Hurricane Watchers--Post Here!

[wrighter]

Add us to the list of travelers watching those predictions closely. We arrive on the 25th, so I'm not concerned about travel. To be honest, I vascilate between planning for a storm and just winging it. We have rain ponchos. (Actually, my husband just returned from a conference at WDW where they were giving them out to the participants. He brought them home for us to take just in case. They smell like shower curtains, and we'll probably have to cut some length off of them for the kids, but they should be somewhat effective in keeping off the rain.) But then I think - Well, maybe we should have proper rain gear! Where can I get proper rain gear?! REI. I can drive 40 minutes to REI and spend hundreds of dollars for proper rain gear! Like I have time for that in the next two days. Or the funds. Then I worry about being cooped up in the room for long stretches of time. What will we do to pass the time?! What if we lose power?! We need things to do - what can I bring for us to do? Well, everyone bring a book. If we really get stuck we'll make our way to the lobby and buy some cards or something. Certainly they might have some sort of entertainment for the kids there? (Although we are at BCV - so we'd probably have to walk over to the main building. But still.)

I worry. I am a worrier by nature. But I think I'm going to choose to sit this one out. There's no telling how bad it will be. So I think I'm going to bring those aweful ponchos, bring the Keens, and be prepared to roll with the punches. One way or the other we're going to WDW! So I say to you, Isaac: Bring it! (Okay, maybe that was going a little too far. Go away, Isaac. But we won't let you ruin our trip.)

Here's to the Hurricane Watchers! Good luck to us all!

 

[StacyMarie]

Add us to the list of travelers watching those predictions closely. We arrive on the 25th, so I'm not concerned about travel. To be honest, I vascilate between planning for a storm and just winging it. We have rain ponchos. (Actually, my husband just returned from a conference at WDW where they were giving them out to the participants. He brought them home for us to take just in case. They smell like shower curtains, and we'll probably have to cut some length off of them for the kids, but they should be somewhat effective in keeping off the rain.) But then I think - Well, maybe we should have proper rain gear! Where can I get proper rain gear?! REI. I can drive 40 minutes to REI and spend hundreds of dollars for proper rain gear! Like I have time for that in the next two days. Or the funds. Then I worry about being cooped up in the room for long stretches of time. What will we do to pass the time?! What if we lose power?! We need things to do - what can I bring for us to do? Well, everyone bring a book. If we really get stuck we'll make our way to the lobby and buy some cards or something. Certainly they might have some sort of entertainment for the kids there? (Although we are at BCV - so we'd probably have to walk over to the main building. But still.)

I worry. I am a worrier by nature. But I think I'm going to choose to sit this one out. There's no telling how bad it will be. So I think I'm going to bring those aweful ponchos, bring the Keens, and be prepared to roll with the punches. One way or the other we're going to WDW! So I say to you, Isaac: Bring it! (Okay, maybe that was going a little too far. Go away, Isaac. But we won't let you ruin our trip.)

Here's to the Hurricane Watchers! Good luck to us all!

Me being the compulsive planner that I am decided to pack Uno, Skip Bo, Yahtzee, and Sequence just in case. I'm traveling with 4 teenage girls, ages 16, 15, 17, and 17 so I need to be able to keep them occupied if we have to stay in our rooms for a bit. I took Yahtzee and Sequence out of the boxes and just packed the components in baggies, so it is a quick, easy, space saving fix if need be. My husband thinks I'm being silly but I sure would hate to be cooped up with 4 teenage girls who are bored, lol. If it just rains, we'll roll with that too and head to the park!

 

[stitchrulz]

We're interested in both systems as Isaac could possibly affect our drive down plans, depending on where/when it goes, then the next system following behind could affect our trip. Did someone say the system steering them toward US/Gulf right now might lift, allowing the new bugger to spin more seaward (please!)?

 

[MinnieTink]

I'm joining in, watching the weather with you. We are leaving early Friday morning, driving down. We should be there early evening. Seems like our travel day should be fine. And now I'm going to find those ponchos...

 

[Dwheels]

Yes flipping out right now. Flying to Orlando on Friday the 24th, not a problem, supposed to leave on DCL for 4 nighter on Wednesday the 29th BIG PROBLEM it looks like the storm will be over Orlando then

No the storm will be gone by then! By the time it reaches Orlando it will barley be a TS I it even takes that path! I think u should be fine

 

[lts862]

We will be at Vero Beach resort on the 25th for 6 days and Issac is on the way. I am trying to decide if we should head to Orlando on Sunday, stay at SSR and avoid being evacutated last minute. I will call member services tomorrow. I hate the uncertainty!

