Okay, Is it just me or is anyone else worried

[Airb330]

I'm kinda worried. We leave 8/17. I bought trip insurance for the first time, just in case. Normally I'll just go with the flow, but considering FL's been hit hard the last two years I thought it would be a wise precaution to purchase some insurance. Here's to hoping no one's vacation (or life) is affected adversely by a hurricane this year

 

[Kath2003]

I worry
We're in Miami from next week (August 1st) until August 5th and then Orlando from the 5th to the 14th.
I'm worried, mainly because we won't have a car, so if we wanted to get out, we couldn't
I don't want my vacation to be ruined.
And I don't want to be stuck 4,000 miles from home in a Best Western during a hurricane!
I'm British - I don't know what to do in a hurricane, do I?!?!

 

[hegs65]

Oh geez! I never thought about not having a car and being stuck somewhere! I guess I will go and check out a couple car rental places just in case. And here I thought I was done planning...

 

[sorul82?]

They did close the parks for Floyd - we were there. At the time it looked to be a direct hit on the coast and then head inland thru the Orlando area. It ended up turning up the coast and not making contact with Florida from what I remember. They closed early one day, and then were closed the entire following day. Longest line I've ever been in at WDW was the food line in the POR food court. I think we waited about 2 hours to get some food. We had nothing else to do, however. It was not a fun time. The weather never really ended up getting bad, and we were stuck in our resort for too long. That said - we went last September and weather was perfect (other than heat and humidity), and returning again this September. The things we do for free food...

Mickey should have checked with my uterus before closing the parks! You see, if I had not been 36 weeks pregnant with twins, Floyd would have hit Florida. I do remember now that the path suddenly changed. My biggest fear was to go into labor during a hurricane and be stuck at home(not enough tequilla for that). We actually had 4 storms brewing within a week, and I guess I worried myself into labor. At 315 AM and 317 AM on 9/16, my twins were here! Oh, and My DS9 was conceived during Fran. Gotta watch those "F" storms!

Anyhow, not that this makes it less miserable, but at least there was food to be had and an air conditioned place to escape the heat! After Fran in 1996, we drove around for hours trying to find somewhere to eat. We were supposed to leave the next day for Cancun, so we didn't have much on hand. And we were young, just moved into a new house, barely set up housekeeping, and had never experienced a hurricane (none had ever hit our part of NC in my lifetime), so we were not prepared! Now, of course, we have two huge emergency containers jam packed! 1/2 inch of snow...that, I knew how to prepare for!!

Note to self: pack cards, Sodoku, and board games for Disney trip!

When the parks were closed, were you allowed to swim? Was DTD off limits? Any other details that you remember?

 

[oxfordcircus]

I'm hoping that a hurricane won't come through while we're there...but to be completely honest, I'm really interested in seeing what it's like to be in WDW during a hurricane. I'm odd that way.

I was odd that way too until I watched from my front porch while Katrina blew through. It was cool until the first trees started to fall. Then it became considerably less cool when the power went off. Then it became downright hot the next day when the clouds followed the storm and the power remained off for the next week. Then when I finally saw what was happening on the coast, I lost all enthusiasm for hurricanes. Seriously, I used to root for them to come my way so I could get lots of rain and some cool wind in summer. Now I'm happy that the "a" storm was welcomed by firefighters and farmers and the "b" storm...has there been a "b" storm yet?

 

[Spartan]

When the parks were closed, were you allowed to swim? Was DTD off limits? Any other details that you remember?

We were told ahead of time that things would be closing early by them slipping a note under our door. I think everything closed down about noon or 1PM. I remember being in DTD, and what an eerie scene it was as they were boarding up the windows of the stores. We were not allowed to use the pools, in fact we were under "room arrest" in that we were supposed to stay in our rooms until further notice. The resort itself somewhat shut down in that the reason there were such huge lines in the food court was that they were closing it up, had evacuated others to POR, and were operating with just a minimal staff. I remember them saying to stock up on enough food for 36 hours. They did discount all the food.

Of course, the first thing they opened up afterwards was DTD. I don't remember how we found out, but somehow or another people started congregating around the main bus stop once everyone realized the storm had passed. I think that was the following day even though everything was supposed to still be closed. People were just so desperate to do something, that there was a huge cheer when a bus showed up that said DTD! The line looked like the bus queue trying to leave MK after wishes - there must have been 200 people trying to get to DTD. And when we got there, I think all that was open was the main Disney store. None of the smaller shops or restaurants were open (I think). At least it was something, even though we were shoulder-to-shoulder just walking around the store.

Back then we didn't even think about trying to get passes or something like that for the 2 days we lost. I'm not sure if others did or not. That's about the best I can remember. It was the reason why it was several years before we decided to try September again. Up until then, it was our favorite time to go.

 

[shyjade]

The only thing I'm worried about our September trip is that we won't be able to fly into MKO if there is a hurricane. Once we're there I won't be worried. We are only going for 3 nights so I'll take what I can get. But if a hurricane prevents our flight from arriving, we're SOL!

