Tropical threat?? Leaving in 9 days...

[RoseGold]

Latest update I just saw has it very nasty late Wed and all day Thursday for Orlando, and then gone by Friday. Maybe an early closure on Wed, parks closed on Thursday, and late opening on Friday to clean up is possible.

Big assumptions here. This could be a region with flooding, infrastructure damage, no power, no water, no gasoline. It's not like some rain or a few branches down are the risks here.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Latest update I just saw has it very nasty late Wed and all day Thursday for Orlando, and then gone by Friday. Maybe an early closure on Wed, parks closed on Thursday, and late opening on Friday to clean up is possible.

My husband has a coworker supposed to go to Tampa this weekend...yeah not sure about that even if the storm moves out by Friday.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

I'm seeing several airlines are rescheduling people without needing to pay the difference! Check what your airline policy looks like!

Here's at least SWA subject obviously to change/expand/etc (Underlying is mine)

https://www.southwest.com/html/advisories/swa_travel_advisory_20228231663963365231.html

Hurricane Ian​

Based on the forecasted weather conditions for the cities and dates listed below, our scheduled service may be disrupted (flights may be delayed, diverted, and/or cancelled):

Saturday-Sunday, September 24-25

• Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands (GCM)
• Montego Bay, Jamaica (MBJ)

Sunday-Friday, September 25-30

• Destin/Ft. Walton Beach, FL (VPS)
• Ft. Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
• Ft. Myers, FL (RSW)
• Havana, Cuba (HAV)
• Jacksonville, FL (JAX)
• Miami, FL (MIA)
• Orlando, FL (MCO)
• Panama City Beach, FL (ECP)
• Pensacola, FL (PNS)
• Sarasota/Bradenton, FL (SRQ)
• Tampa, FL (TPA)
• West Palm Beach, FL (PBI)

Customers holding reservations to/from/through the cities listed above on the corresponding dates may rebook in the original class of service or travel standby (within 14 days of their original date of travel between the original city-pairs and in accordance with our accommodation procedures) without paying any additional charge.

Customers who purchased their itinerary via Southwest.com or our mobile app are eligible to reschedule their travel plans online or from their mobile device.

Customers who did not purchase a ticket via Southwest.com can call 1-800-435-9792 to speak with a Customer Representative.

Customers in the U.S. scheduled to travel internationally must call 1-800-435-9792 to speak with a Customer Representative for assistance with rebooking.

___________
This was how we were able to extend our trip by one day back for Irma. The day we wanted to extend to was the last day covered under the travel advisory. SWA did make it easy to adjust this. Unfortunately we could not get our Costco discount rate extended to our rental car so the additional day on that end was more costly in relation to the original costs for the amount of days we had. Something for those to keep in mind rental car companies may not be as lenient here.

 

[CeeCee101]

The NHC just released the newest update. Not looking good. I would not want to be there! Stay safe FL peeps!

 

[ajsamett]

I'm supposed to be driving to Orlando Friday from Palm Beach area. Anyone know of a place to check for road flooding or anything?

 

[OnceUponATime15]

All stakeholders at MCO were scheduled to meet at 9;30 am this morning to make adjustments to the plan for closure. As of now it’s business as usual.
Will post any update I come across..

 

[Stratman50th]

Big assumptions here. This could be a region with flooding, infrastructure damage, no power, no water, no gasoline. It's not like some rain or a few branches down are the risks here.

When Irma came through it was relatively quick, maybe 4 hours and it hit around 2:30am. We lost power the previous evening at 8:30. The power was out in our neighborhood for 8 days. So as @RoseGold said, just because the center of the storm has passed doesn't mean it's over. Rain/wind bands will keep reaching out until the storm probably moves into GA. How quick everything gets back to normal depends on the extent of damage, disruption, and how many crewpeople they have cleaning up and fixing everything.
A small list:
Water
Electricity
Cell service
Cable/internet- Not just for entertainment purposes. A lot of emergency information will come through here.
Traffic controls repaired or replaced
Physical cleanup of roads and access areas.

 

[Tiggerette]

I'm supposed to be driving to Orlando Friday from Palm Beach area. Anyone know of a place to check for road flooding or anything?

Taken from the curated post by the moderator (Thank you @GADisneyDad14) for the Hurricane Ian Thread in the Resort forum: https://www.disboards.com/threads/h...-related-updates-planning-discussion.3897371/

Travel/Weather/Orlando area Twitter Resources
National Hurricane Center - https://twitter.com/nhc_atlantic?s=21&t=OSHK_xM5KP8KEbzkJpkXxg

MCO - https://twitter.com/mco?s=21&t=1nDljDCd_fpMiDxCFffQnw

FL Division of Emergecny Management - https://twitter.com/flsert?s=21&t=1nDljDCd_fpMiDxCFffQnw

Tony Mainolfi - WESH TV2 - https://twitter.com/tmainolfiwesh?s=21&t=BAWVsCAWzlpG-nn1kNSuMA

Eric Burris - WEST TV2 - https://twitter.com/ericburriswesh?s=21&t=6ECrFUwfldNaN-8igHufLA

Brian Shields - WFTV - https://twitter.com/brianwftv?s=21&t=S6A5itiA1IsfMblT4RVmDA

FL Roads/Traffic - Florida 511 https://fl511.com/

FL Highway Patrol - https://www.flhsmv.gov/fhp/traffic/live_traffic_feed.html

 

[OnceUponATime15]

From twitter just now…


@citybeautiful: TODAY (9/27) at 1 p.m., @orlandomayor, Commissioners, @OUCreliableone and @MCO will host a press conference about #HurricaneIan preparations. Watch live on our Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/cityoforlando

https://twitter.com/x/status/1574769786508255232

 