 

[Dwheels]

I know it's important to be prepared but I don't think that we have to worry about the parks closing down a couple of days. WDW closed the parks for 1 day in 2004 when charley hit and that storm was a cat5!! So maybe 1 day hopefully no days! But I am sure the resorts will have plenty for us to do! Here's to hoping it goes far far away!

 

[CRB#33]

Actually, the thing that worries me the most is how many people are heading to WDW next week!

I thought the last week of August was supposed to be when crowds really drop off!

The latest models I looked at seem to show that the second system (what might be Joyce), will turn out into the Atlantic well before any impact to Florida.

I'm praying for the same for Isaac. Or if it does strike land, it hits in drought ridden areas with minimal winds and storm surge.

 

[Dwheels]

Ok just watched the latest model runs on TWC look like the US model has changed bringing the storm close to the West Coast of FL. Which will mean some rain in Orlando but not the full hurricane! Good news cause yesterday that model had the storm riding right over the entire state! The European model still bring it way out into the gulf completely away from FL which is what it has been consistently predicting! Still a long way to go in this but I was happy to see the change in the US model!

 

[neodisneyfan]

Just checking in and joining the watching! We leave on Sept 7, driving from Ohio. Not too worried about the drive but I do the hurricane watch and make myself crazy!!. Did it last year and every year before that! Seems like a tradition that I really should try to stop! Can't change the weather anyway. I too am going to try to find better rain gear just in case and I will definately pack some games just in case since we will have plenty of room. I was looking at flights and i found non stop round trip from Akron canton airport for 219 which is AWESOME! With the price of gas i think it may be cheaper than driving. There are 6 of us but with gas, hotel for 2 extra nights and food on the way down I think flying may be cheaper. The only problem is my ADR's revolve aroung having a car
Now with these TD maybe driving isn't cheaper but I may get there and back without cancelled flights. If it wasn't during school I wouldn't mind a few extra days but the kids are already missing 6 days.

 

[KELLY]

Not sure if anyone responded but figured i would share...

We were there last year for Irene. She was suppose to hit Fl mid week then Mass the weekend we flew home. Concierge at WL was very helpful letting us know that they always have a back up pkan should they get word that they will be hit (boarding up sliders and windows). And in the case you have to bunker down, they have activites and she mentioned WL would bring in characters (not sure which other ones did too). She also said if our flight was to get canceled due to Irene hitting MA and Logan shutting down, that they would take care of us.

Knowing that Disney very much had a contingency pkan made it a lit easier to relax!

Oh and Irene gave us in Epcot a really decent down pour and gusty winds...we never did get to met Beast. We got stuck under the awning at the boat and finally made our way to the other side by the entrance. We decided to sneak into the aquarium to sit other the rest of the "storm" and got blessed with seeing scuba diving Mickey...turned out to be a highlight of the trip!

Oh and we flew over Irene by NC with a very smooth flight but got hit in MA the day after we came home. So we flew to FL during hurricane season just to fly home to power outages and having to make up school days!

Still would do it over again!

That is exactly what happened in 2004. But just remeber if it is that bad you will be on lockdown for part of the hurricane. You won't be able to go to the lobby at all. We stayed at WL when we were on lockdown. But they had lots of activites and the characters in the lobby.

But just be prepared if you are staying in a mod or value those things tend not to happen. Because of the outside walkways. So you maybe on lockdown for most of the day.

But out of all the years we have gone we have only expereince lockdown one time. Honestly this happens every year we go so I'm not to concerened. Last year the hurricane was suppose to hit FL. Then once the days got closer it ened up hitting more north.

 

[staceyatdisney]

Wow, so many NJ peeps on this thread. We are also flying down on Saturday the 25th. I am really only thinking about 3 things when it comes to the storm: getting there, getting stuck in the room and the possibility of 2-3 days of steady rain & wind. At this point it seems we'll be fine getting there. I figure the probability of being banished to the room by Disney is very low but possible so we're bringing along some old school "analog" entertainment. As far as the rain/wind, ponchos won't cut it so we're going out tonight to buy some real rain suits. We will roll with whatever else come our way. Should I be more worried?

 

[BlovesC]

If it weren't for the DIS, I'd honestly never know whenever we were due for hurricanes down here. To me it's all just light rain, normal rain, really hard rain, sideways rain, and crazy rain!

 

[KELLY]

Wow, so many NJ peeps on this thread. We are also flying down on Saturday the 25th. I am really only thinking about 3 things when it comes to the storm: getting there, getting stuck in the room and the possibility of 2-3 days of steady rain & wind. At this point it seems we'll be fine getting there. I figure the probability of being banished to the room by Disney is very low but possible so we're bringing along some old school "analog" entertainment. As far as the rain/wind, ponchos won't cut it so we're going out tonight to buy some real rain suits. We will roll with whatever else come our way. Should I be more worried?

