Governor Bush discouraging visitors

[Lisa loves Pooh]

I do not have an article link, but WKMG news in Orlando stated that Governor Jeb Bush is now discouraging travel to the state of Florida this weekend.

 

[Kay1]

Wow! I'm stunned because we depend so on tourism. I've been checking www.floridadisaster.org for this sort of info. This is just such a monster of a storm, the governor is probably trying to save lives. I'll support him in this as lives are a heck of a lot more important than money.

 

[stitch79]

We do depend on tourism, but the fewer people (local & tourist alike) that are around the easier it is to manage. With evacuations already clogging up the roads it would just be better for visitors to postpone their trips. This hurricane is going to be nasty.

 

[tnkrbell]

I agree this is a dangerous looking storm. I know I wouldnt take the chance and be here if I didnt need to. We would leave but to where???!!!!!

 

[mamalle]

I agree with the gov and kinda shocked that disney is taking reservations for the weekend they are stressing down to stay put unless you are instructed to evacuate so the roads are less congested.

 

[C.Ann]

In all honesty, if I had a reservation for this weekend, I would cancel it - hoping that someone who is already stuck in Florida could use it..

If this storm is anywhere near as bad as they are predicting, it will be sheer chaos all over Florida for days and possibly weeks to come.. That's not my idea of a "vacation" and I sure wouldn't want to get in the way of whatever needs to be done down there in terms of evacuation, safety, etc..

 

[mamalle]

Gov Bush is on the TV right now and stated if you are planning a trip to Fla this labor day weekend to please reschedule it not cancel it.

 

[mom_rules]

On another thread, people were saying that they were getting calls from WDW cancelling their reserv. for this weekend. Where is this hurricane travelling through Florida (All the path maps do not have any cities on them)?

Bless you all! Stay safe and listen to the warnings!

 

[stitch79]

What makes it worse is that this was a holiday weekend and was going to be very crowded at Disney and other vacation spots.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Of course disney is still taking reservations--people like me live at the beach and need someplace inland to go. I have no preference to drive too far away in order to get back as quickly as possible to assess damage.

As far as the discouragement--he has to worry about all the lives in the state--the more is not the merrier in this situation.

Cities--she is supposed to come on land in Brevard County (think Port Canaveral and disney cruise lines) and swoop through Orlando--then it looks like she is following I-75 basically up and through Georgia--going through Ocala, Gainesville, Lake City, etcetera. Subject to change of course.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Trust me--all coastal communities Brevard County and Northward--those hotels will not be receiving guests this weekend--once warnings and evac orders go up--bye bye holiday weekend.

 

[mamalle]

our news just said it should take landfall around indian river county- melbourne area BUT it its looking like it might even be south of that now. we just have to wait and see at the 5pm advisory. there is always room for error for it to go more north or south. Its quite massive and will have impact on most of the state this weekend. we are already gearing up for mandatory evacuations here in palm beach county starting tomorrow at 2pm.

 

[DisneyWisher]

This is probably why Gov. Bush is discouraging people coming here.
This is what our local meteorologist from ABC is saying


Hurricane force winds extend 80 miles out from the eye of the storm. That's about twice the width of Hurricane Charley, which struck South Florida's west coast in August. Tropical storm force winds extend out 170 miles from the eye of Frances.

"This is certainly capable of causing extreme damage wherever it hits," said Max Mayfield of the National Hurricane Center. "This is a large hurricane and will impact a large area ... South Florida is not off the hook yet."

Frances could strengthen to a Category 5 by the time it makes landfall later this week. Local 10 Chief Meteorologist Don Noe says that the storm is forecasted to slow down on Friday. That could keep the track more to the west than north, meaning that South Florida could experience tropical storm force winds even if Frances makes landfall north of the area. Frances is such a large storm that if it makes landfall anywhere on the east coast of Florida, much of the state will feel its impact.

Shirley

 

[denman007]

Of course disney is still taking reservations--people like me live at the beach and need someplace inland to go.

I would hardly call Disney "inland". I don't kow how much safer that would be. Definitely miss the storm surge, though.

GL to you!

 

[Brenner965]

From the Orlando Sentinel article:

"Bush said evacuation orders may go out at the latest Thursday morning. He also urged visitors planning to come to Florida for the Labor Day weekend to stay informed and make travel decisions based accordingly.

"We don't know where the storm is going to land, but it is a powerful storm. It has a broad reach," Bush said. "As the storm approaches, it will become clear. It will become very clear."

"By Friday morning there won't be anybody that hasn't, hopefully, made the right decision to cancel or to re-arrange their travel plans or to delay it so they can come back in October, when it will be beautiful," Bush said."

 

[poohkinandpiglet]

There is always a chance that they will close the parks anyway if they think it's going to be bad weather. Those decisions come from state government.

I'm sure Gov. Bush is putting that message out there so people will be smart and do the right thing to stay safe. You'd be surprised at how many people don't pay attention to the weather. We were at Busch Gardens the day before Hurricane Charley hit (no, the park wasn't crowded) and our VIP tour guide didn't even know there was a hurricane coming. I'm sure there are people coming from out of state that don't keep up with Orlando's local weather.

 

[DMRick]

In all honesty, if I had a reservation for this weekend, I would cancel it - hoping that someone who is already stuck in Florida could use it..

Of course, since we have talked, you already know I am going. Disney has had a lot of cancellations, as have other hotels. There are still many rooms available, so I don't think I'm misplacing a Floridian..who's idea of safety right now, may not be Orlando..

This is the only week I can get away until December, and I'm still planning on going.

 

[kelscross]

I'm with you DMRick. I can not change my plans to a later date. We actually changed our flight to Friday morning (Airtran didn't charge anything) and reserved a room only ressie for Friday night. I hope we can still get in Friday morning.

 

[princssdisnygina]

Do you think it would be better to fly in tuesday? A friend of mine has a ressie for saturday but it looks like they could change it to tuesday, flight and all. This is the only week they can go.

Gina

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Originally posted by denman007
I would hardly call Disney "inland". I don't kow how much safer that would be. Definitely miss the storm surge, though.

GL to you!

You know--that is somewhat rude! Beaches are evacuated--and inland is considered Orlando and vicinity as it isn't near the beach and storm surge.

It is the middle of the state--if we wanted a true inland, we would evacuate to the midwest. Without traffic I am 4 hours from the stateline--and that still places me at the coast.

Please leave the insults off of the thread!