Just a general hurricane question

[sleepingbeautymama]

Being from Indiana, I don't know a whole lot about hurricanes. I'm a little nervous about our upcoming trip to WDW in Sept. I'm just curious when a hurricane hits the gulf coast in areas like Louisiana or Mississippi, how does it affect the Orlando area? What type of weather can be expected? Where would a hurricane have to hit in order for it to directly affect Orlando? Thanks

 

[lindalinda]

Ive been twice to WDW when hurricanes were impacting the coast. The two times I was there it was basically really hard rain for a couple of days. The parks were still open and we still went (tho on one day we really shouldnt have, it was horrible). When I went the hurricanes were farther south, not the space coast area.

 

[arielsleepingbeauty]

We were there for Hurricane Rita in 2004. We were stying at All Star Movies. The parks all closed down at 4Pm the day before the storm was to hit. We stayed in our room until 4PM the following day. The food court opened and we were at least able to get out. There was alot of damage, the pool had overflown and there was debris everywhere. I was impressed at how quick they were to clean up the mess. The parks reopened the next day as scheduled. I didn't find it to be as scary as I probably should have. My sister on the other hand was petrified.
The storm was coming right at the Orlando area. I am not sure how far away it would have to be from the Orlando area for them to close things down. I would just be sure and have some extra water and food just in case you do get stuck in your room.

 

[Poohnatic]

I've been for a direct hit (Jeanne '04) and the parks were only closed 36 hours.

I live an hour west of the parks, and we've had storms in the gulf many a time since I've moved here. The main thing you do experience is a steady breeze-sometimes steady rain, sometimes bands of rain.

Being at WDW during rain isn't a bad thing. A week's vacation prior to moving here where it rained all week was a lot of fun for us. Pick up some rain ponchos at the dollar store before you leave. They're folded compact and there if you need them.

Suzanne

 

[Golf4food]

I think the OP was curious as to weather in Orlando when a storm hits AWAY from Florida, but somewhat nearby, like Mississippi. The answer is: usually our weather is great!

Hurricanes suck moisture towards themselves, so they clear surrounding areas of rain and clouds to make themselves stronger/bigger, and thus those areas just beyond the fringes of the actual storm generally have great weather. It's a fine line, though, because if it moves just a little closer you end up in the outer bands of the storm and have just plain nasty weather - off and on rain, off and on sun (which turns everything into a giant sauna if it just rained and then the sun comes out), lots of humidity, etc. But if you are beyond the outside, then you're good as gold. Maybe slightly windy, but no big deal. It beats a hurricane.

 

[doxdogy]

As the previous poster stated it should not affect our weather. But if it is close to the state of Florida, then it depends on the size of the bands. We have rainy weather from one of the hurricanes last year.

 

[SplshMtn99]

And on a side note, if a Tropical Storm aims for Orlando, the parks stay open.

We had the BEST time in MK with just 1,000 people in the park, RAIN & a bit of wind. Absolutely no lines. Walk right on. Wait for a few more people to join ride. Take the ride. Stay on & go around again & again until you decide you want to get off, because there is no one waiting to get on. We rode EVERYTHING more than once & were done by 2pm. Even all the Fantasyland rides which I had never been on since I never wanted to do those lines. Dumbo was a walk on!!!! I had a blast stomping thru the puddles & acting like a big kid.

Teva sandals, bathing suit with nylon shorts. Rain ponchos. Ziploc bags for anything you might carry & you are all set.

And tropical storm / hurricane preparations at WDW are really fun to watch too. All the tables, chairs, umbrellas, hanging plants, potted trees, trash cans, benches either get tied down or removed. There's more. When you see the trash cans coming back, you know the worst of the storm is over.