Wilma at WDW

[mousermerf]

Just a little update:

Disney expects the strongest rain/winds between 10am and 3pm on Monday. They currently intend to maintain all operations but are rescheduling the cast so that no one has to commute during that period (but rather work through it or after).

Since the effect on WDW is to be that of "tropical storm" force rather than a direct Hurricane, this is a very rational operation (Florida storms in the summer are equatable to a tropical storm in intensity - just shorter in duration).

I'll let you guys know if I learn anything else.

 

[brkgnews]

Here's a radar snapshot (6:05PM Eastern Sunday) of some outer bands starting to head toward WDW...

http://img448.imageshack.us/my.php?image=200510oct23wilma014jz.png

Here's how to decode what you're seeing...
WDW is near the top center of the radar screen.
The dark purple area is a tornado watch.
The bright pink area is a tornado warning.
The red tornado icon is where a tornado was spotted on the ground.
The yellow and green dots represent hail risk (grn-yel-org-red).
The white lines show the direction each storm cell is headed, with every "plus sign" on the line representing 15 minutes.
The blue thingys represent cloudcover, with wind speed in knots shown in the blue flags (the flags are pointing toward the direction the wind is coming FROM).

If you're interested, this image was created using GRLevel 3 software (www.grlevelx.com)

 

[mousermerf]

Just wanted to add that Tornado warnings/watches over and around WDW do not change the normal operations (and actually happen normally with summer storms). A funnel cloud must be reported within a certain distance of or on property for anything to happen.

 

[brkgnews]

By the way, Merf -- do you have any more info on the Fort Wilderness Evac that another poster mentioned?
http://forums.wdwmagic.com/showthread.php?t=64634

 

[mousermerf]

Nope, but it happens everytime there's such a storm. Just move the guests to the value resorts.

 

[peter11435]

From the WDW Media relations web site.

Due to the potential of tropical storm force winds associated with Hurricane Wilma, all four Walt Disney World Theme Parks, Typhoon Lagoon, Downtown Disney and Disney’s Wide World of Sports will not open tomorrow morning, Monday, October 24.

Weather permitting, Walt Disney World may reopen one or more theme parks after the storm passes on Monday to entertain the tens of thousands of Guests currently staying in our resort hotels.

We have made this decision in an abundance of caution based on information from the National Weather Service, the National Hurricane Center and local emergency preparedness officials, all of whom currently expect the storm to pass more than 100 miles south of the resort.

All resort hotels will remain open, though Guests staying at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground have been relocated to other hotels on property.

Walt Disney World Resort has an extensive hurricane preparedness plan and is staffed and prepared for a realm of possible impacts that this type of weather could have on our property.

Important Information for Walt Disney World Cast Members: All Cast Members scheduled to work Monday morning at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort hotels and the Disney Reservation and Call Centers should report to their work locations no later than 7 a.m. to avoid stronger winds expected later in the morning. All other Cast Members should contact their Cast Hotlines or their leaders for information about their schedule for Monday.

Guests who have questions should call (407) W-DISNEY or (407) 934-7639.

 

[mousermerf]

Yup, yup, the plan is still to have the Cast there prior to the start of the storm. Notice how AK and MGM aren't listed as work locations

 

[brkgnews]

Yup, yup, the plan is still to have the Cast there prior to the start of the storm. Notice how AK and MGM aren't listed as work locations

Well, let's see. If last time around was any indication, there was much more extensive clean up to be done at AK due to the heavier load of plantlife, plus the uncertainty of how critters like african elephants deal with hurricanes. And noboody gives a crap about MGM. :lol:

 

[mousermerf]

Epcot's EMH morning was supposed to be tomorrow. Most of the Cast was to report prior to 7am anyways (critical cast anyways - ops that is).

Epcot's main damage area during the storms was Seas - and that's closed for rehab

 

[mousermerf]

Note: Decisions on further operation tomorrow are expected to be made at/around/after 9am tomorrow morning (after the Hurricane makes landfall).

 

[brkgnews]

Maybe they're sending in a ride-out crew to loosen the bolts on anything that says "MGM" so the wind will take care of the alleged name change. :lookaround:

 

[mousermerf]

Or the crew of 5 CM's assigned to "gently nudge" the wand over SSE toward the big grassy area between Energy and SSE itself it could harmlessly collapse into?

 

[brkgnews]

or at least pole vault it over the monorail track and into the ill-fated WoL, thereby eliminating demolition costs. But I digress on the conspiracy theory. Don't want to be like the movie of the same name and get too close to the truth.
:drevil:

 

[Woody13]

Or the crew of 5 CM's assigned to "gently nudge" the wand over SSE toward the big grassy area between Energy and SSE itself it could harmlessly collapse into?

But let's hope they miss and the wand does indeed fall on Energy.

 

[CAPTAIN HOOK]

My thoughts are with you guys

 

[Magic Maker]

Well I am on my way to work. DVC Cast Members are meeting at our headquarters (a little building at the edge of Saratoga). Those that were scheduled for closing shifts are to report to that location and we will then be out doing our thing On with the show!

 

[RogueHabit]

Just as a matter of interest and may be old news, but I brother called from Movies resort about two hours ago to say that the wind and rains had dropped off completely and it was now blue skies and sunshine.