question on flying and hurricanes. leave in 9 days..worried

[yankeeslover]

I know, I know. nothing that i can control...and no need to start worrying, but im flying out of bradley on 8/10. been planing vacation for over a year..now im soo close..close enough to start looking at the hurricane page on noaa website..and now that im looking at that page I have noticed they are tracking alittle tropical wave off of africa and im getting alittle antsi... i know much worse things in life then having a vacation ruined by hurricane esp all the peoples homes effected by it.. but, im just courious on what happens if a hurricane is predicted during my travel time? i fly like every 10 years, so im new to this... if a hurricane is predicted to hit the southeast or the coast, do they usually shutdown all airports including bradley or orlando for a few days until storm is over? or do they try to get the flights out and go around the hurricane? Like I said, im probably worried about nothing, and nothing that you or I can do or predict, but im sooooo close now, and getting alittle nervous with hurricane season.. and now they tracking something small.... if a hurricane or tropical storm hits and flights are canceled, are they usually backed up for days? we are flying southwest, and our dates are firm... im sorry about all these dumb questions. just getting nervous thats all.. and i do know that the odds of landfall in orlando is slim, but im sure that doesnt mean that flights wont get delayed,because it can still track up the coast, or do they just fly a different way down south to avoid it?.thanks

 

[pigletto]

It's impossible to predict. I wouldn't worry about the little yellow spot out there right now. It's still sitting at a pretty low probability to ever become anything.
We've gone this time for the past few years and I can remember when there were several (4 or 5) storms being tracked and even if they became something, they didn't alter our plans at all.
That being said, I've also seen where it was impossible for people to fly home last summer in the NY/PA area and flights we backed up for days because of needing to be cancelled for Irene.
You can also check travel advisories and cancellations right on the website for your airline.
Everything looks good right now and I don't imagine you'll have any issues. One thing I've learned though is that even if there is a major storm coming it's impossible to see what route it will take until it's a few days from landfall and even then it can change.

 

[francie57]

We are leaving out of Bradley the day before you - can't wait. If there is a major hurrican predicted the airlines will keep a close watch and if necessary will allow you to change to earlier flights (if there is availability) or a later flight. We have been this time every year and we have never had a problem. We went once in Sept. and a hurricane came through parts of Florida but there wasn't a drop of rain at Disney. On year while we were at Disney Tropical Storm Fay came through and we actually had a great time on the day of the heavy rain. We put on the ponchos and went to Epcot and had a great time since the park was pretty empty. One thing I have learned, don't worry about the weather now, it will be chaning up until the day you leave. The past two years we have had a total of an hour rain our entire trip.
We take the cheap ponchos from Walmart/Target and put them in the bag we take to the park each day so we are ready in case a storm hits. Go and have fun - we are so looking forward to going. We are doing the Wild African Trek and can't wait to see the animals up close. Have a few new things planned this trip since it will be trip 29 for our 27 year old.

 

[NotUrsula]

Nine days is a REALLY long time in hurricane terms; anything or absolutely nothing could happen in that much time. Normally a hurricane won't be a nuisance in a given area for more than 48 hours.

NYC metro area airports closed for a strangely long time in the scare around Irene last year, but that isn't normal in areas where hurricanes are common.

The usual drill goes like this: nothing at all happens until NOAA issues a hurricane warning for the area including the airport. A warning means that hurricane conditions are expected in the area within 24 hours, and hurricane conditions equal winds of 75mph+ (Airports in the Hurricane Belt do not fully close for tropical storms, though they will ground-stop commercial operations any time the winds exceed 45 mph.) Once a warning is issued, preparations go into effect, and there is an effort to move small planes off the premises ASAP. Depending on how close to the coast the airport is, commercial flights will normally keep moving in a hurricane warning until about 6-12 hours from predicted landfall; once the impending airport closure is announced, all planes will be instructed to leave, and at that point there will be no further arrivals, only departures. After landfall the timeline depends on the storm's ground speed. Most storms will move quickly enough that the full closure won't last for more than about 12 hours, but occasionally you will get a pokey storm that hovers over land for a strangely long time and causes extraordinary flooding, and that will hold things up until the local EM personnel give the all-clear.

