WDW And Hurricaines

[DantePD]

I'm mainly asking this out of curiosity, but how does WDW handle hurricanes? Tropical Storms and Cat 1 storms can end up being just really big, nasty thunderstorms, but how does the World prep, deal, and recover from taking at Cat 5 in the face?

 

[Robo]

I'm mainly asking this out of curiosity, but how does WDW handle hurricanes? Tropical Storms and Cat 1 storms can end up being just really big, nasty thunderstorms, but how does the World prep, deal, and recover from taking at Cat 5 in the face?

Being as far inland as they are, the effects are reduced compared to the coast.

But, they do lose a lot of tree limbs, roof shingles and such.
(The lost shingles on the roofs of the Yacht and Beach Club were gone for quite a long time after the last major storm.)
Disney will close the parks during the worst of the bluster.

They try to offer extra indoor activities in the WDW resorts for the guests when the parks are closed.

If you search these boards for "Hurricane" and similar, you'll find many posts about the last couple of "big ones" that blew through central Florida.

 

[SgtTibbs]

From ****************:

Five things that happens when a hurricane comes to WDW

Heh, and for the record that's not a curse word that's **** just a website I'm guessing is viewed as a competitor..

 

[disnut8]

I'm mainly asking this out of curiosity, but how does WDW handle hurricanes? Tropical Storms and Cat 1 storms can end up being just really big, nasty thunderstorms, but how does the World prep, deal, and recover from taking at Cat 5 in the face?

Let's just say this. When my sister and father lived in the Florida Keys and a hurricane was coming, they went to Disney World. It's one of the safest places in the state if you have to wait one out.

From personal experience (Hurricane Frances), we were on lockdown for 24 hours, parks were closed but before that, we were able to tour Epcot and everything was being battened down for the upcoming storm. Trash cans were shrink wrapped, carts were taken away, and we even saw some things being chained down to the ground.

Disney doesn't stand around and say "let's wait and see what happens". They take care of things.

 

[goofy4tink]

We arrived at WDW about 5 hrs before Charley did. The parks closed at 3. We were at the CR and our CMs ADR was cancelled for that night. Way too open with too much glass. We were told to go to one of the convention rooms to get a box meal. Then instructed to stay in our rooms, away from doors and windows. They had a huge number of channels with various Disney entertainment on. Charley flew right over at about 9 that night. The storm was 'supposed' to make landfall over Tampa, so all those people came to WDW and safety! But, Charley turned, missing Tampa and nailing Orlando!
The next morning MK and Epcot opened on-time. AK was closed, due to tree damage, and DHS opened a few hrs late. I couldn't understand all the talk about CMs not being able to get there. Well, when we returned to MCO, a week later, we fully realized what an incredible job Disney does. The damage off-site was incredible. It was almost as though Charley had gone around WDW...we all know that wasn't the case.
My dd is starting the College Program right after Labor Day. Someone asked me if I was worried about her being there during hurricane season. Nope, not a bit. Disney does an incredible job.

 

[zaccaglin]

WDW also has a team of CMs who sign up for what's called a "ride out" crew. The team gets called in when a large storm is predicted and stay on property the entire time of the storm. Their job is to secure loose items, trees, and anything else that may be damaged by the incoming storm. Then after the storm passes they are put into play cleaning up debris from the storms, and putting everything back into place. During this entire time the CMs stay on property. Disney houses them, feeds them, as well as pay of course, they usually work 72 hour runs during this. I got to participate a few years back when heavy wings came through. I got to strap down food wagons and and remove chairs from hotel balconies.

 

[DantePD]

WDW also has a team of CMs who sign up for what's called a "ride out" crew. The team gets called in when a large storm is predicted and stay on property the entire time of the storm. Their job is to secure loose items, trees, and anything else that may be damaged by the incoming storm. Then after the storm passes they are put into play cleaning up debris from the storms, and putting everything back into place. During this entire time the CMs stay on property. Disney houses them, feeds them, as well as pay of course, they usually work 72 hour runs during this. I got to participate a few years back when heavy wings came through. I got to strap down food wagons and and remove chairs from hotel balconies.

