Keeping an eye on Tropical Weather 2024

[HollyW00d]

I'm debating flying into West Palm Beach and waiting for the storm to pass, and then drive a rental up to Orlando on Thursday or Friday. But who knows what the roads will be like.

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

I'm debating flying into West Palm Beach and waiting for the storm to pass, and then drive a rental up to Orlando on Thursday or Friday. But who knows what the roads will be like.

Latest models have the storm coming on shore on Thursday. Slowing down now before landfall. Keep that in mind. Honestly, real answers won't really be known until late tonight or tomorrow morning. Then all this will be easier to figure out

 

[SL6827]

Will Florida enact contraflow soon?

 

[Disneydawg74]

Will Florida enact contraflow soon?

That’s a tough call for the bridges in Tampa Bay because many family members are driving towards the coastal areas to pick up elderly and disabled family members today. They’ve done it in the past, but timing is crucial.

 

[Traveling on cc points]

Any water penetration, not necessarily submersion, can cause a soft short depending on the cell architecture and chemistry. Thermal runaway is actually when a cell's exothermic reaction cannot be thwarted until the fire source is removed/exhausted (like O2). The cascading effect is a function of the battery pack with the cell construction.

Now back to Milton:

I just crossed under I-75 about an hour ago (I live about 45 minutes north of Orlando). The interstate northbound lanes were crawling. Some folks that are trying to bypass the highway, are backing up the secondary routes as well.

I just filled my bathtub(s) and am going to photograph my property for auditing purposes if need be. Tomorrow is a final test of my generator, removal of anything that can fly and ensure all electronics are fully charged. It's going to be a rough couple of days/nights.

Florida turnpike is crawling too.
We just got back from Costco I’m Clermont.

Costco was surprisingly stocked with everything except plain water annd toilet paper and still had gas but the lines backed up into the street.
Luckily we filled up yesterday.

This is going to be a bumpy ride

 

[Dave006]

Will Florida enact contraflow soon?

I would hope not as it is very dangerous since most drivers can't follow the basic rules. The Governor announced Tolls were suspended and the shoulder areas (lanes) were open for traffic traveling < 40 MPH.

Dave

 

[hertamaniac]

Shoulders on interstates for traffic evacuation has already started.

 

[mom2cinderella]

Is it slowing down a little?

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

Maximum sustained winds now at 180 mph with higher gusts.

 

[Dave006]

Is it slowing down a little?

Yes it has been since last night and the Cone has shifted a couple of times.

Dave

 

[hertamaniac]

Florida turnpike is crawling too.
We just got back from Costco I’m Clermont.

Costco was surprisingly stocked with everything except plain water annd toilet paper and still had gas but the lines backed up into the street.
Luckily we filled up yesterday.

This is going to be a bumpy ride

Maybe there is somewhat positive news given the current situation. The temperatures should be far better than if this was to hit a month or so ago.

Even if we lose power, being the mid-60's at night is more "sleepable" with high's being 80'ish during the day.

 

[mom2cinderella]

mrsap posted a statement from Disney in the resort thread:

We are closely monitoring the path of the projected storm, and the safety of our Guests and Cast Members remains our top priority. Walt Disney World Resort is currently operating under normal conditions and will continue to be on Tuesday, Oct. 8. Looking ahead, we are making adjustments based on the latest weather forecast and some areas with unique environments.

Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground, the Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge, and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa will temporarily close beginning at 11 a.m. on Wednesday, Oct. 9.
Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground and the Treehouse Villas at Disney’s Saratoga Springs Resort & Spa are likely to remain closed until Sunday, Oct. 13
The Copper Creek Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge will likely reopen on Friday, Oct. 11.

 

[FastPasser.]

We lived in the WDW area for over 25 years and endured a number of hurricanes, including Charley. I hated the annual anguish of possible hurricanes during the hurricane season. In times like this I’m glad to now be living in north Georgia.

Of course most of our friends and former fellow CMs live in the Tampa and Central Florida areas so we are concerned for their safety. We offered all of them a stay at our home but none of them are leaving.

 

[BethB712]

In this situation they might allow you to bank them even if after the normal banking window. It might be worth a call to MS.

Do NOT let the front desk mess with your DVC points. They don't know how to do it! MS was right - go to the front desk and only ask them to modify your reservation to drop the night(s). Or let the front desk know tomorrow morning when you leave, if that's what the front desk says to do (sounds like if you tell them at 4 AM that you're checking out, that's when they'll modify your reservation). Once your reservation has changed, the points will go into holding - and when you call MS, they can move them out of holding. The front desk can't do anything about points, they can only tell the system that you shortened your stay.

We left this morning 2 days early to drive home. I didn't want to get caught in nightmare traffic tomorrow. It wasn't too bad. I called after we left to tell them that our room was empty and available. Someone from my resort actually called me a little while later to verify that I was gone before they pushed the button that would prevent me from getting back in the room. I'll deal with member services about two nights that weren't used later.

 

[BethB712]

WDW is one of the safest places you can be during a hurricane.

In fact, you will likely start to see people from parts of the state arrive at WDW because that is where lots of people in Florida go to evacuate.

Disney allows pets at ALL resorts during hurricanes so you will likely see them with their pets also.

Now that being said......it is very likely Disney will close the parks at sometime this week....BUT.....the resorts will remain open and the restaurants in the resorts will remain open and they usually have activities in the lobby during storms.

Depending on the exact track of the storm, Disney might advise guests to go into their rooms and shelter in place for a couple of hours. I know they did that a couple of years ago when a strong storm came through. So just keep that in mind.

When I left this morning on Western Way, traffic was crazy coming into WDW!

 

[mom2cinderella]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1843426634692735046

 

[Lesverts]

Am I the only one surprised that Disney is not pre-emptively saying that the resort will close early on Wednesday and remain closed Thursday and Friday? There is no way they are not forming their hurricane crews for the resorts and parks and getting the commitments they need from CM for that already. This thing has the potential to be a Katrina level event if it hits anywhere close to the mouth of Tampa Bay.

MCO already starting closed for commercial traffic as of Wednesday should be all WDW and Universal need to notify people of the shutdown that we all know is going to happen.

 

[kwdw]

Am I the only one surprised that Disney is not pre-emptively saying that the resort will close early on Wednesday and remain closed Thursday and Friday? There is no way they are not forming their hurricane crews for the resorts and parks and getting the commitments they need from CM for that already. This thing has the potential to be a Katrina level event if it hits anywhere close to the mouth of Tampa Bay.

MCO already starting closed for commercial traffic as of Wednesday should be all WDW and Universal need to notify people of the shutdown that we all know is going to happen.

I think they want to see the timing a bit better before making closing statements. I’d guess that will happen tomorrow sometime.

 

[gregskellington]

Hoping we know more tomorrow (and that it's good news for the sake of everyone in Florida) as we're supposed to land at MCO at 11pm Friday. Even if the flight happens, I don't feel good about the prospect of being able to get a ride from MCO to our resort, or that WDW will be up and running Saturday.

I hope everyone local has a plan and is safe.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Hoping we know more tomorrow (and that it's good news for the sake of everyone in Florida) as we're supposed to land at MCO at 11pm Friday…

Fwiw you won’t get reopening info on MCO until after the storm passes & damage assessment is done.