Is A Hurricane Headed For Our DVC Homes?

[caracarn]

Having been down in Orlando during two "Hurricanes", I'd hopefully like to put all you at ease by noting that the effect of a hurricane that far inland is nothing more than a windy thunderstorm. Makes for a wet day, but Spaceship Earth will not blow off it's stand and crush Test Track. Oh, the drama of some people!

 

[lenshanem]

Hurricanes can come inland and with great intensity. Years back, a hurricane (Can't remember the name.) came all the way thru up to Atlanta causing alot of damage. It was the scariest storm I've ever been in.
Orlando is much closer to the coast than Atlanta for sure! I can see potential for damage, maybe not Spaceship Earth taking a roll, but damage nevertheless. (Hope not, though!)

 

[hulabird]

Yeah, I think the reason was built inland was for this reason...I wouldn't worry.

If Disney were built right on the gulf coast, then you'd all have some reason to worry.

I can't believe someone started this post!

 

[caracarn]

Originally posted by lenshanem
Hurricanes can come inland and with great intensity. Years back, a hurricane (Can't remember the name.) came all the way thru up to Atlanta causing alot of damage. It was the scariest storm I've ever been in.
Orlando is much closer to the coast than Atlanta for sure! I can see potential for damage, maybe not Spaceship Earth taking a roll, but damage nevertheless. (Hope not, though!)

I agree it can happen, but if we get our shorts all in a bunch everytime we see a storm, I don't see the value in that. We can't do anything about it anyway, and I would think it's built into their planning as many have said. After all, if a storm is strong enough to do significant damage to our vacation homes chances are the theme parks themselves will suffer greatly as well. In 32 years of WDW being opened I do not recall any major hurricane related damage. Sure some shingles get shaken and windows broken, etc., but nothing in the millions of dollars, which is what it would take to have any effect on our dues. Let's focus on something more productive...like plannign our next vacation to WDW!

 

[DebbieB]

Originally posted by d-r
disney self-insures

I work in insurance and I would be surprised if they totally self insure, considering the millions of dollars of property involved. My bet is they have a policy with a high deductible. The coastal properties probably have a separate wind deductible.

I remember asking my guide about the "catastrophe clause" in the contract when I bought but didn't get a good answer other than "don't worry about it, you can still use your points".

 

[kathleena]

I live in Maine and have seen two remnants of hurricanes come thru here since 1985 - Gloria and Bob. They did enough damage for me to know that no matter where you are inland - you can still get a big whallop.

One side goes thru and bends the trees one way, then the eye, then the other side bends the trees the other way and SNAP. There they go.

Not to mention the flooding.

Nasty business whereever you are.

And re: my earlier comment about insruance - in my head, I was thinking that any incremental increases in insurance is not borne just by Disney - but by all policy holders in FL so the effect would be minimal and probably not noticable to DVC members - it would be covered in the normal fee increase. It's not like one homeowner claiming a theft, or a car accident and the increase is focused on one policy. There would be a revision according to risk in the area. If cost factors for hurricane ins is as expensive as flood ins, they are getting loads now for the coverage.

I remember going thru threads like this last year. Must be a common occurance during the season huh?

 

[rinkwide]

Originally posted by hulabird
...[WDW] was built inland was for this reason...

And because Walt didn't want people coming to the parks in their swimsuits. (Sort of ironic, but true.)

Originally posted by caracarn
...if we get our shorts all in a bunch everytime we see a storm, I don't see the value in that.

Well, now it all makes sense.

On the DIS boards, guest satisfaction levels at BCV are considered a "disaster" but a hurricane making landfall really ain't a big deal.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Back to your original post:
Seems to be --Is ONE hurricane headed for our DVC homes?

 

[Uncleromulus]

What--if any--WAS the damage to our DVC homes??

 

[Disney1fan2002]

I was more concerned with the wild-fires that were in the Orlando area 3 years ago then I would ever be with an Orlando hurricane. Those fires had some serious potential of causing Disney property great damage. The Disney busses could not run, because the smoke was so heavy.

Hurricanes LOSE power when they are over land. Orlando is far enough inland, that any hurricane that hits then would not be more than a Cat 1...MAYBE a 2. With that, you will get strong winds and heavy rain. Heck, sometimes here, we get a rain storm that has such strong winds, I wonder how I could of missed the hurricane forcast.

Someone mentioned how they can't believe someone even brought this up...I think it was a way to spark a conversation about Charley here on the DVC board, and so it would not get moved, they mentioned DVC property as their concern. IMO.

 

[lenshanem]

Well, after seeing some pics of some damage on Florida inland this morning I can see questioning if our DVC resorts suffered any damage to be a valid concern.

I think WDW was spared from what I'm reading - all parks open today except AK - but nevertheless there was potential for damage.

 

[Beth]

Charley is proof that inland areas CAN be affected.

Polk County is devastated this morning. (just west of WDW)

They said there were sustained winds of 105mph at MCO. The airport suffered damage, and is still closed right now.

The city of Lake Wales - about 50 miles east of us - was hit really hard! Areas of Highway 60 and US 27 are still closed.

We are counting our blessings here in Tampa that Charley turned, but our thoughts and prayers are with our neighbors to our south and east.

 

[lenshanem]

Just wanted to add - I just saw this -

http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=625104

I'm wondering if SSR had damage cause from the sound of this Cirque lost it's top and surrounding area was hit, too.

