Hurricane Question for Floridians

[Albertan mom]

We are planning a trip to WDW and of course, would like to go when there is the least chance of a Hurricane hitting.
Is hurricane season really May-Nov 30th? Is there a time when they are more 'active' or likely to hit?

Thanks from a Canadian!!

 

[LegoMom3]

I don't live in Florida (yet?!!) but my dad does and I've been through more hurricanes than someone who doesn't actually LIVE there ever should!!

Ok, here's the skinny: official season is June 1 - November 30. That is when the tropics are most active and a hurricane is most "likely" to form. I think statistically you get most of them around August/September.

If you want NO chance, I'd plan a winter or spring trip, but then if you hit the school breaks/holidays, it's far more crowded. We're going this fall in early November, and I'm not too worried about the odds of catching a storm while we're there (although with our history of being a hurricane magnet, perhaps I should be...!).

 

[Aurora63]

Floridian here. Like LegoMom3 said, Aug/Sept is the most active time. This year, Katrina was in late Aug, Rita a little later, and then Wilma in October (when we thought we were done). But they can and do form anytime during the season.

 

[XOoOoVEEoOoOX]

well judging by how absolutely INSANE this year has been regarding hurricanes (one even formed in late november/december!) I would say hat the only absolutely safe time would be jan/feb lol....but seriously hurricanes have been coming towards us more frequently and stronger year after year!

 

[Feralpeg]

They recently said on the local news that the water surrounding Florida is cooler than normal. Because of that, it will take longer for the water to warm up in the spring. They said we can expect hurricane season to get a slow start. Whatever that means!

 

[BraveMom3]

They recently said on the local news that the water surrounding Florida is cooler than normal. Because of that, it will take longer for the water to warm up in the spring. They said we can expect hurricane season to get a slow start. Whatever that means!

Amen to that! A non-existent one would be perfect in my opinion - had about all we can stand for about 30 or 40 years

 

[Talking Hands]

If you want NO chance, I'd plan a winter or spring trip, but then if you hit the school breaks/holidays, it's far more crowded. We're going this fall in early November, and I'm not too worried about the odds of catching a storm while we're there (although with our history of being a hurricane magnet, perhaps I should be...!).

Sorry but there is no month when there is no chance of a hurricane. Highest months are late Aug through mid Oct but seaon is June 1 through Nov 30.

 

[goofie4goofy]

We were in WDW for a hurricane last year. We got there two days before it hit Fla. It was not supposed to, but it made a last minute loop-d-loop.

All I can say is we had a ball!..The parks were empty, they comped us a day on the park tix, and there was a "huricane party" in the hotel. WDW does not lose electricity and the hotel is very safe. The park was closed for a day and the next day everything opened on time and you would never know a storm blew thru. Disney does a great job of letting everyone know what's going on, they run free movies on the tv. Actually while people were ruching to get out of WDW, we extended our trip by 2 days. Also a lot of locals check into the hotels for safety and because WDW does not lose power.

So if you do find yourself in a hurricane at WDW, don't fret, you will have a great time. It was one of our best stays!

 

[Seahunt]

September 10 is the "peak" date for hurricane activity, although of course they can occur at any time in the season (and even after this crazy year!) - 17 predicted for 2006, lets hope none get us this year!

 

[Albertan mom]

Thanks for all the replies.

Good point GoofieforGoofy!! A quiet park would be nice!!

 

[zuzanne]

Here in Broward County we were hit very hard with Hurricane Wilma. First storm of the season last year was April with the last being in December, so no time of year is 100% safe. January & February our usually dry season has had cold temps, rain and lots of wind so far this year. We will be in Orlando for Mother's Day in May and again in December for Christmas with a 2 week vacation trip to Aruba in Sept. I need lots of Pixie Dust and weather for our three trips. Mother Nature just needs to stop being mad at the world for a while. I know she needs a Disney vacation to put a smile on her face. So my Mantra for this year is NO Storms for Florida, No Storms for Florida.....

