Ice Storm and Space Camp -- Would you go?

[EagertobeinWDW]

My children received a very special opportunity to participate in an overnight space camp at the NASA Space Center. BUT NOW, the entire state of Tennessee through which we would have to travel to get there has significant ICE and snow forecasted for Friday.

I'm thinking of leaving on Thursday and staying in a hotel in Alabama for a night before the space camp begins. We should be able to travel on Friday safely to the Space Center.

My concern is ICE and freezing rain is expected all day and night Friday throughout the very mountainous section of Tennessee. We then would be driving back SATURDAY, with temperatures expected to reach a high of mid- to late-30s. My concern is we risk significant ice driving back Saturday night. I don't know how long the ice is supposed to remain, but I could see it still being very icy on Saturday when we are supposed to return. I fear we either face prolonging our stay with additional nights in a hotel before we can safely return. I really don't have the money to add all these hotel stays on top of the cost of the space camp experience.

I'm also concerned that we very likely will lose power in our home with the ice storms. (Where we live in Tennessee doesn't usually handle big winter storms very well.)

I welcome and would really appreciate some insights and suggestions. I'm feeling incredibly stressed because the kids have had some rough experiences lately and I feel like I'm just adding to their loss in keeping them home from the camp. I'm hoping some kind-hearted Disney friends might have a little better perspective and could offer some wisdom.

Thank you!

 

[dsneprincess]

I would go....the weather people aren't always right. Of course, I am from a place where snow & ice is a daily occurance. If I avoided weather, I wouldn't go anywhere for 6+ months.

 

[Leajess99]

I would go down tomorrow and if need be wait and drive home Sunday during the day. If that is not possible can they be rescheduled for a later camp??

 

[midwestdee]

Personally, I am a chicken and there is NO way I would go. The trip through the mountains is bad enough in good weather. Perhaps some people that live in those states can give you an idea how well their towns/counties deal with this - but I don't think the Southern states are as well prepared as we are in the midwest - this is not a slam at them - it just doesn't occur as often there from what I know.

 

[jmartinez1895]

You should check out myfoxal.com. I live in Alabama ( about 20 minutes north of Birmingham) and that is my go to for weather. I think your plan should work fine. Do you have an idea of where you would like to stay ( what city). If you would like, please feel free to PM and I might could recommend areas to stay and the areas to stay away from.

 

[wgeo]

Well, I'd probably go, but I'm crazy like that and I'm from the North where we are really used to bad driving weather.

But what I would do is map out the route I planned on taking and search now for cheaper hotels along the way, and write it all down with their phone numbers so you know what your options are ahead of time.

Also, I'd plan out an alternate driving route and plan for hotels along that as well.

If you do decide to go, please pack an emergency kit for your car just in case.

 

[EagertobeinWDW]

Thank you so much for sharing your thoughts and suggestions! I lived near the Great Lakes for about 15 years. Schools never even closed. When I relocated to the South a few years ago, I was completely non-plussed by a few falling flakes and started out in my car anyway. I'd driven in blizzards countless times and felt confident. My confidence turned to heart-gripping terror as I realized Tennessee mountains are merciless. And I'm painfully aware that I have two very small children whose lives could tragically end because wrecks involving Tennessee mountains tend to come to fatal ends. I feel like my real choice is going and planning two extra days in a hotel, or trying to reschedule. I hate putting the extra money for hotel solely because of weather. I'm a single parent and on a very tight budget. I'm counting pennies to help my children have some wonderful memories, so two nights in a hotel matters in a way that it probably wouldn't if our finances were more relaxed. I hope we can reschedule. I'll talk to them tomorrow and see what can be done.

A kind thank you to you great Disney Folks! I knew I would get some helpful responses.

 

[jmartinez1895]

Well, I'd probably go, but I'm crazy like that and I'm from the North where we are really used to bad driving weather.
.

You may be used to the weather, but we are not. Once there is ice or snow on the road, they shut them down. So it does not matter how good at driving on icy roads you are if they are all closed. I have lived in AL my whole life and it is the funniest thing, as soon as they say the word snow, you can depend on all the bread and milk to be sold out before you can get to the store and lines at the fule pumps ( which makes no since because as I said they close the roads so you are not going to be driving anywhere).

 

[MinnieForMe]

Hi:
I live in New Hampshire and ice levels the playing field. No one is safe driving during an ice storm. It closes everything here and usually drops power lines. In our town that could be days without power so we all have generators. That being said, my 11 year old spent a week at Space Camp in August and it is an amazing experience and an expensive one (almost $1500 once you factor in flight) so if you are getting a good deal it might be worth it to go early and try for a hotel deal on priceline.

However if the forecast really makes you nervous (I would be concerned too), can you factor in how much you would spent on the hotels, gas, trips and see what the difference would be between sending the kids now or waiting until summer. The price does go down at the end of August because many kids in the South are back in school.

You should log into the Space Camp Hab1 forum and talk to other people who may be taking the same trip. The Hab forum is the informal chatting grounds for alumni, counselors, and current/future space campers. Here's the link:
http://habforum.hab1.com/

I hope it works out for your family. Stay safe! My son says "bring duct tape to camp"!

