Hurricane Irma?

[SpookyJ]

I was on vacation at WL during Hugo. That was my first hurricane experience at Disney. We could hear some trees falling during the night, but that one turned out not to be serious. We learned about taking food though, as the boxed lunch at Whispering Canyon was, to put it bluntly, disgusting. I imagine that was Disney's first hurricane experience as well, although I don't know for sure.

I'm definitely packing as much food as possible, I already have dietary restrictions that were making planning my meals/reservations a bit of a puzzle so I am dreading being stuck with crappy food I can't even eat. My solution if it comes to that is bringing tupperware containers with me into the parks in my cooler backpack, and getting plenty of food to go when we leave for the evening Thank you to the person who mentioned cash, I don't ever carry it and would never have thought of it. I'll definitely be taking out a few hundred before we head there.

 

[Tom Cottone]

I would advise all to keep watching the NOAA site. As the week progresses this is the best source of information

 

[stickeymouse]

Many people keep asking what they should do with their specific scenarios. If Irma stays on its current (and unfortunate) path, I would avoid traveling to/from Orlando (via plane) Saturday through Monday. If you are driving, I guess it depends on which direction you are going/coming from. And whether you cancel your trip I think depends on how long you are staying. As I previously commented, those of us with shorter trips (mine is 5 nights) might have more cause for canceling. Why would we pay $4,000 to stay in our rooms half of our trip? So, if Irma maintains this path and Disney allows it, I will probably cancel.

 

[anniemae]

So the state of emergency doesn't automatically cancel all flights to and from Florida?

No, the airports are currently open. If the airports close, they will make an announcement, Things this week are fine for FL. From what I read, the state of emergency was more of a move to secure funds in case they are needed for after the hurricane.

 

[fla4fun]

So the state of emergency doesn't automatically cancel all flights to and from Florida?

No. What it does is make it easier to do what needs to be done as far as officials making decisions and getting supplies and getting aid if needed. It basically does away with a lot of the "red tape" and lets things happen in real time. It will be the hurricane watches, and more importantly warnings, that will cause the airports and airlines to make their decisions regarding closure. It seems like the airport stays open as late as it possibly can, and I am sure they don't want any more of a backlog than absolutely necessary.

 

[perditax]

No. We aren't near the coast. We are closer to the mountains. The area our farm is is high and dry. We will get plenty of rain and wind, I'm sure.

I'm not trying to freak you out, and obviously you know your situation best, but some tracks have it coming up through Charlotte rather than the coast.

(I'm leaving RDU for MCO on 9/14, which should be after FL landfall *if there is a FL landfall*, but potentially not before it makes its way up the coast, *if it does*.)

 

[Amunet]

We are driving in on the 8th and we're planning on driving out on the 11th. With the information we have now, what do you guys think about safety driving out on the 11th? We will be driving from/to Chicago, which takes us up through Atlanta.

Of course, I will be keeping an eye on the reports for the most updated info

 

[AllThingsMickey4]

Just wanted to send good vibes to those traveling during Irma's possible landfall! We are in SC, so we are watching closely as well.

 

[Tonyz]

Many people keep asking what they should do with their specific scenarios. If Irma stays on its current (and unfortunate) path, I would avoid traveling to/from Orlando (via plane) Saturday through Monday. If you are driving, I guess it depends on which direction you are going/coming from. And whether you cancel your trip I think depends on how long you are staying. As I previously commented, those of us with shorter trips (mine is 5 nights) might have more cause for canceling. Why would we pay $4,000 to stay in our rooms half of our trip? So, if Irma maintains this path and Disney allows it, I will probably cancel.

Saturday should be decent, at least most of the day. The storm is over Cuba that afternoon.

 

[perditax]

We are driving in on the 8th and we're planning on driving out on the 11th. With the information we have now, what do you guys think about safety driving out on the 11th? We will be driving from/to Chicago, which takes us up through Atlanta.

