Wow! Wilma's a Cat. 5 overnight!

[Feralpeg]

According to local Orlando news, Orlando will see 1 to 2 inches of rain and winds of 15 to 30 mph on Saturday into Sunday if Wilma continues on her path through south Florida (entering south of Ft Meyers and exiting around West Palm). Of course, that will all change if Wilma should decide to go further north.

 

[Sammy]

My wife and I are doing a long weekend trip for our 9th anniversary, leaving Friday morning, returning Sunday afternoon... I am thinking, should we just cancel?? Sounds like at best it will be raining non-stop, and at worst we will be confined to our hotel and have problems getting out on Sunday. I can't believe the timing.

I feel your pain! DH and I tried to celebrate our Anniversary last year with a trip to WDW for a long weekend....just in time for Hurricane Jeanne to arrive. We thought about cancelling, but ended up going anyway. We were lucky enough to have wonderful weather all day Friday, but Saturday started out cloudy and rainy....and got worse from there. We lost all day Sunday as well. Of course, the day we left (Monday), the weather was sunny and beautiful again. We still had a great time and it forced us to spend lots of quiet time together . But, we laugh about it now and say: you know you've been married too long when the prospect of 18 hours in lockdown in a beautiful hotel room, with no kids, doesn't seem so exciting!

 

[3for Me]

Being a hurricane vet, I would advise those of you who are not as "hurricane savvy" to try to get some supplies before going to Orlando.

As others have said, it WILL be a madhouse in grocery stores anywhere in the vicinity of where the storm "may" hit...so I would try to avoid waiting to do this when you get to the Orlando area. I know it may be difficult to carry some of these items if you are flying, but I would try to bring some water and snacks if possible.

That being said, I hear that Disney is a good place to be in a storm and I am sure they will have provisions, especially since they have a few days lead time to get some extra supplies.

Good luck to everyone travelling this weekend...ironically, the weather right before and right after these storms is usually very nice.

 

[Toni300z]

Wow, I was shocked too! I could not beleive it.
This really is a bummer. I was due to fly in on Saturday Evening but I think I will have to cancel now.
I was finally able to get the $49 fare on SW and now I have to reschedule.
I am a BIG OLE scaredy cat.


Be safe everyone.

 

[cdpa4d]

Hey Toni300z,

If it makes you feel any better the storm is forcast to move through south Florida rather quickly. Monday - Friday in Orlando appear to be great according to the long range forcast. I wouldn't cancel. The worst thing that can happen is your trip might get delayed for a day.

Hope that helps!

 

[Toni300z]

Hey Toni300z,

If it makes you feel any better the storm is forcast to move through south Florida rather quickly. Monday - Friday in Orlando appear to be great according to the long range forcast. I wouldn't cancel. The worst thing that can happen is your trip might get delayed for a day.

Hope that helps!

Hello CDPA4D!
Thanks for responding!
I am only there Sat evening til Monday Night. I am coming down to shop and meet with business partner. But I guess it could wait. I was going to sneak to the park and Downtown Disney Sunday, but I guess I won't even be able to do that because it is supposed to be Icky. This would have been my 1st time seeing the Halloween Decorations. I will keep an eye out.
I have to cancel I believe within 72 hours because HotelKingdon.com charges 1st night rate if not cancelled before 72 hrs I think.

Thanks tho!
Have a great day!

 

[ruttie]

okay here is my perspective and i usually tell people to stay away because I live in a mandatory evacuation zone and disney is my evacuation plan with teh kids... but surprisingly i say wait a bit for those flying in and see what the airlines do..... This seems to be a very fast moving one and Ironically I will be at disney friday night at POFQ and MNSSHP If all goes as planned I plan on driving back home and weathering the storm from my house... since on this path it will not affect orlando or central florida or my house on merritt island too much...
HOWEVER sat morning when i wake up if the path has changed a bit and ot os faster moving and the winds have already kicked up or they have said that we have to get off the island just in case then i will be staying put at disney.... It should all be over by sunday afternoon regardless so again i say wait a bit on teh path it is on right now no worries buut things can change quickly so just make sure you hav eyour options open of they do....

 

[Pea-n-Me]

Good luck everyone!! I'm leaving in 3 hours. I shut The Weather Channel off, LOL.

 

[newarknut]

We arrive in Orlando Thursday at 6pm. I can't think of a better place to weather a storm than Disney (other than Ohio, that is). It appears Wilma will move through the state quickly so any down time should be kept to a minimum.

I keep hoping she'll get pushed far enough south that Florida won't suffer a direct hit!

 

[gymnasticscoach TX]

I have lived south of Houston for my entire life and completely freaked when Rita was in the Gulf. We got out early thankfully but Wilma looks a lot like Rita. It strengthened to a Cat 5 in a day but then weakened to a Cat 3 before it made landfall. If I would have known that it was going to weaken to a 3 then we would have stayed. I'm pretty certain that everything will be fine but it would be a good idea to either bring snacks and H2O with you from your home or shop EARLY! The stores will be completely wiped out a day or two before the storm hits. I can't tell you how many people I saw with over 5 cases of water in their baskets and then there wasn't any left for anyone else and that was 3 days before the storm was supposed to hit. People tend to hoard in these situations.

Hi couldn't help but post to you, I am from Lake Jackson, and we too were scared..and then it didnt even get us Just wanted to say.... GO ASTROS!!!!!!!!!

 

[Mersmom98]

Hi back, gymnasticscoach,TX! Small world....I live in Pearland.

I honestly suggest to everyone to keep your plans but just be aware of what the storm is doing. Someone else mentioned how nice the weather is right after a storm and they were right on.

 

[laurabelle]

I saw on the news that the projection for FL is anywhere from Marco Island in the south to Tampa in the north, which of course is right across from Disney. I don't leave until early Friday morning, so I'll be watching and deciding tomorrow. The strength of this one is so scary! Praying for the safety of everyone in it's path...

 

[msuspartan]

Woke up this morning and saw Wilma was a Cat 5. Immediately made plans to delay my trip. We were supposed to come in Friday morning. Now we'll be coming in Wednesday afternoon (10/26). Just hope she weakens and doesn't leave too much devastation in her wake. Just in case, we'll have a back up to our back up! Praying for everyone who lives down there. Stay safe!

 

[Jpgirl]

Hey Gymnasticscoach and Mersmom-I'm from Houston too!! Last month we had the opposite problem from all here. We had to cut our 25th anniversary short to get home before Rita!!! I was sure bummed. As for all who are going -definitely get supplies before you go-there will be NOTHING left!! When we got back here there was nothing-no gas no water no diet coke!! Thankfully we were fully prepared before we left so we were chilling and grilling. Also, keep in mind the airports will be a zoo-hopefully not but be prepared. At IAH (nin Houston) We had to walk to the lot to get our car as the place we parked had no gas for the shuttles. It was pure pandemodium inside the terminals and outside at the shuttle and taxi lines. Just remember to take a deep breath and be patient. Our taekwondo club will be there this weekend-hope they still have it. Also Go ASTROOOSSSSS!!! Good luck all

 

[Jpgirl]

Hey just a heads up-I was on the continental web site checking on a flight and they've posted a weather advisory and they will let you change tickets b/c of Wilma and one of the airports listed was MCO. That gives me an idea that they may be expecting delays, cancellations or closures. When we changed our ticket we did it early and I'm glad we did b/c when we got to the airport there wasn't a seat available on a flight to Houston. Of course things will probably clear up by Mon or Tues and you'll get in and out of MCO Take care and good luck