Concerned about hurricane season

[KimWDW]

We'd like to go to WDW this fall (because I heard the lines are shorter in the fall, from Sept until right before Thanksgiving, please correct me if this is wrong). So, I was thinking October. My only concern is hurricanes. What happens if you have the whole trip planned and a hurricane comes? Was anyone here down there last year when that happened?

 

[DAWGPOUNDAJ]

I was not there personally but a good friend of mines first day at Disney was there when it hit the coast, and then she was there the whole week it ravaged Florida. She said she had a great time and were not able to go to the parks on only one day. The weather was not "bad" b/c of Disney's situated point in Central Florida, and with teh exception of a few downed trees she saw she said had it not been for the news she would not have known how bad the storm really was. Her pictures don't portray a bad atmosphere either. The only downer of her trip was knowing from the news how bad others were suffering while she was on vacation.

 

[MommyPoppins]

Hurricane season tends to dwindle down in Oct. August/Sept are the busiest months. Once Oct. comes around the water temps are starting to cool down and so less hurricanes form. Also if they do they tend to be small. We are planning a trip for Sept. which is less busy than Oct...however we are prepared to have to reschedule in case of a season like last year.

 

[gabbygrennell]

A common misconception is that hurricane season is only around aug/sept/oct...
in fact it last aprox 6 months... from june thru nov!
So, some of the busiest months for wdw are during hurricane season!

We always go in sept... didnt go last year...
but we are planning for this sept and if a huricane comes, we will hope for the best and hopefully be able to go... those who went last year, said the parks were nearly empty!

i would get some trip insurance!
and ck ahead of time to see who your resies are with etc... and find out what their policy is if there were to be some type of natural disaster interfering with your trip... if it would then be refundable or at least let you schedule for another tiime!
I am sure most have one or the other types of these policies!

 

[Scoootch]

What happens if you have the whole trip planned and a hurricane comes? Was anyone here down there last year when that happened?

All depends...if it's before you have left home and it's predicted to hit close enough to when you are scheduled to be there and cause you trouble with travel, Disney from what I understand was very good about letting you reschedule and waiving their cancellation period rules (as was the airlines). If you are there when it hits, I was there during hurricane Jeanne and can tell you that Disney is like a fortress! We stayed at the BCV's and it was wonderful. Disney has there own power supply and a hurricane team and takes all saftey precausions. I wouldn't hesitate to stay during a hurricane again! Being from FL, it was even better to be at Disney because at least we didn't even loose power. They did tell us to remain in the room for 24 hours (you could walk around the buildings if you were in a hotel that has indoor corridors such as BCV's...we could walk around the villas but not venture outside to go to the BC main building) Those staying in any of the resorts that have outdoor corridors were asked to remain in their rooms the entire 24hrs and to stock up on dry goods to have food since they were being asked not to venture out of their rooms. Not sure how difficult it was or wasn't for those guests but as for being at the BCV's it was great. The next day after the storm had passed, the weather was nice and things slowly got back to normal. So it would hold things up for a day or 2 but if you'll be there for at least a week and in a resort that has the indoor corridors I'd say don't worry

 

[mickeys friend]

Yes, We were there during hurricane Jeanne in Sept.It was suppost to miss us and go up the coast,but,changed like they do and it hit Orlando while we were there.When we found out it was coming,(on a Friday) we started calling to see if we could get a flight out before our Sunday flight.At that time it was suppost to hit on Sunday,call and was on hold for over 2 hours and couldn't get anything out not even leaving late Friday nite.So, they told us to call back after the hurricane because of not knowing for sure when it would hit and when the airport would be open.So we stayed and the staff at the Contemporary were great,we got a lower room rate for the 2 extra days we needed to stay and they went to great pains to make sure everyone was safe.Hurricane again picked up speed and came sooner,but by then everyone had done everything we need to do to get ready for it.Park was closed and they gave us all a free park hopper pass because it took one day off our other passes (we had the 7-4 deal)and we ended up using ours(all but my husband)when they opened the parks the day before we finally got a flight out.We've been there during Tropical Storms before but this was our first Hurricane.Would I stay during one again?If I couldn't get a flight out,yes.We are even going again during hurricane season,again in Sept.So you see you really never can count on the weather anywhere you go.Just make the best of it.I did feel really bad for the people who live there and had some many storms.

 

[drp4video]

We have been going in August for the past 6 years, and we were there for Charley last year. DIsney was awesome. They kept us informed of everything that was happening. On Friday, August 13 (friday the 13th), the parks were open until 1:00 p.m. and they did not count your pass as used for that day, so if you did not have an AP, it was a free day. (we have ap's).

They handed out flyers as to what to do. They updated us by phone. We were at POP, and the food court was closed, but they handed out free chips. Those of us who were smart (pats self on back), got food earlier at lunch time, and kept it in the room.

I am not going to say it was not scary when Charley passed over, as it was. (put the "kids", two age 16, in the bathtub, and I sat on the um, toilet, waiting for it to pass. I could watch the t.v. from that position. You could hear the wind through the vent in the bathroom)) But Disney had movies on all their channels (cartoons) for the kids. They even called at 11:00 p.m. to let us know that the food court was now open since the hurricane had passed through, and they would keep it open late. Disney did good, and we are going back again.

