Hurricane DEAN

[ParrotBill]

The monorail driver did mention that he heard that Hurrican Dean will hit smack on the new CRV tower.

 

[ParrotBill]

We fly down also on 8/21. There will be NO delays! Do you hear me? NO!

 

[welovewdw]

We fly down on the 21st, too - just want to get there -I'm fine with whatever happens after we're there. Here's hoping we all get there!!

 

[Disneymommie]

Just so we are clear this is all my mother in laws fault! LOL We are heading down on 8/18-8/25 for our first trip "home "tp SSR since being DVC members. We invited my inlaws along and all summer she has been saying how fun it would be to be in WDW during a hurricane.

I told her today that if it hits us while we are there, I am taking her to the top of the Contemporary and pushing her to see how far she will fly in hurricane strength winds!

Good thing I like the women or I would be mad!

Everyone sing with me:

Rain rain (hurricane hurricane) go away .......LOL

 

[L8blumr2]

We, too, are due for our "first trip home" on Sunday, the 19th to Friday, the 24th.

Argh!

(I'm watching closely...)

 

[JimMIA]

Dean continues westward, and it is still too early to tell whether it will threaten Florida.

The official forecast track currently shows Dean passing through the Caribbean south of Cuba and hitting Jamaica as a Category Three hurricane Sunday night/Monday morning. By next Monday, the intensity models call for sustained winds of 120 MPH with gusts to 150+, so Dean is going to become a major threat wherever it goes.

Looking at the models, most have Dean continuing through the Caribbean and into the Gulf of Mexico. If it does that, it should not threaten Florida unless it makes a big turn to the northeast (which storms sometimes do).

However, it's still quite early to accurately predict what Dean's going to do. I think we'll have a much better idea Friday or Saturday.

Another storm, but no problem

There is another tropical storm (Erin) in the western Gulf of Mexico, but it will not affect Florida. It's projected to make landfall in the area of the Texas/Mexico border as a tropical storm and then quickly dissipate.

 

[D&R love Disney]

Not worried about arriving since we leave on Friday. Just hope it doesn't make a turn since we are going to the Red Sox vs. Devil Rays game next tuesday.

 

[mark&sue]

everyone has now re-assured me about our flight into Orlando on Friday from the UK but what about our three night Disney Wonder cruise on Thursday 23rd August???



Susan

 

[ducklite]

At this point Jim Cantore is in South Texas, so Florida should be safe.

In all seriousness, the models are showing Dean going over the Yucatan and then onward towrds Northern Mexico or Texas.

That said, this is the current projection of Dean:

And this was the route that Charley took:

You just never know. Best thig to do is be prepared if you plan on traveling to Florida anytime during hurricane season. Bring a flashlight and extra set of batteries, some snacks like granola/energy bars and dried fruit, and a deck of cards or something else that can be used as a diversion if you are stuck in your room for up to 24 hours.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

everyone has now re-assured me about our flight into Orlando on Friday from the UK but what about our three night Disney Wonder cruise on Thursday 23rd August???



Susan

There are no guarantees. If, and it's a HUGE if the ship is kept at sea because Dean happens to take a turn towards Florida, your cruise could be shortened or canceled. If that happens you'll most likely be accomodated at WDW. The only thing you can do is think positive and keep an eye on the news, and should Dean take a turn towards us, keep in touch with DCL.

Anne

 

[RAMWDWFAN]

I'm flying down to Orlando with my son and then driving him up to UFL on Sunday. I hate driving in the rain. I hope it rains either before I get there or after I arrive in Gainesville.

 

[JimMIA]

At this point Jim Cantore is in South Texas, so Florida should be safe.

Actually, I'd feel much safer if he was broadcasting from my front yard! If they're in Texas, Mexico and Louisiana better look out!

Those guys never intentionally go within 100 miles of any real weather. If you see them in strong winds, they either have the wind machine running, or their producers messed up. One of my very close family members was working alongside one of those crews -- about 200 miles from the landfall of a storm -- and the cable cameraman accidentally panned to his "other" right and got the wind machine in the picture. Everybody panicked so bad, it was on for about 10 seconds during a live feed! Needless to say, that didn't make any of the hourly re-runs of the old feeds.

We NEVER watch anything about hurricanes on any of the cable channels. When a storm gets within striking distance, we follow our local stations because those guys know what they are talking about and give accurate, timely information without all the drama.

 

[JimMIA]

In all seriousness, the models are showing Dean going over the Yucatan and then onward towrds Northern Mexico or Texas.

That's true, but those models are all predicated on the storm continuing to move 17-20 MPH to the west. If slows down appreciably, you'll see an instant change in the models...and they'll start looking a lot like Charley.

That's why I say it's too early to tell. We have the luxury of being able to wait for several more days anyway.

 

[VrBchJ]

Who needs Jim Cantore when we have JimMia?

 

[mark&sue]

thanks for the info regarding the cruise. If the cruise was cancelled what would happen to all the DVC points we have used?


Susan

 

[ducklite]

thanks for the info regarding the cruise. If the cruise was cancelled what would happen to all the DVC points we have used?


Susan

I hope you bought travel insurance. I'm not really sure how they would handle it, but if they put you up at WDW I highly doubt you'd get them all back--maybe a portion. Of course if they cancelled and you found and paid for your own lodging then I imagine you'd be entitled to a full or pro-rated refund of points.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

I'm flying down to Orlando with my son and then driving him up to UFL on Sunday. I hate driving in the rain. I hope it rains either before I get there or after I arrive in Gainesville.

It rains almost every afternoon this time of the year in Cnetral Florida, and it has nothing to do with any tropical activity. Fortunately it's a very easy drive on all flat, straight highways to get from the airport to Gainesville.

Anne

 

[ducklite]

That's true, but those models are all predicated on the storm continuing to move 17-20 MPH to the west. If slows down appreciably, you'll see an instant change in the models...and they'll start looking a lot like Charley.

Which is why I posted the graphic showing the path that Charley took in 2004 along with the projected path of Dean. At this point it's a total crap shoot.

Anne

 

[JimMIA]

The storm seems to be speeding up, and is looking increasingly like it's not going to hit Florida.

However, the 5 day intensity projections give some eye-popping numbers and both Yucatan and Texas better perk up. On Monday, they're projecting Cat 4 with sustained 133 MPH winds and gusts to 160!

 

[kimberh]

The storm seems to be speeding up, and is looking increasingly like it's not going to hit Florida.

However, the 5 day intensity projections give some eye-popping numbers and both Yucatan and Texas better perk up. On Monday, they're projecting Cat 4 with sustained 133 MPH winds and gusts to 160!

This is not good for the people in Dean's Path. We actually had the Eye of Hurricane Hugo in 1989, at our house. Cat 4 is nothing to sneeze at.