So. Tornados. At WDW.

[wrighter]

This thread is a spinoff of the Hurricane Watchers thread. Figured Tornados deserved their own thread.

We're heading over to the MK today, and I'm starting to hear a lot of mentions of this word "Tornado." This does not please me. Rain and wind we can handle. Not fun - but doable. I hear WDW is one of the safest places to be in a hurricane. But a tornado? How on earth does one prepare for that in a place like WDW?

Does Disney have tornado sirens? The resorts? Just curious. We're going to try and just have fun today, but in the back of my head I'll be scanning for those ominous clouds and cylinders!

 

[thedonduck]

I hope I didn't scare you in my last post...Disney's buildings are all built to withstand a hurricane and they have their own weather station. If anything were to threaten anything on Disney Property, you will know it. CMs will be directing everyone on where to go. Each park has designated safe places in the event of a tornado. So does each resort. If you are at the park, just heed CMs instructions. If you are at your resort, keep the news on and again listen to any CM instructions!

 

[juliehoey]

I hope I didn't scare you in my last post...Disney's buildings are all built to withstand a hurricane and they have their own weather station. If anything were to threaten anything on Disney Property, you will know it. CMs will be directing everyone on where to go. Each park has designated safe places in the event of a tornado. So does each resort. If you are at the park, just heed CMs instructions. If you are at your resort, keep the news on and again listen to any CM instructions!

I don't think you scared anyone It is s good question. But I agree with you. The safest place to be is in Disney

 

[Alesia]

Very few of the tornadoes that have hit Orlando have ever even resulted in a single serious injury. http://www.homefacts.com/tornadoes/Florida/Orange-County/Orlando.html

 

[OKW Lover]

This thread is a spinoff of the Hurricane Watchers thread.

I love a good pun!

 

[mesaboy2]

Here's my opinion of tornados. If one takes me out, then my number was up. There's not a ton I can do about them other than to have common sense and use it. The odds of this happening in any particular location are so low as to not be on my radar. I have the same opinion of lightning.

 

[disnut8]

We're heading over to the MK today, and I'm starting to hear a lot of mentions of this word "Tornado." This does not please me. Rain and wind we can handle. Not fun - but doable. I hear WDW is one of the safest places to be in a hurricane. But a tornado? How on earth does one prepare for that in a place like WDW?

Disney World would get notice if there was a possibility of a tornado forming. Unfortunately, a tornado is much different from a hurricane in that you can't predict when the clouds will do their silly thing and just form up and produce the necessary ingredients for a tornado. Clouds don't communicate very well to humans, I'm afraid.

If Disney thinks a tornado is coming, they will take the precautions needed. However, I wouldn't let it even affect my thinking of enjoying my vacation. Like a PP said, if it happens, it happens. But I highly doubt it. I lived in Nebraska for 11 years and saw ZERO tornadoes. ZERO. Did we have watches and warnings? Of course. But I saw ZERO.

 

[mom2rtk]

Here's my opinion of tornados. If one takes me out, then my number was up. There's not a ton I can do about them other than to have common sense and use it. The odds of this happening in any particular location are so low as to not be on my radar. I have the same opinion of lightning.

Yep. That's the right attitude. When my kids express concerns about tornados, I remind them that I have lived in tornado alley my entire and never even SEEN one. They are totally random and have very little notice. That said, we try to be aware during high risk times, but we certainly don't dwell on it.

 

[goofy4tink]

This thread is a spinoff of the Hurricane Watchers thread. Figured Tornados deserved their own thread.

We're heading over to the MK today, and I'm starting to hear a lot of mentions of this word "Tornado." This does not please me. Rain and wind we can handle. Not fun - but doable. I hear WDW is one of the safest places to be in a hurricane. But a tornado? How on earth does one prepare for that in a place like WDW?

Does Disney have tornado sirens? The resorts? Just curious. We're going to try and just have fun today, but in the back of my head I'll be scanning for those ominous clouds and cylinders!

Back a few years ago, can't remember exactly when, maybe 2003 or so, we left the Polynesian on a glorious Aug day. By the time we got to MK, via the monorail, the sky was pitch black. The monorail was held there. We asked why? Just as we asked why, the skies opened, and the most incredible storm hit. We stood there for close to 40 mins. It was so dark, the lights started coming on in the MK and on the monorail platform...and it was around 3pm!!! We were then told that the monorail was in a holding pattern due to a tornado warning over in the Epcot area!! We were also told that if there were a situation, Disney CMs knew exactly what to do to get guests to safety..it would be down and into the utilidor areas, beneath MK.
In all reality??? If there is going to be a weather issue? I want to be in WDW...they have planned for all eventualities. It's incredible to watch in action!!!!

 

[Feralpeg]

Orlando is not immune to tornadoes. They can happen anywhere. While it is true that we don't tend to see the large, long lasting type like you see in the Midwest, we do get them. Most of the time, they are F0 and short in duration. If you are unlucky enough to be beneath one, you can still have damage.

I am originally from the Midwest and have lived through a tornado. The one thing I don't like about living in Florida is the lack of basements, but you get used to it. To answer your question, Disney does not have tornado sirens. There are no tornado sirens in greater Orlando. We use a weather radio and take cover in an interior area if necessary.

As for Orlando never having any real damage or injuries from tornadoes, it is true it hasn't happened in a long time. It has happened.

