Keeping an eye on Tropical Weather 2024

[TwinsDadG]

I’m fully in the wait and see camp. Supposed to (using that phrase with all its unknown emphasis!) arrive at MCO late Friday night for VGF. Will Disney allow for same-day cancellations of the hotel reservation if the airport is still closed?

I’m hoping to wait until Friday morning for a clearer impact assessment and guidance of the reopening timeline for MCO and the parks.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Please do what is best for your and your family and refrain from telling other people what they should/should not do or question their decisions when it comes to going to Disney.

Suggestions for helping guests at WDW handle the storm (I.e, earplugs) are greatly appreciated!

 

[lovethattink]

Yesterday morning, I woke up at 3:30am knowing that I had to leave. I had a bag packed with a couple changes of clothing.

Traffic in Florida at that time was heavy but moving. I drove to Virginia. Past at least a hundred linesmen heading south. My husband worked yesterday and is supposed to work Thursday, the joy of healthcare.

Was 53 degrees here in Virginia when I arrived last night. Taking advantage of that now. As I don’t know if I’ll come home to air conditioning or not. Praying no damage at home. And that our grand Oaks in the yard remain standing.

 

[jwolfpack]

I’m fully in the wait and see camp. Supposed to (using that phrase with all its unknown emphasis!) arrive at MCO late Friday night for VGF. Will Disney allow for same-day cancellations of the hotel reservation if the airport is still closed?

I’m hoping to wait until Friday morning for a clearer impact assessment and guidance of the reopening timeline for MCO and the parks.

The cast member I spoke with yesterday said you could cancel same day without penalty.

 

[MommaKetch]

Rode out Ian at the Wilderness Lodge. Disney had activities for the kids, movies in Artist Point, and characters. And PLEASE treat the CM’s kindly. They are as “stuck” as you are. I ran into a woman in the laundry room who was out of her mind ranting

Hey @Belle1962! We were there at the same time, also in CL. We must've run into each other. The cast members were so kind, and I'm horrified for whoever had to deal with that lady losing her mind. We enjoyed getting to talk to the CM's on the ride-it-out crew and also waving hello in the halls as some were staying on our floor.

 

[Tiggerette]

For those at Disney for their first ride out: The weather just after a hurricane is always beautiful as the high pressure system follows the low. However, don't get lulled by the calm weather if the "eye" of the storm system passes by. It will seem as if the storm is over, but it's just a moment and the winds will pick up on the backside of the storm. it'll pick up debris, etc if the winds are high enough. The other major danger in going out during the "eye" is it might be hard to see exposed nails, power lines, hazardous debris underneath other layers.

Another thing we learned from prior Disney ride outs is that food lines can get long, and it was little to-go boxes. Having non-perishable proteins for 3-4 days in the room will help give your family options not to have to be in a long line for the to-go boxes. If it's safe to fill the bathtub (not risking a tiny tot falling in) then keeping the bathtub with water helps for options to portion out for: teeth cleaning, toilet flushing, fill bowls for dishware/person cleaning, etc. I don't think Disney ever went to a boil water advisory in the past, but having accessible potable water helped during shelter-in-place timeframes.

Big hugs to all y'all whether evacuating or riding out!

 

[seashoreCM]

We arrived late Friday night for eight nights. Staying at BCV and hoping that we aren't in lockdown all day Thursday because BCV is not connected to BC. Guest Relations told me that I could get refunded for 3 days of our 7-day park hopper if we don't end up using them.

Note that the last 3 days are worth about $20. apiece, namely your refund would be the price of a 7 day ticket minus the price of a 4 day ticket.

YMMV but often Disney has, upon request, allowed you to use up the rest of the ticket at a later date not too far off, like within 2 years. Lke letting you come back and finish the vacation that was so rudely interrupted by Milton. Now you would not get the room or dining discounts you have now but you would get discounts in effect when you rebooked for the future. (You would not be allowed to add more days to that ticket.)

 

[seashoreCM]

If it's safe to fill the bathtub (not risking a tiny tot falling in) then keeping the bathtub with water helps for options to portion out for: teeth cleaning, toilet flushing, fill bowls for dishware/person cleaning, etc. I don't think Disney ever went to a boil water advisory in the past, but having accessible potable water helped during shelter-in-place timeframes.

The bathtub is not a sanitary place to hold water unless it was scrubbed with bleach or alcohol or other sterilizing agent just prior. (Air out the room immediately after.) Also the drain plug sometimes leaks and you might not notice until you wake up the next morning and find all the water gone. Taping a patch such as cut from a plastic grocery bag over the drain area using duct tape would help.

 

[only hope]

The bathtub is not a sanitary place to hold water unless it was scrubbed with bleach or alcohol or other sterilizing agent just prior. (Air out the room immediately after.) Also the drain plug sometimes leaks and you might not notice until you wake up the next morning and find all the water gone. Taping a patch such as cut from a plastic grocery bag over the drain area using duct tape would help.

Bathtub water is only for flushing toilets and maybe washing clothes depending on if the tub was at least scrubbed first. Certainly not ok for brushing teeth or dishwashing or cooking.

