Please help me feel better about the weather..

[mulanrouge]

Okay, I was fine about all the nasty weather that has been happening. We are leaving for Florida on Sunday. And up until about 1 hour ago, nothing was really bothering me. Then we heard from DFIL, and DH's step-brother was in Cancun for Wilma, and let me tell you - the horror stories they have come back with have scared the @#$& out of me. I do realize that Florida is a lot different than Mexico, but now I am freaking out. How do you people that live in Florida deal with the bad weather?

 

[NJBlackBerry]

Not sure where in Canada you live, but I'd guess they deal with it the same way you might deal with a horrible ice storm (power outages) or a blizzard (stuck inside)...

 

[alonola]

Hi,

I was there on Monday when Wilma hit land. Until about 11:00 it was pouring rain and very windy. All tha parks were closed . At about 11:30-12:00, everything has changed. The sun came out , the sky turn from gray to beautiful blue. MK and Epcot were open for Resort guests only. It was prety cold though .

Hoped I helped. Any question?

 

[dixipixi]

I don't live in Florida, but we deal with the same thing over here in Louisiana.

One thing...if you are in Orlando, you are far enough inland that you should be ok. In case of a hurricane you don't have to worry about storm surge, just the wind and rain. Disney is pretty safe and you would be ok in your hotel room. The important thing is...stay inside!!!!! No matter what you hear do not go near the windows or outside!!!

Once the storm is over the worst thing is dealing with power failures. Disney is pretty good at keeping the power on...so you should be alright. I think they would have plenty to eat on hand. You shouldn't be driving around so gas would not be an issue for you.

Don't feel silly for worrying about this. I've lived here all my life and hurricane season never bothered me before. After this year, I'm terrified of it. We thought we were prepared...but not even close.

 

[mulanrouge]

Thanks, that helps a little bit. Step-brother had stuff to tell that you only see in movies. He was good about keeping family updated. Decided not to tell the worst of it until he got back from Cancun today. Him and DW and two DDs (7 & 4) were without food and water for 2 days, were walking around in waist high water. Banditos were out with machetes and guns, threatening tourists to pay up or die (they had to pay with jewellry etc.). They finally went to a hospital (as they are both nurses) and offered their assistance. Helped out at the hosp for a bit, and the hospital arranged their transportation home. What a nightmare. All this with their two little ones, I can't even imagine!!

 

[aquaticmom]

Hi,

I was there on Monday when Wilma hit land. Until about 11:00 it was pouring rain and very windy. All tha parks were closed . At about 11:30-12:00, everything has changed. The sun came out , the sky turn from gray to beautiful blue. MK and Epcot were open for Resort guests only. It was prety cold though .

Hoped I helped. Any question?

We are staying offsite and also weathered out Wilma on Monday. FYI, offsite guest were admitted to the MK after they reopened on Monday because we spent from 3PM to Midnight in the MK, I can't speak for Epcot because we did not go there.

 

[Rella Bella]

Sending Pixie Dust!! Take a deep breath!!
Orlando is not Mexico. It's horrible what your family went through... shades of NO isn't it!! Glad they're okay.

We arrived at WDW the day after Charley and the power was on & except for AK the parks were all open. Everything there was built to withstand high winds. You're gonna have a wonderful time!

The weather next week looks mostly great in Orlando... low 80's what could be better! There is a Tropical Depression #26... but it's not a hurricane yet and it's still on the other side of the world. What's more, a hurricane is a storm that gives you PLENTY of warning it is coming. Most likely you'd get to finish your vacation before it was even close. Worst case you would know 3 to 5 days ahead and you could always change your flight to go home a day or two early. So get ready to party girl, Mickey is waiting!!! Say hi for me!

 

[bdcp]

Actually, according to weather.com #23, TS Beta is formed and due to move into Nicaragua so it will not affect the US.

 

[Ali]

As a Floridian I want to welcome you to the Sunshine State! And to welcome you to the Hurricane state. And to welcome you to the It's rainy now but wait 5 minutes state. Our weather is always changing, generally not too horrible.

I am going to be at AS Sports this weekend for the Disney martial Arts festival and I can't wait to go. It's nice and cool! It's not a time for sweating through 100 plus weather. It's just lovely! being from Canada, it may not seem to cool to you, but it is to us who live here.

I've never seen a bandito, and don't have any jewelery to use to pay any of the off, but I really don't think you need to worry about things. TV reports of New Orleans after Katrina and Miami now after Wilma and Mexico after Wilma are not what is happening here in Central Florida!


Alicia

 

[disneymom2one]

Okay, I was fine about all the nasty weather that has been happening. We are leaving for Florida on Sunday. And up until about 1 hour ago, nothing was really bothering me. Then we heard from DFIL, and DH's step-brother was in Cancun for Wilma, and let me tell you - the horror stories they have come back with have scared the @#$& out of me. I do realize that Florida is a lot different than Mexico, but now I am freaking out. How do you people that live in Florida deal with the bad weather?

Because 95% of the time we have absolutely gorgeous weather. Because there's nothing like living by the beach. No state income tax. Great roads (at least where I am) and the tourists pay for a lot of it.

