tropical storms

[mollyo-nh]

Hi,

I am hoping someone who is currently in the World - or a local can help. I am scheduled to fly into Orlando for my WDW vacation on this Sunday (from Boston). I have been watching the weather channel to keep tabs on Bonnie and Charlie - it looks like Bonnie will not be an issue - but can anyone tell me what the local weather forecasters are saying about Charlie - when and where it is likely to hit?

Also, I know I have seen this asked and answered - but I can't remember the answer - how bad does it have to get before they close the parks due to weather?

Any help would be appreciated!

Thanks in advance!

 

[Grumpy92]

Right now, the Keys are under a Hurricane Watch. They are saying for now Charlie should be in the lower portion of the state. So I doubt you will have much trouble with Charlie either, but it is likely Central Fla will get more rain.

As for closing the parks, it depends on the Hurricane Catagory and where it hits at. The few times I have seen them close the parks is when the hurricane hits directly on the E or W coast of Orlando, with a forecast of it going across the state. From the forecast I have seen doesnt look like Bonnie nor Charlie will give you any trouble. But I would bring a Poncho and some old sneakers to wear.

 

[Magickndm]

The parks have only closed once because of a hurricane, and neither of these storms look like they will be as big as Floyd. Charley is supposed to hit the Tampa/St. Pete area towards the end of the weekend, so you will probably get a lot of rain in WDW. Like the other poster stated, wear ponchos and old shoes. But please be careful of the lightning these things bring with them!!!

 

[Laz]

I just returned from Myrtle Beach during Alex's march up the coast. The two things I learned is to listen to the local residents and weather stations and DO NOT listen the the Weather Channel. The Weather Channel sensationalizes too much.

 

[safetymom]

http://www.wftv.com/hurricanes/index.html

The current path of the storm has it going over the Orlando area Friday night.

I went out this morning and bought my storm supplies.

 

[mollyo-nh]

Thank you all for the information - I feel more at ease!

I already planned to pack ponchos and old sneakers - we have done Disney in August before and so know about the afternoon rains ... my view is, I am not made of sugar so I won't melt in the rain (if only losing weight was that easy )

Thanks again for responding so quickly to my question.

 

[dancemom3]

Safetymom-

Thanks for the website! I especially liked the projected storm path page. We are also leaving Sunday (from L.I.) although we are heading up to Tallahassee first. We'll be in Orlando on Tuesday, and it looks like we'll be missing both storms! From what everyone is saying, though,we will be prepared for a lot of rain!!

 

[Destination Disney]

I live on the west coast of Fl., Tampa Bay area. (Actually Clearwater) and the weather forcasters predict Charlie as of today, 8/11, to make land fall at about the Fort Meyers/ Sarasota area on about Friday. Looking at the Florida map, that is right below the Tampa bay area. So by living in the Tampa Bay area, I may see some action if it heads a bit more north before it turns or if it grows in diameter.

(Call me sick, but I love hurricane season... I work at Home Depot and hurricane season= overtime, so I can plan my Disney trips!)

Anyway, Be prepared with some ponchos, rain coats, plastic bags for your wallet and cameras to be placed in, old shoes, etc. I think you will miss all of the action. Sunday it should be winding down.

For those of you that twill be arriving before the Hurricane does I would get some flashlights and batteries when you get settled into your resort. Possibly buy a cheap foam cooler and put some food and drinks in it just in case you get resort bound. I really don't think that Orlando will get anything major except rain, but you never know it may head that way.

Personally I think Disney is the best place to be during a hurricane!

Welcome to Florida!

 

[Kay1]

It's not just you. Check today's St. Pete Times. There's an article on stocking for the storm and it does mention going to Disney during these threats. It's pretty common and we've done it many times. The last time we did it, we stayed at POFQ and it was just packed with evacuees from all over the state. Very rainy, too.

 

[safetymom]

Storm according to the noon news will hit the Orlando area around 5 PM on Friday. The Governor has declared a State of Emergency in Florida.

 

[disgolfer]

I do have to say that WDW during a hurricane is great. I was there in 1994 when Erin hit Vero Beach and came across WDW. The parks were delayed in opening by 3 hours that day. We were staying at FW and were evacuated to the Contemporary Convention Center. We slept on lounge chairs and got to watch the entire storm. A lot of the characters were brought in to spend time with the children, and we had a great breakfast buffet in the convention center.

