Frances! Who is still going this weekend?

[LglBlonde]

I'm from NC - been through my share of hurricanes.

Don't fly in early to ride out the storm - that is absolutely NUTS! Why put your family through that? You could be putting your lives in danger.

To the person who said it will "only be a Category 2" by time it gets to Orlando - I would not bank on that. THis is a powerful LARGE storm - near a Category 5 - matter of fact, I've read it may be a 5 by landfall. After the eye travels 100 miles inland or so, it will not decrease that much that quickly!

POSTPONE! POSTPONE!! POSTPONE!!!

Listen to the locals - the traffic is bad, supplies are short!

 

[Bella2000]

Originally posted by johde
I postponed my trip 2 day until Tuesday. Was leaving Sunday. I spent a couple of hours this morning rearranging hotels, airlines, and rental cars.

I did this this morning as well. One phone had Disney on one ear and the cell with airline on the other. Both people were just wonderful. We were originally scheduled to arrive after 9A - even in the best case scenerio I couldn't imagine being given the green light for that time period. Traveling for work I know that I prefer calling the airline now to reschedule and get seats on the flights that I want vs. waiting for them to reschedule based on what works for them at the time. I'm still wondering whether I have given enough time with Tuesday (that's okay guys I don't need your opinion just stating a ponder ) however I know that my decision to change from Sunday was a good one for our family. I'll still be monitoring and we'll play it by ear.

 

[TiggerStac]

I am in the process of rescheduling for 9/23 - 9/26. It won't be our anniversary trip anymore...as our 3 year old will now be joining us

 

[3for Me]

In response to the Cat. 2 statement also -

A Cat 2 is nothing to play with either - certainly not as "potentially" deadly, but you never know - these storms spawn tornadoes and flooding - PLEASE STAY HOME!!!

 

[DisneyDiver]

I honestly can't believe people would willingly fly down to arrive BEFORE a hurricane?

This thing is scaring NASA, it's that big (Look Here) - I would have to say that anyone wanting to take their family into a life threatening situation like that needs their head examined...

Thoughts are with all those who have to batten down the hatches and hope for the best - we're all thinking of you.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Originally posted by DisneyDiver
I honestly can't believe people would willingly fly down to arrive BEFORE a hurricane?

This thing is scaring NASA, it's that big (Look Here) - I would have to say that anyone wanting to take their family into a life threatening situation like that needs their head examined...

Thoughts are with all those who have to batten down the hatches and hope for the best - we're all thinking of you.

ITA -- it's nothing less than purely selfish behaviour to try to beat a Cat. 4 hurricane just so they can be at Disney World. Not surprising, however, considering the intelligence level exhibited by some Internet users.

 

[lulu71]

Originally posted by RoyalCanadian
ITA -- it's nothing less than purely selfish behaviour to try to beat a Cat. 4 hurricane just so they can be at Disney World. Not surprising, however, considering the intelligence level exhibited by some Internet users.

Tensions are running high for everyone, that was really uncalled for.

 

[erinch]

I'm just a bystander in PA reading "in" on this thread, but would like to point out for those who aren't there, the confusion is understandable.

As of yesterday Disney still wasn't waiving cancellation fees (and from the outside it seems they might have been a bit more proactive and saved some of the crush of phone calls today). This has moved very, very quickly from a "there's no reason not to come, just come early" to this is a major disaster, stay away.

Folks who are in other parts of the country can be forgiven for not keeping up with the escalation of concern over this storm.

 

[Meagansmom]

Everyone needs to take a look at the thread below. It states that MCO will close at noon tomorrow. I would check with my airline!!!

 

[RoyalCanadian]

Originally posted by lulu71
Tensions are running high for everyone, that was really uncalled for.

Yes -- tensions are running high, but there is still no excuse for deliberately placing oneself, their family and friends in the path of a Category 4 hurricane. Hurricanes kill. The only possibile explanation is that one places a greater value upon Disney than their own safety. Why else would one deliberately place themselves into a potential disaster area? Why else would someone actually move up their arrival times to get into MCO before the airport closes just so they can get to Disney World? It is nothing less than ignorant and selfish behaviour. Convince me it's anything else.

You need to take this hurricane warning seriously. Your life and safety is worth so much more than lost airfare or cancellation penalties.

 

[DutchsMommy]

I don't think it's fair to call someone names because they don't know what to do. People plan for these vacations for a LONG time and look forward to them for even longer. Being from Canada I can sympathize with people who have no concept of the magnatude of the situation. I think it will end up that due to flight cancellation/road closures etc most people will (unfortunately) be able to go on their trip as planned, which is a shame but ultimately safer - people will make the right decision, but this is the one place where they can talk to people who will understand how much it hurts to have to cancel your special trip - so I think a little understanding is called for as opposed to name calling.

 

[RoyalCanadian]

How is being from Canada any excuse for not understanding the gravity of a hurricane? Canada has been hit by hurricanes. Nova Scotia was hit with a massive hurricane in September of last year -- it wiped out over half of the trees in the city of Halifax. Power was out across the city. Southern Ontario was hit by the remnants of Hurricane Hugo in the fall of 1989. Hurricane Hazel in about 1954 is still remembered by people in Toronto.

People need to stop worrying about cancellation policies, lost airfares and consider the physical wellbeing of themselves and their families. Placing themselves into a hurricane zone is not common sense.

There is nothing I can do to sugar-coat this news -- but hurricanes kill.

