Going during hurricane season. Would it be better to drive?

[GEM]

We are going in September for the free dining package, and we are trying to decide if it would be better to fly or drive. We have made the 20 hour drive many, many times and we don't really mind it - but we would rather fly for this trip, honestly, since we aren't doing anything other than Disney and we're only staying 7 nights.

However, I'm thinking that since it's hurricane season, maybe we would be better off driving. That way, if there is a problem with airport closings, flight delays, etc. we won't be at the mercy of the airlines. I guess I just read too many horror stories about people being stuck in Orlando with no way home, etc.

What do you guys think?

 

[safetymom]

Then you could worry about road closures, no gas, flooded roads. If there is a hurricane in the area either way you are going to have problems. If there is a hurricane you could worry about damage to your car from flying debris.

 

[NotUrsula]

Fly. Unless you have lived through an evacuation you can't begin to imagine what a hassle evacuating by road really is. As long as you are at WDW you would not be ordered to evacuate, so you can stay put and hunker down. Do allow for the fact that you may have to make your trip a bit longer if there are flight cancellations.

One of the things that people from outside hurricane zones tend not to realize is that when a storm approaches, the very first thing to become scarce is gasoline. The supply becomes short very quickly, over an area well outside the immediate danger zone. People hoard it for after the storm, because flooding can contaminate the underground fuel tanks, and power outages mean that the pumps won't work. Traffic is a nightmare, but getting stranded on a highway is the real danger. Much better to be stranded inside a building.

 

[EdDome]

I'm from Chicago so I don't have much experience with hurricanes other than being at VWL when Charley hit a couple of years ago. We were fortunate with our travel plans since we weren't scheduled to leave for another week. what I did see, in person and on the news, was that the I-4 interstates was barely crawling between Orlando and Tampa right after Charley blew out. Gas lines were also incredible. You'd have more flexibility with your car but the probable delays would impact you.