 

[MSSANDRA]

We are in the south! A couple of facts. The south is a VERY difficult place to predict weather. It changes at the drop of a hat so it is very possible that there will be no ice. Ice is very different than snow to drive on and driving on ice through a mountain is a VERY bad idea. Many roads are closed. Many people will loose power and go to hotels. If you decide to go, I would go ahead and reserve the hotel now for the day before and after just in case. Only you can decide if your budget will allow this added expense. I hope you can make it work out for your children. Disappointing them is so hard.

 

[minnie10]

I think you will be fine. I live 60 miles from Space Camp in Rainsville, Al. If I can help in any way, just ask. I teach at the local elementary school. We are only expecting a possible 2 hour delay around here.

 

[North of Mouse]

All you folks that can drive so well on snow will do just what we southerners do on *ice*. You'll slide all over the place. Our winter weather usually starts as freezing rain or sleet, then maybe snow. There's no 4 wheel drive, or other, that can handle *ice*. I've seen videos of people *up north* sliding around on the highways just like we do. Snow is not that hard to drive on, I have done it several times with no problem, but not when there's *ice* under it.

OP, I would just stay home. We were caught out once with little warning, and we ended up being hit 3 times while we were still - no fault of our own. Now, if there's even a *hint* of *ice* on the roads, I will *not* risk my life.

 

[tinkgirl1984]

If you're going to try it, I would definitely leave tomorrow. Not sure where you are exactly, but I'm in Knoxville and they're saying roads here could be all but impassable. The last forecast I heard was up to 1 1/2 inches of solid ice possible. And the people who do get out in it will turn into complete morons. Last Thursday when it snowed it took me 3 hours to make a 25 minute drive home. No exaggeration. The interstates and major roadways were at a dead standstill. Abandoned cars everywhere. And that was just snow. No ice involved.

 

[EagertobeinWDW]

Ugh. I hadn't even considered downed power lines and trees. We do live in the Knoxville area, and I found the news report you referenced. The ice is expected to remain on the roads for Saturday.

What really scares me is that southern Tennessee, which is a mountainous region that I would have to pass through to get to Alabama, is supposed to get SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE I-C-E.

I've e-mailed the coordinator several times, asking what the options are, but haven't been able to get a response. I have two little kids. We live reasonably close to Space Camp and as homeschoolers, have flexible schedules. I will ensure they get their Space Camp time. But I did finally tell the coordinator unless the forecast changes, I cannot risk it.

A huge thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and suggestions.

 

[HsvTeacher]

Ugh. I hadn't even considered downed power lines and trees. We do live in the Knoxville area, and I found the news report you referenced. The ice is expected to remain on the roads for Saturday.

What really scares me is that southern Tennessee, which is a mountainous region that I would have to pass through to get to Alabama, is supposed to get SIGNIFICANTLY WORSE I-C-E.

I've e-mailed the coordinator several times, asking what the options are, but haven't been able to get a response. I have two little kids. We live reasonably close to Space Camp and as homeschoolers, have flexible schedules. I will ensure they get their Space Camp time. But I did finally tell the coordinator unless the forecast changes, I cannot risk it.

A huge thank you to everyone who shared their experiences and suggestions.

I live in Huntsville about 15 minutes from Space Camp. I just wanted to let you know that they've updated the forecast for tonight and tomorrow morning, and we're now under a Winter Weather Advisory and a Freezing Rain Advisory.

It could completely pass us, but if it does get icy here, the whole city will pretty much shut down. As others have said, we're not equipped to handle it.

If you do decide to come on down and need to know good areas of town to stay (if needed), I'd be happy to help out.

 

[MinnieForMe]

If you want to talk to the coordinator, call them. I found it's a huge organization and calling gets you through to a person. Email takes much longer.

Seriously, I would NOT risk it either since you have flexible schedules as homeschoolers.

 

[Riles_and_Gabe]

I think you are making the right decision not going. Ice is very scary and it doesn't matter what type of vehicle you are driving, it is going to be dangerous. Hopefully they will let you rebook the camp.

 

[wgeo]

All you folks that can drive so well on snow will do just what we southerners do on *ice*. You'll slide all over the place. Our winter weather usually starts as freezing rain or sleet, then maybe snow. There's no 4 wheel drive, or other, that can handle *ice*. I've seen videos of people *up north* sliding around on the highways just like we do. Snow is not that hard to drive on, I have done it several times with no problem, but not when there's *ice* under it.

OP, I would just stay home. We were caught out once with little warning, and we ended up being hit 3 times while we were still - no fault of our own. Now, if there's even a *hint* of *ice* on the roads, I will *not* risk my life.

You make a good point, winter driving for me means snow, not ice. I have to say that if its an ICE storm and they're already talking about shutting down roads and if the locals say that it often causes downed trees/power lines, well then no I wouldn't go just to give my kids some great memories. I really hope the OP is able to reschedule, it just doesn't seem worth the stress/danger/loss of money for hotel stays.

Gina

 

[2manypets]

Maybe you can turn more westerly. It may take several hours longer, but it would be safer. Memphis area is only supposed to get rain with a high of mid to high 40's, so no ice in Southwestern TN

 

[horseshowmom]

If you want to talk to the coordinator, call them. I found it's a huge organization and calling gets you through to a person. Email takes much longer.

Seriously, I would NOT risk it either since you have flexible schedules as homeschoolers.

I agree. Call and talk to someone in person. They have to be aware of the situation so surely they will allow you to switch your camp. I am a HUGE fan of Space Camp, but I think you're making the right decision. Ice is treacherous.