 

[chyam]

I have to agree with RoyalCanadian, anyone with access to the internet or TV should be able to make a decision that this is not the place to be heading with a storm like Frances sitting on the coastline...........Orlando may not be immune but I would almost guarantee that it will be safer than the east coast........people that hurry to arrive here to beat the hurricane are taking room away from people who probably have no where else to go.......and from the looks of the news it will take them hours and hours to get just that far. The govenor has asked that people do not come down here, it is because the resources will be needed to help the residents not for someone who is just spending a few days or a week. If the storm does do the damage that is expected there will be many power outages=no AC! Florida is hot at this time of the year! There are many who are still without power from Charley, and emergency personnel are going to be stretched by this storm.............I like everyone else hope and pray that it takes a turn and heads out to sea, no one really knows but I for one would not be flying into FL. vacation or not..........IF it does do damage and you end up in a hotel room stranded, and not able to fly home when your vacation is over the next posts we will be reading is ................oh I was at Disney during Hurricane Frances, there was no water, no electricity and I had to eat peanut butter sandwiches....what a lousey vacation, poor poor pitiful me! To be down here already and get stranded is one thing but to fly into it is another.............So like RoyalCanadian I will take my chances to get flamed, but I don't think it is a wise decision.

 

[lulu71]

Originally posted by RoyalCanadian
You need to take this hurricane warning seriously. Your life and safety is worth so much more than lost airfare or cancellation penalties.

You? As in me personally, or the collective you?

FYI, no arguments here, my trip has been rescheduled.

 

[April76]

Just a few points to consider if you're wondering whether or not to head to Florida:

1. Orlando International Airport (MCO) will close Friday at noon and could be closed for several days.

2. Roadways might be closed by order of government/law enforcement due to the disaster.

3. Gasoline is already unavailable in alot of the area.

4. Parks will be CLOSED for at least one day -- no one knows how much damage this hurricane will cause.

5. All hotels and resort areas will feel the strain of extra folks who have been stranded or have evacuated into the Orlando area from their homes.

Please put your safety first!

I know how much planning goes into a WDW trip and how disappointed your family will be -- but trips can be rescheduled for a time when you can have much more FUN!

 

[DutchsMommy]

All I am saying is that I can empathize with people who are feeling confused and upset that something they have looked forward to for so long is being totally screwed up. I am NOT saying I condone risking life and limb in a dangerous situation simply to go on vacation. My point was that I thought the use of the term "intelligence level" to lump everyone together as idiots was not called for. I don't imagine these people are, for the most part, of low intelligence, they are just upset and looking for a place to vent.

As for being from Canada - the examples you give are pretty few and far between - I have lived here all my life and remember the hurricane hitting Barrie as some trees down. I don't live anywhere near the east coast so I have no tangible experience with what happened there, and I wasn't around in 1954. I think it may be difficult for some people with my kind of limited-to-no experience with hurricanes etc. to understand the dangers. This is my personal impression and what I was hoping to get across in my first post.

 

[lulu71]

Originally posted by DutchsMommy
All I am saying is that I can empathize with people who are feeling confused and upset that something they have looked forward to for so long is being totally screwed up. I am NOT saying I condone risking life and limb in a dangerous situation simply to go on vacation. My point was that I thought the use of the term "intelligence level" to lump everyone together as idiots was not called for. I don't imagine these people are, for the most part, of low intelligence, they are just upset and looking for a place to vent.

As for being from Canada - the examples you give are pretty few and far between - I have lived here all my life and remember the hurricane hitting Barrie as some trees down. I don't live anywhere near the east coast so I have no tangible experience with what happened there, and I wasn't around in 1954. I think it may be difficult for some people with my kind of limited-to-no experience with hurricanes etc. to understand the dangers. This is my personal impression and what I was hoping to get across in my first post.

I totally understand where you're coming from...and I live in a hurricane city that is below sea-level!!!

 

[RoyalCanadian]

I have lived in southern Ontario all my life, as well. I wasn't around in 1954 either -- but Hurricane Hazel is a part of the collective conscience of Southern Ontario. Hurricane Hugo hit southern Ontario in 1989 with a significant force. And one only had to open up a newspaper or turn on the television to see the stories of the hurricane that hit Halifax last fall.

That hurricane in September 2003 was a prime example of what happens when people ignore the hurricane warnings. The weather office posted the warnings -- but the media downplayed the warnings -- even made light of the warnings. Following the hurricane and the massive damage it was the media that was all over the weather office -- blaming the weather office for not issuing proper warnings. I fear at least a repeat of that with people deliberately placing themselves in the way of Frances. How loud will the chorus be shouting "Nobody told us!!"

 

[lightningcoach]

Disney and other hotels airlines, etc are allowing full refunds!
This storm is worse than Charley. Charley was a fast storm. Francis is a slowwwww storm. We expect to get 24 hours of hurricane/ tropical storm weather unlike the 3-5 hours Charley gave us. You do not want to be at WDW during this or any part of Florida that is in Francis's path. The eye itself is 40 miles wide and the entire storm is currently 30 miles wider than the state of Florida itself! Stay home and be safe. A trip can always be rescheduled- your life can't.

 

[DutchsMommy]

Royal Canadian - I agree about the downplaying, which is probably why I feel I don't have a feel for the scope of the magnitude. I am hopeful that those with plans for the weekend will see all of the real life experiences of those on the boards and heed them. Your point that it is simply not worth the risk is absolutely spot on and maybe it does takes strong words to get the point across.