Tropical Storm Erika - Keep an Eye Out

[MickeyMinnie1971]

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[ParrotBill]

And the fact that my son and I made a mini vacation out if it and were planning on spending Tuesday in the parks has me a bit concerned.

Usually the storms move through quite fast - the washout is a half day. And like I said, the parks often stay open. So stay tuned. And if you do get confined to the hotel for part of the day, the electric grid for WDW is very hardy.

What's flying into MCO like during a storm/tropical storm hit? Will we be SOL, or do they still fly in, mayhap just delayed? Otherwise: what are some good alternatives if a flight is cancelled?

Planes can keep flying even in tropical storm winds. Delays are likely as the slow down the arrival/departure rate. If your flight gets canceled, get on the phone and tell them you are flexible to fly in to Tampa instead. Fort Lauderdale seems too far to go. Maybe Jacksonville is an option too. You can rent a car for the duration and fly back out of there or get one that allows one way drop off for free (make sure) and return out of Orlando and even get magic express set back up (call them though).

 

[brooke789]

We went to DW in August 2004, everything was paid for in advance. The day we drove down, Hurricane Charlie was about to hit Tampa. We decided to go anyway. As we drove down into FL, the opposite side of the interstate was jam packed with people evacuating. We arrived at our house in Kissimmee 4 hours before Charlie went over Orlando, I think it was a category 2 or 3 at that time. It was my first experience in a hurricane. We were due at MK the next day.

Our wedding was cancelled due to hurricane Charlie. DH and I drove to Gatlinburg TN and were married in the Hard Rock Cafe. It was the only place anyone knew of where we could get married the same day!

And despite everyone saying this back then none of our children are named Charlie. Haha

 

[lucas]

We live in Boca Raton, FL. That is between Fort Lauderdale and West Palm Beach so we are watching things closely.

 

[Disneyliscious]

Actually, MK has had to close for hurricanes five times: Floyd, Frances, Charlie, Jeane, and Wilma.

We went to the MK the day after Charlie hit. That was the extremely low crowd day I spoke of so I can't imagine it closing down after that since it was open the day after the hurricane (perhaps it DID close the day the hurricane hit though?) Animal Kingdom was closed for a few days though, but if I recall correctly, it was the only park that had to close. We were able to go to AK 3 days after the hurricane I believe it was.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

I'm sitting on the Volusia/Brevard County line where they were just showing possible landfall or at least being right off the coast on Monday afternoon. We are on pins & needles as we have a shop on the beachside & were due to be at WDW on vacation on Monday. I haven't cancelled or moved our reservation yet so I'm watching everything I can even though I know better than do to that.... lol!

 

[Joel0917]

so now the computer hurricane models have it turning right....so no direct landfall or hit. With orlando being in the middle of the state..how much wind/rain will it still bring?

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

so now the computer hurricane models have it turning right....so no direct landfall or hit. With orlando being in the middle of the state..how much wind/rain will it still bring?

Central Florida is still in the "cone of uncertainty" as our local weather guys call it. We will definitely get rain but hard to tell this far out how much. I'm on the East Coast where it's supposed to be hurricane strength but at the moment not sure how close or far out from the coast she will be. I'm praying pretty far out from the coast as I'm due at WDW on Monday but depending on where she is on Sunday we may have to cancel as we can't leave our business here.

 

[North of Mouse]

We went to DW in August 2004, everything was paid for in advance. The day we drove down, Hurricane Charlie was about to hit Tampa. We decided to go anyway. As we drove down into FL, the opposite side of the interstate was jam packed with people evacuating. We arrived at our house in Kissimmee 4 hours before Charlie went over Orlando, I think it was a category 2 or 3 at that time. It was my first experience in a hurricane. We were due at MK the next day.

Our electricity went out and it was muggy but bearable. The next day we were finally able to see the devastation. It was like a war zone as we drove to MK. People were lined up for a half a mile or more at gas stations, there was no where to eat but Waffle House, it was surreal.

Upon entering MK that day, it was empty. I mean like....EMPTY. It was the best day I have ever had at MK in all my visits there and I would do it again in a heartbeat.

