What would you do if you were me?

[ErinInCT]

I realize many of you are in the same situation as me! SO HELP!!

I am supposed to fly down on Sun arriving at 12:40pm (just in time for the hurricane to hit). I feel 100% sure our flight will be either delayed or cancelled. Southwest has not issued any hurricane contingencies allowing me to change my flight. I wanted to change my flight for tomorrow which will cost $400 more. I found an Embassy Suites near the airport for $111/night (obviously after taxes, etc we're probably talking $150) that is open for Sat night (most hotels are booked & I expect it to worsen as those on the coast come inland to evacuate) so I need to grab it asap but I will be charged the full amt upon making the reservation (i.e. I cannot cancel once I reserve).

Here are some options:
1. Pay the $400 extra for a flight tomorrow & pay the $150 hotel just to get there & have peace of mind.
2. Reserve the hotel with the thinking that Southwest will issue their hurricane policy & let me change my flight tomorrow for free (this way I amonly out $150 if I cannot get another SWA flight).
3. Wait to see if SWA issues a hurricane policy & try to get the flight & hotel at the last minute.
4. Keep original plans flying out on Sun & hope for the best that I'll get there sometime!
5. Hee hee, leave as soon as dh gets home from work & drive down (it's only 14 or so hours)!!! The cost of the rental will be the new cost of our hotel room along the way & I can bring my own water & stuff that is likely to be gone from the grocery store shelves in Orlando.

Thanks for any advice in helping me decide.

 

[kilee]

Tough one. I know we've had the same contingency plan since day 1 if a hurricane were to delay our trip. We'd go the very first day Southwest would fly us into a safe Orlando. However, this is what would work for us. I think you and DH should discuss what the best possible course of action is for you personally.

 

[ruttie]

unless things change I would wait cause if you do come down sat you will be stuck at the room you have booked not at disney.. NO ONE will be driving around on SUNDAY the way things look right now..... And on top of that you would be taking a HUGE risk withyour life people have been hurt killed in these hurricanes I understand if you are here already and stuck but i would be safe and just wait and see... It is a mad house here already with poeple scrambling for stuff.... I am sorry that this has interupted your plans.. If I had planned something i would be very upset also but... with so many trying to get out of its path i would never choose to come ahead... Worst case you get rescheduled for Monday and yiu come down to a great resort with electricty and power and have a great vacation good luck with whatever you decide

 

[ErinInCT]

I guess I am confused. Does it really get THAT bad in the Orlando area? I thought just the coasts got the worst of it & Orlando would see wind & rain but nothing really life threatening! Dang, I guess I DON'T want to be there. I figured it would be no problem driving from the airport to VWL. I DON'T want to be stuck at the airport. My room is booked thru a DVC member so I have no way of getting out of it so I may just have to lose the money that 1st night if we can't get down there. The only problem is I cannot stay the extra day at the end so our vacation is cut short! And we won't be able to do CRT scheduled for Mon am. Darn it, darn it, darn it. I hate you Jeanne!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[ruttie]

I think you are making the right choice about waiting a day.. As of now they have moved up teh timeline here and saying it will hhit around midnight satnight sun morning.. earlier they were saying sunday morning... It all depends on the wind here and how close it comes in frances it was just a tropical storm when it came through orlando and power went out all over I will say that the wayit looks now everyone is to bwe off the roads by prob midnight sat night here where I am leaving 3pm is the deadline everyone needs to be off the road by 3 pm sat (the bridges will be closing) We can only hope that it will be quick the prob with frances was it was soooo slow it hung around for 2 days if jeane does well it will hit at night and be gone by sunday noon and hopefully we can go home sunday evening.... and the wind gust will be at like 45 mph at the lowest point that is pretty windy... Orlando took a really bad hit then a mild hit so everything is pretty loose and so one big puff and stuff willgo flying tress falling oncars etc...so if you are not somewhere by sat night you need to be in finding a spot.... I do know personally of 2 people who got stuck at the airport and they HATED it cause the hotel there was booked... so from sat noonish till monday morning they were there..... Hope you have a safe trip down and the plus side is yu prob won't have any crowds in the park when you get here.. everyone who was stranded will be wanting to get home.... enjoy....

 

[phamton]

According to WESH tv Orlando, Orlando International Airport will stop commercial flights at 5 p.m. Saturday.
http://a.www.orlandoweather.com/hurricanes/3695921/detail.html