Hurriane Season

[disneychard]

Has one ever effect the resort? Did any hurriane ever hit wdw? I was just wondering since its the seson and we leave soon. I am a worry wart.

 

[disnut8]

Disney World is actually in the middle of Florida so a hurricane cannot make land right there. It can be in the moving path of a storm once it hits land, though. When my parents and sister lived in the Florida Keys and evacuated, they went straight to Disney World because it's probably the safest public place in the state of Florida.

I was there for Hurricane Francis and I can tell you first hand Disney World is where you want to be (I lived in Biloxi, Mississippi and went through five of them in 1985 so I know what a bad hurricane - Elena - can do).

In preparation, Disney will tie down all kiosks in the parks. They will shrink wrap all the trash cans. They will tie down all the signs and shrink wrap those. If there is any possibility that the conditions are getting dangerous, they will close the parks, send everyone either home or back to their resorts. Once at the resort, you could be in a lock down situation (as we were for Francis). We were told well in advance and could get supplies. We never lost electricity, water, or cable. Disney showed their movies on a couple of channels.

Really, don't worry about it. If you happen to be there when a hurricane decides to show up, you will be so well cared for.

 

[SplashMountainMama]

In August 2006 we were there when a hurricane (can't remember which one) was threatening to hit land and eventually pass through Orlando. It was almost exactly a year to the date from when Katrina happened so I think everyone was a little on edge about any mention of a hurricane. It turned out to be downgraded to a tropical storm/depression by the time we got hit and it was mostly just some higher winds and bad thunderstorms. There were some messages posted on the Disney World resort info channel on the tv in the room. That day was supposed to be EMH at night for AK, but in anticipation of the storm they changed it to morning EMH at AK instead. It was great because a lot of people didn't see the message because they didn't check that channel and so the next morning it was practically deserted at AK. I'm not a big fan of any thunderstorms so the thought of a hurricane coming through would really scare me under normal circumstances, but I felt very safe at Disney just from everything I'd read about it before we went. Disney resorts are even sometimes used as shelters during those storms because they are so safe. At least that's what I've read.

 

[Scott_Erin]

But what a cool place to have a hurricane cool1: My last party wasn't to fun Had friends swimming with fishes

 

[skipperkim]

I went through Hurricane Wilma in Oct 2005. The parks were closed until 2pm that day and there was no Disney transportation. It was no big deal, 40 mph winds and 4" of rain in about 14 hrs. The lighting the night before was worse than the day of the hurricane. We had bought some food before heading over to Disney in the rental. We were going to eat breakfast in the room anyway, we just added lunch to that day. We did get to go see the Beach Boys that day too. It was a little chilly after that.

 

[TrixyA]

We were at WDW when Hurricane Wilma hit. Thankfully, it wasn't a horrific storm, but it was fairly inconvenient.

We were staying at POFQ and were supposed to check out the day that the storm hit. The front desk told us we would have to be out of our room by 11am (standard checkout time), but that we were not allowed to walk around the grounds and that bell services would not come get our luggage or store it until the storm had passed. The parks were all closed due to the storm.

I'm not sure what the front desk people expected us to do during the storm.... hide under a bench and hold onto our luggage?

We stayed in our room until the storm passed and we started to hear the housekeeping staff moving around outside the rooms. It was early afternoon when we left our luggage at bell services and went over to Epcot (the only park that opened that day). We had a lovely lunch at Le Cellier-- without reservations-- did a little shopping, and headed to the airport in the late afternoon. My DH's biggest complaint about Wilma was that he had wanted to go on ToT again and the storm messed up that plan.

Magical Express was fairly new at that time and some friends had a less than magical experience trying to find out when, where, etc. their shuttle would pick them up. Three years later, I've gotta believe that a system is now in place to handle hurricanes and busses.

I've heard stories of the deluxe resorts setting up sandwich stations and otherwise taking pretty good care of resort guests during hurricanes. Based on our experience at POFQ, I wouldn't expect anything from a moderate resort other than the ability to hide out in your room until it's safe to leave.

