Tornado Watch

[ptlohmysoul]

in effect today until 5 pm at WDW.

 

[ethanwa]

Yeah just keep an eye on the weather. Take cover if it turns into a Warning. There are some really bad storms off the Gulf Coast right now.... good chance of heavy rain later in the day.

 

[maxiesmom]

According to Denis Philips, from ABC Action News, "it could get ugly".

Stay safe everyone and keep an eye on the sky!!!

 

[flatlandcycle]

.

 

[lillykat]

Okay. I have to ask. What do they do if it looks like a tornado is coming through? For park guests? Resort guests?

 

[Tigerlulu]

It's crowd control!

 

[xie]

Never really thought about it, but a tornado rolling through a park would be very very bad. They don't have enough interior areas to shelter people. :x

 

[lillykat]

Never really thought about it, but a tornado rolling through a park would be very very bad. They don't have enough interior areas to shelter people. :x

It would be horrific, I hope it never happens but if there with family were would you go? Has there ever been on close to the property?

 

[StirlingSilver83]

We've been driving down from nj. We just entered Florida and expected to get to disney prolly around 3 including a lunch break. My hubby wanted to add on a day of park tickets for today good thing I said let's wait til we get there lol

 

[xie]

It would be horrific, I hope it never happens but if there with family were would you go? Has there ever been on close to the property?

They have had linear winds on property, for sure. In the early 2000s we were there one September after Florida and Georgia had seen several tropical storms and hurricanes (I can't recall exactly what year this was). The various buildings on property had taken a lot of roof damage, and there were many many trees down. You could easily see all this from the monorails. They had tarps and repairs going on the various building roof areas.

As far as a direct tornado strike on a park, I don't know if there has ever been one.

If it was me, any the gov't weather warning alert went off on my phone (turn these on!), I'd head straight for the indoor area with the fewest windows. Likely places:

MK - Tortuga Tavern's interior dining rooms, Columbia House away from the windows, Hall of Presidents lobby, etc. Ride queues that are inside (Space Mountain, Stitch, and so on.) Just anyplace where you can get inside and away from the windows.
EPCOT - Innoventions, the Land, the Test Track ride exit lobby, or similar. I wouldn't want to be on World Showcase, although I'd imagine they would open the convention hall place back there if there really was a radar signature indicating an incoming tornado strike. The movie theaters (France, China, Canada) and the Maelstrom interiors would probably be safe places to go.
DHS - Any interior theater structure, i.e. Muppets, etc. The Animation buildings, but there's some glass there so move further inside. The interior areas of some of the ride queues would probably be fine, away from the windows.
AK - Harder. Not so many interiors here. The Bug's Life theater under the tree. Dino ride building and other interior ride queues. Some of the restaurants.

I think the hard thing is that they have far more guests than they could fit into these structures on any given day. Of course if they have safe structures backstage they could open, that could make all the difference.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

There is another thread on this subject here on the forums... it mentions that there is a plan in place that includes CMs escorting guests to safe shelter, including taking them underground to the utilidor areas if the need arises. All the while doing their best to "preserve the magic" - their words not mine.

 

[practicallyperfect77]

Do you think they would open utilidors in MK?

 

[fairyprincess88]

Do you think they would open utilidors in MK?

Yes. My cousin did her CP at MK and she told us that during her training they discussed guest safety during bad weather such as a tornado and that they have set evacuation plans in place for each area of the parks. In MK, this does include moving guests to the utilidors.

 

[xie]

Yes. My cousin did her CP at MK and she told us that during her training they discussed guest safety during bad weather such as a tornado and that they have set evacuation plans in place for each area of the parks. In MK, this does include moving guests to the utilidors.

Very glad to hear it. We all definitely could not fit in the ride queues and tiny shops.

 

[PinkBudgie]

Wow, earthquake at Disneyland yesterday and tornado watch at Disney World today. You can't win at either resort right now.

 

[redsbe]

Great time to get in some rides this morning at WDW before bad weather arrives. Would you rather sit in your hotel room or be in a park? Either way you are at risk and in both cases WDW has emergency procedures in place including safe shelters.

 

[glassslippergirl]

Okay. I have to ask. What do they do if it looks like a tornado is coming through? For park guests? Resort guests?

If there is a tornado in MK, they evacuate all guests into the utilidors on the lower level. They actually talked about that on Keys to the Kingdom tour. They've never had to do it. Don't know about the other parks. I've lived in FL my whole life-- the watches usually never go any further, but be safe.

 

[maxiesmom]

Just saw they now have warnings for Citrus and Hernando counties. Not sure where those are in relation to WDW, but I'm praying for everyone to be safe.

 

[sethschroeder]

Great time to get in some rides this morning at WDW before bad weather arrives. Would you rather sit in your hotel room or be in a park? Either way you are at risk and in both cases WDW has emergency procedures in place including safe shelters.

Just ride pirates all afternoon?

I feel sorry for those people who refuse to bring their cell phone to the parks. No FP+ management and no weather updates at your fingertips.

 

[heyitsmejosh]

i wouldn't let this really effect your plans for the day the tornadoes in Florida are usually very weak and its highly unlikely that one will hit Disney.. that being said they are still dangerous if one were to hit so obviously seek shelter immediately but dont huddle in your hotel room all day because of a tornado watch.