Hurricane Wilma

[Uncleromulus]

Well--I could only watch the news so often during the other hurricanes.
Thought I'd scream if I saw one more reporter bending in the wind, and having the cameraman track a trashcan lid blowing down the street. And all the exaggerations!!!
I could also get into the "gas crisis" after Rita (which was pure media hype)...

Anyway--Florida is a fairly "long" state. To simply say a hurricane is headed for Florida isn't really the kind of accuracy folks need to make a decision. WHERE in Florida?? And WHEN in Florida?? WDW?? North of WDW?? South of WDW? THat's what people want --and need--to know.
And at the moment, it still appears that information is lacking.

Of course, MrsNick is correct that some "general" information is probably better than none at all. You can at least make a go-no go decision. And hindsight will tell you if it was the right one or not.

 

[Ted and Holly]

With the storm so far away and the hundreds of factors that play in the strength, speed, and direction of a hurricane, it is impossible to tell where it will go in the next few hours, let alone days.

I am not sure that I would cancel if I were in the situation, but it is important to realize that hurricanes are not a joke. WDW is inland, but if a category 5 hit Tampa (for instance) and went straight towards WDW from there, it would still be a devestating storm when it got there.

Right now, it does not appear as if it will affect WDW with hurricane force winds. But we really will not know until it has passed. And we won't have a chance at an accurate guess until mid day Sunday.

Ted

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

A lot of the damage to New Orleans was from the storm surge and flooding. That would not be the case in Orlando. Yes the winds would be bad but WDW will do everything in their power to protect their guests. But right now the projected path will take it across the lower part of the State. Trust me I am sure everyone is watching and waiting to see what happens.

But the damage in MS was from flood and winddamage and it went all the way to Jackson, Ms about 170 miles inland. I realize that so far Orlando is NOT in a direct path of Wilma (thank goodness) however should a Cat 4 or 5 ever come into Tampa and then directly over Orlando I doubt there will be anything WDW could do to protect everyone from the wind damage. Just because it is inland does not protect it from major damage just ask anyone who lived between the MS gulf coast and Jackson MS. Most here have never seen that much damage inland before. I hope that WDW never has to go through that.

 

[Mom2Ashli]

But the damage in MS was from flood and winddamage and it went all the way to Jackson, Ms over 200 miles inland. I realize that so far Orlando is NOT in a direct path of Wilma (thank goodness) however should a Cat 4 or 5 ever come into Tampa and then directly over Orlando I doubt there will be anything WDW could do to protect everyone from the wind damage. Just because it is inland does not protect it from major damage just ask anyone who lived between the MS gulf coast and Jackson MS. Most here have never seen that much damage inland before. I hope that WDW never has to go through that.

I totally agree with you. But right now the projected path is away from Central Florida and Tampa. I stated several time before until we know the path of the storm, it is anyones guess. If it comes towards the Tampa Bay Area and crosses the State than yes Orlando will feel a lot.

 

[Disneyglobegirl]

I totally agree with you. But right now the projected path is away from Central Florida and Tampa. I stated several time before until we know the path of the storm, it is anyones guess. If it comes towards the Tampa Bay Area and crosses the State than yes Orlando will feel a lot.

I understand - I do not want to scare anyone from WDW however I think visitors should be warned if they ever see Orlando in the path of a hurricane not to get a false sense of security because it is inland. I really hope that Wilma goes south and by passes Florida all together - that would be wonderful.

 

[Ted and Holly]

I understand - I do not want to scare anyone from WDW however I think visitors should be warned if they ever see Orlando in the path of a hurricane not to get a false sense of security because it is inland. I really hope that Wilma goes south and by passes Florida all together - that would be wonderful.

The wind patterns may not allow it, but I get the feeling that if Wilma goes well south of Florida that it will turn back and come at us anyway. I am not usually a pessimistic person. But I have visions of Wilma doing the fake out like Jeanne did.

Ted

 

[kelmac284]

We are due to fly in Saturday evening and I have been going back and forth all day yesterday and today. Our airline said as of now and basically until right up to flight time they are NOT cancelling our flight.

So we are still on until further notice. We are going for 2 weeks and this is a once in a lifetime trip for us. (ok so we did go once before 3 years ago but this is our last trip for YEARS). We live in CA and I have paid for our park hoppers in advance as well as MNSSHP tickets. Our halloween tix are for the 28th and we are there till 11/5.

If we were only going for a week or less I would probably cancel but for 2 weeks I am going to risk it as long as it looks on Saturday like Orlando is not going to get a direct hit.

I am NOT taking this lightly and if I lived closer I might cancel as well but this trip has been three years in the making and if we think that there is a chance of it being a few bad days out of 15 then we are going to take the chance.

I am praying that EVERYONE stays safe and that it downgrades or does not hit forida at all!!

 

[SamanthaL]

Anyone hearing what time Sunday it is likely to hit Fl?

 

[Zandy595]

Here's something to think about... They don't know for sure where Wilma will make landfall, but areas 260 miles from the center of the hurricane will get tropical storm force winds. This is what was reported this afternoon on the local weather.

I'm taking this very seriously!

