Dorian

[Haley R]

@Haley R Call Disney and see if you can bring your cats and get out of there. If you cant stay at Disney, you can find somewhere else. Please be safe. You do not want to ride your first hurricane in Florida as a Cat 4. It's not worth your life. I grew up in Louisiana and live in TX now, I have been thru many including Andrew and lived in Houston during Allison which was just a TS. Don't let your neighbors tell you its ok to stay. Be safe and smart.

It’s such a hard choice because I don’t want to leave our house but I don’t really want to chance it. Do we think Orlando will be much better? Does anyone know if universal will allow cats?

 

[Bianca and Bernard]

Yes! In the evacuation order of bread, cinnamon raisin in the second to last. I think it goes:

White bread
Wheat bread
Buns
English Muffins/Bagels
Raisin Bread
Pumpernickel

Now, I like pumpernickel and rye...but only with certain sandwiches.

Raisin bread...ick

 

[HopperFan]

It’s such a hard choice because I don’t want to leave our house but I don’t really want to chance it. Do we think Orlando will be much better? Does anyone know if universal will allow cats?

"At Loews Hotels, we are cat-and dog-friendly, all pets receive their own gifts including a pet tag, bowl and a special treat to kick off their vacation. Owners receive a detailed brochure with information on hotel pet services such as our Loews Loves pets room service menu, local dog walking routes, and area pet services, including veterinarians, pet shops and groomers."

https://www.loewshotels.com/royal-pacific-resort/discover/services-amenities

 

[Haley R]

"At Loews Hotels, we are cat-and dog-friendly, all pets receive their own gifts including a pet tag, bowl and a special treat to kick off their vacation. Owners receive a detailed brochure with information on hotel pet services such as our Loews Loves pets room service menu, local dog walking routes, and area pet services, including veterinarians, pet shops and groomers."

https://www.loewshotels.com/royal-pacific-resort/discover/services-amenities

Thanks I did see that. They are all sold out on the Chase portal and we were looking to use points if staying at Universal. I chatted with a CM at Disney (I know they aren't always correct), but she assured me our cats can stay. I'm about to call to see what they can offer us. I saw AKL at $261 for an AP rate and she mentioned they are doing special rates for Florida residents.

 

[pearlieq]

It’s such a hard choice because I don’t want to leave our house but I don’t really want to chance it. Do we think Orlando will be much better? Does anyone know if universal will allow cats?

I know the Doubletree Sea World and Hilton Garden Inn Sea World both accept pets. I think the HGI has the extra advantage of having free parking. Most of the Homewood Suites and Home2 hotels in the Orlando area also accept pets.

I'm not sure what call I would make in Melbourne. It would depend on your unique situation. How old is your home? Are you in a solid block/concrete building? Is there a second story you could get to? Do you have hurricane shutters for the windows? Is your roof hip line or gabled? Is everyone in your family relatively healthy and able-bodied?

If I lived in a newer 2 story concrete block home with a hip line roof that had hurricane straps, shutters for the windows, and was definitely comfortably behind the storm surge line, I would probably hunker down and stay.

If I lived in a 60s ranch bungalow that has only had a few updates, a gabled roof, plywood for the windows, and my diabetic grandpa lived with us? I'd probably bug out.

I know this is terribly scary. Wishing the best for you and your family!

 

[Haley R]

I know the Doubletree Sea World and Hilton Garden Inn Sea World both accept pets. I think the HGI has the extra advantage of having free parking. Most of the Homewood Suites and Home2 hotels in the Orlando area also accept pets.

I'm not sure what call I would make in Melbourne. It would depend on your unique situation. How old is your home? Are you in a solid block/concrete building? Is there a second story you could get to? Do you have hurricane shutters for the windows? Is your roof hip line or gabled? Is everyone in your family relatively healthy and able-bodied?

If I lived in a newer 2 story concrete block home with a hip line roof that had hurricane straps, shutters for the windows, and was definitely comfortably behind the storm surge line, I would probably hunker down and stay.

