Hurrican Wilma - Should I Cancel?

[kelmac284]

Another Saturday person here. We leave CA at 8 a.m. CA time but don't arrive in OR till 6 p.m. FL time. From what I saw it looks like it isn't supposed to hit Florida till Sunday. I know you can't predict these things but hopefully we will be able to get there on Saturday and even if we have to sit in our room all Sunday it's no biggy. We were supposed to go to Kennedy that day and although I would hate to miss it I would rather miss that then disney.

I could probably move days around but I have ADR's every day that we are going to a park and it would really screw up my schedule.

Being that we are in CA this is only our second time in 3 years and we have been planning for over three years. I am so upset and nervous that something might happen.

If for some reason we can't fly on Sat or Sun do you think they would try to get us out on Monday? We are staying 2 weeks and it would stink to miss a few days but I would rather miss a couple then not go at all.

Gosh I hope this turns out ok cuz this will be our last trip for at least 5 or 6 years.

And P.S. of course my prayers are with EVERYONE in it's path also.

 

[Toni300z]

I too, am due to arrive Saturday evening in Orlando, and have considered cancelling. I am so scared to get stuck somewhere and have noone there that I know.
Scary situation.

I hope and pray this one stays and dissipates out in the water. Everyone, please be safe!

 

[dvcgirl]

I too, am due to arrive Saturday evening in Orlando, and have considered cancelling. I am so scared to get stuck somewhere and have noone there that I know.
Scary situation.

I hope and pray this one stays and dissipates out in the water. Everyone, please be safe!

If I was flying in Saturday evening, or even late afternoon Saturday I'd watch this thing closely for another 24 hours. You *may* be wise to change your flights if you can. The airports in South Florida will definitely shut down as this thing approaches and traffic from all over will be backed up.... I'd want to be in by Saturday morning...or Friday night if I was coming in on the weekend.

 

[rhodymom]

I am leaving tomorrow and am freaking out. My DH is already there for a conference and my 2 year old and I are scheduled to fly down tomorrow. YIKES. I have called my travel agent and an event planner friend who works at WDW to let you know what he says!

 

[Toni300z]

If I was flying in Saturday evening, or even late afternoon Saturday I'd watch this thing closely for another 24 hours. You *may* be wise to change your flights if you can. The airports in South Florida will definitely shut down as this thing approaches and traffic from all over will be backed up.... I'd want to be in by Saturday morning...or Friday night if I was coming in on the weekend.

You are right!
I think I might just reschedule. I am only supposed to be down for 2 days. I won't even have time to go to Disney World anyways during the time I was going to be down. I am coming for Business and a bit of relaxation. But doesn't seem to be very relaxing now.

Thanks!

 

[ljb9539]

I fly out tomorrow - and fly how wednesday - looks like there will be some unplanned excitement --- My dad lives down there in a trailor home type thing - so I have told himthat he and my mom will be sharing out hotel room depedning on how hard and when this storm comes in.

other than that we will just wait and see what goes on

to where ever this storm his (South America - FL - Other states) - Pixie dust for a safe and not to bad storm...

To each of you traveling this weekend - stay safe -
Hugs
Laura

 

[4greatboys]

We fly in Sat am--10:30. As long as they dont cancel my flight Im still going.

 

[Skylarr29]

I am leaving tomorrow and am freaking out. My DH is already there for a conference and my 2 year old and I are scheduled to fly down tomorrow. YIKES. I have called my travel agent and an event planner friend who works at WDW to let you know what he says!

You should monitor the storm closely but I wouldnt really freak out that much yet. You should have no problems flying in tomorrow. ALso if the storm does hit the orlando area Disney is fantasic at handleing hurricanes. We got stuck in a hurrincane last September while at Disney(cant remember which with all the hurricanes that hit us here in florida last year) The parks closed for one day and we just had to stay inside the WL that day.The rest of the trip was beautiful weather and low crowds.

 

[rhodymom]

Thanks Melissa!!

