Driving to beat Irma

[JackieO]

Is anyone actually in WDW now and can tell me road conditions? We were scheduled to arrive Sunday but we've decided to drive in earlier to get ahead of the storm. My only concern is that we'll get all the way down to Florida by early Saturday and get stopped by road closures. If we can just make it to Disney by noon on Saturday I'll feel good. Thoughts?

 

[FelisLachesis]

I would strongly urge you to reconsider heading to Orlando at all. It's nighttime, now, so the roads are mostly quiet, but during the day, they've been complete chaos. A friend of mine left Fort Lauderdale Wednesday to head north. In 5 hours, she didn't even make it to Orlando. It's usually about 2 1/2 hours.

As of 1:00 am eastern time, Friday, I-75 is totally backed up northbound from the Florida Turnpike entrance (which is the link to WDW), all the way to Valdosta, GA. There's accidents all over the highways between Miami and Orlando. You'd be going the wrong way, so things are clear to Orlando right now, but things may change very quickly.

If an evacuation order is issued The State of Florida, the highways may all point northbound, thereby, you may not actually make it to Orlando without using surface roads, which could double or even triple the time to get there. It's also highly likely that you won't actually make it to Orlando at all.

Gas has been in very short supply in Florida as all of the residents are getting what they can and getting out. If you fill up at the Georgia State line, provided you can find gas, it will take about 1/2 a tank to get to Orlando. There's no guarantee you'll have enough gas to get back to Georgia. If you're coming from Alabama, you won't make it.

No vacation is worth your life. This hurricane has already killed people, and has practically destroyed the country of Barbuda, and has knocked out the entire power system Puerto Rico and The US Virgin Islands. PR is saying it will take 4-6 months for the power to come back. We don't know if Barbuda can recover from this.

WDW is offering full refunds of any cancellations due to Irma. Stay safe, and if you don't HAVE to be in Florida this weekend, please, don't.

 

[LivingforDisney]

I would strongly urge you to reconsider heading to Orlando at all. It's nighttime, now, so the roads are mostly quiet, but during the day, they've been complete chaos. A friend of mine left Fort Lauderdale Wednesday to head north. In 5 hours, she didn't even make it to Orlando. It's usually about 2 1/2 hours.

As of 1:00 am eastern time, Friday, I-75 is totally backed up northbound from the Florida Turnpike entrance (which is the link to WDW), all the way to Valdosta, GA. There's accidents all over the highways between Miami and Orlando. You'd be going the wrong way, so things are clear to Orlando right now, but things may change very quickly.

If an evacuation order is issued The State of Florida, the highways may all point northbound, thereby, you may not actually make it to Orlando without using surface roads, which could double or even triple the time to get there. It's also highly likely that you won't actually make it to Orlando at all.

Gas has been in very short supply in Florida as all of the residents are getting what they can and getting out. If you fill up at the Georgia State line, provided you can find gas, it will take about 1/2 a tank to get to Orlando. There's no guarantee you'll have enough gas to get back to Georgia. If you're coming from Alabama, you won't make it.

No vacation is worth your life. This hurricane has already killed people, and has practically destroyed the country of Barbuda, and has knocked out the entire power system Puerto Rico and The US Virgin Islands. PR is saying it will take 4-6 months for the power to come back. We don't know if Barbuda can recover from this.

WDW is offering full refunds of any cancellations due to Irma. Stay safe, and if you don't HAVE to be in Florida this weekend, please, don't.

Well said , why you even think of heading to WDW with all this going on. Sorry but just don't understand the mind set of some people.

 

[Miumiu4me]

Most people are going north, not south. You can probably make it into Orlando ok. A fair number of places are open on Saturday. I imagine Disney will be too.

 

[Miumiu4me]

And it's very unlikely Orlando will evacuate. You run from flooding, but you hide from wind. That being said, I'd only come down if you are staying in a hotel with an actual closed off hallway. Bring food, water, and flashlights.

 

[melanielll]

This is how I see a trip like this potentially going down. You leave. Everyone else is heading the other direction (which I would take as a sign, but that is just me). You reach The Villages and can't get gas. You now get to ride out the storm in either your car or a shelter because all hotels are full of people evacuating from their homes. After the storm, it can take days or weeks before you can get gas. Why do this? And I am assuming that you aren't injured, just inconvenienced.

Let's say you get to the park. You are now paying hundreds of dollars a night to stay in your room. And waiting hours in line for a $15 sandwich. And you are assuming that the parks will open quickly. Also - if the storm doesn't damage Disney much - all of those people who have evacuated to the area and the local school kids will be in the parks when they reopen. So - low crowds - probably not.

I grew up in New Orleans and currently live in Houston. I see no scenario in which heading to Florida right now is a good idea.

