Tropical Storm Elsa -- probably will affect WDW Tuesday/Wednesday

[JimMIA]

Tropical Storm Elsa strengthened to a minimal Category 1 hurricane during the night just prior to hitting Barbados. Hurricane Elsa is currently passing over the Lesser Antilles and is expected to retain Category 1 status until Sunday night. To some degree on Saturday, the storm may interact with the high mountains in the Dominican Republic and Haiti, and other mountains in Eastern Cuba on Sunday -- and those interactions are expected to weaken Elsa back to tropical storm status.

Elsa is roaring along at about 28 mph, which is very fast and inhibits development of the storm.

Beyond Sunday, guidance is very uncertain and the storm's track could be off by 200 miles from what is shown in the tracking chart below.

Whatever effect Elsa has on WDW -- or travel to and from WDW -- should occur on Tuesday/Wednesday.

 

[NOLA_Tink]

We called this morning to move our arrival up to Monday because we were concerned that we may not be able to get there on Wednesday (if the storm is hitting or if there's damage on I-10). Being from NOLA, hurricanes don't worry us, but I know getting there could be extra tricky. Praying that there are no lives lost or extreme property damage in it's path.

 

[JimMIA]

We called this morning to move our arrival up to Monday because we were concerned that we may not be able to get there on Wednesday (if the storm is hitting or if there's damage on I-10). Being from NOLA, hurricanes don't worry us, but I know getting there could be extra tricky. Praying that there are no lives lost or extreme property damage in it's path.

I assume you are driving, so you should be okay. They could have tropical storm force winds in Orlando as early as Monday, which could cause flight cancellations due to repositioning of aircraft and crews.

This system is really flying -- 29 mph. I've never seen a hurricane move that fast. Can't believe it's held together.

 

[4luv2cdisney]

I assume you are driving, so you should be okay. They could have tropical storm force winds in Orlando as early as Monday, which could cause flight cancellations due to repositioning of aircraft and crews.

This system is really flying -- 29 mph. I've never seen a hurricane move that fast. Can't believe it's held together.

Oh no. My DD and her BFF are flying home late Monday night. I am just catching all this info now. Does WDW have any emergency accommodations if they can't get home? They are 19 - too young to rent a car.

Panicking here.

 

[NOLA_Tink]

I assume you are driving, so you should be okay. They could have tropical storm force winds in Orlando as early as Monday, which could cause flight cancellations due to repositioning of aircraft and crews.

This system is really flying -- 29 mph. I've never seen a hurricane move that fast. Can't believe it's held together.

It really is flying through the Caribbean! Yes, we are driving; thus, the leaving 2 days earlier. The drive from NOLA is only 9-10 hours if you leave before 6 am, so we should be okay. So crazy (& typical for us) that we are trying to get there before the storm comes. We are packing a few fun games to play in the room, in case we have to "hunker down," but our first actual park day isn't until Thursday. #Hurrication

 

[Disneyfan754321]

It really is flying through the Caribbean! Yes, we are driving; thus, the leaving 2 days earlier. The drive from NOLA is only 9-10 hours if you leave before 6 am, so we should be okay. So crazy (& typical for us) that we are trying to get there before the storm comes. We are packing a few fun games to play in the room, in case we have to "hunker down," but our first actual park day isn't until Thursday. #Hurrication

Last time it was the best park days... it was so dead we had the parks to ourselves Amazing

 

[JimMIA]

Here is the 2PM Saturday tracking chart. At 2 PM, the center of Elsa was just south of the southern coast of Haiti, still moving at 29 mph to the WNW. Max sustained winds were 70 mph, just a little below hurricane strength.

The system appears to have missed most of the very high mountains in Haiti and the Dominican Republic. It will have to contend with some mountains south of its track in Jamaica, and some additional mountains north of the track in eastern Cuba.

The track could change of course, but right now the storm is not projected to regain hurricane strength, and it's expected to pass near Key West and along the lower Florida Gulf Coast.

 

[JimMIA]

Here is the 11 AM Sunday tracking chart. The path up Florida's Gulf Coast has moved slightly left (West), although it may be hard to notice on this chart.

Yesterday the track went directly over Key West, but today the middle of the track is 50 miles or so west of Key West. That's not a lot of movement, but this is a small storm.

Now, the likelihood of Orlando getting tropical storm winds (>39 mph) is only 20%-30% and will occur Tuesday PM/Wednesday AM.

There still could be changes in this storm however. Forecasters have been surprised that Elsa has been so resilient despite the high speed she was moving with earlier. So we will continue to watch Elsa carefully.

 

[MrKnight]

Oh no. My DD and her BFF are flying home late Monday night. I am just catching all this info now. Does WDW have any emergency accommodations if they can't get home? They are 19 - too young to rent a car.

Panicking here.

No need to panic. As of yet there are no widespread flight cancellations for tomorrow, all seems normal thus far as the storm seems to have slowed down a bit and also shifted slightly towards the west. Worst case scenario, if your DD's flight gets cancelled, you can find her a new hotel near MCO for that night, perhaps an airport hotel so she has easy access to the airport as soon as air travel resumes, but once again this would be a worst case scenario.

 

[ILoveMyDVC]

SWA is offering changes for flights in and out of Tampa but not MCO (Orlando).

 

[Disneyfan754321]

Central Florida theme parks are making changes ahead of Hurricane Elsa’s arrival to the area.
The storm became a hurricane before it was projected to strike Florida’s west coast, with Central Florida, being on the storm’s “dirty side.”
In Central Florida, Marion and Sumter counties remain under tropical storm warnings as of Tuesday afternoon. Lake County is under a tropical storm watch.
Below are some of the changes Central Florida theme parks are making as of Tuesday.
Walt Disney World

“Epcot Forever” nighttime spectacular at 10 p.m. has been canceled Tuesday night but is expected to return Wednesday.
The show “Happily Ever After” is currently still on Tuesday’s showtimes for 9:15 p.m., but could be modified, weather permitting.
SeaWorld Orlando

SeaWorld Orlando said on its annual passholders page that it’s closing early Tuesday at 9 p.m.
In addition, the last performance of Orca Encounter at 9 p.m. is canceled. The nighttime fireworks show, Ignite is currently scheduled still for 9 p.m., weather permitting.
SeaWorld Orlando is expecting to return to normal hours Wednesday.
Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay officials said on Facebook Tuesday that the park would be closing early at 4 p.m. for the safety of its ambassadors, guests and animals.
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