Hurricane Season

[NJOYURLIFE]

We have to opportunity to stay in a 2 bedroom OKW the end of August. I am a bit nervous because if I remember correctly, the hurricanes hit last year starting in August. I am wondering how bad it got in Orlando during the hurricanes. I hate to be anywhere that might put my family in danger, but I also don't want to be a nervous nelly about this also.

Thanks.
Lisa

 

[Deb & Bill]

Since WDW has their own utility systems, they did not suffer the way the rest of FL did. But you still had to get there. And they still had resort guests stranded there. They did move guests out of Fort Wilderness into rigid structures. There was some damage to WDW, but not like the rest of FL.

I have heard that this summer is supposed to be as bad or worse than last year.

 

[Cruelladeville]

Are you from the North? We have winter storms worse than the hurricanes last summer. We were barricaded inside BWV, but they brought us sandwiches and chips FOR PURCHASE so we didn't starve. It was actually kind of interesting going thru a hurricane--most Michiganians can't claim that they have experienced a hurricane before. We were there when Orlando got a direct hit, it was really scary when it was over, and we saw what it did to the surrounding area! However, it didn't seem too bad at BWV, just a bunch of whitecaps on the lake, and what sounded like hail on our patio door--just like November in Michigan.

 

[Sammie]

Usually Disney manages very well. This is not to say that it could be worse at anytime. During hurricane Charlie some very major damage occurred very close to the Disney property.

You will be confined to your villa and not allowed to roam around. Restaurants and such will close early, so you would need to prepare for this. Parks and such will also close early.

I would not say that you would be putting your family in danger anymore than you would during a severe thunderstorm in the area and tornadoes. But you will have a restricted vacation, that could possibly be extended due to airport damage, roads closed, etc. Are you flexible enough to do that? Many are not and got very unset to be stranded in Orlando for extra days and not able to go home. Also the extension is at times at your cost and can get expensive.

I just want you to consider more than the actual danger and more the inconvenience.

 

[castleri]

We were at OKW in a 2BR last year for the 3rd hurricane that hit the end of Sept. In the room we didn't even really hear the wind or rain - had to look out to see it. We had stocked up on groceries and made spagetti and the fixings as well as havng plenty of sandwich meats just in case. We spent most of one day in the unit but since we had power and TV, cards and books it turned out to be relaxing way to spend some time. We knew well in advance that the storm was a possibility and elected to go anyway. We had reservations off site a mile from Disney for the first three days and when the storm was predicted to come directly over us we called Disney and they were able to add the day to our reservation at OKW so we checked in a day early. They had already said roads would be closed for the duration of the storm and possibly longer so we wanted to be at Disney knowing they would have things up and running as soon as they could - and they did. Sammie makes some very good points about delay issues that only you can decide if you can deal with the possiblity these happening.

 

[justjudy]

We were at VWL during Hurricane Jeanne last year and felt very secure. Disney kept us updated with notices they would slip under our door and messages on the phone. All the balcony furniture had to be brought inside and the doors kept unlocked, and as others have said, they had food available for purchase set up in one of the unoccupied rooms. When we heard that the hurricane was going to hit we laid in a supply of necessary junk food and spent the day eating, doing laundry and watching movies on the tube. When the winds subsided we were allowed across the breezeway to the main lodge where there was all kinds of stuff going on -- a bar set up, music playing and characters to entertain the crowds . We were supposed to fly home the next day, but had to postpone because our airline was not flying, and it did cost us points for the extra day, but the parks were open so we made the most of it and enjoyed. I really didn't mean to write a novella, but just wanted to say that not once did I feel that we were in any danger. In fact, we are going back this year at the end of September.

 

[TammyAlphabet]

I am so glad that so many DVC'ers 'weathered' the storm so well. I will be in VB the third week of August. I thought about hurricanes, but, what are the chances of them coming back again? I estimate small, and that last year was a fluke, i say, plan and go and get the travel insurance.

 

[bobbiwoz]

Hi! We'll be in VB Aug. 25th - 27th after a BWV stay. Then we're going back to Florida for the Members Cruise. We're hoping for a less turbulent season this year!

Bobbi

 

[Deb & Bill]

I am so glad that so many DVC'ers 'weathered' the storm so well. I will be in VB the third week of August. I thought about hurricanes, but, what are the chances of them coming back again? I estimate small, and that last year was a fluke, i say, plan and go and get the travel insurance.