 

[back2disney]

Okay, we're supposed to leave Friday morning and arrive in WDW around 1pm. I'm totally freaked out by Hurricane Wilma (I hate all storms!). Even if the storm passes through south Florida as currently projected, will Orlando see a lot of rain and hurricane-force winds? Should we consider cancelling? I'm just worried (I know, I'm a worrier) that this will have a big impact on the rest of the week. We won't have our own transportation down there and I have visions of being stranded at the hotel with no power. Anyone who actually lives down there...can you talk me off the ledge?!?

I would check the weather channel every 3-4 hours and if they keep projecting it to hit near Orlando, then keep checking the weather channel.
Your final check should unfortunately be the morning you are leaving. If it is still bullseye to Orlando +- 100 miles. I would cancel, because there would probably be lots of trees and powerlines down. WDW may be okay, but the rest of the city would be a disaster area with national guard troops etc..

 

[ryanmilla]

Wilma was just upgraded to the most powerful storm on record. Granted this will dissipate a bit before it makes landfall (where-ever that is), but it is still on track to be pretty strong.

I hate to be the devil's advocate here and also am the last person who wants to cancel a trip to WDW, but the way this storm is looking people may want to consider it. I guess one of the things that would depend for me would be the length of my trip. If it was just going to be a short trip, do you really want to spend half of it inside while the wind is blowing and the rain is coming down? I'm sure given the present circumstances no one (airlines, WDW) would fault you for rescheduling. If the trip was a long trip, then that is a different story.

Please don't flame me for these thoughts. I'm just trying to think of everyone's safety and well-being here. Also, if I was paying a lot of money for a WDW trip, I wouldn't want it to go to staying in my room or lobby for a day or two. I can do that at home where there is no hurricane.

Anyway, I wish everyone the best of luck! And I am sending a lot of pixie dust to all of those travelers. And as the blessed Jimmy Buffett may say let Christopher, the patron saint of travellers be watching over you.

 

[DianeV]

At this point my airline (Spirit) wont allow anything without paying hefty fees

 

[civileng68]

Wilma was just upgraded to the most powerful storm on record. Granted this will dissipate a bit before it makes landfall (where-ever that is), but it is still on track to be pretty strong.

I hate to be the devil's advocate here and also am the last person who wants to cancel a trip to WDW, but the way this storm is looking people may want to consider it. I guess one of the things that would depend for me would be the length of my trip. If it was just going to be a short trip, do you really want to spend half of it inside while the wind is blowing and the rain is coming down? I'm sure given the present circumstances no one (airlines, WDW) would fault you for rescheduling. If the trip was a long trip, then that is a different story.

Please don't flame me for these thoughts. I'm just trying to think of everyone's safety and well-being here. Also, if I was paying a lot of money for a WDW trip, I wouldn't want it to go to staying in my room or lobby for a day or two. I can do that at home where there is no hurricane.

Anyway, I wish everyone the best of luck! And I am sending a lot of pixie dust to all of those travelers. And as the blessed Jimmy Buffett may say let Christopher, the patron saint of travellers be watching over you.

As a naples resident, who is evacuating TO Orlando tomorrow night, I must say that I agree. However if you have a long trip you likely will only be inconvenienced for a day or two. Remember though that while these storms normally only have super damaging winds near the core, you could get rain for a day in advance and a day after the storm just from the bands.

I wouldnt cancel unless it was a short trip. However, another thing is, the risk of this storm coming straight into Orlando is there. We live in Naples and are in the direct path right now and will be evacuating to Orlando so that we can get more inland.

 

[ruttie]

we are planning on going to MNSSHP on friday night which is perfect for us becasue i live in an area that usually gets a mandatory evac notice when hurricanes come through central florida (i live on an island) I suggest taking a wait and see for another day... this is suppose to be a very fast moving one but dangerous becuase it is suppose to keep its intensity of at least a cat 2 the whole way across so it will have very fast wind.... SInce i will already be a disney sat morning.. i will make my decision then to stay or drive home dependingh on the weather....(disney is our evacuation place for our family so we will already be there if it gets bad..) for those coming in as lomg as it is on its prokected path disney will not be affected much but... thos epaths can change quickly and you should be aware that you may get stuck in an airport, or if you are here and need to get home by monday you might want to leave before sat.... just in case... good luck i just want it to stay dry friday night

 

[Danthesand]

People with confirmed air and resort ressies can only "wait and see" so long.