 

[jlewisinsyr]

In 2004 we were in Orlando a few days after Hurricane Frances and left the day Hurricane Ivan was coming to shore (the second half that crossed back into FL). For the most part, you wouldn't really even notice that the Hurricanes hit outside of the tree supports on a lot of the palms and some other secondary supporting structures around.

The worst place for damage seemed to be the airport though, it was pretty beat up with a lot of windows that were gone and a lot of damaged carpeting being replaced. The day we were leaving the airport was mobbed with a lot of people trying to make airline changes and stuff. Personally if it were us, we would have just stayed put and rode it out if our flights were later that day or a few days later, but some people really didn't want to be there.

 

[all4disney98]

We were there in 2004 for Hurricane Jeanne. I felt safe the entire time. Disney closed the parks early evening and told us when the food court at the resort would officially close and recommended stocking up on food because we weren't allowed to leave the room until they said it was safe. They kept leaving updates on the room's voice mail. The parks were closed the entire next day. When the food court opened up again, it was a madhouse, we saw people stealing.

This was at CBR. Other than being stuck in the room for 24 hours, you would never had known there was a hurricane. Disney is so quick at cleaning things up.

 

[edcrbnsoul]

Another Hurricane Wilma guest. WE stayed at the PR and felt safe and well informed.

FYI Disney World was declared "Storm Ready"

NOAA’S NATIONAL WEATHER SERVICE DECLARES
WALT DISNEY WORLD RESORT STORMREADY

Officials from NOAA’s National Weather Service have declared Walt Disney World® Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Fla., as a StormReady® community. As the first theme park and resort in the nation to achieve this recognition, Walt Disney World joins more than 1,050 StormReady communities throughout the United States.

“More than 10,000 severe thunderstorms, 2,500 floods and 1,000 tornadoes affect the United States annually, and hurricanes pose a significant threat – especially to the coastal regions of the Gulf and southeastern states,” said retired Air Force Brig. Gen. David L. Johnson, director of the National Weather Service. “The National Weather Service developed the StormReady program to help protect every American from such hazardous weather.”

The nationwide community preparedness program uses a grassroots approach to help communities develop plans to handle local severe weather and flooding threats. The program is voluntary and provides communities with clear-cut advice from the local National Weather Service forecast office and state and local emergency managers. The StormReady program began in 1999 with seven communities in the Tulsa, Okla., area.

“StormReady encourages communities to take a proactive approach to improving local hazardous weather operations and public awareness in partnership with their local National Weather Service office," said Bill Proenza, director of the National Weather Service southern region. “StormReady helps communities improve communication and safety skills needed to save lives — before, during and after the event.”

Located on 28,000 acres of land near Orlando and one of the most frequented vacation destinations in the world, Walt Disney World Resort opened in 1971 with the Magic Kingdom theme park, hotels, campgrounds, golf courses, and shopping villages.

Walt Disney World Resort has its own emergency operations center, 24-hour warning capabilities, and an amateur radio club. Its emergency management staff is highly regarded by the National Weather Service and other federal, state and local government agencies.

“We appreciate this acknowledgement of our continuous efforts to ensure the year-round safety of our guests and cast members,” said Lee A. Cockerell, executive vice president of operations for Walt Disney World. “Our partnerships with local, state and federal emergency management agencies are part of our overall safety strategy that enables us to provide our guests with the highest level of security and comfort possible.”

To be recognized as StormReady, a community must:

Establish a 24-hour warning point and emergency operations center
Have more than one way to receive severe weather forecasts and warnings and to alert the public
Create a system that monitors local weather conditions
Promote the importance of public readiness through community seminars
Develop a formal hazardous weather plan, which includes training severe weather spotters and holding emergency exercises.
Walt Disney World Resort is one of 70 StormReady designations in Florida. In a special ceremony at the resort, officials were presented with a formal recognition letter and StormReady signs. The StormReady recognition will be in effect for three years as resort conducts the renewal process.

