Hurricane Irma?

[momtoaaliyah]

Glad that some of you can wait until Wednesday (or later) to make decisions about what to do. Surely models and paths will be more solid by then. Some of us have to decide in the next few hours what to do - making big decisions on the limited info we have about what nasty irma is going to do. We were told we could cancel/reschedule flights and resort stays 24 hours in advance. So we have to know what we're doing by noon on Tuesday. Ugh.

We are in the same boat we fly out Wednesday afternoon but we should really make a decision by tomorrow.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

What did he say? Totally missed it and I find his page incredibly hard to navigate. I want words, not just charts!

There was allot of info shared... the main point of interest for most being the track.
It would seem that the 2 most reliable models - the European and the GFS (National Weather Service) are moving closer together in their forecast. The track on one (euro) takes Irma straight through the middle of florida - landfall west of Miami exiting near Jacksonville and making a second landfall in the Carolina's. The other model has it going straight up the east coast of florida (like Matthew) and making landfall near the Georgia/SC border. Also mentioned, With the size of the storm moving through the middle of florida, that it would be crossing the everglades - it would not be expected to weaken much as it would still have an energy source...

He cautioned that it is still very early in the prediction process.

He felt that the coming together of the models is significant.

Next NOAA update is 11pm - the cone will have moved northward over Florida is his best guess at present.

Edited - the Euro model - up the east coast
the GFS - up the middle... needed to recheck for clarity.

 

[JerseyJanice]

@anniebean We stayed at The Swan during Matthew, and the resort was wonderful. Management kept guests informed throughout. All their restaurants stayed open, and there was plenty to eat and drink.

When I looked at photos posted here of people waiting on line for box lunches at CBR, I was very glad that we were at The Swan.

 

[Elisa84]

We fly out Thursday afternoon and leaving the 16th. I am actually coordinating a group trip with friends, so I have to be on top of things and change stuff around if I have to. I wonder how hard it would be to move things to Disneyland if it looks like it's going to be too bad in Orlando? The good thing with Disneyland is that you don't have to plan things so far in advance like at Disney World. The down side is that I've already been to WDW once this summer and still haven't rode FoP.

 

[kbelz78]

We are in the same boat we fly out Wednesday afternoon but we should really make a decision by tomorrow.

It's the worst! I've had a huge headache all day thinking about this. Hoping for a sign tomorrow! Good luck with your decision!

 

[Amy1979]

So based on the info above it's not looking good for our gulf coast vacation starting this thurs or Disney starting the 14th. It may have passed orlando the 14th but we would be driving down then likely right through the hurricane path if it cuts straight up. Sigh, some tough decisions to make tomorrow or weds the latest. We will be out of some money for deposits which is a major bummer. Praying everyone in Florida and the path of the storm stays safe!!!

 

[Lehuaann]

We are en route to Fort Wilderness Campground right now. Our stay begins tomorrow(5th) and ends 14th.
Anyone know WDW Campground policy regarding hurricanes?

Below is what I posted earlier.

I'll also add that FW was allowing guests to either check out with refunds processed at a later date or courtesy move to preselected resorts. As Hopper stated earlier, many RVs were parked at the MK overflow lot; some at their resorts.

IF they call for any type of impact on late Sunday/Monday (timing?), we will more than likely know something regarding evacuations on Saturday. For Matthew, which hit late Thursday-Friday, we were asked to vacate our cabin on Wednesday and mandatory by noon Thursday. Guests were sent to AoA. Also, from what I remember, guests that needed room extensions were accomodated at discounted rates.

Now, saying all that, I'd wait and see where they may/may not send you.

Btw, we will be there, as well...checking in this Friday. I sure know how to pick em'

You're very welcome.

The danger lies in the amount of trees/distance to sites and how much water is sitting from previous storms.

I took this picture on Tuesday, Oct 4, 2016. It had rained quite a lot before Matthew even arrived, so you can see why FW made the decision they did.

View attachment 267139

Ok, I feel like this thread needs some levity. I know everyone is worried about Irma and her potential impact. I was looking through some of my previous trip photos this evening and I came across this:

This photo was taken at 1pm on Saturday, October 8th. Notice the beautiful sunshine and clear skies. Hurricane Matthew rolled through on Friday, October 7th.

Everyone, just take a few deep breaths and lets wait and see where this goes

I remember that beautiful day so well...great pic

 

[danishcream]

Hi there

I'm also one of those unfortunate people arriving on Wednesday and wouldn't have left until Monday. If I end up getting stuck at the resort, how many days do you guys think I'd be stuck there for? First time ever having to deal with this (and first time going to DW in general so I'm kinda bummed about all of this!)

