Some signs were damaged and there were some trees down. The winds and the rain were pretty bad, though. The Pop pond had waves and the rain skittered off the top and sides of the giant yo-yo in an adjacent building (we were in one of the 50's building). I talked to someone who was on the other side of the building, essentially facing the Sports complex and Osceola Parkway, and they said that the wind shook their windows. A note was sent around asking people to remain in their rooms and to keep their curtains closed. If your room is not facing an internal courtyard, you might want to ask for a room change.

Here's a link to some pictures:
http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&postid=6332158#post6332158

The things you have going for you if you choose to stay are:

(1) Pop Century is the most recently build resort and is probably also one of the more hurricane-proof resorts.

(2) Disney has its own power grid. You are less likely to lose power at a WDW resort than elsewhere in Orlando.

(3) Disney will do its best at keeping the food courts open as long as possible. In other resorts they provided free sack lunches to guests.

(4) You won't be alone through the storm, or its aftermath.

The bad news is that Frances is a lot bigger and stronger than Charley. Charley was a category 2 hurricane (winds from 96-110 MPH) when it hit Orlando. Frances is now a category 4 (winds from 131-155 ) and will probably not lose as much strength since she is so much bigger. Her winds are currently at 145 MPH and she has 470 miles of mostly ocean to cover before she hits Florida so she may get every stronger .

Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale

For instance, here is a picture of Charley at land-fall:
<p><img border="0" src="http://www.noaanews.noaa.gov/stories2004/images/charley-radar081304-1951z4.jpg" width="300" height="214"> </p>
<p>And here is one of Frances right now:</p>
<p><img border="0" src="http://www.ssd.noaa.gov/PS/TROP/DATA/RT/FLOAT/IR4/20.jpg" width="300" height="225"></p>

If you stay, I would take ebhurleys' advise. Go to the store NOW and get a cooler, some snacks, water, bread, PB&J, cold cuts, cheese, breakfast cereal, milk and juice just in case the food court closes early and is not able to re-open in the morning. At least one flashlight and extra batteries wouldn't be a bad idea either. If you don't have a car, you can go to one of the DVC resorts and pick up stuff at a premium. I tried to go to Publix on 192 near Pop Century on Friday afternoon before Charley and they closed at about 2:00 pm. The Wallgreens next door was also closed. I ended up at OKW since I didn't want to chase all over Orlando looking for an open grocery store. Other people mentioned that Goodings stayed open later. I'm not sure what the rationale behind having a full tank of gas in your car for a tourist. If you have at least half a tank I wouldn't worry about it. The lines at gas stations were very long on Friday of Charley and remained long for a couple of days afterwards. Many gas stations ran out of gas and others price gouged.

Feel free to PM me if you have any questions. Good luck and stay safe!