Washed out?

[Lynne M]

With the horrific weather going on right now (Harvey is turning into a true nightmare of epic proportions), I'm already seeing an impact in the weather forecast over the next week for WDW, and if Harvey heads back out to see and regains strength, it's heading toward Florida. I'm flying in on Sept 2 and staying through the 10th, but as of right now there are already rainstorms predicted for every day I'm there. While I understand it's Florida and summer and so rain showers are to be expected, there's a difference between that and tropical storm day-long down-pours.

What do I do if this gets worse? Do I cancel my vacation? Is it really worth the expense if I'm trapped inside most of the time? Does the vacation insurance (which I did purchase) touch situations like this?

Basically, how do I salvage what might become a huge disaster of vacation proportions?

(Please, do not consider this post a belittling of the real disaster taking place--that's not my intention. I'm only concerned because I've already laid out nearly $3,000 between the package and airfare, so I'm facing a serious financial loss if I end up having a miserable week there stuck in my room.)

This is...not going to happen.

Not one of the 20 different computer models the NHC uses show Harvey going anywhere near FL. Even if some other hurricane were to pass by Orlando next week, you wouldn't be stuck in your room for a week. Hurricanes are one day events. What's happening in Texas right now is a once in a lifetime freak event caused by other weather systems trapping the storm in place. In the 30+ years that WDW has been open, the theme parks have been closed four times due to weather. Four days. In 30 years.

The rain you're seeing in the forecast is not from a hurricane. They can't accurately forecast 7+ days out for Central FL, so they just post typical weather conditions for the season. For this time of year, that's hot, humid, with about a 50% chance of a daily thunderstorm.

 

[Sparkly]

I plan to bring an umbrella, a pair of good walking sandals and some flip-flops.

 

[tzolkin]

Just to give you a bit of perspective and reassure you even if the weather is awful...

Our second trip was 12 days of record rain and flooding (plus some tornadoes in the surrounding areas). DH and I both grew up in FL. This was not normal FL rain. We had to make a run to the store to buy some heavy-duty ponchos, hats, and some other items because the rain was so intense (both Walmart and Target had almost no rain gear left). When we got back to the resort and watched the full weather forecast for our trip, I went into the bathroom, sat on the floor, and cried. I was completely convinced that the trip would be ruined and we had wasted a huge amount of money.

But, it somehow turned out to be a great trip. By the end of the 12 days, we were certainly sick of being soaking wet, but we had made some of our favorite family memories. Our last day we spent two hours sitting in the pouring rain at MK, trying to eat ice cream under our ponchos, while Wishes was delayed and eventually cancelled. It sounds absolutely miserable, but it is actually one of our best Disney memories over the years.

 

[Tonyz]

There's no reason to worry about hurricanes right now. Yeah sure something could start to develop tomorrow and it can end up being the worst storm of all time, but that can happen any time anywhere.

Right now there's nothing - at least in the short term - that points to any reason to worry about that. A thunderstorm every afternoon isn't a sign that there's something bad coming... it's just a sign that you're in Central Florida.

 

[bumbershoot]

If it's really raining I would stick with sandals and bring bodyglide or even Vaseline to reduce chafing and blisters on the bottoms of your feet.

And I would return the disposable ponchos and get good ones that you can reuse.

 

[chartle]

Our last day we spent two hours sitting in the pouring rain at MK, trying to eat ice cream under our ponchos, while Wishes was delayed and eventually cancelled. It sounds absolutely miserable, but it is actually one of our best Disney memories over the years.

During our TS Fay trip we saw wishes while the storm was still hanging around. There were so little people there it was amazing maybe a few hundred if that in the hub. there was so few people that you could see clear across from one side to the other.

 

[Sona99]

I keep watching the forecast and hoping for a high % of expected rain. I hope it'll keep the locals home!

 

[prprincess]

It will probably rain everyday, but it won't ruin your trip.

This!!! It was us last year and Hurricane Gaston. Yeah, we missed a few things we wanted to do because it rained every day and then every evening. But our days weren't all day washouts and we still had a fabulous time. Like one of my co-workers reminded me before I left, a rainy day at Disney is better than a sunny day at home! Have a great time!!