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

Well the latest track puts it even closer to Orlando. I would not be shocked if it kept going more east with the next and coming in more south

 

[ktlm]

I'm supposed to fly in Friday morning. Will end up cancelling the entire trip if the flight is cancelled because the fare difference to change to a later flight is almost double the original cost of my ticket

Have you tried again today? Even though they have told you their position, sometimes their position changes as the storm gets closer and they are more likely to rebook you without the charges if there are seats available. Although the way the airlines have been right now finding seats might be the bigger issue. I remember for Matthew, prior to the storm a lot of incoming flights were cancelled to keep planes from being at MCO in the storm and they closed the airport and flew out the remaining planes out to avoid damage, so when the airport reopened while people had trouble getting out, most people coming in that were booked on an after storm flight seemed to have it pretty easy as they needed those flights to work to get planes back to MCO to get people out. Although this morning, the way the models are looking isn't good, and looks like there is a potential for a lot of wind damage in the Orlando area. The path can always shift again though, so who knows. With an inland area, a slight shift can make a major difference as to how strong your winds are.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

Sanford Airport closing at 4 pm today

 

[Tonyz]

Big assumptions here. This could be a region with flooding, infrastructure damage, no power, no water, no gasoline. It's not like some rain or a few branches down are the risks here.

Oh wow so you think it could be longer closures? Fantastic...

 

[niclodn]

Have you tried again today? Even though they have told you their position, sometimes their position changes as the storm gets closer and they are more likely to rebook you without the charges if there are seats available. Although the way the airlines have been right now finding seats might be the bigger issue. I remember for Matthew, prior to the storm a lot of incoming flights were cancelled to keep planes from being at MCO in the storm and they closed the airport and flew out the remaining planes out to avoid damage, so when the airport reopened while people had trouble getting out, most people coming in that were booked on an after storm flight seemed to have it pretty easy as they needed those flights to work to get planes back to MCO to get people out. Although this morning, the way the models are looking isn't good, and looks like there is a potential for a lot of wind damage in the Orlando area. The path can always shift again though, so who knows. With an inland area, a slight shift can make a major difference as to how strong your winds are.

Nah, I'm just gonna wait it out. If I can get out on Friday, then I'll go. If not, I'll cancel hotel/tickets then.

 

[TwoMisfits]

Oh wow so you think it could be longer closures? Fantastic...

It may be almost an unprecedented storm for that part of Florida. I think I read the last huge equivalent type hit on Tampa was 1921. You can't judge how Orlando/Tampa/that whole area will rebound from this storm based on past storms - they weren't the same impact.

 

[kelmac284]

I was supposed to be leaving as we speak to head to Orlando from CA. I waited anxiously all weekend but made up my mind yesterday morning. I ended up postponing my trip till April but I was going to visit my DD who is a CM. She was then supposed to come back home with me for a visit on the 5th. I cancelled my plans and she moved her flight home up to early morning on the 1st so I am hoping that she can fly OUT on the 1st and no issues at MCO. I have only been there during 1 hurricane and that was Wilma in 05. No one mentions that the park was closed but it was but maybe only for half a day. I just know that we didn't know till literally the last second when it was going to hit. We were supposed to fly in on a Sat and it went from hitting on that day to Monday. So we did fly in and went to Epcot on that Sunday. By that night as we were leaving it was down pouring. We were staying offsite and were told to stay in on Monday till they gave the all clear. It was a timeshare and we never lost power and we had a kitchen so we just bought groceries the day before. We were able to leave by noonish the next day. They said the parks were closed so we went to Disney Springs. They were just closed for cleanup and perhaps they let people in later in the day I don't remember but after that it was great. This of course is a whole different animal. My daughter is working tonight during the halloween party. She doesn't get off till 12:45 a.m. and lives in Davenport. I am hoping they close early or she gets an early release so she can get home. Her area is now under a hurricane warning not a tropical storm warning like Osceola. Good luck to anyone who is there or going this week.

 

[wizardtho]

FWIW, we left Orlando a day early. We were supposed to fly back tomorrow morning, but didn't want to risk being stranded with two toddlers, so we rebooked for this morning. MCO was already a zoo. The precheck line was the longest I've seen, and it took about 30 minutes to get through security. Our flight was completely full.

 

[Tonyz]

FWIW, we left Orlando a day early. We were supposed to fly back tomorrow morning, but didn't want to risk being stranded with two toddlers, so we rebooked for this morning. MCO was already a zoo. The precheck line was the longest I've seen, and it took about 30 minutes to get through security. Our flight was completely full.

Smart. Glad you were able to get out!

 

[AnnaKristoff2013]

I'd like to retract my earlier comment in this thread about a Hurricane Warning being incredibly unlikely in Orlando. It was incredibly unlikely, but it now is looking more like Ian could be the 1 in 100 years type storm that directly hits Orlando with Hurricane force winds. I would cancel a trip now if I was planning on going down this week. Orlando is close to the center of the cone of uncertainty after the latest update.

 

[LynnTH]

We are scheduled to fly in on October 5th - 9th. Short trip for a ladies only trip with 3 friends. (this was the only dates that worked for everybody), So, cancelling would be tough as we would not be able to reschedule. What is everyone's thoughts on Mid Next Week? Staying at Holiday Inn Orange Grove. Not doing Disney - just kind of winging it for plans. Is is usually still really rainy after a hurricane or does it clear up some after it passes.

We will be keeping a close watch on everything and will have to make a decision next week - but they probably won't be as generous with cancellations for those dates I am assuming.