Huh.

As a first responder, I'm now honestly tempted to schedule a trip to Orlando the next time a hurricane is supposed to hit, just because I want to see these procedures in action. It's always amazing to watch that kind of well oiled machine.

 

[Maistre Gracey]

Hurricanes are not super common in central Florida. I don't think you'll ever see a cat 5 make it inland to Orlando.

MG

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

If I were physically able to do the work, I'd sign up for ride out crew in a heartbeat. (The ability to do heavy lifting is a requirement.)

I'd rather be on WDW property than at home if a major storm comes through.

 

[wilkeliza]

There are also non-demanding ride out crews that are for entertainment. So most character performers are assigned a ride out position that makes sense thene wise (tiana/prince naveen go to Port Orleans, Jack sparrow to Caribean Beach, etc) and they provide in door entertainmet for guests. In attractions those of us who were crowd control certified (almost all atteactions are) might be able to sign up for over flow recreation positions meaning playing board games with guests and such after the storm passes to try and entertain people while the parks are cleaned up.

Even though they are emergency procedures it is still a well oiled machine.

 

[drp4video]

I was at WDW during Hurricane Charley. The parks were all open the day Charley was to hit until 1:00 p.m. NO admission was needed and it was a free day in the parks curtesy of Disney. (we had AP's at that time but one of the people in our party did not, so off we went). As all the parks closed at the same time, traffic was insane. We were staying at POP that visit. When we got back to the hotel, the food court was crazy. We ordered Pizza as it was the fastest thing to get. I also bought cheese and crackers, fruit, and other items in case no food was available for dinner. We also hit the vending machines later for drinks and candy. It was not a healthy eating night lol.

That afternoon, Disney had movies playing on all the tv channels. They handed out flyers room to room advising us to close our curtains and other tips. About 5:30 we went down to the food court and of course it was closed. They were handing out all kinds of chips as there was no food. We got some, went back to the room. One guest was belligerent because he wanted to know how he was going to feed his kids and demanded the food court open. THAT was unreal. First it is all glass, it is closed and the workers all went home, and his poor planning was the reason there he had no food. It was obvious with a hurricane coming the food court would close. He was nuts. The cast member handled it very well. (someone suggested he try to find a cab and go to the grocery store lol) It was very, very windy and I felt bad for some of the workers outside who were trying to unblock some drains in the wind and rain. There were waves on the lake by our room.

A bit after 9 p.m. the hurricane came through. We were on the top floor and had gone into the bathroom as it was the only enclosed room in our hotel room. You could hear the wind through the vents in the ceiling from the roof. (I had the kids in the bathtub ducking down, figuring it was the safest place). It went through pretty quickly. About 11:00 I received a phone call indicating that the food court was now open with sandwiches and cold foods. We were so exhausted and we had the food I got at lunch so we were ok.

The next day we got up and saw a lot of downed trees, and branches everywhere. Then we went to that other park, as planned, and on the way up I-4 we saw lots of downed trees, missing roofs, downed signs. But the traffic going back to the gulf was a parking lot. Universal had a lot of downed branches and bushes, but operated normally.

Animal Kingdom was closed for a few days. We went to Epcot the following day and noticed that there were still some downed branches and a lot of leaves down, but most everything was normal.

Having never been in a hurricane before it was pretty scary (been in tornado's, which, happen during a hurricane as well), but Disney was great. People from the Orlando area came to stay at Disney because it is one of the safest and best organized places to be during a hurricane. I believe their power lines are all underground so they never lost power. They kept us informed and the clean up happened so quickly. I was impressed.

 

[PabloMax]

Just to point out, since Disney World has been open, only one hurricane made landfall in the United States as a Category 5. That was Hurricane Andrew, which hit southern Florida.

Only about 3 hurricanes have hit the US as a Category 4 in that time. Charley, which the previous poster is describing, is the only one of those that struck the Orlando area, and was more like a Category 2 by that point.