 

[AuntPatti]

I live not 10 miles north of where Charley made landfall last year. Luckily no damage other than a tree falling on my fence. My plan is to stay put if storm is still projected to come in south of me. If I am in the line of fire for a direct hit or just south of where the eye is expected to come ashore, I'm going North and East, inland to Disney World!

 

[ducklite]

Anyone hearing what time Sunday it is likely to hit Fl?

I'll get out my tea leaves...

Anne

 

[Danthesand]

eh....to all those stating "to heck with Wilma, I'm going".....

...the Governor of Florida has just declared a state of emergency for the entire state.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,172869,00.html

Disney -- as much as it runs like a separate country -- is not exactly in the position to ignore that (hello...their employees live in Florida), so those thinking "it's business as usual at the Kingdom this weekend" may be in for a surprise.

....on the subject of this weekend, given the current forecast is for hurricane level winds spreading as much as 75-100 miles from the center, take a good look at the map below, particularly if you plan to be in central Florida (ergo, Orlando) on late Sunday or early Monday. And don't just look at the middle line of the potential track, look at the potential range (the "balloon" surrounding the line). Orlando is well inside it.

 

[shelby_36]

Because we have planned for a long time and have made many arrangements that cannot be resheduled. t !

Why not? I just don't understand the mindset that my life is expendable b/c I can't reschedule my vacation days. it is beyond comprehension to me.

 

[ducklite]

eh....to all those stating "to heck with Wilma, I'm going".....

...the Governor of Florida has just declared a state of emergency for the entire state.

http://www.foxnews.com/story/0,2933,172869,00.html

Disney -- as much as it runs like a separate country -- is not exactly in the position to ignore that (hello...their employees live in Florida), so those thinking "it's business as usual at the Kingdom this weekend" may be in for a surprise.

....on the subject of this weekend, given the current forecast is for hurricane level winds spreading as much as 75-100 miles from the center, take a good look at the map below, particularly if you plan to be in central Florida (ergo, Orlando) on late Sunday or early Monday. And don't just look at the middle line of the potential track, look at the potential range (the "balloon" surrounding the line). Orlando is well inside it.

Dan,

Chill.

Yes, it looks like the Keys are going to take a hit. They are 400 miles south of Central FL. It's predicted to make landfall around Naples and track in a north easterly direction exiting between West Palm and Vero. The closest to WDW that any of those places are is about 180 miles. They are still the same state though, which is why the Governor had to declare a state of emergency. To put it into perspective, Pensacola is totally out of the cone, yet to get technical, it's also under a state of emergency. A state of emergency does nothing more than give the powers to deply the national guard and seek Federal assistance, etc. It's a technicality, often done on a prophylactic basis. And when enacted by the Governor, it's for the entire State, not county by county.

Is there a chance that we could take a hit in Central FL? Sure. Just like you could get a freak blizzard. San Francisco could get an earthquake at any time. Does that mean no one should ever visit there again?

I'm not saying that we in Central FL aren't keeping a watchful eye. We most definitely are. But we aren't running around like Chicken Little claiming "the sky is falling", or thumping bibles on street corners telling people "repent, as the end is near."

You've never been in a hurricane, so you have no idea what it really entails. Even with the outer bands of Ophelia parked over us for a few days, life went on, with some breeze, and on and off showers mingled with blue skies.

If it takes the projected track, we'll see a day with strong winds gusting up to 40 mph, and some rain. But it's not going to be anything stronger than a day of bad thunderstorms.

There is a chance that it could nudge north and come over Central FL. But there's a far greater chance that you'll be in an accident on your way home from work today. (Not wishing that on you of course) If that happens, WDW has a proven track record of keeping their guests safe and reasonably comfortable during the storm, and reopening almost all guest areas the day after the storm passes. As an added note, we've got cooler weather on teh way next week, and crowds will probably be lower as people get cold feet and cancel. Their loss.

Anne

 

[cdpa4d]

Some new model track data to chew on.

Oh...and by the way the NFL seems to have ignored the State of Emergency. The Dolphins are playing the Chiefs live from Miami Friday night at 7:00PM! Go figure.

http://weather.orlandosentinel.com/tropical/tracking/at200524_model.html

 

[Danthesand]

So far, we have heard of no warnings from WDW, the state of Florida, or the federal government to stop travel plans.

eh...did you miss the fact that the State of Florida declared a state of emergency this afternoon?

Sigh....some of the posts here remind of a guy named Nero.....

 

[SamanthaL]

I'll get out my tea leaves...

Anne

Well all I was asking for was the prediction from the weather center not a reading from a fortune teller.

 

[ducklite]

Well all I was asking for was the prediction from the weather center not a reading from a fortune teller.

I was joking, which is why I used the winking smiley. As far as wanting a prediction from the weather center, you can go look as well as anyone can...



Anne

 

[SamanthaL]

I was joking, which is why I used the winking smiley. As far as wanting a prediction from the weather center, you can go look as well as anyone can...



Anne

Thanks for being so neighborly.

 

[WDWguru]

Not to downplay it, but the declaration of a state of emergency is really just a formality to get federal assistance rolling and certain laws put in place (anti-gouging, for example) that only exist under a state of emergency.