If I lived in a 60s ranch bungalow that has only had a few updates, a gabled roof, plywood for the windows, and my diabetic grandpa lived with us? I'd probably bug out.

I know this is terribly scary. Wishing the best for you and your family!

Our house is 5 years old, one story, concrete block. Front windows are hurricane, the rest have shutters that need to be put up (including the garage). We are west of I-95 and not in a flood zone, but close to one. I'm not for sure about the roof, but it was just wind tested when we moved in 2 months ago

 

[pearlieq]

Our house is 5 years old, one story, concrete block. Front windows are hurricane, the rest have shutters that need to be put up (including the garage). We are west of I-95 and not in a flood zone, but close to one. I'm not for sure about the roof, but it was just wind tested when we moved in 2 months ago

It sounds like you're probably in pretty good shape to ride it out. Talk to the neighbors and listen to your local authorities, but there's no shame in leaving if you just aren't comfortable.

 

[Haley R]

It sounds like you're probably in pretty good shape to ride it out. Talk to the neighbors and listen to your local authorities, but there's no shame in leaving if you just aren't comfortable.

Almost everyone we've talked to here is staying. For the most part, Dh's coworkers, our neighbors, and everyone at my gym are staying. Dh had one coworker say he's going to Tampa. I had one person at my gym say she's going to Charleston (which seems risky to me). I'm most worried about trying to get back home after the storm. I don't want to be stranded on the highway with no gas. We're only an hour from wdw, but it obviously could take a lot longer to get there and back. I'm not sure what dates to book for a hotel either. I was thinking Sat-Wed. What do you think?

 

[diznygirl]

Almost everyone we've talked to here is staying. For the most part, Dh's coworkers, our neighbors, and everyone at my gym are staying. Dh had one coworker say he's going to Tampa. I had one person at my gym say she's going to Charleston (which seems risky to me). I'm most worried about trying to get back home after the storm. I don't want to be stranded on the highway with no gas. We're only an hour from wdw, but it obviously could take a lot longer to get there and back. I'm not sure what dates to book for a hotel either. I was thinking Sat-Wed. What do you think?

Charleston is super risky. This hurricane keeps tracking to go up the east coast. But maybe she has family there she wants to be with? I guess it break up and be weaker too.

Currently it shows that Dorian could be past Orlando and into northern Florida by Wednesday morning, but earlier today it was thought it would still be in Orlando on Wednesday. I'd probably book through Thursday to be safe.

It will be stronger on the coast when it hits. Could be a 4 on the coast but only a 1 when it reaches Orlando, so that's something to consider as well.

Disney is great about keeping guests fed and entertained at the resorts during the hurricanes.

 

[Haley R]

Charleston is super risky. This hurricane keeps tracking to go up the east coast. But maybe she has family there she wants to be with? I guess it break up and be weaker too.

Currently it shows that Dorian could be past Orlando and into northern Florida by Wednesday morning, but earlier today it was thought it would still be in Orlando on Wednesday. I'd probably book through Thursday to be safe.

It will be stronger on the coast when it hits. Could be a 4 on the coast but only a 1 when it reaches Orlando, so that's something to consider as well.

Disney is great about keeping guests fed and entertained at the resorts during the hurricanes.

She did have family there so that's probably why. I think they'll possibly get hit hard, too.

See that's what I'm worried about. I don't really want to stay at Disney until Thursday with our cats. It's very possible Dh will have to go back to work sometime next week anyway. I'd like to stay at AKL, but it would be expensive from Sat-Thur. Sigh...no idea what we'll decide. We'll just have to wait until tomorrow and see how things look

 

[breeknee]

She did have family there so that's probably why. I think they'll possibly get hit hard, too.