 

[Hoopfamily]

We went afew years ago in september. Relax if a storm hits disney crews will clean it up asap and you'd be back in the park in no time. Plus a hurricane really isn't a big deal if your in a safe building, and you can bet that disney is as safe as it gets in a storm.

 

[MelanieC]

We leave this Thursday and will return on 8/14. I'm not worried at all. Don't get me wrong.........do I want a hurricane? Absolutely not! But, I can't change the weather. I just have to be glad that I'm spending two weeks in Florida and I'm with my family.

I'm hoping we get weather like last year. Only during our last two or three days did we get any rain and it was only the afternoon type. The last day it did rain off and on, but it worked out so we were indoors, eating or shopping while it rained. It wasn't bad at all.

 

[oldschooledge]

We were there last oct i dont rember the name of the storm, but the park was closed for the first half of the day . they then opened the kingdom and epcot but not the studios or animal kingdom. plus the lines got really bad for the rest of the week due to a lot of locals staying in the park due to the massive destruction around fla.

 

[lustergirl]

last year being my first september (hurricane time) visit I worried myself to death. I was obsessed with the weather channel, hurricane websites- etc..... Then when we got to Disney my fears magically dissolved because we had such a beautiful time!!!!!!!!

 

[letsgoagainsoon]

We will be there the second week of September, and yes, I worry, Hurricane Jeanne messed up our plans a little bit 2 years ago. It's funny though, once you get to WDW, it doen't even look like a hurricane was near there!!

 

[Trini]

This thread got me thinking.

What if we are flying into Orlando and there is a hurricane and they have us land somewhere else. We are using Magical express, so how would we get to our resort? I guess we'd have to rent a car.

 

[ellebeegee]

Honestly, it's such a rare occasion. WDW has been in Florida for about 35 years and they only had to close the park twice. Once during 9/11 and once for hurricane Charley. They didn't close for Floyd right?

My apologies if this has been posted, but I just started the beginning of this thread. The parks were closed for Hurricane Jeanne in September of 2004, I think? We were there. Told everyone to stay in their rooms, parks were closed, even the restaurants and food courts at the hotels weren't opened. We were at POFQ. I *want* to say everything was shut down for two days, but it may have been just one afternoon/evening and the next day. We didn't know the hurricane was coming (we have blinders on while at WDW) until we had CHECKED OUT and were having lunch somewhere at DTD on our way to the airport, when we find out the airport is closed. We scramble back to POFQ, which is now packed with FL residents trying to get a room, and we mercifully get our room back. Dh ran to get some snacks, cereal, milk, etc. and we were holed up in the room for two days with Disney movies playing back to back to back to back on the TV. Yes, we got tired of them!

The day after the storm passed through, the pool at POFQ was a mess, but the very NEXT day (first day we could get a flight out), it was spotless already.

 

[golden1]

No, but I am worried that there will be a big snow storm and my flight will be cancelled. Unlikely in early December but not unheard of.

 

[wendydarling826]

Don't say that H word! They don't usually hit Orlando directly anyway. We arrived along with Charley 2 years ago and he did not spoil our vacation even one little bit, but I'm not anxious to do that again either! We are leaving in 16 days and I'm not even thinking about the possibility of a H--------.

 

[Melwood23]

I was in WDW in Sept 2004 when Jeanne hit. When I arrived the storm was going out to sea, then about 3 days later, it started to turn back. Yes the parks did close. They closed at 7pm on Sat, and did not open all day Sunday, but did open on Monday. Sunday was suppose to me my last day, but got an extra day because I didnt want to fight the airport backups, so just rescheduled my flight by 24hrs (Southwest were very nice) and called work telling them I was stuck for another day. So even if one comes thru, most likely you will lose a day/day and half at the parks. From this experience, I wouldn't hestitate to book again in Sept, but will add a couple days off just in case I do have to stay an extra day...lol.

 

[mking624]

I was odd that way too until I watched from my front porch while Katrina blew through. It was cool until the first trees started to fall. Then it became considerably less cool when the power went off. Then it became downright hot the next day when the clouds followed the storm and the power remained off for the next week. Then when I finally saw what was happening on the coast, I lost all enthusiasm for hurricanes. Seriously, I used to root for them to come my way so I could get lots of rain and some cool wind in summer. Now I'm happy that the "a" storm was welcomed by firefighters and farmers and the "b" storm...has there been a "b" storm yet?

See my thing is not about some rain and cool weather. I do personal studies of severe storms (just really for my own benefit) so I'm always anxious for the next storm whether it's a hurricane, tornado, or just a severe thunderstorm. I think it's fascinating to learn because that's how the National Weather Service & NOAA learns how to track these storms better (and hence be able to help people more efficiently). I look at it from more of a "scientific" view than just a "wow, that's cool!" view. I nearly became a storm chaser once....

 

[sleepingbeautymama]

I'm a little worried about a hurricane hitting also. We have our trip planned end of Sept so I know anything is possible. This is our first trip back in 11 years since our honeymoon and I am hoping for nice weather. I just don't know when we'll get the chance to go back again. In another 10 years maybe???

 

[yankeepenny]

38 days to go! bring it on baby, just bring those hurricanes on!

I am still going!