By late tomorrow, it's going to be increasingly clear whether this storm could substantively impact central Florida. If at that time the forecast doesn't look good (ergo, Wilma tracking more northeast), I'd seriously reconsider any plans to head to the Orlando area between Friday and Sunday. Do you really want to experience a real "Typoon Lagoon" in your hotel pool?

In fact, if you flights are for mid Saturday through early Monday, that decision may be made for you (does the term "CANCELLED" in ugly black font on an airport monitor ring any bells here?)

Moral - hurricance season does last until mid November.

WELCOME TO FLORIDA....

 

[hellow]

We fly out Friday night for a week in Orlando and are in the wait and see mode. I called Continental, and they will waive the change fee due to the hurricane to fly in earlier, but they will still do a price adjustment to get the fare to the current rate (much higher). So we would have to spend over $500 more to fly in 12 hours earlier.

Our plan is to see what the projected path is on Fri. If it is farther north, we will probably cancel and reschedule for the spring. If it is staying south, we will take our chances that our flight will get cancelled. The most likely scenario is that we will have the second leg of our trip postponed in Houston. So, if that happens, I have picked up a AAA book on Texas, and we may spend a day or so shopping for cowboy boots

I agree that no vacation is worth risking a direct hit, so we are watching and waiting.

 

[kelmac284]

I just made alternate plane and hotel ressies for Friday. We were supposed to fly in on Sat arriving at 6 p.m. florida time. I am going to wait till tomorrow afternoon (when I have to cancel my hotel ressie) and see what it is looking like and we will make our determination then.

We are staying 2 weeks and live in CA. If we wait till monday or tuesday we could do it but would lose a few days. Although I don't know if there will be any flights available.

This whole thing is giving me an ulcer. We have been planning this trip for 3 years and I have already paid for MNSSHP tickets for the 28th. If we cancel now we probably WON'T get back there.

UGH!

 

[PoohHappens]

We flew into orlando last year on labor day. I would reccomend waiting and seeing. If the theme parks are going to close or if the airport closes the airlines and disney were very accomidating last year. We were offered to change or trip both air and accomidations with no penalties. We opted to go anyhow and had the best trip ever. Now I realize the people who were there over the weekend were stuck in their hotels because they were already there. I would just hold tight and see what is happening the day before you are to leave. We kept checking in with weather sites and disney. Disney world. com had a pop up last year when the storm started to affect their area and there were instructions on what to do. I just checked and as of now there is no note. The weather forcast is currently showing lots of rain on Sun and Mon. Good luck to all who are travelling and my prayers for those who live in florida.

 

[fterie4u]

We fly out Friday night for a week in Orlando and are in the wait and see mode. I called Continental, and they will waive the change fee due to the hurricane to fly in earlier, but they will still do a price adjustment to get the fare to the current rate (much higher). So we would have to spend over $500 more to fly in 12 hours earlier.

Our plan is to see what the projected path is on Fri. If it is farther north, we will probably cancel and reschedule for the spring. If it is staying south, we will take our chances that our flight will get cancelled. The most likely scenario is that we will have the second leg of our trip postponed in Houston. So, if that happens, I have picked up a AAA book on Texas, and we may spend a day or so shopping for cowboy boots

I agree that no vacation is worth risking a direct hit, so we are watching and waiting.

We are flying out Friday night as well! We are watching this storm by the hour to see what it does. As long as this thing stays more south, we will head out (hopefully) on Friday night. We will be there for a week also, so we will still have 5 more days! The weather for next week, Monday thru Friday looks gorgeous! I am praying that this storm weakens and does no do much damage, we will see.

 

[k5thbeatle]

Of all times for us to try a "short" trip we had to chose now?
however, we have decided that we're coming down unless of course the airport is closed, which is unlikely for tomorrow.