 

[CAS239]

If you're coming from Georgia area or on I-75, all southbound I-75 lanes are now closed and being used as northbound lanes

 

[Alesia]

Here's something to consider: not only will gas be scarce, but food and water will likely become scarce as well. WDW hotels are used to house people who can't evacuate. Willingly going down there right now and using those resources is a slap in the face to the people who have no other choice but to be there.

Please reconsider.

 

[yeheyprincex2]

Irma is a whopper , its going to be a bad storm .governor is telling everyone in Florida told to leave. Please stay where you are and reschedule.

 

[lost*in*cyberspace]

Well said , why you even think of heading to WDW with all this going on. Sorry but just don't understand the mind set of some people.

Absolutely! Stay home! Driving into a hurricane is insane.

 

[NeedMoreMickey]

No sense on going down early now.

Due to the projected track of Hurricane Irma directly through central Florida, Walt Disney World has announced that all theme parks, water parks, and Disney Springs will be closed on Sunday, September 10 and Monday, September 11.

Disney has also announced early closure times for Saturday, September 9. Magic Kingdom closes at 9pm, Epcot at 9pm, Hollywood Studios at 7pm, Animal Kingdom at 7pm, and Disney Springs at 9pm.

 

[kirstenb1]

We've been through a couple hurricanes at WDW. You are required to stay in your room. Before the hurricane hits, there are food lines that are literally several hours long. For a cold sandwich. Take WDW out of the equation. Would you drive into a hurricane anywhere else? I think you're understandably focused on your vacation, but you need to really not do this.

 

[MillauFr]

I am usually a contrarian on these boards but I can't argue with anyone on this issue. Unless you are coming from south Florida to escape the worst of the storm going to Disneyworld this weekend is crazy.

 

[maxiesmom]

Is anyone actually in WDW now and can tell me road conditions? We were scheduled to arrive Sunday but we've decided to drive in earlier to get ahead of the storm. My only concern is that we'll get all the way down to Florida by early Saturday and get stopped by road closures. If we can just make it to Disney by noon on Saturday I'll feel good. Thoughts?

My thought is it is a very very very very very bad idea.

 

[piccolopat]

My thought is that you seriously need to reevaluate your priorities. Millions of people in Florida are in real danger from this storm and you are worried about your vacation? Worry about the safety of your family. Release your booked room so someone who could not leave the area has a safe place to stay during the storm. Don't drive and use up gas that someone else might need to bring their family out of harm's way. What would you do now if you made it there on Saturday and the storm causes widespread damage in the Orlando area? You could be stranded in a hotel room with limited food options, possible power outages and the parks may need to stay closed for days to clean up and repair any damage. Is that how you want to spend your vacation? My advice is this: STAY HOME! You can go to WDW at another time.

 

[Ensusieasm]

Is anyone actually in WDW now and can tell me road conditions? We were scheduled to arrive Sunday but we've decided to drive in earlier to get ahead of the storm. My only concern is that we'll get all the way down to Florida by early Saturday and get stopped by road closures. If we can just make it to Disney by noon on Saturday I'll feel good. Thoughts?

Yes, I have "Thoughts" : Don't do it!

 

[Belle1962]

I concur with everyone saying just don't do it.

 

[FtW Mike]

I would suggest you take a good long look at Fox News as they have had Gov Scott on every few hours advising people from the Key's north to Jacksonville to evacuate. They will be turning all major North-South highways to NORTH Bound only. Ask yourself is it really worth risking getting to WDW to end stranded on some roadside unable to go forward or back in The worst storm ever recorded in the state . If so do your family a big favor get a high quality indelible marker write your name and Social Security Number on your arm and do the same for everyone in your party and good luck
Consider this as well. If perchance should you get stranded and you are fortunate enough to get rescued how are you going to repay those that risked their lives to save you or in the alternative how would you explain to their family that they got killed because you just had to go to DISNEY WORLD

 

[BigAlsGal]

You know....if you decide to go you decide to go. Just expect complete chaos. I honestly wouldn't be scared of riding out the storm in Disney myself. What would scare me is the traffic. Honestly just from the pictures the roads look like mayhem. You might think "Oh I'm not scared of this. We can make it and blah blah blah" but once you get down there and see the scene you might start to feel like you've made a bad choice.

Good luck whatever you choose.

 

[sweetpeama]

Like others have said unless your coming from South of Orlando and needing to get some place safer to wait out the storm and you don't think you can get any farther on what you can get for gas in your vehicle then I would go to Disney just because it sounds like their hotels are well built. Otherwise don't go either stay home or decide somewhere else to vacation this year if you can't switch time around for the remainder of 2017. If you share a general area on where you are I am sure people here can offer up some fun and interesting spots to go spend some time as well as places that they have stayed or know someone who has stayed there.