The 1998 Central Florida tornado outbreak of February 22–23, 1998, was the deadliest tornado event in Florida history. Forty-two people were killed and 260 were injured; seven tornadoes were involved in the event. The previous record for the highest tornado death toll in Florida history was 17 on March 31, 1962.

OP, don't let this ruin your fun at MK. You can't change things. If it looks really stormy, I'd hang out in one of the larger stores until it passes. To tell you the truth, I'm much more leery of lightening in this area than I am tornadoes.

 

[sydneysmom]

As someone who lives in Mississippi, I can tell you that tornados are part of our "everyday life" when it comes to storms. the best advice I can give you is don't let that rule your life. Be cautious and when they tell you to get to an interior room, do as they say.

You can bet Disney has a plan in place if there was a tornado coming. Just be aware and be safe, but don't let it ruin your trip.

 

[WEDWDW]

Just wanted to mention that the "guesstimates' keep moving the "possible" track of the storm further anmd further west,so it "appears" any potential problems for WDW are lessening.

 

[Belle599]

Go to MK, you will be fine. This is the best park you could choose should there be a tornado warning - just run down into the utilidors if there is a tornado. I would imagine that this would be one of the safer places to be on property.

 

[kaytieeldr]

Here's my opinion of tornados. If one takes me out, then my number was up. There's not a ton I can do about them other than to have common sense and use it. The odds of this happening in any particular location are so low as to not be on my radar. I have the same opinion of lightning.

The odds of being killed by a tornado are one in 4,513,000 http://sabolscience.blogspot.com/2010/05/odds-of-getting-struck-by-lightning-and.html?m=1

You should be around a while, mesaboy .

 

[luvthemouse71]

I've seen tornados(small ones) in my neck of the woods and one when I lived inPennsylvania. Neither of these places are known for tornados so it's a random thing. Don't let it worry you or ruin your good time.

 

[RMulieri]

Yep. That's the right attitude. When my kids express concerns about tornados, I remind them that I have lived in tornado alley my entire and never even SEEN one. They are totally random and have very little notice. That said, we try to be aware during high risk times, but we certainly don't dwell on it.

and I live in Central PA and have been through and F3 and an F1 in the last 10 yrs..GO figure..totally random freak of nature kind of thing...and while I get nervous, I don;t live in fear or dwell on it

 

[fla4fun]

The one thing I don't like about living in Florida is the lack of basements, but you get used to it.

We are originally from Ohio (moved to Florida in 1981) and when we had our current house built, it was built with a basement. There aren't a lot of places you can have a basement in Florida, but when looking at lots to build on, it was certainly something we were looking for. That is our safe spot for riding out tornados and hurricanes.

I agree with everyone's advice - enjoy the day but if the CM's all of a sudden ask you to take cover, do it! I've seen some of the silliest behavior during storms - but the one I will always remember is a horrendous lightning storm at Epcot and people were taking cover under METAL sun umbrellas that were over some of the benches at the time. We were inside one of the former Communicore buildings watching out the window and thinking how dangerous it was for them to do that. They should have just made a run for the building!

 

[disnut8]

enjoy the day but if the CM's all of a sudden ask you to take cover, do it! I've seen some of the silliest behavior during storms - but the one I will always remember is a horrendous lightning storm at Epcot and people were taking cover under METAL sun umbrellas that were over some of the benches at the time. We were inside one of the former Communicore buildings watching out the window and thinking how dangerous it was for them to do that. They should have just made a run for the building!

Totally agree with the bolded portion. If the Cast Members are concerned, then you definitely should be.

For the rest of this - those poor people were probably concerned they would, I dunno, get wet or something. Sometimes humans are more worried about being wet, even though we shower or bathe daily (I hope), from a rainstorm. It's just water.

 

[iamfishie]

I lived in the Orlando area for 2 years and rode out 3 hurricanes and a number of tropical storms while there. The tornadoes the news is talking about are a lot different from those in Tornado Alley. These are the off shoots of the hurricane and are often weak and short lived. But they are also often rain-wrapped and hard to see. They aren't the giant ominous wedges you think of so people often discount them. The chance of one happening is slight but shouldn't be completely written off. They can still pack enough punch to knock down trees and send debris flying. That's usually how people are injured- they just don't take it seriously. Just keep an eye out and listen to the CMs.

 

[LadyBeBop]

Sometimes humans are more worried about being wet, even though we shower or bathe daily.

Or ride Splash Mountain every so often.

I lived in the Orlando area for 2 years and rode out 3 hurricanes and a number of tropical storms while there. The tornadoes the news is talking about are a lot different from those in Tornado Alley. These are the off shoots of the hurricane and are often weak and short lived. But they are also often rain-wrapped and hard to see.

But please keep in mind, those aren't the only tornados you'll see in Orlando.

You'll see a lot of January/February tornados in which warm air will collide with much colder air. The same types of tornados you see farther north during March and April. Most of these are small. But they still have a punch.

Last trip to WDW (February 2010), there was a tornado warning at AK and the surrounding area (I was in the condo at Orange Lake at the time). I don't think there was a touchdown. However, tornados can (and will) happen in Florida any time of the year.

Here is an article from The Weather Channel listing tornado expert Dr. Greg Forbes' top ten tornado states. What state do you think he listed as number one?

http://www.weather.com/outlook/weather-news/news/articles/top-tornado-states_2012-03-06