 

[AngiTN]

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

The FL is sulfur water so it should be just like that

 

[momtoaaliyah]

We are bummed to, all our days are park days and have dining scheduled. We could give up a day regretfully but we just would not be able to give up 2 days and feel like we got our moneys worth out of the vacation. A big day for my little one is the 10th, we have bippity boppity and MNSSHP that night. I just don't know what to do .

 

[lahobbs4]

We should be flying down tomorrow (the 5th) and scheduled to board the Disney Dream on the 8th, with return flight from MCO on the 11th. We have had a lot of discussion and researching and figuring out what insurance will and won't cover. We will have to eat a bit of the cost (mainly Delta flights home and a Poly stay booked through the DVC Store) but in the end, we had to go with our guts. Too many what-ifs and we are lucky enough to go any other time of the year.

Best of luck to all of you in your decision making!

 

[joyjoy]

I cannot BELIEVE I'm even having to worry about this. I'm near Austin at my mom's house flying out Wednesday. We don't live in Austin, we live in Houston where our house is currently being demo-ed because of Harvey floods. Our trip was originally Sept 3-10 out of Houston. Flight cancelled, had to rebook through Austin, change all resort, ADR FP reservations. Now this. I feel sick.

 

[Tonyz]

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/news/AL112017_key_messages.png?023

New update. Looks like it'll start to hit the southern tip of Florida very early Sunday. It moved west a tad so that could be a good thing if that keeps happening.

Definitely not making any decisions yet but I can probably seeing myself leaving Saturday night.

 

[AngiTN]

Hi there

I'm also one of those unfortunate people arriving on Wednesday and wouldn't have left until Monday. If I end up getting stuck at the resort, how many days do you guys think I'd be stuck there for? First time ever having to deal with this (and first time going to DW in general so I'm kinda bummed about all of this!)

I'm afraid no one can even give a remote guess to an answer. Maybe a day? But in all seriousness, a Magic 8 Ball could give you as good a guess as to how many days as anyone else could. Even the most experienced weather man couldn't tell you

Glad that some of you can wait until Wednesday (or later) to make decisions about what to do. Surely models and paths will be more solid by then. Some of us have to decide in the next few hours what to do - making big decisions on the limited info we have about what nasty irma is going to do. We were told we could cancel/reschedule flights and resort stays 24 hours in advance. So we have to know what we're doing by noon on Tuesday. Ugh.

If you can make your changes this early without any cost or penalty then you are probably in better shape them most. Most have to wait till the airlines allow changes without airfare costs or change fees, even if they'd rather make a choice earlier. Even Southwest, where there are no change fees, doesn't waive airfare cost changes until the alerts are issued.

 

[Kindermouse]

What the heck this thread this is increasing as fast at the free dining watch and wait thread. I got away for 8 hours and it increases by 16 pages!

 

[trevelbond]

I decided to call the airline (Virgin America) and get my flight from SFO moved to Friday the 8th, from Saturday. I just want to be guaranteed get down there, if I lose a day while I'm there I really don't care. Booked one night at the Dolphin so I can walk my bags over to the Yacht Club for the remainder of my original stay on Saturday.

Looks like I'm getting an extra Epcot day.

 

[mellvswdw1]

Just got off the phone with southwest. Going to have to stalk them for the next few days but I feel a little better. We have the good fortune to be a little flexible this trip. The lady I spoke with is from Austin. She told me that on her days off, she's been volunteering in Houston. She has been finding animals and trying to reunite them with their owners. She's headed back down tomorrow. It really gave me perspective about what is important as I'm worried about our trip to Disney. Very humbling.

My biggest hope is this huge dangerous storm doesn't have a direct hit to all the small islands in its way and she turns and goes out to sea. I've been religiously stalking the weather underground blog and it looks really bad. Lots of prayers right now for everyone in Irma's path.

 

[stickeymouse]

We were told we could cancel/reschedule flights and resort stays 24 hours in advance.

Did you hear anything from Disney about this?

 

[stickeymouse]

We fly out Thursday afternoon and leaving the 16th. I am actually coordinating a group trip with friends, so I have to be on top of things and change stuff around if I have to. I wonder how hard it would be to move things to Disneyland if it looks like it's going to be too bad in Orlando? The good thing with Disneyland is that you don't have to plan things so far in advance like at Disney World. The down side is that I've already been to WDW once this summer and still haven't rode FoP.

This had also crossed my mind, especially considering one person in my party is coming from California.

 

[Slaterdom]

So I wake up today to the news south florida is in irmas path. If it travels to north florida, I'm interested in finding out what area could suffer flooding compared to other areas, can someone direct me? I'll be in orlando from Friday.