Suzanne

 

[Quinn222]

As a Florida resident I can tell you it's impossible to predict. Should a storm hit or be headed in there are a few things to deal with. Because of the large number of hotel rooms and it's inland location a lot of people evacuate to Orlando. Depending on the trajectory and speed of the storm this can either result in large crownds at the parks or unusually low ones. My sister was there for Francis (they evacuated) and since the storm stalled they had a day to spend at Universal before it hit and she said it was empty. They walked on everything.

September and October are supposed to be the worst months but the last few years it's been nearly constant. I've been hit with four in the last two years and brushed by three others.

 

[yaytezIOA]

I just had to sound off on this. People think that Hurricanes are something that will just stop because you get hit with one or two or four. A guy at work actually said of last year "we were hit with two hurricanes and a tropical storm last year...the odds are that we wont get another one for 30 or 40 years." How many others did we almost get hit with? Here in my neighboorhood we got first brushed by Hurricane Charlie, then we got the full on force of Frances for 24 hours, then Jeanne three weeks later pretty much to the hour and minute...and landfall was just two miles away from where Frances had been. Inbetween all of that, was Ivan...just a tropical storm, but bad enough to soak the ground. Then 2005 came around and we were lulled into a false sense of security because though the season started on June 1st, it wasnt until the end of August that we got a brush with Katrina, that was Broward county's first storm. Arlene was the first storm and it didnt hit in April, it hit June 4th in the panhandle. Ophelia was supposed to hit, we came close with Tammy, and Rita was originally forecast to hit us also. Then just when we think that its all over, because mind you the peak is from August to the mid of September, here comes Wilma out of left field on October 25th. We had tickets to go to HHN the sat. before, and it was supposed to hit sunday. Universal wasnt going to cancel.....so we decided to go for it with just enough time to get back before the storm hit, thankfully it didnt until about tuesday. But still it was a pain, the preparation, the damage the cleanup....and dont even get me started on FEMA, and Insurance. If miami/dade can get hurricane relief in 2004, and they didnt get the brunt of any storms, why couldnt St. Lucie/Martin/Indian River Counties that were directly hit? Sorry Broward county...you get no sympathy from me
Moral of the story is that all the rules you used to follow are gone, there is no set season...the water is one degree warmer and thats going to cause havoc with our hurricane seasons from now on. If you come to florida in May, there should be no hurricanes.....no guarantee, but its pretty safe. In fact I would venture to say that based on the past two years its pretty safe until the middle of August. Want to read all about it?
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_2005_Atlantic_hurricane_season_storms#Tropical_Storm_Arlene

 

[DisFlan]

We were in WDW for a hurricane last year. We got there two days before it hit Fla. It was not supposed to, but it made a last minute loop-d-loop.

All I can say is we had a ball!..The parks were empty, they comped us a day on the park tix, and there was a "huricane party" in the hotel. WDW does not lose electricity and the hotel is very safe. The park was closed for a day and the next day everything opened on time and you would never know a storm blew thru. Disney does a great job of letting everyone know what's going on, they run free movies on the tv. Actually while people were ruching to get out of WDW, we extended our trip by 2 days. Also a lot of locals check into the hotels for safety and because WDW does not lose power.

So if you do find yourself in a hurricane at WDW, don't fret, you will have a great time. It was one of our best stays!

This is the same thing that happened to us when we were there during Wilma last October. We were only stuck inside the resort (BWV) until 2 pm, but there were plenty of activities provided. Then Epcot and the MK opened from 2 pm until midnite for resort guests. Even the next couple of days the parks were pretty empty, but everything was up and running. The weather was gorgeous as soon as the storm passed. It was great!

I don't live in Florida, but I was born there. I've been through quite a few hurricanes, but I wouldn't let the possibility of one months away dampen my vacation plans. Like other posters have suggested, if the idea really scares you, shoot for January or February.

As for WDW not being crowded after a storm - here's a picture of Epcot at 1 pm the day after Wilma - and this was during the Food and Wine Festival. We had just about the whole place to ourselves. The only person in the shot is a CM.

And here's one on the other side of the lagoon a little bit later. That's what I call a REALLY "light" crowd day! About 90% of the people we saw (maybe 30) were over by the beer kiosk in Canada.

DisFlan

 

[Deb & Bill]

Tropical Storm Arlene hit the Gulf Coast in early June in 2005. From what I have heard, this year's hurricane season will be as bad if not worse that 2005.