I have heard that because of the warm water temperatures, the hurricane season in the Gulf Coast area could be as bad or worse than last year for this coming hurricane season. That begins June 1 and goes until Dec 1. Not many hurricanes in June, maybe end of July or early August before they start. Third week of August could be a bad time for hurricanes. But you might also have wonderful weather for your stay.

 

[VMS]

We were there for hurricane Frances this past year. We were supposed to fly home on a Friday, and when we started checking on Thursday morning, we were reassured by a number of people that we would not have a hard time getting our flight out on Friday. To make a long story short, all flights were canceled starting fairly early on Friday, and we could not get a flight home until Tuesday. The hurricane hit on Sunday. It was an ordeal getting home. My kids missed the first day of school (not that they really minded that!). Once it looked like we were not going to get out, one of the CM's told us to get on the list to get an extension. If you checked out, you could have a major problem, because they would not let anyone new check in. They were using the rooms for Disney employees. We were staying at the VWL, and opted to get a room in the lodge. We did not have the points to use for what turned out those 4 extra nights -- and that would have included a weekend stay. And even the cash price was quite high with the discount. Also, we wanted to be in the lodge because we knew at some point we would not be able to get out of the villas, and the lodge was set up with more restaurants, entertainment brought in, etc.

It was quite crazy there, but Disney handled it very well. They had just been through this drill 3 weeks prior. The parks on Thursday and Friday were very empty. And I took my daughter over to the Magic Kingdom on Monday, the day after the hurricane and I have never in all my years seen the park so empty -- it was a surreal experience.

Our plan has been (and despite this) to go to WDW every other year at the very end of August and my kids go back after Labor Day. It is hot, and despite the threats of these hurricanes, we find it is a good time for our family to go.

 

[pplasky]

We are going mid August. Chances of a hurricane are just that, chances, especially in Orlando. You never know what mother nature could bring. I wouldn't mind a hurricane if one of the benefits would be empty parks for a day or two.

 

[pogopossum]

we have been to wdw four times in late august/early sept. and the only one that has been affected by hurricane was our cruise trip last year. my recommendations would be either get a one or two bedroom villa, for the kitchen facilities or like vms said check into one of the resorts that are under one roof. we were at cs and the sherriff required them to close shops and restaurant and shut down the kids programs, so that we would not walk around outside. overall i was impressed with their preparedness to deal with the situation, and never felt at risk at all. my retired cm fil who lives in st cloud said that charley was about as bad as the have ever had, and they had little damage from that one. but most times by the time they reach central fla the have lost most of their punch.

the only problem with frances was that she took her sweet time moving through, but we have worse thunderstorms in the spring than frances was, and have even been in a tent camping in worse.

you can get a good deal that time of year and the weather is usually real nice, hope you have a great time.

 

[JimMIA]

Are you from the North? We have winter storms worse than the hurricanes last summer.

REALLY? I didn't realize 20+ people died in your storms. And what are you doing with the tens of thousands of people who are still living in partially reconstructed houses? We still have areas in Dade County that have not rebuilt since Hurricane Andrew in 1992.

If you think your storms are like hurricanes, you'd better stay home during hurricane season - or be sure to stay inland at someplace like Disney.

Going through a hurricane 100 miles inland is like driving a car through a rain shower -- it's nothing. It's the kind of thing the Weather Channel and CNN people do, but it has nothing to do with hurricanes.

 

[newholidayx2]

DS13 & I will be at VWL Aug 13-21 and BCV Aug 21-27
We lived through a cruise rescheduling back in 2002/03 - we can certainly live through staying in the villas for a day or 2! (ok so DS would need a shotgun - lol)
Just get us down there!

 

[JimMIA]

I have heard that because of the warm water temperatures, the hurricane season in the Gulf Coast area could be as bad or worse than last year for this coming hurricane season. That begins June 1 and goes until Dec 1. Not many hurricanes in June, maybe end of July or early August before they start. Third week of August could be a bad time for hurricanes. But you might also have wonderful weather for your stay.

First of all, to correct a common misconception, the Hurricane Season officially runs from June 1 through November 30. [EDIT: A lot of people mistakenly believe the season ends November 1.]