The reality is that Disney World is not too likely to experience a Cat 4 or 5 due to its inland location, let's hope they never have to find out how they would handle it.

 

[MrsJamesPSullivan]

Having lived in both hurricane and tornado areas of the country is one reason I love WL. I want those inside hallways just in case!

 

[geenerbell]

I read here on the DIS that Disney is an evacuation destination for many Floridians. I can't think of a better plan. Can you? Genius!!

 

[zaccaglin]

http://www.bigfloridacountry.com/frances.htm

Here is also a link of what a huricane hitting property looks like and what us ride out crews clean up. One picture shows a broken light fixture held up with yellow zip ties, funny because we do that too to try and secure the light. I'll also attach a picture of monorail full of loose supplies from the outdoor stations parked inside the contemporary. Fun fact the air doors that the monorail passes through on the contemporary also have a set of steel doors that will have to be closed when a hurricane is approaching. If left open the high wends passing through will blow the windows out of the building.

I had family who was at WDW in 1999 when Floyd hit. The parks were closed and didn't open one day as a precaution. They were staying at the Contemp and they had 2 monorails parked on the express beam nose to nose. Guests in tents at the fort were also evacuated and sent to various hotels. My family met a family who was part of the evac in the pool later in the evening they were estatic over their upgrade. Parks re opened the next day with very little damage.

 

[zaccaglin]

 

[Maistre Gracey]

http://www.bigfloridacountry.com/frances.htm

Here is also a link of what a huricane hitting property looks like and what us ride out crews clean up. One picture shows a broken light fixture held up with yellow zip ties, funny because we do that too to try and secure the light. I'll also attach a picture of monorail full of loose supplies from the outdoor stations parked inside the contemporary. Fun fact the air doors that the monorail passes through on the contemporary also have a set of steel doors that will have to be closed when a hurricane is approaching. If left open the high wends passing through will blow the windows out of the building.

I had family who was at WDW in 1999 when Floyd hit. The parks were closed and didn't open one day as a precaution. They were staying at the Contemp and they had 2 monorails parked on the express beam nose to nose. Guests in tents at the fort were also evacuated and sent to various hotels. My family met a family who was part of the evac in the pool later in the evening they were estatic over their upgrade. Parks re opened the next day with very little damage.

I could be mistaken but I thought I was there for Floyd (Which never hit Orlando as it turned out). Everything closed in anticipation of it hitting, but they scrambled to open AK around noon as I recall.

MG

 

[bumbershoot]

When my sister and father lived in the Florida Keys and a hurricane was coming, they went to Disney World. It's one of the safest places in the state if you have to wait one out.

My aunt and cousin and her family live in Daytona, and they consider WDW to be their evacuation spot as well.

 

[Accident]

WDW is built insanely well for weather. I dont' remember what book but one I read on the initial construction is they had a lot of problems with equipment to compress the ground because while it was common in california, it was unheard of here. nobody knew how to do it. It's basically built for hurricanes and earthquakes and to ensure the buildings don't settle. It's also why there is a giant man made lake and new ponds keep popping up around road work. The dirt to compress has to come from somewhere so they dig a lake near where they need it.

I recently moved here and disney would be where I go if I didnt' feel safe at home. a recent dreams unlimited travel podcast talked about weather.

For those that have been at WDW during bad stay in your room weather, what is the situation in a deluxe hotel, especially if your in the main building with the food places? I know the hotels where the hallway is basically outside you kind of need to just stay put in your room but is the deluxe a little more opened and things happening beacuse it's all one building?

 

[Raya]

In the late 70s when I was a free ticket to Disney my family was at Fort Wilderness in an RV when a hurricane came through. They were basically told to leave, that the camp ground wasn't safe. We had 2 days left on the vacation. The CM told my parents our tickets would be honored for the next year and to go home. My bro (who was 9 or 10) still brags about how the hurricane meant he got to go to WDW two years in a row.