Hurricane Irma?

[Tinkerbell2017]

I'm no expert either but from what others have said, it seems that hitting east coast would be better than west, as the easternmost side of the storm is usually the more damaging side? I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong there. So it would actually be worse if it tracked a bit west of FL from my understanding.

That's what I understand too.

 

[mowork48]

I know that most of you are arriving this next week, and I know you all are really worried about the hurricane. I so hope it changes course the next day or 2. Our arrival is not until 9/16. Our kids and grandkids are meeting us to celebrate my husband and my 50th wedding anniversary. Of course we have been planning for about a year, everyone had to get same vacation, taking grandkids out of school, got free dining, got dining reservations, fastpasses, etc. My question for any locals or people familiar with Disney World after Hurricanes....Do you think our vacation date 9/16 thru 9/23 be safe from aftermath of hurricane? I know Orlando is inland. Thx in advance

 

[SpookyJ]

If you feel you ordered enough to cover a couple days of being confined to your room (a worst case scenario) then you will be fine.

I had asked the question initially about skipping the fighting over bottled water chaos and just filling my own bottles from the tap. I have a bunch in my recycling bin as we speak. Yes, I am a cheapskate, but that's how I afforded this trip on a $30k/yr income to begin with, lol! I am assuming the tap water at the hotels is safe to drink, in other words, and people just prefer to buy bottled water for convenience? I can't see any reason to buy bottled water personally if I can just bring an empty milk jug or two.

 

[fla4fun]

Wouldn't you just dump the water down the bowl like a regular toilet. No need for the water tank to be pressurized and filled

With a gravity toilet, you pour the water in the tank, then flush normally. The tank does not refill if the water is off, so it has to be manually refilled. With the pressure toilets, if you pour water in the bowl, you just fill the bowl up - it doesn't flush.

 

[CAS239]

Whichever way a hurricane or tropical storm is moving, it's strongest winds will be on its right side.

So if it's moving north then the East side. If it's moving west then it's north side, etc

 

[hamilkm]

There will be a lot of data coming in with tonight's model runs at midnight (from stuff like hurricane hunter planes and other sources). I expect that whatever track people wake up to tomorrow will determine how crazy they will go at the FL grocery stores in the 24 hrs (if you mean 9:30am) before you arrive. Of course, supply trucks should still be moving anyway.

Thanks. Yes it's 9:30 am. We have no problems running back out Thursday if needed or whatever. We really just want a few things in case we are stuck in the room for a day.

 

[SaintsManiac]

I'm no expert either but from what others have said, it seems that hitting east coast would be better than west, as the easternmost side of the storm is usually the more damaging side? I'm sure someone will correct me if I'm wrong there. So it would actually be worse if it tracked a bit west of FL from my understanding.

Usually west is best, east is worst, but of course Harvey was opposite. Can't compare that insanity to any other storm, though.

Hopefully things are clearer come Wednesday in regards to Irma!

 

[DLM1980]

I had asked the question initially about skipping the fighting over bottled water chaos and just filling my own bottles from the tap. I have a bunch in my recycling bin as we speak. Yes, I am a cheapskate, but that's how I afforded this trip on a $30k/yr income to begin with, lol! I am assuming the tap water at the hotels is safe to drink, in other words, and people just prefer to buy bottled water for convenience? I can't see any reason to buy bottled water personally if I can just bring an empty milk jug or two.

Most people I hear say the water sucks but I've never experienced that. I refuse to buy water when the tap is free (well cheaper if your buying it from the city )

 

[fla4fun]

I had asked the question initially about skipping the fighting over bottled water chaos and just filling my own bottles from the tap. I have a bunch in my recycling bin as we speak. Yes, I am a cheapskate, but that's how I afforded this trip on a $30k/yr income to begin with, lol! I am assuming the tap water at the hotels is safe to drink, in other words, and people just prefer to buy bottled water for convenience? I can't see any reason to buy bottled water personally if I can just bring an empty milk jug or two.

It is safe to drink, but has a musky mineral taste that most people find unpleasant. Most people I know either have a filter system or a water softener at their house. I have been known to take a Brita pitcher to Disney and that helps.