In 2004 the parks closed early one day and the entire next day. That was a bad hurricane. The next day there was the GF roof shingles all over the place.

But I wouldn't even worry about loosing 2 to 3 days. It will more likely be one. You can still do the parks in the rain. Not my idea of sunny Fl but it is doable. I leave Friday and as long as we get there we are good. Last year we had to leave a day early to avoid the storm.

 

[lts862]

Ok just watched the latest model runs on TWC look like the US model has changed bringing the storm close to the West Coast of FL. Which will mean some rain in Orlando but not the full hurricane! Good news cause yesterday that model had the storm riding right over the entire state! The European model still bring it way out into the gulf completely away from FL which is what it has been consistently predicting! Still a long way to go in this but I was happy to see the change in the US model!

If the storm goes up the west coast of FL then the worst winds may still impact the Atlantic and push lots of water to the atlantic coast, thus making Vero prime for flooding and possible evacuation. Just thinking out loud here! Everyone who will be in FL or travelling to and from, please stay safe!

 

[GillianP1301]

Ok just watched the latest model runs on TWC look like the US model has changed bringing the storm close to the West Coast of FL. Which will mean some rain in Orlando but not the full hurricane! Good news cause yesterday that model had the storm riding right over the entire state! The European model still bring it way out into the gulf completely away from FL which is what it has been consistently predicting! Still a long way to go in this but I was happy to see the change in the US model!

This is good news! Brings it closer to the European model. Keeping everything crossed here. We fly on Sunday and my main priority is to get in there safely and with minimal delays. Then my next priority is to hope for no direct hit and just have a few days of crappy rain to deal with. I could deal with that!

 

[staceyatdisney]

In 2004 the parks closed early one day and the entire next day. That was a bad hurricane. So I won't even worry about loosing 2 to 3 days. It will more likely be one. You can still do the parks in the rain. Not my idea of sunny Fl but it is doable.

Sorry, I meant 2-3 days of rain while doing the parks. If the parks are open, we're there, no matter how much or how hard it's rains. With 2 children under 10 yrs old there ain't a way in the world we're staying in the room unless Disney forces us to.

 

[LPnerd]

If it weren't for the DIS, I'd honestly never know whenever we were due for hurricanes down here. To me it's all just light rain, normal rain, really hard rain, sideways rain, and crazy rain!

ans this is exactly the right attitude, these peeps don't understand oe model from the other . I watched the weather channel too, and he did not personally pick one set of models over another. I wish I could figure out how to post the graph of all the ensembles of the models so you could see what I'm trying to explain, and obviously doing a very poor job...
I have not heard them start warning people this far out in a long time, fl s in the center of the cone, ( my daughter calls it the cone of fear, LOL),
I've been tracking these storms for years so can we just stipulate I might understand a little more than someone that just looked today???
all the models have the storm affecting Fl. it's important to remember Fl is only 100 miles wide, these storms have rain and varying degrees of wind outwards of 2-300 miles sometimes, depends on how big the storm gets.
I think the storm is going to get pulled up the east coast as a cat 1 weak 2 but that's just what I think now, just like the weather guy says west coast with no confidence... what if I post NOAA discussion, any interest in reading that at all. I just think the few of you that seem to be upset wouldn't be with a bit more accurate knowledge, you know, knowledge is power, right??? I won't bore you if not interested... just , this storm is not going to ruin your vacation, maybe even be a good story when you get home???

 

[North of Mouse]

Ok just watched the latest model runs on TWC look like the US model has changed bringing the storm close to the West Coast of FL. Which will mean some rain in Orlando but not the full hurricane! Good news cause yesterday that model had the storm riding right over the entire state! The European model still bring it way out into the gulf completely away from FL which is what it has been consistently predicting! Still a long way to go in this but I was happy to see the change in the US model!

Having watched and been in many hurricanes, it's almost "best" (if there is a best) if the hurricane goes over or east of you, as the worst side is the east side of it. So, IF it goes up the western, gulf side, of FL it will be worse for interior FL.

Actually, we don't want it in the Gulf either would rather it go back to sea!!!

 

[RNicole1]

Our local meteorologist is somewhat of a celebrity...he is really awesome. Pretty much, I always listen to what he says. Take a look at his blog and watch his Weather Xtreme videos for good information.

http://www.alabamawx.com/

(Out of Birmingham, AL)