Of course, I will be keeping an eye on the reports for the most updated info

It's possible that you'll be literally driving north with the storm on the 11th.

 

[SpookyJ]

Many people keep asking what they should do with their specific scenarios. If Irma stays on its current (and unfortunate) path, I would avoid traveling to/from Orlando (via plane) Saturday through Monday. If you are driving, I guess it depends on which direction you are going/coming from. And whether you cancel your trip I think depends on how long you are staying. As I previously commented, those of us with shorter trips (mine is 5 nights) might have more cause for canceling. Why would we pay $4,000 to stay in our rooms half of our trip? So, if Irma maintains this path and Disney allows it, I will probably cancel.

I would cancel if Disney allowed it and reschedule, except that I won't be able to recoup the flight costs, nothing will be cancelled by Thursday when I arrive I'm sure, but maybe will be Tuesday. So would be cheaper for me to just extend the trip 2 days providing my early Tuesday flight is cancelled, than reschedule both flights without getting them refunded... I think. Maybe. Ugh.

 

[fla4fun]

I'm definitely packing as much food as possible, I already have dietary restrictions that were making planning my meals/reservations a bit of a puzzle so I am dreading being stuck with crappy food I can't even eat. My solution if it comes to that is bringing tupperware containers with me into the parks in my cooler backpack, and getting plenty of food to go when we leave for the evening Thank you to the person who mentioned cash, I don't ever carry it and would never have thought of it. I'll definitely be taking out a few hundred before we head there.

Cash was me. You're welcome! After Hurricane Charley, some of my coworkers didn't have power for a couple weeks or longer. No power, no bank, no ATM, no cash. If Irma comes through directly, I would expect things to be similar, especially for those staying off property or trying to get supplies on the way in or out. If you are driving in, don't let your gas tank go below 3/4 tank, in case there are localized shortages. The Disney bubble is great during a hurricane, but the rest of Orlando, not so much.

 

[SaintsManiac]

We are driving in on the 8th and we're planning on driving out on the 11th. With the information we have now, what do you guys think about safety driving out on the 11th? We will be driving from/to Chicago, which takes us up through Atlanta.

Of course, I will be keeping an eye on the reports for the most updated info

I would make other arrangements.

 

[stickeymouse]

I would cancel if Disney allowed it and reschedule, except that I won't be able to recoup the flight costs, nothing will be cancelled by Thursday when I arrive I'm sure, but maybe will be Tuesday. So would be cheaper for me to just extend the trip 2 days providing my early Tuesday flight is cancelled, than reschedule both flights without getting them refunded... I think. Maybe. Ugh.

I would hope most airlines will be understanding and at the very least offer credit for a future flight.

 

[Shaun Davis]

My family and I are flying down on the 10th.

 

[Mortious]

Just wanted to send good vibes to those traveling during Irma's possible landfall! We are in SC, so we are watching closely as well.

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

 

[stickeymouse]

Saturday should be decent, at least most of the day. The storm is over Cuba that afternoon.

I included Saturday just in case the winds rise enough to cause flight cancellations.

 

[perditax]

Updated NHC map.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at1+shtml/204223.shtml?cone#contents

 

[stickeymouse]

My family and I are flying down on the 10th.

I hope so!

 

[Polydweller]

Several things outside of MCO's control can force it to close or have operational problems. During Matthew Orange County ordered a complete curfew and no vehicles were allowed on the roads. MCO and Disney couldn't operate because staff couldn't get in because of the curfew.

After Matthew passed Orlando, it affected Jacksonville even worse. Jacksonville just happens to be the enroute air traffic control center. All planes travelling to Orlando from the north and conversely from Orlando have to pass through Jacksonville control. That meant, the day after a Matthew traffic was severely limited at MCO. We left during that time, Saturday, and at 12 noon there were, and I counted, only 8 planes on the ground at MCO when there should have been several dozen. Normal operations didn't begin until the next day, Sunday.