Driving to WDW & hurricane Isabel

[Julle]

Help! We will be driving on friday the 19th for WDW from here in Pittsburgh PA - we usually take 79 to 77 to 95. We hit North Carolina on 77 and South Carolina right on the coast on 95 . For those of you Carolinans should we take another route just in case Isabel is going to hit? Please forgive my bad geography. Thanks for all your help. PRAYING THAT ISABEL WILL STAY AWAY FROM ALL OF US!! JULIE

 

[chell]

If Isabel doesn't turn and head of to sea (which I hope she does) you can take the following:

Take I-77 to I-85 (this will be just outside of Charlotte, NC)

Take I-85 to I-75 (Unfortunately this will be just outside of Atlanta)

Take I-75 to the Toll Road in Florida

I'm sure someone can offer better directions. But this can give you a general idea. And it will keep you away from the coast.

Some Friends of mine will also be leaving on Friday and may have to go this route.

Hope you have a safe trip and have a wonderful time!!!

 

[dvcgirl]

Right now the National Hurricane Center's five day forecast has Isabel making landfall on the outer banks of NC on Thursday afternoon and then heading along the VA coast and then right up the Chesapeake.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/ftp/graphics/AT13/refresh/AL1303W5+GIF/140858W5.gif


I'm sure that the NHC will be adjusting the track of Isabel as we go here, but anyone leaving for the WDW from the NC to New England area on Thurs-Saturday of this week should keep a very close eye on this thing.

 

[lisam]

I am a bit worried too. We leave Cleveland on Saturday and take 77 to 95 with a stop overnight in St. George, SC which (from looking on the map) is a bit too close to the ocean for comfort for me. It is not even the storm so much as I am wondering if the hotels will all be booked because of evacuations. I have a ressie but it is not on a credit card hold...I wonder if they will honor it in case of emergencies or if they will give the room away. It may be worth a phone call to find out!

Good luck with your trips everyone...I keep praying for a turn out to sea.

Lisa

 

[chell]

lisam I would think they would honor the reservation. You may want to call them just to make sure. If the storm does go on the track they are now suggesting you should be fine in St. George.

Hopefully the I-95 route will not be affected since it looks like the storm will hit more North.

 

[MontyMontyMOnty]

We live at the beach in SC--and leave for Disney Thursday! So travel is a concern. One thing to remember is that 95 never really gets close to the beach until you apprach Georgia--which seems to be out of the danger zone entirely. We drive 2 1/2 hours just to get to 95! (Our door-to hotel drive to WDW is usually 7.5-8 hours).

I would keep a close eye onthe wweather forecast. Many of the storms that have been predicted for us in the past 5 years have followed a similar route right on by into NC. I would be much more worried about getting through NC if you need to go that way, it is notorious for hurricaine landfalls! You will prpabbaly get thunderstorms and rain regardless of where isabel makes landfall, but I would check the 11pm and 5am advisories for a much better idea. Once you pass the upper part of SC (around Charleston?)95 should be smooth sailing, as long as isabel stays on her current course. We are North of Carleston, but south of Myrtle beach, and are concerned abotu the first 2 hours of our tirp only. We have friends house sitting arriveing tuesday, so depending on the forecast, we may leave a day early, and grab a room anywhere on disney property until out res on thurs....

I would avoid anny route that included route 17--that is the ocean highway, and will have bad weather!

I will check back and post again as any SC specific new comes up!