Tropical Storm Erika - Keep an Eye Out

[andyman8]

South Florida was just added to cone (lucky us...), and it looks like there is a scenario where this could pass Orlando and WDW early next week maybe. Nothing know for sure now, and I certainly wouldn't go around canceling plans yet, as there's still much time and distance between us and the storm. Just watch. It could go south or north, but just watch. To quote our weatherman, "don't freak out, but keep in the back of your head that this may be a factor in my life".

 

[Aliceacc]

And they expect it to change from a Tropical Storm to a Hurricane by Sunday.

Of course, that could certainly change.

 

[Eeyore's My Favorite]

Yep I'm sitting on the East Coast of Florida with a WDW vacation planned for next week. Watching Ericka Like a hawk since we have a business on the beachside & might have to cancel or reschedule which would stink!! But since I've lived in this same spot for close to 60 years I'm used to the Hurricanes big & small. I just want to go see Mickey.... Lol!

 

[andyman8]

Yep I'm sitting on the East Coast of Florida with a WDW vacation planned for next week. Watching Ericka Like a hawk since we have a business on the beachside & might have to cancel or reschedule which would stink!! But since I've lived in this same spot for close to 60 years I'm used to the Hurricanes big & small. I just want to go see Mickey.... Lol!

Funny, I'm in a similar situation. We had a WDW long weekend booked from Friday morning through Monday evening. This was a trip I was going to do with my family before moving to Chicago at the end of next week. I think we're definitely going, but we're trying to decide if we should book Monday night as the roads might not be safe to return home (plus the power could be out) if this hurricane hits. Keep in mind, there are lots of situations where this doesn't hit WDW straight on or nearby or it doesn't even become a hurricane, but I'm watching this closely. Go figure, haven't had a real hurricane in about ten years but the one year I'm moving and such is the year we might get one.

 

[jerseygal]

HOPE for all enjoying the last week of summer next week that Tropical Storm Erika stays FAR AWAY from Orlando..BE SAFE ALL!

 

[stackyallred]

We live on the gulf (TX) and are flying to WDW on Tuesday in the early morning. I don't want it to come to either place but I always feel bad for wishing it to go anywhere else because unless it turns back out to sea, someone is negatively affected. Here's to obsessively checking the path for the next several days...

 

[Disneyliscious]

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.

 

[epcotty]

oh the joys of living in South Florida, I know, I used to live there years ago

 

[margot31]

I am more concerned about my house in Jax since I live in MD.

 

[ErinInCT]

We live on the gulf (TX) and are flying to WDW on Tuesday in the early morning. I don't want it to come to either place but I always feel bad for wishing it to go anywhere else because unless it turns back out to sea, someone is negatively affected. Here's to obsessively checking the path for the next several days...

We're coming in Tues am too (but from the north). I seem to be a hurricane magnet. 2004 trip flight out cancelled due to Hurricane Jeanne. Most of what I've seen shows this will not be affecting central FL but I'll still keep my eye one it. Fingers crossed - out to sea or just disintegrate!

 

[edolee]

We're coming in Tues am too (but from the north). I seem to be a hurricane magnet. 2004 trip flight out cancelled due to Hurricane Jeanne. Most of what I've seen shows this will not be affecting central FL but I'll still keep my eye one it. Fingers crossed - out to sea or just disintegrate!

Maybe you could go to Bermuda instead?? ;-)

 

[deGeus]

UGH, really?!?! My husband(!!!!!!!!!) and I will be leaving early Monday, 8-31, from Minnesota for our dream Disney honeymoon. I knew that hurricanes and bad weather was definitely a possibility but, ugh!!! Positive thoughts, positive thoughts......

 

[andyman8]

The good news is the weather pros are still unsure if this thing will make it to the Bahamas. That's the big if in this whole thing. By the time it gets close to the Bahamas, we should have a pretty good idea about where it's headed if it survives. Right now, the local station is saying we should have a better idea and forecast sometime late Thursday, so I wouldn't be making any major changes until at least then, cause it sounds like this could just be a non-event. We'll see.

 

[MINNIEANN MOUSE]

Really hoping and praying for the best possible outcome! We are headed on the Dream 8/28 for a 3 night cruise and then to WDW for 6 nights, I hope this hurricaine dissolves. Good luck to everyone!

 

[Lillian Gracey]

DH and I leave on 8/2 from Chicago for our one year anniversary, but I will wait 'til the weekend to see if anything changes before I start getting really worried. Anything can happen in a few days, right?

 

[tjknitz]

This trip has been planned for over a year now. Rain ponchos are packed and I'll just have to dance in the rain down Main Street. We leave Friday - driving down. Our first day in the park is Sunday......hope Erika decides to fizzle out before then.

 

[andiraye]

OMG. I am trying VERY hard not to freak out right now. I need this vacation SO badly. Fingers and toes crossed...

 

[flatlandcycle]

Crowds are likely to be low. I know families that book rooms at Disney, during hurricanes so that they have power, when the lights go off everywhere else in the area. Hurricane rain in central Florida is pleasant. It won't be pleasant for directly hit coastal areas, but Orlando should be fine. Get a good radar app and watch the rain bands come through.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

I'm headed to Orlando Friday night. Have a flight home Monday night. Must be back at work no later than Wednesday morning. I have to decide whether to cancel the room tomorrow. Hard to decide with such an uncertain forecast.

 

[LaurenT]

According to the Wesh2 models, there is only one out of a dozen scenarios where it even touches Florida ... And that one has it passing south of Miami. Don't worry about something that is very unlikely to happen.