 

[Tinkerbell2017]

I know that most of you are arriving this next week, and I know you all are really worried about the hurricane. I so hope it changes course the next day or 2. Our arrival is not until 9/16. Our kids and grandkids are meeting us to celebrate my husband and my 50th wedding anniversary. Of course we have been planning for about a year, everyone had to get same vacation, taking grandkids out of school, got free dining, got dining reservations, fastpasses, etc. My question for any locals or people familiar with Disney World after Hurricanes....Do you think our vacation date 9/16 thru 9/23 be safe from aftermath of hurricane? I know Orlando is inland. Thx in advance

I arrive on the 16th as well. I think that this hurricane will be long gone, I hope. It doesn't mean there isn't another storm out there though. I'l just keep watching.

 

[anniemae]

I have not read through the whole thread so not sure if this has been said:
- There is NO WAY OF KNOWING the track for Florida as of today. Local weather people keep saying that we will not know until Wednesday night, and even then things can change.
-If you are coming to Orlando during the weekend to visit please don't stress out too much, I know this is easier said than done, but I remember last year with Matthew people changing plans, to come in earlier or later and the storm just shifted almost last minute and complete plans for these visitors were ruined. I cannot stress this enough, right know we think the storm might be close to us by Sunday, there is no way of knowing for sure, you change your plans and it starts moving faster or slower
-If you are coming to Orlando this weekend bring some extra cash, non perishable food, if you have kids maybe extra activities to do in the room...

I have been living here in Orlando for 20 years so I've been through many scenarios, the worst you can do right now is panic and start rearranging things without knowing with more certainty...keep an eye on it and have a plan B ready to go but don't jump the gun right now

I was going to suggest the food idea. During Matthew, it was a mess with the food. People waited in huge lines for a boxed sandwich and apple. I remember the outrage and photos of various food courts with wall to wall people in line and sloppily made sandwiches. They charged a lot for the boxes too. If I were going to Disney, I would pack some granola bars, bread, peanut butter, pretzels, cookies etc. in tupperware to make sure we had stuff to eat. Also a deck of cards, coloring books for the kiddo's.

 

[DLM1980]

With a gravity toilet, you pour the water in the tank, then flush normally. The tank does not refill if the water is off, so it has to be manually refilled. With the pressure toilets, if you pour water in the bowl, you just fill the bowl up - it doesn't flush.

That's what I was saying just fill the bowl up with water eventually it will drain and then u add a bit more water in the bowl never using the tank

 

[Tonyz]

I might be missing something but I can't imagine needing to worry about water while at Disney World. I assume they have that more than taken care of.

 

[laurabelle]

If you are staying onsite I'm not sure why you would need to stock up on water. Having been at Disney during a hurricane many years ago, they've got you covered.

 

[jknc]

Pro Tip:

Take hurricane advice from a meteorologist; not a disboard member.

 

[NinaBella]

I was stationed in SC when Hugo hit, bad bad time there. If it heads that direction stay safe.

My dad was stationed there at that time too. I was in high school. Luckily we lived right beside Sumter High School and was on the same power/water grid and since they were a shelter we got priority. My ex-hubby (then boyfriend) parents had well water with a pump and cars were backed up for miles to pump water from there well (free). If you recall, only one radio station remained on, that was a close friend of mine's dad (J.R. Berry) who was the radio DJ that stayed on air all night. I recall people calling in to the radio station saying they had literally tied themselves and their kids to trees in the yard because they thought it was safer than being inside. We did go out on our front porch throughout the night, my older brother slept through it. Not my first and certainly not my last hurricane.

 

[SpookyJ]

It is safe to drink, but has a musky mineral taste that most people find unpleasant. Most people I know either have a filter system or a water softener at their house. I have been known to take a Brita pitcher to Disney and that helps.

Thanks! That's what I sort of figured. I don't generally have an issue with not liking the taste of the water so I'm sure Ill be ok. Can't be worse than the water at my grandmoms house that used to smell/taste like sulfur

I might be missing something but I can't imagine needing to worry about water while at Disney World. I assume they have that more than taken care of.

I would hope, but with my luck over the past month if it can go wrong, it will!!

 

[hamilkm]

If you are staying onsite I'm not sure why you would need to stock up on water. Having been at Disney during a hurricane many years ago, they've got you covered.

We aren't planning on stocking up on water. We just usually buy a couple of gallons when we get there to use in our refillable water bottles. Just may grab an extra gallon in case 1 day is spent in the room.

 

[Skippyboo]

If there is flooding in the areas where the water plants are, then you can't drink the water. That's what happened in Beaumont with Harvey. The water plant got flooded. Don't know how likely this is at Disney.

 

[Tinkerbell2017]

Pro Tip:

Take hurricane advice from a meteorologist; not a disboard member.

Maybe both with a grain of salt?