 

[InstImpres]

Didn't have time to read the whole thread as I am in a hotel lobby looking for info. I evacuated our HH home yesterday volunteraliy. The island was really preparing for the worst. The CM's there were great. I will say it was a little scary calling MS for guidance and finding they were closed. (I was supposed to check out of HH tonight and into VWL tomorrow). The CM's on site were very prepared. All patio furtinture was brought into guest rooms, all outdoor picnic tables, etc turned over to help prevent flight, everything battened down. Flashlights were given at the front desk just incase. I was told by a CM they went from 100% occupancy to 30% with early checkout (not positive of accuracy but people were leaving quickly). They moved CM's and their families onsite for safety and staffing.

Haven't gotten through to them yet this morning. Did reach VWL a few minutes ago and was told all is operational except AK (never even opened yesterday) they will hopefully open tomorrow after resituating them. The CM was sure to tell me safe travles and she looks forward to welcoming me home tomorrow.

Bigger report to follow on Thursday

Sandy

PS I was told from VWL there is no DVC or park structural damage. Just tree and debris clean up to complete.

 

[sjdisneywedding]

Originally posted by caracarn
the effect of a hurricane that far inland is nothing more than a windy thunderstorm. Makes for a wet day, but Spaceship Earth will not blow off it's stand and crush Test Track. Oh, the drama of some people!

Unfortunately, this is just not the case with Hurricanes. The risk to loss of life is less severe inland, however winds are still a major factor to building and property damage.

The quote above is dangerous in that it may lead some to believe there is nothing to fear. Hurricanes are UNPREDICTABLE and DANGEROUS

I hope eveyone down there is safe and sound

 

[gjw007]

Originally posted by sjdisneywedding
Unfortunately, this is just not the case with Hurricanes. The risk to loss of life is less severe inland, however winds are still a major factor to building and property damage.

The quote above is dangerous in that it may lead some to believe there is nothing to fear. Hurricanes are UNPREDICTABLE and DANGEROUS

I hope eveyone down there is safe and sound

I agree having been through Hurricane Hugo in Puerto Rico. Tragedy has struck this hurricane as well. I am sorry to hear about the loss of life in the trailer homes in Florida and the lose of life caused when the wind caused drivers of vehicles to lose control. It may not be over. If the hurricane continues up the east coast, it will drop a tremendous amount of rain not to mention the severe storms and possible tornadoes. Even without the severe storms, the large of amount of water that could drop may cause flooding.

I saw a comment this morning on, I think, USATODY. An individual had rented a hotel room where the storm's center was to hit. After being through the hurricane, he stated that he felt like the world's biggest fool. His home was not affected by the hurricane but he put his life at risk.

 

[mickeymouse1520]

Originally posted by gjw007
I saw a comment this morning on, I think, USATODY. An individual had rented a hotel room where the storm's center was to hit. After being through the hurricane, he stated that he felt like the world's biggest fool. His home was not affected by the hurricane but he put his life at risk.

It was in the Palm Beach Post this morning........it is below.

Spared the worst of the storm was the Tampa Bay area, where about a million people had been told to leave their homes. Some drove east, only to find themselves in the path of the Charley.

"I feel like the biggest fool," said Robert Angel of Tarpon Springs, who sought safety in a motel. "I spent hundreds of dollars to be in the center of a hurricane. Our home is safe, but now I'm in danger."

The fourth named storm of the Atlantic hurricane season, Danielle, formed Friday but posed no immediate concern to land. The fifth may form as early as Saturday and threaten islands in the southeastern Caribbean Sea.

 

[rinkwide]

"I feel like the biggest fool," said Robert Angel of Tarpon Springs, who sought safety in a motel. "I spent hundreds of dollars to be in the center of a hurricane. Our home is safe, but now I'm in danger."

Yes Robert, you are a big fool. Anyone who would second-guess a prudent evacuation in the face of an unpredictable Class 4 hurricane needs to have their head examined.

Even a child of 5 can figure out that it's much better to face the brunt of a hurricane inland than to risk a direct hit on the coast. Why couldn't The Post quote an evacuee from Port Charlotte or Punta Gorda who is grateful to be spared with their life. Instead we have to let this moron whine about how he was inconvenienced.

 

[OKW Lover]

By any chance did he BAH get blown away? Any luck at all?

 

[MelissathePooh]

Originally posted by Granny
d-r....I'm not sure where your information comes from, but Disney told us that part of their maintenance fee increase the past few years has been driven by insurance rate hikes. True, this includes the runaway health insurance costs, but I believe they mentioned property insurance as well.

And any time there is catastrophic protperty loss beyond "normal" years, the insurance companies raise their rates across the board to make up for it. It would seem even worse if Disney had to absorb that loss by itself...they would turn around and get it back from the members pretty quickly, I would think.

This is what I was told a couple of years ago, I don't know if it is still the case.

Self-insuring doesn't mean that they wouldn't charge dvc members for premiums.

Actually, here is the risk management policy from disney corporate -

Risk Management
Risk Management protects the Company's assets and income from risks at the lowest overall long-term cost. The department philosophy is to actively practice loss control; self-insure losses with high frequency and low severity; and purchase insurance to protect against catastrophic losses when economically feasible.

Basically what isn't self-insured is covered by an umbrella with Disney having a large deductable amount (basically, a self-insured amount) - it isn't economically feasible for DIsney to pay an insurance company to take on billions of dollars of risk (in other words, if lightening hits your room at the boardwalk, disney isn't going to call an insurance company, or if a bus wrecks, etc.)