September Hurricaine Watch

[boufa]

We are traveling in September (last week) and I know that there is a chance of "tropical" weather. The question I have is when should I start to watch the tropical weather for some indication of storms brewing.

I realize that some of the storms form reasonably close, but I know that most come off the coast of Africa and take some time to cross the Atlantic before they develop into a problem.

So Florida people, how long does it take normally for a storm to cross. Should I not even care about the tropical weather systems until... 1 week, 2 weeks, 24 hours? I'll make you a deal, you give me hints on how to keep an eye on the hurricane potential, and the next time you travel north, I'll show you how to shovel snow!

 

[TheNotSoGreatGonzo]

I'm thinking 10 days will be the absolute earliest, and it would probably be closer to 1 week before you'd have a good idea of if there's a potential threat.

 

[McIntoshTx]

I'm thinking 10 days will be the absolute earliest, and it would probably be closer to 1 week before you'd have a good idea of if there's a potential threat.

I agree and then 3-4 days until you can have any ideal where it might really hit. Here on the Texas Gulf Coast it seems it is about 48-72 hours until you have a really good ideal where it will hit.

Beside I am going in mid Sept (10-18) and there will not be any hurricanes allowed!

 

[boufa]

I agree and then 3-4 days until you can have any ideal where it might really hit. Here on the Texas Gulf Coast it seems it is about 48-72 hours until you have a really good ideal where it will hit.

Beside I am going in mid Sept (10-18) and there will not be any hurricanes allowed!

Cool, just wondering. I am not too worried, but I would like to keep an eye on it. I'm told that most tropical systems that come through Orlando are not really vacation killers, just a day of rain and wind.

 

[Scraper]

I live in Florida. I would not worry about tropical storms. We were there once in Aug and a tropical storm hit. The storm was sceduled to come in around 6 that evening so we headed to the park early. AK omg it was awsome we rode the River ride 3 times without getting off. Had a blast at Camp Minnie Mickey. We were the only ones there Micky and Minnie came running over to us.

 

[DRDISNEYMD]

Shoveling snow?!? Come on that's what the Troy Built is for -- we refer to it as "Big Red".

I will never forget TS Faye. I was watching the weather reports for about a week as the news showed this huge white formation of a ball hovering over the islands spiraling toward Florida.

The night before our trip the news continued to glorify the storm by airing palm trees bent over trying to sustain this powerful rain and wind. They made it look like nothing short of Hurricane Katrina. They were certain that TS Faye would become a category 4/5.

In the early AM, I receive an email from Delta offering a refund (however, our flight was not canceled). Disney puts up the weather waiver and offered a refund as well.

All of our family is calling, apologizing (yeah right) about our ruined vacation. I'm terrified, I don't want to fly in this mess. I didn't call it off yet. We missed our early AM nonstop flight, so I sat and watched as this plane landed without incident.

I called Disney and asked what was going on with the storm. The CM said "nothing" and that it didn't even rain yet for the day. The CM said everything was up and running and to come on down. So I called Delta booked the next available flight and off we went.

We get there, low and behold there is nothing but blue skies and sunshine. This held until the next evening, then the storm surfaced. There was so much rain. It rained the whole trip but there where plenty of breaks in between the rains to enjoy the parks.

The parks were empty, we were walking on every single ride, absolutely no fast pass used for the entire trip. Best Disney Vacation to date.

For our family, I think as long as flights are not canceled, we're willing to chance it.

 

[StitchSpawn]

SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! BAD MOJO!

::do not speak of such things!::

 

[Uncleromulus]

Seems as tho anytime there is a cloud formation over the Azores, it becomes a hurricane threat

They are not very good at predicting where these storms (if indeed they do develop) will go--they mainly follow them along, and give a "cone of uncertainty" guess as to where they might actually head.

Case in point--a # of years back there was a hurricane predicted to "hug the coast". The night before we were due to leave for Disney, we decided to take the "inland" (I-81) route down. The very next morning we woke up to learn the hurricane had hit the coast and headed inland--right over the route we planned to take just 12 hours before.

 

[nkereina]

I am also going last week of September and also on hurricane watch. I've never traveled south during hurricane season so not sure what to expect and when to start keeping my eyes peeled. And then if I hear of anything, I won't be sure what to make of it!

OP - I think you and I can team up on teaching Floridians how to shovel. Buffalo and Ohio may have the country beat in the snow department

 

[Uncleromulus]

Just to note we've been going to Disney in September on a regular basis since 1975.
Only once did a hurricane impact our trip--the one I mentioned in my last post. And that didn't hit anywhere near Florida--it hit here in Pa.!!!

 

[McIntoshTx]

I am also going last week of September and also on hurricane watch. I've never traveled south during hurricane season so not sure what to expect and when to start keeping my eyes peeled. And then if I hear of anything, I won't be sure what to make of it!

OP - I think you and I can team up on teaching Floridians how to shovel. Buffalo and Ohio may have the country beat in the snow department

Well if there is a hurricane it will no doubt track down any Buffalo Bill fans and soak them all week long!

Just kidding .....but I have not forgotten 01/03/1993

 

[skater]

I'll be watching too. We go down in early Sept. One year a hurricane was predicted to go across Florida and significantly impact Orlando. My extended family was upset with us when we decided to head down anyway. (It might be foolish, but I didn't want to lose that Princess breakfast adr ).

By the time our plane landed, the storm veered off and hit the gulf coast. It was a bad one - I can't remember the name (the one that hit Punta Gorda hard). But central Florida was sunny and beautiful and the parks were almost empty for a while.

This year we're driving and as long as our van can get there - we're going .

 

[Seeker615]

How about end of August/early September?
Keep those hurricanes away!

 

[Victoriarose1968]

DH and I are going the 1st week of October via train. I was a bit worried about TS myself.

We've gone up in Feb. many times, but never in Oct. I don't even know what the weather is normally like in Oct, lol

 

[DisGal520]

How about end of August/early September?
Keep those hurricanes away!

Per my tag, surviving a hurricane at Disney can be done. Believe them when they say they never lose power. The Dis property resorts are built to withstand hurricane force winds, and they are great at reopening parks after the storm and after their safety checks. They take great care of their guests.

 

[Figaro972]

with the exception of the past two years of going in december we usually travel to Disney in the September / October months.

There were two times that it actually affected our trip. they were Francis and Charlie I believe one of them actually closed the park for one or two days. however when the parks did finally open we were practically the only ones there. I was also told that it really is unusual for the hurricanes to affect the orlando area though due to it being in the middle. the storms usually go up one of the coasts.

 

[Bethpremier]

Did anyone buy insurance just in case?

 

[Figaro972]

Did anyone buy insurance just in case?

We did not. The trip we went where they actually closed the park was a long trip so we still had a fabulous vacation and Disney gave out 1 day hoppers for each day they closed.

Oh and the weather was just beautiful after the hurricane finally passed.

 

[Victoriarose1968]

Yep. I alway buy insurance. It doesn't cost to much and the piece of mind is worth it

 

[McIntoshTx]

Yep. I alway buy insurance. It doesn't cost to much and the piece of mind is worth it

From what I read Disney has built in hurricane insurance in that they refund fully if the National Weather Service declares a hurricane at either WDW or you place of origin (i.e. you home). Am I not reading that correctly?