The National Weather Service is an office of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, an agency of the U.S. Commerce Department. NOAA is dedicated to enhancing economic security and national safety through the prediction and research of weather and climate-related events and providing environmental stewardship of our nation’s coastal and marine resources. Through the emerging Global Earth Observation System of Systems (GEOSS), NOAA is working with its federal partners and more than 60 countries to develop a global monitoring network that is as integrated as the planet it observes.

 

[I Love Pluto]

Getting nervous...we're there on the 15th. Hurricane Brenda????? Please tell me it's OK.

 

[bzzelady]

I've heard stories of the deluxe resorts setting up sandwich stations and otherwise taking pretty good care of resort guests during hurricanes. Based on our experience at POFQ, I wouldn't expect anything from a moderate resort other than the ability to hide out in your room until it's safe to leave.

I can vouch for that...we weathered Wilma at the Boardwalk Inn. The night that the storm kicked up, we received regular updates about the storm via phone messages and fliers under our doors. I felt so confident about the level of communication from the front desk CM's that I actually slept very soundly that night.

We had the opportunity to purchase a breakfast or lunch buffet ticket for the following day for $15.00 per person-we chose lunch and it was absolutely fantastic! It was served down in the ballroom at the convention center...we were taken there by CM's through back hallways so as not to have to venture outside.

After that experience, I don't know if I would want to weather a hurricane anywhere else but a deluxe resort...unless of course I was on a DVC stay and had my own kitchen and whirlpool

 

[bzzelady]

Getting nervous...we're there on the 15th. Hurricane Brenda????? Please tell me it's OK.

Her name is Bertha and from the Weather Channel forecasts, she doesn't look like she is going to impact us in the least

 

[Sammie]

Hurricane Charley came right over WDW and no one was in great danger just inconvenience. There was minor damage to some of the resorts but they are back open the next day except for AK.

So if you go during hurricane season you should realize there is the potential.

Parks can close early, you can be required to stay in your room for up to 24 hours, so you might want to prepare for that and not wait till the last minute as some did and think you will find anything left to buy in the way of snacks in the Disney stores.

Games for kids are good, as they will be stuck in the rooms. Disney resorts are very safe but it can get long waiting it out. Bring a flashlight, basically just common sense of what you might need during that time, without being able to leave your room.

 

[RMulieri]

Hurricaines RARELY impact WDW..Yes they can wreck havoc on travel times and yes they do occasionally confine guests to their rooms if there is active storming outside.But when you travel from June 1 to Nov 30...this is the risk we all take.Don't sweat it

 

[disnut8]

We were at WDW when Hurricane Wilma hit. Thankfully, it wasn't a horrific storm, but it was fairly inconvenient.

I'm not sure what the front desk people expected us to do during the storm.... hide under a bench and hold onto our luggage?

Three years later, I've gotta believe that a system is now in place to handle hurricanes and busses.

Based on our experience at POFQ, I wouldn't expect anything from a moderate resort other than the ability to hide out in your room until it's safe to leave.

When Disney World closes for a hurricane, it sends most of their Cast Members home and keeps only a skeleton staff at the resort. They don't want their Cast Members not home caring for their families or getting caught driving home in the middle of the storm.

During a hurricane situation, road traffic is kept to a bare minimum with only essential people allowed to drive. That's probably what happened with Magical Express. Also, the staff could have been affected by people wanting to stay home to take care of their families (understandable).

As for making you check out, as I said, many, many people go to Disney World because it is so safe. You were leaving that day, one extra available room can be extremely valuable to someone who has no other place to go.

 

[Nie0214]

Hurricane Charley came right over WDW and no one was in great danger just inconvenience. There was minor damage to some of the resorts but they are back open the next day except for AK.

In August 2004, our flight out of Providence, RI to Orlando was canceled because of Hurricane Charley. The reason wasn't so much of the hurricane (it had hit the night before our flight) but because the terminal for US Airways was in bad shape (something about the roof panels?). The Hurricane wasn't even supposed to come anywhere near Orlando (I think it was supposed to be around the Tampa area) but it happened and it was not expected.

