Lightning Strike at Epcot

[BamaFan121s]

Sorry, it was thursday. All the days just run together.

Yep, it was Thursday.

 

[ZoZo]

Wow! Well, I learned on the Keys to the Kingdom tour that WDW is built to handle lightening strikes - they have tons of them, and they have lightening rods all over the place.

 

[Poohbear123]

2 years ago, in August there was a bad storm that came up, and wind rain Lightening...I ran from the car I was a passenger in, to the hallway of All Star Sports....BAM! A bolt Hit the lightening rod on top of the building and needless to say, the lights went OUT! I was scared Shirtless, and stayed in the room for about an hour before the storm passed. The lights came back on after about 30 min.

 

[Planogirl]

I wonder if the dark smudge is due to being hit by lightning sometime prior? Interesting...

 

[Lorelai]

needless to say, the lights went OUT! I was scared Shirtless, and stayed in the room for about an hour before the storm passed.

Oh my goodness...that must have been terrifying! But it is good to know that those lightining rods are in place. I never really thought about it before.

However...I hope that you re-shirted before you went back out! (loved that G-rated phrase...I may need to borrow it )

Also, we have always seen the resort pools evacuated for thunder/lightning. I think it's always been policy. Frankly, it's just common sense for anyone who cares to live.

 

[queenie82]

There is the policy at Disney that everyone has to get out of the pools or off the slides in the water park when there is lightning within a so many miles.

The ski lift at BB has to be unloaded and no one ride when the lightning is much farther away because it takes so much time to unload and they do not want anyone stuck on the ski lift in a storm. Same for the coasters in the park. Even though guests may not have seen lightning, they have to side on the side of safety. For example when SW lost power to the park one day last week it took almost 2 hours to get guests off Kracken and Manta.

One more reason not to go during this time of year..........

 

[Manda]

That is very strange. I have ALWAYS seen the lifeguards telling everyone to get out when there is lightning. When I stay at POP and there is lightning, the lifeguards are nowhere near the pool and often watch the rain from a covered area until it is safe to go out.

Yep. We've been kicked out of the pool at BC and Poly that I can remember during storms. And even before you could even see the lightning - just far off rumbles of thunder. I have no idea what was up at ASMu.

 

[cerca]

Got to love summers in Florida...I told my husband (who grew up not far from WDW) and he said really again?

 

[Veronica Lodge]

I remember in the 1980s, lightning storms knocking out power at EPCOT a couple of times. I recall once it happened at about 5 pm, and they gave out free 1-day tickets to everyone who requested them in the SSE building. I don't think I've ever seen lightening hit an attraction, though.

 

[SunshineGoober]

Ooh, was that what it hit? Thanks for the info- we were wondering. I saw a wild flash of white as we were heading into the park in the afternoon, but I didn't see where it struck.

I must say it was a much calmer storm than the one I experienced that Tuesday night, however. We got stuck over in the area by Pizza Planet for a couple of hours until closing. That was interesting.

 

[lovemyzoe]

Ugh, we were at Typhoon Lagoon during that storm...fun times. Waited around huddled in the bathrooms for 90 minutes, then they re-opened long enough for us to do one slide, then closed down again. I know lightning and water is no combination to mess with, but that was a long dull afternoon!

 

[bellebuzzntink]

Huge metal ball with no other tall buildings around it? Wouldn't it get hit by lightning by every storm that rolls through? I'm no meteorologist, but I'm just sayin'....

Maybe the big dark spot is from the wand and hat that were on it for so long.

 

[tink2007]

Ooh, was that what it hit? Thanks for the info- we were wondering. I saw a wild flash of white as we were heading into the park in the afternoon, but I didn't see where it struck.

I must say it was a much calmer storm than the one I experienced that Tuesday night, however. We got stuck over in the area by Pizza Planet for a couple of hours until closing. That was interesting.

I was stuck in the mass exit from Fantasmic. It was a stampid! I got seperated from my group and found them about 30 minutes later in the TT gift shop. Wasn't that a fun night?

 

[tink2007]

Huge metal ball with no other tall buildings around it? Wouldn't it get hit by lightning by every storm that rolls through? I'm no meteorologist, but I'm just sayin'....

Maybe the big dark spot is from the wand and hat that were on it for so long.

Im not sure. I know I have never noticed that spot before.
The mystery continues....

 

[BamaFan121s]

I must say it was a much calmer storm than the one I experienced that Tuesday night, however. We got stuck over in the area by Pizza Planet for a couple of hours until closing. That was interesting.

That was insane, wasn't it!? We were stuck huddled under the awning outside the candy store...eventually, we got brave and waiting 80 min for TSM...figured if we were going to be stuck inside, we may as well be waiting on a ride.