not very hurricane savvy.....

[tiggerstail]

If a hurricane comes to Orlando, what do tourists who have no where else to go do? Does Disney offer help and shelter? Being from the Pacific Northwest I would have no idea whatsoever to do We are due to leave in 8 days with 5 storms in the brewing as we speak...

 

[safetymom]

If you are an onsite guest Disney takes very good care of you if a hurricane should pass through. If you aren't an onsite guest not sure what the hotels do.

 

[Sammie]

Not sure I understand your question, if you are a tourist why would you not have a hotel to stay in.

Can you expand on your question some?

 

[tiggerstail]

I mean if they are telling people to evacuate or telling them to seek shelter as they did in New Orleans with the stadium there. I don't know if it is safe to stay in the resorts or if they send people to seek shelter somewhere else, etc. I just don't know how it works.

 

[CaipiraBob]

If a hurricane comes to Orlando, what do tourists who have no where else to go do? Does Disney offer help and shelter? Being from the Pacific Northwest I would have no idea whatsoever to do We are due to leave in 8 days with 5 storms in the brewing as we speak...

If you are concerned about a hurricane then your best friend is yourself.

I've read mixed stories of Disney and how guests got through the hurricanes last year. Remember that cast members have families and loved ones to protect, too. I would not rely upon ANYONE BUT MYSELF to fend for my family under any circumstances if a hurricane is imminent.

My advice, under any threat of a hurricane, is to GET THE HELL OUT OF DODGE. Your family's well being offsets any previous vacation plans.

 

[Sammie]

I mean if they are telling people to evacuate or telling them to seek shelter as they did in New Orleans with the stadium there. I don't know if it is safe to stay in the resorts or if they send people to seek shelter somewhere else, etc. I just don't know how it works.

Ok, a little clearer now, are you staying with Disney?? In New Orleans those seeking shelter in the stadium were not in hotels. The evacuation to the Superdome was due to flooding due to the fact that New Orleans is below sea level.

If you are staying with Disney, their hotels are safe enough to remain at the hotel. They would not move you out. Plus Orlando is far enough inland to not be as affected as a coastal area would be.

Parks would close early, you would be confined to your room during the peak of the storm and parks could be delayed the next day in opening depending on the extent of damage.

You might want to bring a couple of flashlights, which is a good thing to always travel with.

 

[safetymom]

I second that. Many many folks rode out the hurricanes last year in their rooms at WDW. Most had nothing but good things to say about their treatment.

Yes you will be kept in your room but if you are at the WDW hotels with inside corridors they had activities and box lunches available.

 

[Marla Hellwig]

I checked into one of the Universal Resorts last August the morning that Hurricane Charley hit - when we checked in - we were told that due to the arrival of Charley that the parks were closing at 3 p.m. and that we should "plan to stay at the resort" and not to venture out later on if at all possible. The front desk also recommended that we make dinner reservations as soon as possible. I had reservations at Emeril's for that night - which their concierge desk was able to reschedule for me - and I made dinner reservations for us at one of their restaurants.

We were at the Royal Pacific and just stayed at the resort for the day - we walked through their shops and such, went to dinner - then went back up to the room - we stayed dressed and kept our shoes right by the beds just in case - we didn't have any problems - did watch a little of the storm arrive, then closed the drapes, move as far as we could from the window and went to bed.

 

[Sammie]

Something else that you might need to be aware of is sometimes these storms do cause delays in arriving for your vacation or leaving from your vacation. If a storm is in the area during your vacation and your flight is delayed you will be responsible for the cost of your rooms for the extra nights, food, etc.

If you decide while they to leave early due to an approaching storm, Disney will work with you if they feel Orlando is in harm's way.

Also as Safetymom noted during the actual storm you would be confined to your room and therefore you would need to make preparations before hand to have food in your room if needed.

Certainly resorts with outside doors, such as the value and moderate resorts you will be confined to your actual rooms. Deluxe resorts allow guest in the halls until the peak of the storm.

I was on property during Charlie if you have any other questions.

 

[chanty]

I have to say that's comforting to hear this!
Was Orlando ever hit hard with a hurricane??

 

[mjh8955]

Here is what to expect if you are visiting in Orlando during a hurricane. We arrived in Orlando last fall right as the second hurricane (Jean?) was arriving. We were one of the last planes in before the airport closed. For the first time ever we purchased insurance for our rental car after being told that damage due to a hurricane would probably not be covered by our regular car insurance policy. The city was under curfew and in that instance all tolls are waived. We saw a great deal of damage from the first hurricane (Charley?) driving to our hotel (Doubletree near Universal). We hurried right there, no detours. The lobby was lined with yellow caution tape to keep people away from the glass windows and the previous damage (to the fountain and to the pool area, some water damage etc.. We were not allowed to leave the hotel that night (wouldn't have wanted to) and DH and I stayed awake most of the night watching the hurricane news. There were sustained winds of 75 which were spooky in a high rise hotel. I lined up all our shoes and jackets, purse, etc. by the door just in case and we kept a flashlight handy. Our hotel had its own generator and we never lost power, although they had a hard time keeping water out of the elevators and keeping them operational. We would never have chosen to eat at the hotel but had no choice. The dining room was pricey and had a not-so-great buffet the first night night. The next night we still couldn't go anywhere and ate at the bar. Over $50 for 4 hamburgers and cokes. The hotel handled everything very well. We couldn't go anywhere until the following day because water blocked all roads out and the city needed time to clean up debris in the roads, replace street signs, etc. The day after that was our day at Universal. We talked to one lady who said she goes with her son all the time and never in her life had she seen the park that empty. We moved to a Disney resort the following day and Disneyworld was already picking up with crowds. We saw damage to a Downtown Disney hotel and heard that the Disney resorts did a great job of taking care of their guests. It was a little frightening. We're from Illinois and are used to tornados but not hurricanes.