 

[Tonyz]

This!!! It was us last year and Hurricane Gaston. Yeah, we missed a few things we wanted to do because it rained every day and then every evening. But our days weren't all day washouts and we still had a fabulous time. Like one of my co-workers reminded me before I left, a rainy day at Disney is better than a sunny day at home! Have a great time!!

Yeah and there's a huge difference between being there for a hurricane and being there for normal Orlando afternoon rainstorms.

 

[Rowab]

Just to give you a bit of perspective and reassure you even if the weather is awful...

Our second trip was 12 days of record rain and flooding (plus some tornadoes in the surrounding areas). DH and I both grew up in FL. This was not normal FL rain. We had to make a run to the store to buy some heavy-duty ponchos, hats, and some other items because the rain was so intense (both Walmart and Target had almost no rain gear left). When we got back to the resort and watched the full weather forecast for our trip, I went into the bathroom, sat on the floor, and cried. I was completely convinced that the trip would be ruined and we had wasted a huge amount of money.

But, it somehow turned out to be a great trip. By the end of the 12 days, we were certainly sick of being soaking wet, but we had made some of our favorite family memories. Our last day we spent two hours sitting in the pouring rain at MK, trying to eat ice cream under our ponchos, while Wishes was delayed and eventually cancelled. It sounds absolutely miserable, but it is actually one of our best Disney memories over the years.

Was this September 2014? That was a rainy one haha. Glad you made so many great memories.

 

[tzolkin]

Was this September 2014? That was a rainy one haha. Glad you made so many great memories.

May 2009-- infamously referred to as the "May monsoon" on the Dis.

I was curious how much rain there actually was and just found this article. Day 5 of our trip (and day 5 of the storm) and there was 16" in Daytona with 4" predicted for the following day. And, it continued to rain for another week.
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/weather/storms/2009-05-22-florida-floods_n.htm

 

[Elisa84]

May 2009-- infamously referred to as the "May monsoon" on the Dis.

I was there at that time! It was freezing towards the end of our trip, but we had a blast.

 

[Shanti]

How do you folks deal with shoes in these conditions? I'm planning on packing two pairs of good walking/running shoes, plus my pair of Tevas. Plus I have a footcare kit I've assembled.

I wear waterproof Tevas at WDW in summer.

 

[mamapenguin]

It's just normal weather here now. It rains off and on. My daughter is swimming now and it's sprinkling. I would just take ponchos and go. The forecast generally improves throughout the day. Been here since Thursday and there's been no total wash outs.

 

[Kingdome8]

Was this September 2014? That was a rainy one haha. Glad you made so many great memories.

I was there sept 2014. Was awful. Rained so much and hard. Was brutal

 

[dansdad]

I have boycotted The Weather Channel since they started naming winter storms.

And here I thought I was the only one!

 

[Allie B]

We are going same time. I'm seeing 90s and afternoon thunderstorm so far on several weather apps. Looks like good weather to me!

 

[Rowab]

May 2009-- infamously referred to as the "May monsoon" on the Dis.

I was curious how much rain there actually was and just found this article. Day 5 of our trip (and day 5 of the storm) and there was 16" in Daytona with 4" predicted for the following day. And, it continued to rain for another week.
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/weather/storms/2009-05-22-florida-floods_n.htm

Wow! And in May which is usually a drier month. Just shows you there's really no predicating Floridian weather.

 

[goofy4tink]

Well, I fly down Sunday, the 3rd, then head out on a three night cruise on the 8th. I haven't even thought about weather!! I've been there with a hurricane...Charley and I arrived within hours of each other!!!! And we had a wonderful time. I've been to WDW with huge storms, and it's been fine. Wear waterproof shoes, ponchos and go!!

 

[useakiss]

I realize that it's probably not such a big deal for folks who go regularly and so a few rainy days aren't a big deal. This is the first time I've gone in 35 years, and I don't know if I'll ever get another chance (living on a single income in the DC area makes it nearly impossible to save this much, plus all my aging family lives 1,000 miles away so my travel almost always involves going there). You'll have to forgive me if I'm seeming to worry overmuch about it not being happy weather. But I do appreciate the reassuring words. I'll roll with whatever happens.