HELP!! Panic is setting in

[shaws2003]

We leave on December 4th out of Portland, Maine and I just heard there is a chance of snow that day! I've never flown when there was a chance of a delay or cancellation. This is a surprise trip for the kids (DD9 & DS5) and the plan would be to wake them up Monday morning and tell them that we are going. If there is a delay it would ruin the surprise. I can't imagine waiting in an airport with 2 kids. The only bright side is that our only plan for Monday when we arrive is to hit DTD so we wouldn't miss much if we are late getting in. I am in desperate need of some pixie dust or if Mother Nature is lurking on this board, I need that storm to go out to sea and quick!

 

[kaelarad]

As a Boston native, I feel your stress and panic. Pray! Really hard! LOL! the joys of living in new england. I would call disney see if you could get a room for the night before and check airlines to see if you could get out a day early. I know that it is more money and fees possibly with the airlines but it sounds like a wonderful trip for your kids! And Disney is beautiful at this time of year! Good luck and I will pray to the snow gods for you!!!

 

[phantom728]

Here's some pixie dust for you. We generally travel in January and have had some issues with this back in 2005. Luckily, we were able to change our flights to leave a few hours earlier, but I know that doesn't always happen.

Here's hoping the weather holds out for you, we leave on Friday and this was a concern as sometimes we get surprise storms this early in Dec, but weather has been above normal for our area and temps are dropping the day after we leave.

Enjoy your trip!

 

[Bill From PA]

We had a flight to San Diego from a small 'port in North East Pa for Super Bowl XXXII and snow and ice were predicted for that morning. I called the airport the night before and asked how bad it would have to be to affect flight operations and was told that they'd probably fly with as much as 8 inches of snowfall. As it happened we got 2 - 3 inches of slush and ice, they de-iced the wings and we landed on time to 72 degree temps. I would imagine any airport in Maine is ready to handle more than that. Good luck.

Bill From PA

 

[SadieDog]

As a fellow Mainer who flys out of Portland, I understand your stress. Hopefully it won't be any more than a little snow and not an actual storm. Good luck to you. Try not to worry so much. Everything may not turn out exactly as planned, but you WILL get there and have a great time when you do.

 

[Kitty-chan]

I understand your fear - somehow I get nervous every year about snow delays, since we usually travel in December out of Boston/Logan, which is notorious for weather problems.

But you might find some comfort in knowing that even if it snows, chances are really good that you'll get there with little if any delay. I fly a lot on business, and I've seen that it takes a lot to really shut things down. Sure, there are plenty of minor delays, but most of the time things go really smoothly.

Pixie dust for you!

 

[a*lil*bit*goofy]

Add ot the surprise with a travel game to bring along incase of delays. milton bradley has some great ones and very inexpensive. The delay could end up being part of the magic, that one day your kids say "hey mom/dad, remember when you surprised us to disney and we had that delay, and we were playing games in the airport, and it was like a fun family night" they will have remembered that specific detail, out of all the memorable things that happen on a trip. gotta make lemonade, kwim?

That said, i am in Ottawa. I have been in a panick since i booked the trip in January over snow possibilities. So far looks like no snow until monday. fingers crossed. my kids wouldn't do as well with a delay, they are only 3 and 5!

Don't stress, enjoy surprising them, and have a great trip! and like you said, if late you won't miss out too much. good luck!

 

[THE HAT]

No need to get in the panic stage. We fly often in the winter (usually 3x between jan-march) either out of Bangor, Portland, or Boston, we have never had more then a few hours delay, and that was during a very severe ice storm in Boston and a later in the day flight (3pm). The airports want to move you out as quick as possible. Maine airports are fab at keeping the runway cleared, and the wings de-iced. It takes a good size storm to really cause a problem. That being said from what the weather is saying for us right now it is just some snow showers for the 4th. No biggie.
Finish your packing, finalize your plans and have a super time!!!!

 

[Disneyaunt4]

Will also pray to the snow Gods for you.

 

[AStamm]

I'm sure everything will work out fine. If a plane can get out of Harrisburg, PA with a good foot of snow on the ground (our 1st family WDW trip--and it hardly ever snows in December here, to boot), I'm 100% a plane can get out of Portland where they actually have the proper snow-clearing equipment.

 

[JacobsMommy11002]

Try not to worry too much. I'm in Portland, and from what I understand its not supposed to be much more than flurries. I'd worry more if it were sleet or freezing rain. You should be ok

 

[alfredromero1975]

Best of luck. Airports can handle a lot of snow and I've never heard of Portland shutting down due to snow. Denver and Boston (and other East Coast) airports are another story. The good thing is that they'll be no snow at WDW!

Have a great time.

 

[Maine-iac]

Hey another Mainer here. I fly out of Portland on Jan. 31 and I have never flown that time of year so I am concerned about snow too.
I am ready for snow but I will not wish for it on Dec 4! Plus if they are predicting snow TODAY for Monday that could change. You know how the weather forcast changes every couple of days sometimes.
Oh I just remembered that DS is taking his driving test on Dec. 4 so
NO SNOW NO SNOW NO SNOW

 

[ProfJohn]

Many years ago we were returning from a trip to Disney and Portland was closed.
They flew us into Boston and put us on a bus to Portland. So we did get there, just not very fast.
Have a back up plan? What will the airline do for you if flights are cancelled?
Plus light snow should not be a problem.

 

[TinkandAriel]

another Mainer here, I wouldn't worry too much...we flew out of Manchester last April it was sleeting, freezing rain...messy nasty day and there were no delays. The nice thing was when we rose above the storm and wa-lah, blue sky! Imagine, three hours later we landed in 80 degree wonderful Orlando. It snowed most of the week we were gone...hee hee.
Try not to stress and I'll do some anti-snow dancing for ya, even though I REALLY want snow this year!

 

[JJ&JSMOM]

Wow lots of Mainers out there! I live in Bangor. I've never flown out of Portland but I'm sure Portland Jet port will be able to handle any snow that falls. I didn't even know it was supposed to snow. We're going to S. Portland christmas shopping. Have a great trip!!!!

I just checked the weather for the Portland Jetport on Saturday and it was sun and clouds high of 44 degrees. There was a high wind warning but no snow mentioned! I guess Mother Nature heard your requests!

 

[Maine-iac]

Wow lots of Mainers out there! I live in Bangor. I've never flown out of Portland but I'm sure Portland Jet port will be able to handle any snow that falls. I didn't even know it was supposed to snow. We're going to S. Portland christmas shopping. Have a great trip!!!!

I just checked the weather for the Portland Jetport on Saturday and it was sun and clouds high of 44 degrees. There was a high wind warning but no snow mentioned! I guess Mother Nature heard your requests!

I didn't realize that so many of us were on these boards. I live in the midcoast area.
My brother works for American Eagle at the Bangor airport. My niece just called my DD from college in Abiline Texas and told her it was snowing there. I think that is unusual for them.
Seems to me that Bangor would be more likely to close as you all get more snow up there. But it looks like you are flying out in April? We went during Easter this year and were pleasantly surprised that the crowds were lower that we expected. Hope the same goes for you.
Wow you are driving a long way to go shopping. Are you going to make a weekend out of it? Happy shopping!

 

[Disney Panda]

We leave the same day as you! Hope we both have nice weather for the flight and in Orlando.