Erin was only a Cat 1 storm. I was in the lobby, and doors had to be chained shut because one side was blowing in and the other side was being sucked out. The waves from Bay Lake were breaking over the wall and into the outer most swimming pool. At the end of everything, we were given free tickets for the day since the park opened late, and we were given a night free at FW. WDW as always was great. Never worry about the weather. They always make sure you have a good time.

82 days & counting until the next trip!!!

 

[WeLoveThePoly]

I have to agree with disgolfer!

Back in September 2000 we arrived at WDW the day a hurricane was blowing up the Gulf Coast side of Florida (I forget the name). Check-in at the resort was insane because, according to a CM, people were freaking out about the storm and checking out early.

It was pretty windy but the rain wasn't that heavy. DH & I decided to go to MK anyway. Boy am I glad we did .... we had the park practically to ourselves!! No one was there! We didn't have to wait for anything. It was great!

Debbie

Edited to add: OK, I found the name-"Hurricane Gordon" (Sept 14-18, 2000).

 

[safetymom]

This storm is passing within about 35 miles of the city. This is the closest a storm has been since the 60's.

 

[Cameo]

We are arriving Thursday and am trying to reorganize our schedule in case we are rained out on Friday. We live in North Dakota and have seen a few tornadoes and microbursts, but never a hurricane! It will surely be an adventure. Is it true that after the storm passes through, the weather is generally very nice the day or so after?

 

[1MegMeg]

Cameo, since you are arriving tomorrow I definitely second Destination Disney's advice bout purchasing some batteries, flashlights, and a styrofoam cooler for drinks, etc. Being inland you shouldn't have to worry, but having lived in Florida my entire life I say - better to be safe than sorry! Also, are you traveling with children? If so, you might want to consider picking up some books/toys/games, etc. to keep them occupied, on the off chance that you are stuck at the resort sans power.

Ahh, there's nothing quite like Florida in August!

Destination Disney - howdy neighbor, I'm in Clearwater too!

 

[Uncleromulus]

I sincerely hope that you are not bothered by either storm.
That said, I'd prepare for most anything. Having watched our local forecasters botch our daily local forecasts almost all summer, I have little faith in predictions beyond 24 hours. We've been under flood watches and warnings about 8 times so far--four of those times it didn't rain one drop, and three out of the other four it barely rained enough to wet the driveway.
It may well rain on WDW--and it may not. Again-hope everyone's trip is rain free

 

[Nickunited]

I am staying optimistic. The one is due to miss completely! I arrive Friday - im sure we will have to fly arround it.

The other - The one that is expected to hit - I looked at the projected path and they project it to make almost a 90 degree turn in order to hit FLA - what are the odds of them being dead right.

I dont trust weather people. A couple of years ago they predicted 22 inches of snow for NY - we went into panic - closed everything. We got a dusting. Keep fingers crossed - no one can 100% predict mother nature!

 

[Schmeck]

Originally posted by safetymom
Storm according to the noon news will hit the Orlando area around 5 PM on Friday. The Governor has declared a State of Emergency in Florida.

Bush declared the whole state, or just the coast? (Here in MA, we might declare a few towns inland during a hurricane, but mostly it's just down the coast.)

 

[1MegMeg]

Originally posted by Schmeck
Bush declared the whole state, or just the coast? (Here in MA, we might declare a few towns inland during a hurricane, but mostly it's just down the coast.)

Jebbers has declared the entire state, probably because of the double header that's coming (Bonnie tomorrow and Charley on Friday).

 

[daisylove]

Bush declared the whole state!! Charlie was upgraded to hurricane at 2:00pm today. 74-90 miles per/hour and they say he might be a catagory 2 by landfall with Fla.

As far as predicting storms since Andrew they have been much more on target. Andrew caught us all by surprise. The year after Andrew there was a storm coming and everyone in So Fla freaked. It was crazy. And they were wrong.

Now they have improved technology so much for hurricanes that I have noticed that for at least the last 5 years every prediction of where a hurricane storm would hit was correct within some miles. Don't discount it off the bat. Maybe other weather predictions are so-so but we take our hurricanes seriously down here.