Seriously ... hurricanes are not a fun thing. But you prepare and then move on. We keep a rubbermaid ready to go for evacuating (we usually evacuate once or twice each season). PLywood is cut for boarding up. Keep bottled water around. And then you deal. Ivan was our bad one last year but we survived. (And you don't watch the news - they hype stuff up).

 

[beccasmom]

We're heading for WDW in 17 days. We've been in a hurricane while in a cruise ship on the ocean and that was interesting. But now cruising doesn't throw me because I feel I've been through the worst. Disney handles the threat of hurricanes very well - they hand out flashlights, go around and take in the balcony furniture and basically make you feel pretty secure. We were also at WDW on 9/11, which was a horrendous day, but the Disney folks offered us free phone calls, transportation to other hotels to eat (all the parks and DTD were closed), and were generally exceptionally accommodating. I feel safer there than most other places.

As for snow, we don't get as much as Canada, but we've had fierce ice storms that snapped power lines and a few blizzards that cut us off from civilization for a few days. Disney does their best to enhance their guests' experiences. You will be safe; just follow your commonsense and try not to worry.

 

[misslissa]

Not sure where in Canada you live, but I'd guess they deal with it the same way you might deal with a horrible ice storm (power outages) or a blizzard (stuck inside)...

Hi there,

I have lived in Canada all of my life, and for 10 years of that, I lived pretty much as far north as you could go (Northwest Territories)... and even I have never delt with a horrible ice storm or blizzards where you had to stay inside Sorry, I just think that sometimes it does happen in certain areas... I think I've only heard of it once or twice. But, it is extremely rare... Most of Canada, I believe, has very similar weather to Jersey. Or NYC at least.

Anyway, I agree with lots of the posters above! Orlando and Mexico don't really have very much in common. Usually any resort in Mexico is somewhat of a gamble so I wouldn't want to imagine how their staff would deal with a hurricane. You probably even couldn't stay at your resort. In Disney, I think there is no other place I'd rather be stranded! Their staff is very well trained and there isn't going to be any shortage of food there Certainly no banditos... I think it is probably one of the safest places to be... the CMs are trained to care. In Mexico, it is everyone for themself.

 

[Paisleyjane]

Hi,

I was there on Monday when Wilma hit land. Until about 11:00 it was pouring rain and very windy. All tha parks were closed . At about 11:30-12:00, everything has changed. The sun came out , the sky turn from gray to beautiful blue. MK and Epcot were open for Resort guests only. It was prety cold though .

Hoped I helped. Any question?

MK was not open to Resort Guests only, I am not a resort guest, I live in Celebration, and I was in the MK on Monday afternoon, and it WAS BEAUTIFUL!!! There were no crowds, and they ran the 3 o'clock parade at 5 o'clock, and then they kept the park open MIDNIGHT!!! YEAH!!! I just don't get where people are always saying the parks will only be open to resort guests, that is just so rarely true, like only EMH.

 

[loriandmatt]

Seriously ... hurricanes are not a fun thing. But you prepare and then move on. We keep a rubbermaid ready to go for evacuating (we usually evacuate once or twice each season). PLywood is cut for boarding up. Keep bottled water around. And then you deal.

i find this comment so interesting. over the past few weeks/months with all the weather related stories on the news and seeing folks who live in these areas that are prone to this sort of weather, we sit and wonder at why more people don't have a plan in place like you seem to. we have friends who live in clermont, also friends who live in Napels and relatives who live in Fort Lauderdale. granted, some of those areas are not always prime targets, but they all have differnent degrees of potential to get some nasty weather. Each one of those families have a very similar set up to what you described. (canned food & opener, water, any needed meds and some general ones too, radio with batteries, flashlights, a few crude personal items....stuff like that) they fill up on gas (including a spare jug or two) at least 2 or 3 days before a big one is to hit. if the signs (and living down there you get pretty good at judging them on your own - monitor web sites and keep an educated informed ear on the radio and tv reports) point to evacuation, you board up, grab your family and your emergency box (including all your important personal papers), your wallet and go! they have maps in the car at all times incase they need to find an alternate route.

Why, if they and obviously you have the forthought to prepare like this, do we see so many who don't have such a plan. it just seems foolish. My parents live in an area where they can get pounded with snow and ice storms are a norm. they have a wood burning stove for backup and plenty of wood, bottled water and food. i remember the power being out for 14 days one time as a kid and we lived near that stove. melted snow and boiled it for cleaning ourselves, drinking and flushing the toilet. put all the freezer and fridge food in boxes and barried them in the snow - then cooked that stuff over that stove. not cool for a 13 year old, but we made it thru.

don't get me wrong, i sympathize greatly for anyone who suffered in any way from the severe weather we had this year (and according to experts will likely continue to experience for a few years in this regular increased cycle), but i find myself wondering why folks don't think ahead a bit.

maybe i am missing something, but i don't get why so many seem so un prepared. (granted, what happened in NO was different. those levies breaking was something joe public could not prepare for.)