If a given airport is within the NOAA predicted path cone, most airlines will begin offering no-fee flight changes to or from that airport within 36 hours of scheduled departure. Your best bet in such a case is to have your bags packed and ready in case you need to move your departure up by a day or so, if that is possible for you; waiting until after the storm passes is not an optimal choice, as you will have to get in line behind folks who are already holding tickets for that day.

 

[goofy4tink]

We flew into MCO, on Friday the 13th, August 2004. Charley arrived around 9pm..that night!! We flew in around noontime. They shut the airport down later than afternoon. The parks actually closed early that afternoon...around 3pmish. And the next morning, after Charley had done his worst, some parks opened late, some not at all.

In all reality? If you head to WDW from June to Oct you are going to risk running into a hurricane or tropical storm. That's just the nature of the beast. You have to keep an eye on stuff the week prior to your travel..that way you can see if anything is brewing. It can take a very long time for a brewing storm to make it to central Florida, or actually impact air travel.

 

[dudspizza]

Don't fret at all! We flew in just before Hurricane Charlie. We spend a day and a half in the parks before Charlie hit. We then spent the rest of the day and night in our room at Wilderness Lodge. In fact, the half day was given to us FREE by WDW. All onsite guests got in the parks for free until 1pm.

The next morning we got up and went to our next park. Disney did an amazing job of getting everything cleaned up and up and running!


Have a great trip! Here are a couple of pics from that trip.

 

[yankeeslover]

im not too worried about once we get there, its getting there that im worried about..due to my work schedule, i have to fly out friday 8/10..i supposed 8/11 would work, but would cut down my time in disney. im just worried that if something hits florida or coast, then im looking at delays that can last for days..then it wouldnt even be worth it to fly down... my return flight is firm on 8/19

 

[goofy4tink]

Don't fret at all! We flew in just before Hurricane Charlie. We spend a day and a half in the parks before Charlie hit. We then spent the rest of the day and night in our room at Wilderness Lodge. In fact, the half day was given to us FREE by WDW. All onsite guests got in the parks for free until 1pm.

The next morning we got up and went to our next park. Disney did an amazing job of getting everything cleaned up and up and running!


Have a great trip! Here are a couple of pics from that trip.

And you didn't call me??? You didn't wave to me??? I mean, seriously..is that any way to treat someone....
We were at the CR, North Wing, ground level....almost looking at WL!!! That was a crazy night.
The next morning, when we walked over to MK, there was a big empty spot where a tree had been the day before!! Disney was incredibly well prepared.
In fact, we just couldn't wrap our heads around all the news reports we were hearing...I mean, it just didn't look all that awful. But, when we left, a week later??? The destruction was incredible!!! It took years for MCO to get everything cleaned up and replaced!!!

As far as travel delays go..yes, you could find yourself sitting at the airport, waiting for a new flight, for days!!! Most airlines will alert you to possible 'situations' and then allow you to rebook, cancel, etc. But, if your time isn't flexible, you could have an issue. I know a lot of airlines will allow passengers to rebook on an earlier flight. But, that doesn't work for a lot of people..they need a place to sleep and they have already taken time off from work. Just be prepared...you probably will have no issue at all.

 

[yankeeslover]

its looking more and more like this little yellow blip by africa is gonna be upgraded in next day or so... praying it misses completly, but couple tracks have it hitting the east coast end of next week as possible cat 1 or T.S... this cant be good for flight plans

 

[safetymom]

That was my first summer here in FL. I met many of my neighbors when I went outside that night to see how much damage we had to the house from the hurricane. Lost about half the shingles on the roof. That was quite a summer.

And you didn't call me??? You didn't wave to me??? I mean, seriously..is that any way to treat someone....
We were at the CR, North Wing, ground level....almost looking at WL!!! That was a crazy night.
The next morning, when we walked over to MK, there was a big empty spot where a tree had been the day before!! Disney was incredibly well prepared.
In fact, we just couldn't wrap our heads around all the news reports we were hearing...I mean, it just didn't look all that awful. But, when we left, a week later??? The destruction was incredible!!! It took years for MCO to get everything cleaned up and replaced!!!

As far as travel delays go..yes, you could find yourself sitting at the airport, waiting for a new flight, for days!!! Most airlines will alert you to possible 'situations' and then allow you to rebook, cancel, etc. But, if your time isn't flexible, you could have an issue. I know a lot of airlines will allow passengers to rebook on an earlier flight. But, that doesn't work for a lot of people..they need a place to sleep and they have already taken time off from work. Just be prepared...you probably will have no issue at all.