 

[Dave006]

Something that does not get mentioned enough when a Hurricane is active in the area is other disturbed weather. There are often Severe Thunderstorms with Severe Lighting and Tornado Watches and Warning issued for many overlapping areas.

Tornado Watches and Warnings have started to be issued along the Florida Peninsula today.

Dave

 

[hertamaniac]

I tested the generator (all good), cut the grass, fixed a fascia board that lost a nail/screw from Helene, charged all my electronics and did a last-minute run yesterday to Publix (closed at 6 PM until Thursday re-opening at 6 PM). I brought in my outdoor furniture and put in my garage. I am SO thankful I had my privacy fence removed last year; I am highly confident that it would fall and/or become projectiles.

I am staying off the roads today and likely tomorrow depending on severity, but don't see any need to drive anywhere over the next 36+ hours. The rain bands have already started.

And with that being said, sleep is a premium right now for us.

 

[DaviVascaino]

Curious, how is the protocol for Disney resort guests that are stranded and have to stay an extra night or two due to hurricane? are those dates "free" or the guests are forced to pay the extra nights?

Does the resort provide free food?

What about the ticket for the parks that had to be closed early?

 

[hertamaniac]

Also the drain plug sometimes leaks and you might not notice until you wake up the next morning and find all the water gone.

This is exactly why I fill mine 2+ days prior to the arrival of a storm. It gives me a last-minute check to ensure it doesn't leak and time to remedy if need be.

 

[gottalovepluto]

Curious, how is the protocol for Disney resort guests that are stranded and have to stay an extra night or two due to hurricane? are those dates "free" or the guests are forced to pay the extra nights?

Does the resort provide free food?

What about the ticket for the parks that had to be closed early?

Guests pay for their room and food.

Even those without transportation do not need to stay at Disney, they can taxi to cheaper off-site hotels, so nobody is “forced” to pay Disney prices. Sometimes Disney will offer a discount on the room for people in this situation.

 

[Tiggerette]

Curious, how is the protocol for Disney resort guests that are stranded and have to stay an extra night or two due to hurricane? are those dates "free" or the guests are forced to pay the extra nights?

Does the resort provide free food?

What about the ticket for the parks that had to be closed early?

Last time the parks shut down, the resorts tried to accommodate families that had to shelter in place. These were not free rooms, but from what I recall they were mostly at the standard price. Likewise, food was not free (WDW is not a Red Cross shelter) but they did offer to-go box lunches for a minimal cost.

For folks chiming in about bathtub water not being sanitary, I agree. If you have proper bottled water, of course that's best for any ingested water. Last time, I remember some families reported here being very nervous about bottled water scarcity. This storm should pass through quickly, but infrastructure might be impacted. So I typically plan for water to last about 3-4 days, if I have to wait for flights to be available.

 

[mom2cinderella]

Something that does not get mentioned enough when a Hurricane is active in the area is other disturbed weather. There are often Severe Thunderstorms with Severe Lighting and Tornado Watches and Warning issued for many overlapping areas.

Tornado Watches and Warnings have started to be issued along the Florida Peninsula today.

Dave

good reminder:

https://twitter.com/x/status/1844020967087145149

 

[fla4fun]

I tested the generator (all good), cut the grass, fixed a fascia board that lost a nail/screw from Helene, charged all my electronics and did a last-minute run yesterday to Publix (closed at 6 PM until Thursday re-opening at 6 PM). I brought in my outdoor furniture and put in my garage. I am SO thankful I had my privacy fence removed last year; I am highly confident that it would fall and/or become projectiles.

I am staying off the roads today and likely tomorrow depending on severity, but don't see any need to drive anywhere over the next 36+ hours. The rain bands have already started.

And with that being said, sleep is a premium right now for us.

Stay safe! If you have earplugs, that can help with getting sleep. I always use them during a hurricane. I hope neither of us get the damage they are predicting.

 

[mom2cinderella]

https://twitter.com/x/status/1844023890768441825

 

[seashoreCM]

Many motels in the area are not hurricane resistant and guests have been forced to evacuate them. I once began a Disney trip a few weeks after a hurricane and have seen buildings including motels torn to shreds.

Many Florida evacuees book rooms at Disney.

In years past there have been (free) public shelters with cots at Disney, I guess, at such locations as the Coronado Springs Resort ballroom. So I could imagine a family checking out to avoid the "wasted" nights in a resort with no park access, and being directed back onsite to a public shelter. As with resort guests riding out the storm, evacuees parking at WDW do so at their own risk including hurricane damage.

If the 1 PM etc. hours are posted at the turnstiles guests have the choice to enter or not enter so would not be entitled to a ticket refund for that short park day. Same as for an early closure for a party or corporate event. I read about one instance (9/11/01?) when parks closed early unexpectedly and suddenly, and Disney "refunded" that day to park guests. Such might have been done by wiping from the data bases all records of ticket usage on that day.

 

[asc]

Bathtub water is only for flushing toilets and maybe washing clothes depending on if the tub was at least scrubbed first. Certainly not ok for brushing teeth or dishwashing or cooking.

Ding ding ding.