Is anyone else paranoid about hurricanes?

[ajk912]

Am I the only one who is SUPER paranoid about hurricanes? We are going in late August, which is still, obviously, hurricane season. I am not even talking about the trip too much with the kids- because of the "what if". Anyone remember the stats? Something like Disneyworld has only closed like 4 operating days EVER? So the chances of a hurricane closing the parks for the entire week are slim, i know.

But I am still worried about the safety of driving down to Florida when everyone is driving OUT of Florida..that type of thing. Boy, jumping the gun here, I know. And whether what Disney says about the packages is TRULY true..obviously, we would know about a hurricane coming several days prior, but wouldn't make a decision to cancel until the very last minute. Can you REALLY cancel even the day before you are scheduled to arrive and ONLY lose $200? So I would get the other $2000 back? I am reading that right?

Please tell me I am not the only one worried about this.

 

[Cindy B]

First off relax.

We were there during Katrina and all we got was rain, rain, rain. We had a cruise during 2006 and our cruise path got diverted due to another storm. we got the more expensive Eastern cruise at a Western cruise price. One year we were there after a storm we saw a few palm tree down, one hote near Universal lose a small part of its roof and a few lights/power lines down.

I guess it all depends on how you drive down. We've never had a problem going down I 95. Sometimes we are cruising right along with all the power trucks on loan from other states.

Just keep checking the weather and plan an alternate route if needed.

 

[ajk912]

First off relax.

We were there during Katrina and all we got was rain, rain, rain. We had a cruise during 2006 and our cruise path got diverted due to another storm. we got the more expensive Eastern cruise at a Western cruise price. One year we were there after a storm we saw a few palm tree down, one hote near Universal lose a small part of its roof and a few lights/power lines down.

I guess it all depends on how you drive down. We've never had a problem going down I 95. Sometimes we are cruising right along with all the power trucks on loan from other states.

Just keep checking the weather and plan an alternate route if needed.

We go down 95, too. Talk about the easiest route to ANYWHERE..we get on 95 about 20 miles from my house, and don't get off till Disneyworld. I don't even know how to do an alternate route..you have to go south. We are coming from Richmond, VA, so it's a straight shot to Orlando going on 95.

 

[Disney-Bride2005]

Don't worry about it......I'm an Orlando local. Did you know that all the Disney Hotels, Restaurants and Shops are fitted with Hurricane Film on all the windows???
Its 3M film that is supposed to hold up to bombs and will protect you from winds up to 130 mph.
Plus we haven't had a hurricane hit central florida in 3 years.
Hope that helps.
Thanks
Gabrielle

 

[Disney-Bride2005]

Another tidbit......my husband works for progress energy.
Did you know that if the rest of Orlando loses power, Disney World has their own power source and either they don't lose power or they have their power restored faster than anyone because they have their own engineers.

 

[Lynne M]

Yes, you're worrying too much.

If you travel between July and November, yes, there's a statistical possibility that your trip will be affected in some way by a hurricane. A very, very, very small statistical possibility.

Remember the series of hurricanes that hit the Orlando area a few years back? Here's how it went for people visiting WDW when one of those storms hit. The parks closed for a day. Guests needed to stay in their resort room for the better part of a day. The resorts provided food and entertainment. Then the storm passed and the guests went on with their vacation.

People from the FL coasts evacuate TO Walt Disney World. You're not going to be in danger.

Hurricanes are single-day events in a given location, not counting the cleanup afterward. Worst-case, you'd need to shift your travel by a day or two, which isn't as big a deal when you're driving.

 

[Cindy B]

We go down 95, too. Talk about the easiest route to ANYWHERE..we get on 95 about 20 miles from my house, and don't get off till Disneyworld. I don't even know how to do an alternate route..you have to go south. We are coming from Richmond, VA, so it's a straight shot to Orlando going on 95.

You can take another route by crossing the bay bridge and going on some road (17? Maybe). My dad does this to avoid 95 but I hate to pay for that bay bridge tunnel

 

[LVSWL]

We were at WDW during Jeanne. The parks closed at around mid day and we went back to our resort, which thankfully was the Wilderness Lodge. We were able to move within our resort, to restaurants, the lobby and the mercantile all during the day. Characters were there to entertain us, and also a blue grass band in the lobby. There were board games in the lobby for the kids. The mercantile had sandwiches for sale, but also Roaring Forks was open for food. I was so glad that we were at that hotel because after talking to others the next day who were at moderate and other hotels, they said they had to remain in their rooms. We did have to keep our curtains closed, for safety, and their were sandbags around the peremeter of the hotel. But really, unless you looked outside the main windows in the lobby to see the wind and the rain beating on the windows, you could almost forget you were in a hurricane. There were also quite a few members of the CM's familys there too. Evidently they came there to stay so that they were assured that they were safe, which I thought was good, since the CM's were taking care of us. By 10:30 am the next morning the pool was cleared out and the grounds looks great again and the Magic Kingdom was open. It is tough for some of the CM's though because they come to work even though they don't have electricity at home. We felt very safe at Disney. There were constant updates on our room phone and on the tv, plus Disney movies running non-stop on the tv.