See that's what I'm worried about. I don't really want to stay at Disney until Thursday with our cats. It's very possible Dh will have to go back to work sometime next week anyway. I'd like to stay at AKL, but it would be expensive from Sat-Thur. Sigh...no idea what we'll decide. We'll just have to wait until tomorrow and see how things look

Honestly? With how it’s tracking, I think you’re going to be okay. it keeps trending with more and more northward turn. Follow Ryan Maue and Tropical Tidbits on Twitter (and don’t ever listen to the Weather Channel, they’re nuts). I think you’ll be okay but again, it’s never stupid to leave. Never.

I think that’s a catch 22. People leave and then a storm ends up not coming or not being that bad so then the next time they don’t leave bc it’s such an expense and a headache. You’re just never going to really be able to make a totally confident decision, so just make the one you feel the most comfortable with.

 

[Haley R]

Honestly? With how it’s tracking, I think you’re going to be okay. it keeps trending with more and more northward turn. Follow Ryan Maue and Tropical Tidbits on Twitter (and don’t ever listen to the Weather Channel, they’re nuts). I think you’ll be okay but again, it’s never stupid to leave. Never.

I think that’s a catch 22. People leave and then a storm ends up not coming or not being that bad so then the next time they don’t leave bc it’s such an expense and a headache. You’re just never going to really be able to make a totally confident decision, so just make the one you feel the most comfortable with.

I'm going to sleep on it, see how things look tomorrow, and then dh and I can decide then. Packing up all our food, cat stuff, and the cats would just be a headache

 

[smmco]

I'm going to sleep on it, see how things look tomorrow, and then dh and I can decide then. Packing up all our food, cat stuff, and the cats would just be a headache

I've never been in a hurricane, but I think the worst thing would be the aftermath without power, cell service etc. I'm not sure any of that is avoidable. Good luck.

 

[Haley R]

I've never been in a hurricane, but I think the worst thing would be the aftermath without power, cell service etc. I'm not sure any of that is avoidable. Good luck.

The people in our neighborhood said we don’t lose power for long if we even lose it at all. But this storm looks too big to think like that imo

 

[fla4fun]

The people in our neighborhood said we don’t lose power for long if we even lose it at all. But this storm looks too big to think like that imo

Are your power lines buried or above ground? That makes a big difference. Ours are buried and we have not had long term power loss during any hurricane (knocking on all the wood I can reach). Coworkers in areas with above ground lines have had issues with power for two to three weeks after storms.

 

[Haley R]

Are your power lines buried or above ground? That makes a big difference. Ours are buried and we have not had long term power loss during any hurricane (knocking on all the wood I can reach). Coworkers in areas with above ground lines have had issues with power for two to three weeks after storms.

I actually don’t know the answer to this but I can find that out.

 

[wgeo]

I actually don’t know the answer to this but I can find that out.

Is your area issuing evacuation orders for any zones? I know you said you are not in a flood zone, but are you in an evacuation zone? Also - a 5 year old house in Florida is built to the strongest of the hurricane standards/codes, so that is working in your favor. With each new forecast run this storm is moving farther out to sea, so that's good as well. Still strong winds, but your house is built to withstand a lot of wind.

 

[Haley R]

Is your area issuing evacuation orders for any zones? I know you said you are not in a flood zone, but are you in an evacuation zone? Also - a 5 year old house in Florida is built to the strongest of the hurricane standards/codes, so that is working in your favor. With each new forecast run this storm is moving farther out to sea, so that's good as well. Still strong winds, but your house is built to withstand a lot of wind.

Here’s a picture of our evacuation zones:

That long, dark pink line is I-95 and we are to the left of that. So we aren’t even near an evacuation zone.

Dh found out our power lines are actually underground. The more we think about it, the more we want to stay.

 

[wgeo]

Here is a map of the wind speeds that a current build house would have to be able to withstand to meet code. Not sure on your exact location but you've got to be around the 160mph zone.

 

[Haley R]

View attachment 431369

Here is a map of the wind speeds that a current build house would have to be able to withstand to meet code. Not sure on your exact location but you've got to be around the 160mph zone.

I think we’re in that 140-150 zone.