Hurricane Matthew Closes WDW - Reopens Saturday, October 8th

[aniroc192]

originally im supposed to come from atlanta down 75 to turnpike on fri....dont know if thats going to happen....how do you guys plan on going?

We are also planning for 75, but not getting on it till Saturday (probably going to stop somewhere near Athens Friday night) and hopefully 75 won't be a mess.

I dislike uncertainty :/

 

[scotty11x]

For those who have canceled their WDW onsite hotel reservations due to the storm, could you advise if a full refund was offered, or is it only an option to reschedule to a late date? I tried calling WDW to inquire, but the lines are jammed up.

I cancelled and was given full refund, and they refunded MNSS. Stay on the line

 

[Accident]

originally im supposed to come from atlanta down 75 to turnpike on fri....dont know if thats going to happen....how do you guys plan on going?

I think I would probably do that plan as well. I would be prepared to either have to stop somewhere along the way or even drive out of the way heading more west towards tampa on slightly slower roads and then come back over to disney on i4/417. I think it's very possible to drive around this storm or at least to normal rain hugging the west coast if needed.

 

[birdman98]

I have a room booked at GF Friday night before moving offsite for a few days. If I push back my trip until Saturday (cancelling my GF reservation), will I lose my FP+ reservations?

 

[DisAuntie]

We are also planning for 75, but not getting on it till Saturday (probably going to stop somewhere near Athens Friday night) and hopefully 75 won't be a mess.

I dislike uncertainty :/

The speed of the storm has slowed, which puts it off the northern Florida/Georgia coast Saturday. Driving will be hazardous, if roads are even open at that time. This storm is massive and I think people are forgetting there will be damage away from the center, too.

 

[yulilin3]

creepy infrared pic of Matthew

 

[SaintsManiac]

We are also planning for 75, but not getting on it till Saturday (probably going to stop somewhere near Athens Friday night) and hopefully 75 won't be a mess.

I dislike uncertainty :/

I would not attempt driving during something like this, even for Disney.

 

[hiroMYhero]

I have a room booked at GF Friday night before moving offsite for a few days. If I push back my trip until Saturday (cancelling my GF reservation), will I lose my FP+ reservations?

No. Your FPs are based on your separately linked tickets - you'll be fine!

 

[anniemae]

The speed of the storm has slowed, which puts it off the northern Florida/Georgia coast Saturday. Driving will be hazardous, if roads are even open at that time. This storm is massive and I think people are forgetting there will be damage away from the center, too.

I agree. I think some people are just thinking it will be a day of wind and rain, then business as usual. There could be severe damage, things could be messed up for days. Hopefully it will be just a day or two of rain and wind, but I hope everyone is prepared for more.

 

[flatlandcycle]

These storms make for cool temps and low crowds at Disney. I would avoid south and east coast Florida for a week or two. Disney property is where locals go for safety during tropical storms.

 

[tizzant]

creepy infrared pic of Matthew

looks like a goat skull

Heads up, as of right now it's a nightmare trying to get through to disney via chat or the phone so try calling -really- late if you need to get through to them.

 

[kristie73]

I heard about the "loop" this morning. Al Roker mentioned that it might loop back around to Florida after it grazes the Carolinas. We'll see. Just be prepared. All we can do.

Oh geez. I guess I'm just in the wait and see and hope for the best mode. ????

 

[TwoMisfits]

This is NOT a tropical storm - this is a CAT 4 Hurricane, even at this point. This is like a tornado continually hitting your area with wind and driving rain for HOURS. If it glances Orlando, you likely get the hoped for tropical storm effect. If it hits with more than a glance, you get a CAT 1/2. If you hit dead on, you will have what NOAA calls Catastrophic damage which will take weeks/months to recover from. Everything outside in a CAT 4 can be a projectile - trees, cars, mailboxes, trashcans, etc. Even if you are in a rated room for the winds, these locations are not rated to withstand tree hits, car hits, etc...you are not safe in the area, even in somewhere like Disney. You are safe in Canada, NY, Tennessee, etc...

 

[OnceUponATime15]

Just reading on WDW News Today blog that guests of Fort Wilderness Campground are being relocated to other Disney Resorts ahead of the storm. They expect to have the campground cleared by Thursday mid day.

 

[HarleenQ]

So Thurs/Fri and over the weekend would be the worst of this? Will it still be affecting the area the following weekend directly? I understand there will be after effects.

 

[aniroc192]

The speed of the storm has slowed, which puts it off the northern Florida/Georgia coast Saturday. Driving will be hazardous, if roads are even open at that time. This storm is massive and I think people are forgetting there will be damage away from the center, too.

Oh, I know. I lived in Myrtle Beach, SC for about 8 years. This is why we're driving half way before it reaches Georgia and waiting to see how everything looks the next day. Rather be stuck 6 hours away from it than 12.

 

[Accident]

So Thurs/Fri and over the weekend would be the worst of this? Will it still be affecting the area the following weekend directly? I understand there will be after effects.

The news here was talking about feeling the stronger winds stating about 2am friday so probably all friday and maybe some saturday.. depends how the storm moves once it's close enough for it's effects to start.

 

[HopperFan]

This is NOT a tropical storm - this is a CAT 4 Hurricane, even at this point. This is like a tornado continually hitting your area with wind and driving rain for HOURS. If it glances Orlando, you likely get the hoped for tropical storm effect. If it hits with more than a glance, you get a CAT 1/2. If you hit dead on, you will have what NOAA calls Catastrophic damage which will take weeks/months to recover from. Everything outside in a CAT 4 can be a projectile - trees, cars, mailboxes, trashcans, etc. Even if you are in a rated room for the winds, these locations are not rated to withstand tree hits, car hits, etc...you are not safe in the area, even in somewhere like Disney. You are safe in Canada, NY, Tennessee, etc...

Haven't read every post but one thing I don't see talked about and it very much applies to drivers .......... having evac'd a barrier island in Tampa (barely as the water was crashing over bridge), hunkered in hotel room two days by Busch Gardens (hurricane stalled) and then decided to haul up 75 home to Atlanta .....................

Big slow or stalled hurricanes spawn tornadoes on land. It's a very very real danger. Since much of Florida highways are on wide open space they can be a real danger for drivers. If you still drive in to it, have folks always watching for any odd coming your way.

I was heading down to St. Augustine today and then over to Disney tomorrow. I cancelled. (1) I don't want to be drenched for two days at the parks if they are open (2) MNSSHP was my focus and it might cancel or be miserable (3) This thing is so slow and big I am more afraid of the side effects like tornadoes, flooding, gas shortage .... That said my Florida friends evacuate to Disney property, no better place to be ........ once you are there.


EX:
Intense hurricane-strength tropical cyclones can produce severe tornado outbreaks, with more than 24 individual tornadoes(McCaul 1991). For example, Hurricane Ivan in 2004 caused such a severe outbreak, spawning 117 tornadoes that killed at least 8 people and injured another 17 (NOAA FAQ).

 

[OnceUponATime15]

WESH-TV hurricane tracker app just updated - they've raised the threat level for Orlando & area to a 4 out of 5.

I'm sure today will bring lots of info on cancellations, closures & evacuations.

 

[TwoMisfits]

My relative in downtown Orlando is evacuating to the west coast - and she had hurricane supplies and a Cat 5 rated house...if the locals are leaving, that should be a message...