 

[gabbygrennell]

It is great to hear how well disney handles these types of situations!!!!
I say go and have a ball!

 

[dznyntnh]

I actually chose to go in September this year, cuz I figured, what are the odds of that many hurricanes hitting two years in a row?

And if I'm wrong...oh, well. I'm still at WDW!!

 

[spacemtn1971]

you can't play a game of "what if?" there may be one there may not be.

we were slightly inconvenienced last year but that does not compare to the devestation that a lot of cast members had to endure in their own homes.

but like they say...lightning doesn't strike twice, unless you've twice been hit by lightning!

jwb

 

[epcotfan]

I was there during Hurricane Charlie last August. The Disney staff at CSR was amazing and we felt very safe. They did a great job of communicating what was going on and making sure everyone was fed. We are going back this summer.

 

[26555]

Lightning may not strike twice but hurricanes do. (Or 3 or 4 times: Charley, Jeanne, Frances and Ivan). Two hit land very close on the east coast a couple of weeks apart. Disney is great about cancelling reservations, I made and cancelled many last Sept. Not sure about other resorts. Disney will keep you safe but you don't really want to be in FL with gas shortages, evacuation routes congested, etc during a hurricane. I'd still do Sept b/c I can drive and driving vacations seem easier to reschedule. Airlines will probably be good to you as well but I'd probably move it to a less likely month for hurricanes if it was my big airline weeklong trip getaway.

http://www.abc-7.com/articles/readnews.asp?articleid=2020&z=2&p=

 

[wdw4us2]

I actually chose to go in September this year, cuz I figured, what are the odds of that many hurricanes hitting two years in a row?

The odds are probably the same that 2 hurricanes would strike in the same place 2 weeks apart as it happened here in 2004!

Don't try to predict where/when/if a hurricane will hit. If you plan on being at WDW in September, just go and don't worry about it. They know how to handle the situation. Besides, they have their own power which is the most important thing during the aftermath of a hurricane.

As for this years' "official" predictions - the Bermuda High is expected to be the same as 2004 which does not bode well for us.

 

[Stitch's Greatest Fa]

i would get some trip insurance!
and ck ahead of time to see who your resies are with etc... and find out what their policy is if there were to be some type of natural disaster interfering with your trip... if it would then be refundable or at least let you schedule for another tiime!
I am sure most have one or the other types of these policies!

Hate to mention it, but most insurances do not cover "acts of God" especially when travelling to a know natural disaster region.

 

[bigbabyblues]

We arrived at WDW on Saturday, and Hurricane Jeanne came through starting late that night/early Sunday morning. We had to stay in our room all day Sunday until around 6-7 pm or so (All Star Movies), but it wasn't really bad for us. On Monday morning we were able to go to the parks as usual, there were a few things closed for extra clean up time like the Jungle Cruise, but most things were up and running. I don't know about AK that day, but it was back to normal by Wednesday when we went.

Steph

 

[HomeSweetDisney]

Our Disney CP recruiter told us that it never gets that bad in Orlando and usually doesn't last more than a day. She's from Miami and she said compared to Miami, the hurricane season in Orlando was just a rainstorm

 

[Ted and Holly]

With the exception of last year, when Miami got a bit less than the Central Florida area.

Ted

 

[safetymom]

Tell my roof that it wasn't a bad year last year. I still don't have shingles. Disney is very accomodating when a hurricane is predicted.

It is unusual to have hurricanes in Central FL. but it does happen.

 

[gabbygrennell]

Hate to mention it, but most insurances do not cover "acts of God" especially when travelling to a know natural disaster region.

Hmm... Well, I am not an expert here, but I was under the assumption that "trip insurance" was all about saving your vacation if something unexpected came up. And I am sure there are companies out there who cover hurricanes even if you are going to Florida! You will just need to specifically ask if that is covered and more than likely pay extra for it! With our home owners, certain acts of god are not covered were not covered until we added a clause (paying more for it of course) that covered them!

I could be wrong... but like I said, more so than insurance I would ck and see what policy your hotel has about this type thing! As most people here have said, Disney was great last year about people cancelling and rescheduling thier vacas!!!!

 

[Aidensmom]

I actually chose to go in September this year, cuz I figured, what are the odds of that many hurricanes hitting two years in a row?

And if I'm wrong...oh, well. I'm still at WDW!!

The odds indeed are really not that high. It is rare for Orlando to be affected by ONE hurricane in a season, outside of some additional rainfall from the outer rims of one. The topic of hurricanes greatly concerns me after having to evacuate my home 3 times in a six week period last year (which, by the way, I have NEVER had to do before and I have lived in Central Florida for 20 years), and I have been pretty reassured by some of the predictions I have been reading lately. Yes, there will be hurricanes, and it will be likely that at least one will affect some part of Florida, but the chance that there will be a repeat of last year is slim. Don't let the fear of a hurricane decide your vacation plans. You probably actually have a much greater chance of being struck by lightning at Disney than being affected by a hurricane!