We were re-routed to Tampa, FL and had to rent a car and drive to Orlando. It was pretty rainy for the week, and I heard people were told to stay in their rooms while it hit the day before. A lot of places didn't have power, but Disney did. We did get to fly out of Orlando at least, and didn't have to drive back to Tampa.

The parks went on as usual in the aftermath (AK was closed for a day and Typhoon Lagoon was closed during our whole stay). We noticed many trees fallen over onto other trees, and almost all of them were bent to the side but that was about it.

Check out this trip report & pictures from Charley (it's not mine, but I found it): http://www.propeller.com/viewstory/...elbow/2006/08/disney_world_hu.html&frame=true

Another good article is this one: http://www.hotel-online.com/News/PR2004_3rd/Aug04_OrlandoCharley.html it talks about how Disney has underground power lines.

Also, I believe EPCOT will have an attraction based on Charlie starting in August of this year.

 

[maryhenry]

We were at the Wilderness Lodge September 2004 when a hurricane hit (I can't remember which one, because I think there were 2 or 3 that year in Florida alone). The day before the storm hit, the parks closed a little early. The storm hit land that night, and we were told to close our curtains. It made its way across land that day, but we were able to hang out in the lobby. Being from Louisiana, I'm used to hurricanes, and the one that hit was relatively small. There was a lot of rain,and the big doors that led out to the pool leaked. The WL had a bunch of employees playing games with the guests in the lobby. Later that day several characters stopped by for autographs and pictures. That night, there was story-telling in the lobby. At the time, our kids thought that day was as much fun as any other in the parks! Because we had a package, WDW gave us three one-day passes for use in the future (our son was under three, so he didn't get one). When we ventured out the next day, we couldn't believe a storm had even passed - there was no sign.

 

[parrothead928]

The main thing about Orlando is that it is about 80 miles from the coast, both ways! It can be in the path and take on serious damage from a storm. Just a trip up through Montgomery, AL or Atlanta, GA after a storm has made landfall will be enough to remind people that a strong storm (3,4 or 5) can churn on for hours after it has made landfall; spawning tornadoes. The most important thing to remember is to be prepared!!! Orlando was in the path of Frances, Charlie and I think Jean in 2004. Walt Disney World is extremely safe and the ENTIRE compound is prepared!!!
When Ivan came through Pensacola in 2004, it seemed that half of my neighbors evacuated to WDW because of the safety factor!!!

Unfortunately, the threat of a hurricane is a part of life in Florida. Every state has some sort of threat that needs to be in the back of everyone's mind, whether it is mudslides, fires, earthquakes, floods, avalanches, bears, etc...

Remember to enjoy your vacation!!!! I can guarantee that you will have a blast!!!!!

 

[madcoco]

What parrot head said.
Though it pales in comparison to what has happened in the past on the GulfCoast and South FL,imho Hurricane Charley really awaked many people in the Orlando area and extinguished their false sense of security that it can't happen here.

You prepare for the worst and wish for the best and don't let it consume you. Just stocked up on more supplies. Our house was built under the latest hurricane codes but after staying with family at SSR during Hurricane Francis imho I would still feel more secure at a Disney Resort. We actually worry more about tornadoes spinning off the "outer bands" than the hurricane wind itself. The CM's who stayed on did a wonderful job of communicating and keeping families at ease(at least from what we witnessed)

 

[dlrhine]

We were there in 2004 for Hurricane Jeanne. I felt safe the entire time. Disney closed the parks early evening and told us when the food court at the resort would officially close and recommended stocking up on food because we weren't allowed to leave the room until they said it was safe. They kept leaving updates on the room's voice mail. The parks were closed the entire next day. When the food court opened up again, it was a madhouse, we saw people stealing.

This was at CBR. Other than being stuck in the room for 24 hours, you would never had known there was a hurricane. Disney is so quick at cleaning things up.

Ditto this, we were at POFQ during Jeanne and other than being in your room for 24hrs it wasn't bad. I was also in Hurrican Erin in 1995 on my College Program and again all was fine, you just might lose a day at the park.