We were without power for 4 days so it wasn't all fun but we managed with a grill and some candles. Still, even at that, I'd trade it again for the awesomeness that was being able to pretty much have the MK to ourselves (obviously there were other people visiting but it was incredibly low crowds, no lines for anything). AK was the same way the next day.

I'm not advising for anyone to ever do this. Just wanted to share that for us, it was an incredibly memorable vacation.

Glad you had a good experience, but hindsight is always 20/20

I'm a south LA girl and have seen 'plenty' in my day and totally respect hurricanes.
There was a 'reason' for all those people evacuating - I would 'never' intentionally drive into the path of a 'known' hurricane no matter what it interrupted.

"I would do it again in a heartbeat"
Don't let your one fortunate experience make you reckless - they can be very dangerous. My 2 cents for what you take it!

 

[ucfknight]

so now the computer hurricane models have it turning right....so no direct landfall or hit. With orlando being in the middle of the state..how much wind/rain will it still bring?

Way too early to predict at this point. The track is far too uncertain still, and the intensity is up in the air.

If the storm strengthens it could turn North when it is still East of the Bahamas and it will be 500 miles out to sea. You'll have blue skies.

If the storm stays weak or gets sheared apart, it is more likely to come over the state and you might have rain for a day or two. That rain could be significant or it could be minor depending on the exact structure of the storm at that time.

It will probably be another 2 days before we have a better idea of the path, strength, and potential impacts.

 

[Disneyliscious]

Glad you had a good experience, but hindsight is always 20/20

I'm a south LA girl and have seen 'plenty' in my day and totally respect hurricanes.
There was a 'reason' for all those people evacuating - I would 'never' intentionally drive into the path of a 'known' hurricane no matter what it interrupted.

"I would do it again in a heartbeat"
Don't let your one fortunate experience make you reckless - they can be very dangerous. My 2 cents for what you take it!

Completely understood. Had we have been driving into Tampa or the beach, we'd never have done it. Hurricanes are always the worst at the point where they make landfall from what I understand and the news had projected it to be a category 2 by the time it reached Orlando. It truly was an experience as we don't have hurricanes where I'm from. Mentally, I compared it to a large tornado (something Im familiar with) but upon seeing the destruction the next day I realized I was way off. While we did go to Disney, it was outside of Disney where you really felt the hurricanes wrath. There was no gas anywhere except for the gas station at Disney. Literally the only place open was Waffle House and they ran out of food shortly after we ordered ours. People were hungry and looking for food. It was just unfathomable to me to see something like that. Its an experience I'll appreciate the rest of my life.

Given what I saw with Charlie, I cant even imagine what Katrina was like.

 

[andyman8]

Latest forecast cone isn't good news. This thing has slowed down, which forecasters say gives it more of a chance to strengthen over the warm waters by the Bahamas. It looks like it'll run along the FL shore, which is somewhat good news for WDW, but given how large an 85 MPH hurricane is, some significant effects could still be seen in WDW. Of course, everything could change. This thing still needs to survive (something we'll find out later tomorrow) and obviously this cone is very large. Just keep watching is the only advice I can offer.

 

[Nermel9]

So does anyone know what happens after Monday or Tuesday? Like what happens to the storm after it hits Florida, IF that does happen? Does it break apart? Does it go into the Gulf? Will it stay a hurricane and travel up the east coast? I'm getting really nervous about this and I'm in CT!

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Nobody knows anything now. Even the NHC is just guessing. And they make sure to say their predictions could be way off. The only way you can be pretty sure this storm is coming toward you is if you are in Puerto Rico.

 

[RJstanis]

Good luck Florida people from one Gulf Coast person to another. We arrive next Thurs afternoon so its looking like we should be good as of right now?

 

[andyman8]

I think we need a little some thread combo action!

http://disboards.com/threads/tropical-storm-erica.3442347/

 

[natebenma]

The stormalong bay synchronized swim team will be headed out for practice soon

 

[Merkymouse]

Hey, I know! Maybe we can get a webmaster to ban Hurricane Erika?

 

[jerseygal]

Latest on weather at WDW today and tomorrow? HEAVY rains I assume? HOPE that the impact is minimal!

 

[MickeyMinnie1971]

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