 

[goofie4goofy]

I mean if they are telling people to evacuate or telling them to seek shelter as they did in New Orleans with the stadium there. I don't know if it is safe to stay in the resorts or if they send people to seek shelter somewhere else, etc. I just don't know how it works.

New Orleans is actually BELOW sea level, the other gulf cities and are coastal. Katrina was a very intense hurricane was at a cat 5 just before hitting the coast. Hurricanes of this *intesity* hitting the mainland are rare.

While a dangerous hurricane can go inland, they do lose intensity as they come inland. Hurricanes need warm waters to strengthen and survive.

Orlando is north and inland, making it much safer than coastal regions. The hotels are built to spec to sustain a category 5+ - or so I ws told when we were in WDW during a hurricane last year. Many locals were checking into the hotels to ride out the storm. The WDW parks and hotels do not flood and do not loose power due to sophisticated sewer systems and underground power. That is why locals check into the hotels before a hurricane...you will be safe and very well taken care of. Since WDW does not lose power, you can watch TV and see what's going on. Also there are constant updates on your phone as to what to do and when it's safe to go outside. While many people were checking out and cutting their vacation short...we extended ours by a few days. We also had the greatest time. The parks were closed for 1 day which we were comped for. The morning after the storm, the parks were up and running and you would never know there was a storm. WDW keeps you fed, informed and very safe. From experience, I would stay...

 

[seashoreCM]

Some parts of WDW (possibly parts of resorts but I am not sure) are official hurricane shelters for the region. Shelter areas comparable to school gymnasiums are free, resort rooms must be booked and paid for.

I am told that Disney generates, on site, about 1/3 of its peak power needs. Disney's power stations are hooked up to major transmission lines for the other 2/3 so Disney won't "lose power" unless the entire regional/statewide power grid goes dead.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[Sammie]

New Orleans is actually BELOW sea level, the other gulf cities and are coastal. Katrina was a very intense hurricane was at a cat 5 just before hitting the coast. Hurricanes of this *intesity* hitting the mainland are rare.

While a dangerous hurricane can go inland, they do lose intensity as they come inland. Hurricanes need warm waters to strengthen and survive.

Orlando is north and inland, making it much safer than coastal regions. The hotels are built to spec to sustain a category 5+ - or so I ws told when we were in WDW during a hurricane last year. Many locals were checking into the hotels to ride out the storm. The WDW parks and hotels do not flood and do not loose power due to sophisticated sewer systems and underground power. That is why locals check into the hotels before a hurricane...you will be safe and very well taken care of. Since WDW does not lose power, you can watch TV and see what's going on. Also there are constant updates on your phone as to what to do and when it's safe to go outside. While many people were checking out and cutting their vacation short...we extended ours by a few days. We also had the greatest time. The parks were closed for 1 day which we were comped for. The morning after the storm, the parks were up and running and you would never know there was a storm. WDW keeps you fed, informed and very safe. From experience, I would stay...

Though it is rare, Disney did lose power in some areas during Charlie last summer, but it was back on pretty soon. Also during some of the previous storms they have had minor flooding in low lying areas, such as Fort Wilderness and the underground tunnel system at MK.

 

[dr2004]

I think with the horror that is going on right now, people who don;t know the geography of Orlando are understandably skittish about what can happen.

Orlando is a bit inland and above sealevel so the situation we are seeing now would most likely not occur in Orlando. But they are not fun, they are scarry and if one is heading towards Orlando usually the airlines will let you rebook ad WDW will let you as well.

 

[GalDisney]

I wouldnt worry about it. There arent any hurricanes out in the Atlantic at this point scheduled to hit Fl or anywhere anytime in the next two weeks. I survived all three of last yrs central Fl hurricanes and i doubt anything like that will happen again, at least in the near future.

 

[GalDisney]

Ok I spoke too soon! Numebr 16 is out there now affecting Fl as I write this. O well! Hope it is gone by Sunday cus im going to the MK!..Planned too anyway.

 

[packy]

We have gone the last week of August six out of last eight years and have had near misses with hurricanes in 5 of those years (last year we were there between 1 & 2, reservations and airfare made months in advance). We just got back a week ago. Arrived on Tuesday (23rd) and by Wednesday night they were forecasting Katrina to go up the West coast of Florida and five days of big time rain for Orlando. Lucky for us but not others, the storm went South into the Gulf before moving North and hitting LA, MS and AL. We always get a rental car and if we go again during this time, we are leaving if a hurricane is approaching Orlando. We spoke with some residents about the hurricanes last year and they said the damage was far worse in Orlando than was reported because other areas of Florida were affected even more. I am sure that Disney would do everthing they could to make you comfortable, but if you loose power, there are not a lot of options.

 

[marc1477]

Just listen to what they say to do. They are trained for stuff like this. If you are that concerned, get out of town before to comes in.

 

[stinkerbelle]

IF there is a threat of there being a major hurricane while you are there - stock your room with some supplies. (munchies/water/milk/etc...)

DH and I were at POFQ during Jeanne last year...luckily we had a rental car and braved the goodings (why didn't anyone TELL me they jacked the prices up there?!?!) for some munchies to have in the room. We were stuck in our room until 9pm that night...when we ventured out to the food court for some dinner (and PROTEIN! heheh)

we had tea/hot cocoa made with the coffee maker in the room (hot water) watched movies/hurricane coverage/napped/read/played games. It wasn't too bad.

althought I do feel bad for parents who had to entertain younger children all day - that must have gotten old fast! heheh

I really wouldn't worry about it. We leave for WDW next week...our 3rd september trip. it's a great time to go