Can anyone put my mind at rest about Wilma?

[disneyholic family]

correction to my post of a bit ago...
a few minutes ago they raised wilma to a category 5...
but she still has a very long way to go until she gets to florida so i suppose things could change before then....

i hope you all get into orlando without problems.....i'm keeping my fingers crossed for you....

 

[Shropshire Saint]

I have just read that winds are currently at 175mph & its coming over Florida. I really hope not.

As for US, we have used them before & everything was great. Absolutely no problem at all. Fingers crossed for the same again.

GO AWAY WILMA

 

[princess jackson]

Hi,

We travelled to Florida 2004, when Frances was building up, we were the last flight that was allowed to land.

We were informed at this end, and they still let us fly.

Our first few days they was a curfew, around 9pm. When the hurricane did hit, i wondered was that it, not much damage. And the hotel we stayed at was brilliant, put on buffet meals, and a large conference room, for everyone to stay in, we decided to stay in our own room, and watch tv. Ventured out at meals times, and watched the DVD that the hotel put on for the kids.

Really nothing to worry about, i always travel in hurrican season, and have done since 1999.

 

[Tink78]

Have you ever actually been there when there has been a hurricane?

I HAVE!! On my Honeymoon!!
Last year, we were due to fly out 1 week after our wedding, but our honeymoon got cancelled and we had to re-book for 10 days later, so we had a 2 and a half week wait after our wedding before we could go away!!

Anyway's, whilst we were there, hurricane Jeanne hit on the Sat night towards the end of our honeymoon.
On the Sat we were able to go to Sea World, the weather was lovely, very sunny and a little bit breezy.
As the day went on, it got windier but the temp was still nice.
We then left Sea World at 5pm and it was hammering down with rain BIG TIME!!
It was really windy.
We weren't scared though, for us it was exciting, as we knew our accomodation was going to be safe and secure (Coronado Springs) but the locals were getting worried as their houses aren't too strong!!
So we got back and had a big dinner and bought lots of supplies, and we had to spend 24 hours in our room eating, watching films and sleeping.
We did sneak out our hotel room to get some more ice and to have a peek but we couldn't walk out in the open.
Disney were great though and left us messages every 4 hours or so to keep us updated.
Apart from losing a day it wasn't too bad for us.

 

[Stuartpaul]

Wilma sounds particularly nasty at the moment (from National Hurricane Centre):

WILMA IS A CATASTROPHIC CATEGORY FIVE HURRICANE THAT IS MOVING OVER VERY WARM WATERS...TYPICAL OF THE NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA...AND WITHIN AN ENVIRONMENT OF LIGHT SHEAR. HOWEVER...DESPITE THE FAVORABLE LARGE SCALE ENVIRONMENT...WILMA IS NEAR ITS MAXIMUM
POTENTIAL INTENSITY AND FURTHER STRENGTHENING IS NOT ANTICIPATED.
MOST LIKELY...THE SMALL EYE WILL COLLAPSE FOLLOWED BY SLIGHT
WEAKENING OR SOME FLUCTUATIONS IN INTENSITY. EYEWALL REPLACEMENT
CYCLES WILL LIKELY CONTROL THE INTENSITY FOR THE NEXT 2 TO 3 DAYS
WHILE THE HURRICANE IS OVER THE NORTHWESTERN CARIBBEAN SEA.
THEREAFTER...ONCE WILMA REACHES THE SOUTHEASTERN GULF OF MEXICO AND ENCOUNTERS THE WESTERLIES AND HIGH SHEAR...WEAKENING SHOULD BEGIN.

Lets just hope that the weakening does happen otherwise there are going to be very real problems in vast areas of Florida.

Keep an eye on http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ for fairly regular updates.

 

[juliebro]

Julie - good news about US - we fly with them from Manchester on Friday for the first time. Do they have seat back TV's

They certainly do, Pigby. And you can stop/start, fast forward, rewind - just like DVD/video.

Their website will have detials of the films they are showing - usually ones that are about to come out on DVD in the UK.

http://www.usairways.com/travel/inflight/entertainment/oct05/330.htm

I assume you're flying via Philly - quite a big airport - allow plenty to time to get from one terminal to the other. You'll have to go through immigration and security when you land there.

Julie

 

[Bellis Belle]

I don't want to appers selfish and I am certainly praying for everyone that Wilma does not cause any significant damage but......we are supposed to be flying into Miami on Sat afternoon and I have got a really bad feeling that they will cancel the flights. Has this happened to anyone and do you get preference on the next flightout???

 

[Amyrlin]

You may well be delayed, as the current landfall is expected to be early Sunday Moring, and they will cancel fights prior to this. Besides that, you would really be better off flying in just after rather than just before the hurricane hits.

I know with my daughters aairline (Continental), they have said if her flight is dalyed or cancelled tney will put her on the first available flight. Now what they mean by that and how they will work it out I don't know, best to call th airline and actually ask them. That way you won't worry. But, I am sure they will get you out there as soon as possible if you are delayed.

 

[disneyholic family]

I don't want to appers selfish and I am certainly praying for everyone that Wilma does not cause any significant damage but......we are supposed to be flying into Miami on Sat afternoon and I have got a really bad feeling that they will cancel the flights. Has this happened to anyone and do you get preference on the next flightout???

i think that if the storm stays on the current track, Miami will probably shut down before that (i think they tend to shut down some time in advance of a hurricane, not waiting for the last minute)..
and i think once miami airport is closed, your airline won't take off....
but lots could change before the weekend...it could turn, weaken, slow down, speed up.....

as for appearing selfish....i don't think anyone would blame you in the slightest...it's terribly upsetting when things like this happen to ruin your holiday....

i hope you do make it in.....on the bright side, the head of the hurricane center said that once the hurricane hits florida he believes it will move very quickly and be out of there quickly....so if miami does close, maybe that means it won't be closed for too long....

 

[Bellis Belle]

Thanks for your support everyone. I will just have to wait and see with this one. I am preparing DD's for the worst and then if it doesn't happen its a bonus. Keep smiling..