Typically, the early season hurricanes (June-Sept) generate near the Cape Verde Islands (off the West Coast of Africa) and threaten the East Coast of the US, if they threaten anything. We watch them on the NOAA website weeks before they pop up on the news. It's very quiet at the moment. Most disturbed weather systems don't ever make it to hurricane status. They come about halfway across the Atlantic and head north into oblivion.

Usually, the late season hurricanes form in the Gulf of Mexico or lower Caribbean and threaten the US Gulf Coast, Mexico and Central America.

To keep things a little bit in perspective, it is unusual for Florida to take a direct hit by one hurricane. Both the Carolinas and the Texas coast get hit by hurricanes at least as often as Florida.

It is very rare for us to get hit directly by two, and if we do, it's usually one on the East Coast and one on the Gulf Coast. Last year, we had four -- three that started in Africa and one that started in the lower Caribbean. I'm sure somewhere in the historical archives there has been another year like 2004, but I sure don't remember it.

 

[pogopossum]

as far as winter storms go, i can't comment on how bad things are up north, ours are nothing, but that has a lot to do with why we live here and endure the spring and fall t-storms and inferno-like summers, but i am not trying to diminish the destructiveness of the recent hurricanes in florida. our spring and fall storms do their own kind of destructiveness and oftentimes it covers a good portion of texas all at once. but i think it silly to try to play top this with the weather and destruction of one region over another.

and i do realize that we lucky to be on the least destructive edge of frances last year at wdw. and we have followed hurricane progress in the gulf for many years, having been a frequent visitor to the texas coast since about age three, and developed a familiarity with the area. now we have added interest in atlantic huricanes, having fil in st cloud, being owners of dvc property at vb, and vacation scheduling during hurricane season.

 

[Jacksmom99]

We were there for Charley last August. Since we were driving we left a day early so we wouldn't get caught driving in the storm. Remember, until Friday afternoon, everyone thought Charley was hitting the Tampa area and then heading north. We were staying at the Travelodge on 192 prior to moving to BCV on Sunday, the 15th. While we survived the hurricane, and the staff at the Travelodge really did their best to keep everyone comfortable, I wouldn't want to go through that again. All of 192 was without power, no A/C, no food, no gas, no stores, and our room was flooded (on the 2nd floor) because water came in through the AC unit. I know WDW faired much better, and we were able to move to the Country Inn and Suites in LBV on Sat for one night and then to the BCV on Sun.

Would I do it again? Well we're going again this August. However, we're flying and if there's a hurricane headed in, I think I'll wait to see what it does before heading to Orlando. Charley was by far the most frightening storm I've ever encountered, and all my husband and I kept thinking was that we purposely brought our children into the path of a hurricane.

 

[Sammie]

Storms of any kind are very destructive and affect thousands of people every year.

I will have to agree that unless you have actually seen the "coastal" damage of a major hurricane you can not truely comment on the effect of the damage. The only thing that comes close is a very strong tornado and even then it is not as widespread.

 

[rayelias]

We were down last year for one of the big hurricaines (don't remember which). It was the first time we actually stayed on property (POFQ), and the experience was one of the reasons we decided to purchase DVC.

This was a BAD storm. We were "quarantined" in our room for a little over 24 hours.

Honestly, with the drapes closed, you would have NEVER known there was a shower, let alone a hurricane. Once you did look out the windows, there were LARGE trees down, lots of damage. The property itself managed very well. The staff was phenominal.

You have to figure, most of the CM's are young guys and girls making barely over minimum wage. They volunteered to stay on property and wait on the guests. There was a skeleton crew, but you'd never know it. I'd like to bottle some of that loyalty, customer service, and magical attitude and sell it. They were GREAT!!!

Once the storm had died down a little (with the parks still closed), they had charaters there for the kids and activities to keep them occupied. Through the storm, they played movies (for free) on several channels on the TV (so you had a choice). I'm not a big "Disney Movie" person, but after watching some of them, I got a new appreciation for some of the childrens' classics I thought I would never watch (we have no kids). They gave us a credit on our passes, since the parks were closed, too. (Act of God - they didn't have to do that)

We felt safe and secure the whole time. And, we never had experienced the level of service staying anywhere else. And this was at a moderate!

Overall, if I had a choice, I certainly wouldn't want to go through it again, because it did screw up our vacation plans. But, if I do, I'll be glad to do it on property.

 

[Sammie]

The forecast is again for another active season. There is a news clip out today.

13 named storms, 7 reaching Hurricane strength, 3 intense storms and a 73% that a major storm will make landfall.