Does WDW every get badly damaged from hurricanes.

[WDWPARADISE]

Hi,

I know this might be a strange question, but exactly how much of WDW is ever in direct contact with a hurricane. We are hearing that the new one could be bad and wondered if there is any worry about the hurricane causing lots of damage to the parks and resorts.

 

[spiceycat]

AK has received damage - all have had trees down - but WDW was aware of hurricanes when it was built - so I don't think they will have much damage -

however hurricanes also product tornadoes (much higher winds) and I don't think anything short of a tornadoe room will stop a tornado if it decided to hit you - tornadoes are very strange your neighbor's property could be completely destroyed and your house could be untouched.

the only thing at the MK I would really worry about is the castle - it is not steel and cement - but that cheaper stuff....

 

[WDWPARADISE]

Were just a little worried about making reservations 15 months in advance to make sure we atleast get a AAA discount and not being able to go do to major storm damage.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

It has the potential to receive as much damage as anybody--with construction beginning in the early 70s--the various buildings throughout the kingdom have been built to various codes over time. While some improvements might have been made over the course of the decades--it is subject to the same damage potential as say Punta Gorda. It just all depends on where the storm goes. If that eye goes anywhere over mid-Florida...the wind field is enourmous...damage could be great.

The good news is that Disney has its own everything and without having to worry about hospitals or the interstate or other county wide issues--disney only has to worry about itself in the rebuilding. All utiliies are underground--so in the event there is some power loss...it will not take disney very long to get that up and running.

They do have lots of tree life, so that will take some cleanup time. Post charley it only took a few hours to get major debris off of the roads.

Unfortunately as much magic as there is at the mouse house--it isn't invincible--but Disney will have themselves up and running as pretty darn quickly as possible. It is uncharted territory for the mouse--so we will just have to wait and see how it all plays out.

 

[WDWPARADISE]

Hi,

I know that we are worried over nothing since we aren't going till Dec 2005. Since it is 15 months away, we can always change our reservation to April or Mayish of 2005.

 

[peter11435]

the only thing at the MK I would really worry about is the castle - it is not steel and cement - but that cheaper stuff....

The castle is constructed entirely of steel and fiberglass, with some cement where you can touch it. Believe me it is not cheaper stuff and is the one building you don't need to worry about.

 

[seashoreCM]

>> Does WDW ever get badly damaged from hurricanes?

Not yet. No major hurricane other than Charley has hit. I believe there have been only two weather park closures, Floyd (missed WDW) and Charley.

Someone told me that most of WDW was built to take 120 MPH winds. That does not include damage from flying objects.

Someone told me WDW generates a third to a half of its power needs. This means that if the lines from the power grid go dead, WDW will have to ration power which might include rolling blackouts.

If you have entered WDW from 192 via Sherberth Rd. you may have seen one of the substations through which public power is infused into the WDW system.

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

 

[dlrhine]

I was working at WDW on the College Program the summer of 1995 when Hurricane Erin hit and they closed the park then. I was at the shelter at Blizzard Beach because that was safer than my apt. at vista way. From what I understand being on the college program they can actually disessemble the Castle so it isn't damaged. They need about 10 hrs and big cranes but it can be done. When Hurricane Erin hit we walked out into the wave pool after the stormed passed and where it should be 6ft deep it was only to our ankles...here the water park wasn't even a year old and with that type of storm the mountain the slides are built on shifted and craked the wave pool and all the water went into the crack and pushed the cement up..that is way it was only to our ankles instead of 6ft. Being in a hurricane was scary I wouldn't go I'd reschedule...and Erin wasn't as bad as this is to be.
Diane

 

[whjoyjr]

Originally posted by dlrhine
From what I understand being on the college program they can actually disessemble the Castle so it isn't damaged. They need about 10 hrs and big cranes but it can be done.

Urban Legand.

The Magic Kingdom area was built to exceed the codes in place at that time. Hurricanes were factored into the design of EVERYTHING. I would dare say that WDW will still be standing long after I have turned to dust...

 

[WDWPARADISE]

Hi,

I am sure that since technically hurricane season is over by December of each year, when we go Dec 3-17, 2005 , everything will be ok with WDW and we will have a blast.

Thanks for showing that we probably have nothing much to worry about.

 

[goofy4tink]

We checked into the CR about 10 hrs before Charley did on 8/13!!! Yes, there was debris and some tree damage. AK took a pretty good whallop. It was closed on the following day. But, I have to say that Disney handled it all wondefully. They tied stuff down or removed it. THe CMs were terrific with the guests. We were lucky enough to be able go get into MCO before they shut down. If I were flying down this week, I would be very tempted o reschedule until after the storm had passed. We flew over/thru the remains of Bonnie and it was pretty bumpy. I wouldn't be in the skies, headed south at this point.

 

[Grumpy92]

It really depends on the hurricane catagory and where it hits. Damage can be as minor as trees down or as bad as damaged & destroyed buildings, as well as no power and limited basic supplies.