 

[goofy4tink]

ZCZC MIATWOAT ALL
TTAA00 KNHC DDHHMM

TROPICAL WEATHER OUTLOOK
NWS NATIONAL HURRICANE CENTER MIAMI FL
200 AM EDT TUE JUL 31 2012

FOR THE NORTH ATLANTIC...CARIBBEAN SEA AND THE GULF OF MEXICO...

1. A WEAK AREA OF LOW PRESSURE ASSOCIATED WITH A TROPICAL WAVE LOCATED
ABOUT 1100 MILES WEST-SOUTHWEST OF THE CAPE VERDE ISLANDS CONTINUES
TO PRODUCE DISORGANIZED SHOWER AND THUNDERSTORM ACTIVITY.
ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITIONS APPEAR CONDUCIVE FOR SOME GRADUAL
DEVELOPMENT OVER THE NEXT FEW DAYS...AND THIS SYSTEM HAS A LOW
CHANCE...20 PERCENT...OF BECOMING A TROPICAL CYCLONE DURING THE
NEXT 48 HOURS AS IT MOVES WESTWARD AT 10 TO 15 MPH.

ELSEWHERE...TROPICAL CYCLONE FORMATION IS NOT EXPECTED DURING THE
NEXT 48 HOURS.

$$
FORECASTER PASCH
NNNN

Just copied this...doesn't look like much of a threat to Florida. The 7-day forecast shows nothing but some thunderstorm activity. I really would stop worrying. At this time of year, there is always something brewing that far east!!!

 

[Tara]

Given that I leave tomorrow night for the Dominican Republic, both of these tropical waves bother me a wee bit. OP...where have you seen tracking forecasts? I can't seem to find any...

 

[LadyBeBop]

Given that I leave tomorrow night for the Dominican Republic, both of these tropical waves bother me a wee bit. OP...where have you seen tracking forecasts? I can't seem to find any...

National Hurricane Center.

http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

 

[momjkm]

I am leaving the same time as the original poster... and was slightly concerned about traveling/cancelations... I have always gone to WDW in the summer and have never had an issue with hurricanes. Even the summer there were 3... my mom lived outside of Daytona then. I missed it somehow...

But now a link to the hurricane tracking site.... something new to obsess over as all my ADRs and park planning is done.... ...Jill

 

[Polydweller]

Another site that gives predicted tracks before the NHC is http://www.wunderground.com/tropical/.

They show the tracking models predicted directions and currently the models are showing direct westward movement to the Yucatan. Way too early to worry though.

 

[francie57]

According to the website the pp listed there isn't any track that goes anywhere near Florida - let alone Orlando. Stop worrying or you'll make yourself sick and then you won't be able to enjoy your trip.

 

[Southernswthrt]

Unless this storm becomes a Katrina-like event (which is not likely early to mid-August), you might possibly be affected by 1 or 2 days, if at all. It looks like you have a 9-day trip planned, so the most likely worst case scenario is that it get cut down to 7-days.

Honestly, we never know where these things are headed until just before landfall and 60 miles east or west in landfall can make a huge difference! It's not uncommon that the hurricane center changes the track drastically every 4 hours. Being from NOLA, I guess we're just used to it. We seem to be in the bullseye for every storm Wouldn't bother me if we never had another storm again!

 

[dudspizza]

And you didn't call me??? You didn't wave to me??? I mean, seriously..is that any way to treat someone....
We were at the CR, North Wing, ground level....almost looking at WL!!! That was a crazy night.
The next morning, when we walked over to MK, there was a big empty spot where a tree had been the day before!! Disney was incredibly well prepared.
In fact, we just couldn't wrap our heads around all the news reports we were hearing...I mean, it just didn't look all that awful. But, when we left, a week later??? The destruction was incredible!!! It took years for MCO to get everything cleaned up and replaced!!!

I wasn't part of the CLOT group yet! I joined the DIS in 2004...... lol

That must have been interesting riding it out in the north wing of CR. At least we had rooms on the inside of the U at WL. I never once worried about it. Now, if we would have been in a room that opened to the outside, such as the all stars.... that would have been interesting...