Hurricane Ernesto

[stillh2o]

For all you lucky people at got Res for Labor Day weekend keep you eye on Hurricane Ernesto. They are saying it may hit FL. on Thursday. We have plans to go to the Keys, but that starting to look like our plans may have to change. I hope this storm does not kill anyone’s vacations.

 

[chipscamping buddy]

That is when we are going and I am really hoping they are being overly aggressive in their turn forcast. Unfortunately we live near Jacksonville, so it is aimed to be on top of our house Friday morning. At least if it does come this way, we can run to FW to hide.

We had been at FW two years ago and were evacuated for a hurricane from FW and moved to PO. The whole WDW closed for two days, but we had our supplies from camping and just put up the grill on the outside walkway for food. It actually was kind of fun to camp in a resort room.

 

[kmccain]

You just never know! There was one predicted to hit Florida during our last trip on '02. We almost canceled everything but it turned and never got there!

That is interesting that they moved you to a resort! Nice! Did the reimburse you at all for the days you missed?

What is their policy regarding Hurricane warnings, can you move your reservation?

FYI: I read about a woman that was unable to move her RV Hurricane, she filled all her tanks, black, grey and fresh water for weight. It hit her RV head on and it only moved it a few inches.

Hope Ernesto doesn't ruined anyone's vacation!

 

[stillh2o]

Disney has new storm policys. I think if you go to the main Disboard the policys are there. If not just call WDW they can tell you.

 

[Memph1s]

Well, looks like we may have to take advantage of the new Hurricane Policy . We live in the Tampa / Clearwater area and right now the local weather stations have it coming right at us.

 

[ynottony99]

we have reservations Thursday through Monday at FW. At this point, if timing is right, we will cover windows, and load up RV and head for FW. As I write this the 'cone' of probabilities puts us right in the middle, but some models have track going up through the center of the state. Either way, I'd rather take my chances with Mickey and company than hear just a couple of blocks off of the gulf!!!!!

 

[cwmajors]

Ugh. We have reservations Wednesday night through Saturday night. I'm just chock full of questions at this point, seeing as how the 11:00 forecast puts the storm chugging up the peninsula on Wednesday:

1. Should I cancel Wed. night and try driving up on Thursday? (I live in Port St. Lucie.)
2. Will the Turnpike be filled with idiots if I -do- try to leave on Wednesday as I had planned? (Probably.)
3. Most importantly, will this cause them to cancel the Wiggles concerts Thursday and Friday at MGM? I have a 2 1/2 year-old who MUST KNOW.

At this point, we're just watching and waiting. It might even be that the whole storm edges off the Atlantic coast at this point- it's hard to tell with how it's getting beat up by Haiti and Cuba (kinda like the US Olympic baseball team).

 

[ynottony99]

Yesterday, I was thinking I would try to leave St. Pete earlier than I had planned. Now it looks like I may need to leave later? It is still too early to start changing plans. I will never forget Charley, which was forecast to hit us directly, but made an unpredicted hard right turn into Punta Gorda. Prepare for the worst, hope for the best.

 

[Duane]

If you guys do decide to go over to the Ft. be prepared to possibly spend a couple of days at the All Star Sports or Movies.....or whatever resort they have room in....

We were there last October when Wilma passed over Miami and they evacuated the campground on Sunday. We spent Sunday and Monday at the AS Sports. We were allowed to return on Tuesday. Disney did a great job.

 

[just another guy]

To the best of my knowledge, they move everyone from the fort over to the lodge. Problem is, the lodge can only hold so many, so then others get tossed around to whatever place has room.

 

[reginaastralis]

We're planning to go Fri - Monday. We live in Tampa, and we're used to this sort of thing. Just hoping since my dad's a firefighter that he isn't called up for mandatory overtime.

Guess it's just a wait and see, but just checked and seems like it's going to go over even more. By Friday, it should be out in the Atlantic.

Amanda

 

[Momto3Disneyprinces]

Do they evacuate people in the cabins too, or just those who are camping? We will be there the end of Sept.

 

[CraftyMouse]

To the best of my knowledge, they move everyone from the fort over to the lodge. Problem is, the lodge can only hold so many, so then others get tossed around to whatever place has room.

I believe that is true for the cabins, but they usually move campers to the Value Resorts and occasionally the Moderates.

We'll be at the Fort in a little over a month. We knew going into it that we'd be there during hurricane season. We're hoping for the best but if a hurricane does come while we're there we'll just consider it an adventure!

 

[just another guy]

Do they evacuate people in the cabins too, or just those who are camping? We will be there the end of Sept.

Yes, cabins as well. I believe the official thing is if there are sustained winds over 30mph they close the entire fort wilderness area. From campers to tents, to cabins, everyone is sent elsewhere.

 

[Duane]

When we were evacuated last October, we recieved a note on our camper door that said that everyone, including those in the cabins had to evacuate the campground by 5:00pm that afternoon. They said to empty your waste tanks, and fill up the water tank and drive your rig over the the All Star Sports. I guess it depends on how many folks that they have to displace that determines where everyone goes. During that evacutation, the majority of us at the campground ended up at the Sports or Movies.
The parking lot looked like a RV show and convention was going on.

They allowed us to remain at the hotel even after the storm passed for the remainder of our vacation, or return to the campground.....but who wants to stay in a hotel room.....

All in all they did a great job at repositioning folks, but you had to "check out" of the Ft. and "check in" to the hotel. So that was a bit confusing.... After they allowed us to return (if we wanted), we got our same site back.

I did hear a few "whiners" complaining about how they had to leave their perfectly good motorhome and get put up in some low value hotel, and did'nt get placed in the Grand Floridian for their trouble..... I thought blah, blah, blah...... What other campground or resort area could you go and get a safe and dry place to ride out a hurricane with minimal inconvenience. I guess some folks will never be happy.

 

[daddyscooltv]

Well there must be some people cancelling, my DW called DVC this morning just as a last attempt to get something at Fort Wilderness for the holiday weekend and she able to get checkin on Fri and out on Mon in a perferrred loop. If you havent been able to get a campsite it might be worth trying to call one last time it worked for us.

Chris