 

[pigletto]

My only worry regarding hurricane season so far was regarding travel plans. I have read about them enough here to know Disney is pretty safe so I feel confident there.
But we did go on a cruise that was extended by 3 or 4 days to avoid hurricane Frances. We luckily had travel insurance ( I was with my parents) and we were able to stay in a hotel the night we docked for free and get new flights for free the next day.
From the looks of things many many people did not have insurance and lost their flight and we're stuck in the airport for days
So many people didn't have a back up plan or money left to work with and they were understandably in a complete panic.
So for this trip with dh and kids I made sure to have travel insurance and some money set aside if we had to pay out of pocket for cancellations e.t.c.
It has helped me relax a lot.

 

[Praying Colonel]

If everybody's driving out (i.e., evacuation) while you're driving in, I agree, that's a not a safe situation, IMHO. But if you're already there, I think you'll be OK. I've been through 2 hurricanes (Hugo, Puerto Rico, 1989 and Charley, Orlando, 2004) and IMHO the key is to take recommended safety precautions and be in a good structure. If you're staying at WDW, the CMs will insure you're in a good structure.

 

[RustManFan]

We were tent camping at FW when Andrew hit Florida and the weather in WDW was glorious! We were at Epcot that day and have marvelous photos. Only downer was that we were tent camping and had no idea how bad the damage to Homestead, etc. was until a few days later when we got on the Auto Train to come home. No TV, no newspapers....we felt kind of guilty for having such a great time at WDW while people were losing their homes and businesses not far away.

 

[Crisgw]

Not worried

 

[Disney Fool]

I was at WDW for Hurricane Charley--if you're driving, the only thing you'd probably need to worry about is the gasoline pumps. If the electricity goes off --outside the "world"; the pumps won't be working--or there'll be very long lines for gas. Other than that, you should be fine. You'll be in a much better position than those who have to fly home, and will get bumped until they manage to get on a flight.

 

[winterman]

We have been several times in Sept, which is the peak of hurricane season. My only concern was that the airport might be shut down on the day we were to arrive, but you're driving so that won't be a concern. A few years ago we flew to Tampa 2 or 3 days after a big hurricane and flew out 24 hours before they shut down the airport for the next one. But in between, we had a great time.

 

[MickeyNicki]

We were there for Wilma and it was just rain and wind. But then again I live in Naples so we are used to the threat of hurricanes all the time.....our busy hurricane years 04 an 05 we sat at home and watched them blow through.

I wouldnt worry so much, you get frown lines

 

[Ratpack]

We go down 95, too. Talk about the easiest route to ANYWHERE..we get on 95 about 20 miles from my house, and don't get off till Disneyworld. I don't even know how to do an alternate route..you have to go south. We are coming from Richmond, VA, so it's a straight shot to Orlando going on 95.

Actually you do get off I-95 in Daytona to take I-4 for about an hour, otherwise you end up in Miami.

 

[disnut8]

I lived through five hurricanes in 1985. Yes, five. In Biloxi, MS. I only evacuated once and that was for Elana who was so bad, the name can't be used anymore.

I respect hurricanes. But - you get so much warning about them. It's not like a tornado where you are lucky to get 20 seconds.

My story of driving INTO Hurricane Francis. I thought for sure it wasn't going to hit. So we packed up and drove from Atlanta to Disney World. I75 going north was jammed. We cruised going south. Checked into Pop Century (we were the only ones checking in - everyone else was making changes to their reservations to stay longer). We went to Ecpot and it was eerie. Trashcans and kiosks were bolted down. Signs were shrink-wrapped.

The next day, all the parks were closed, no one was allowed on the streets. We went into a manditory lockdown at 4:00 PM. We were told well in advance. We were able to stock up on supplies, the food court was churning out pizzas right and left, styrofoam coolers appeared for people to buy, one ice machine ran out (the others were fine).

24 hours in a resort room is interesting. We never lost electric, water, sewer, cable. Except for the driving rains outside, it was just like a vacation.

If there is a hurricane coming, you will know. Days in advance. Also remember that Disney World is inland, not on the coast. A hurricane can not make ground at Disney World. What it gets is the aftermath.

Relax. First of all, there is nothing on this earth you can do to stop a hurricane. Second, you are only going to stress yourself out for nothing.

 

[thomas998]

While a hurricane is unlikely to make a direct hit on you at Orlando, one could bring lots and lots of rain which might make parades and such a non-starter... I wouldn't try to keep the excitment down with the kids... However if you have something special planned while you are there like a hard ticket event I don't think I would tell them about that... it could be a surpirse if the weather is nice on the day you have the even planned.

And frankly I've always thought it would be great to drive into a place everyone else was leaving.. less traffic.

 

[Carlyzmom]

Well, I live on the southeast coast of Texas - very prone to hurricanes! In my 36 years we have only been directly hit twice - the worst was Rita in 2005 and we survived just fine. I am sure Disney has plenty of safeguards and plans to keep everyone safe. So, just relax and plan on having FUN!!

 

[spiceycat]

besides without those hurricanes Disney would have never offered the free dinning.

Disney is pretty safe.

now offsite - Kissimmee area is not. they got torn up pretty badly in both hurricanes.

but if you are staying at Disney you should be just fine.