Hurricane Irma

[MisterPenguin]

Staying in WDW during a hurricane is not fun.

When Matthew hit, WDW sent all but a skeleton crew of CMs home -- as they should. That small skeleton crew will not run buses or restaurants or room service for you. Boxed lunches is all you get. Nothing may be open for two to three days. You'll ask for bottled water and they'll be none. You'll go to the food court and it will be devoid of food. You'll go to the pool and it will be closed (and you wouldn't want to go in it with all the stuff that's been blown into it). The storm will pass and the parks still won't be open. Disney Springs won't be open. Citricos and Ohana and Boma and Whispering Canyon won't be open.

And that's assuming the power stays on, which it might not. And then you'll be in your room in the dark with no TV or internet and with your phone battery dying. And no air conditioning.

Yes, WDW is relatively safe in that it is highly unlikely you'll get the type of wind that will tear off the roof of your hotel. But it most definitely can knock out power and leave you hungry and very uncomfortable for a few days.

Anyone who says it's great to ride out a hurricane in WDW is purely delusional.

 

[Jordanaous]

I don't understand the 'WDW is the safest place on earth to be during a hurricane'. Surely the safest place to be during a hurricane would be anywhere the hurricane isn't? Just because WDW won't be completely obliterated during a hurricane doesn't mean it's the safest place.

On the flip side, some news media is being really sensationalist about this storm. Yes it's bad and people should prepare and ensure that they're ready, but to spread information such as there are 'fears WDW will be flattened' is just irresponsible. (http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/wor...lando-disney-world-florida-state-of-emergency)

While it's highly unlikely you're going to be flattened if you do head out to WDW, I'd echo the sentiments of everyone else. Having been at WDW during a hurricane (not out of choice, simply out of dumb luck), it's not the most fun experience and it can be quite frightening. It's not even just the hurricane that can cause damage, but also you'll often get tornadoes during a major storm. I remember receiving an alert on my phone during Hermine last year telling me to seek shelter due to potential tornadoes in my area - and seek shelter I did.

Coming from the UK I've never experienced native alerts on my phone that send off a siren. So that was definitely an odd experience.

Stay safe guys, and if you can rebook - then you're bound to have more fun during the rescheduled holiday than during the hurricane. Especially if the parks are forced to close... No fun wasting some of your trip if the parks are closed...

 

[JonnyK]

If that storm enters the gulf, then it is not good news for anyone. This is a monster. I am not trying to stir up fear with anyone. I've been through my share of storms. I remember Ivan and Charley well and Opal was a monster that tore up my home town. This is a bad situation and the only good one would be it going on the Atlantic away from land.

Been there and done that, ivan was worse when it hit hard here, miserable. I know the feeling.
Since im from Pensacola.

 

[GhostHost1000]

And yet more good news. The latest GEFS ensemble - an aggregated collection of 21 different US forecasters - seems to be trending with CMC rather than GFS, bringing the storm west. The farther west this trends, the more of Florida gets spared, and the more likely central Florida gets away from the brunt of this beast.

Still looks like it may go right up through the center of the state. Even if the eye doesn't hit, the eastern side of the storm is usually the strongest (other than the eye winds) if it continues to shift west a little

 

[John park hopper]

Having gone through Hurricane Hugo and having the eye pass right over our town believe me Irma is nothing to fool around with. My house was flooded with 5' of saltwater and knocked off the foundation (we are miles from the ocean) . It looks like we dodged the bullit here in SC my concern now is our two sons and their families are in Pensacola FL. and a sister in south FL. After Harvey the Gulf Coast does not need this. I would not want to be in WDW if Irma hits anywhere close, if your driving there may be no gas available without power and it could be off for days. Rebook if you can better to be safe. My prayers go out to all in the path of this monster

 

[THE Monorail Lime]

Uh, Florida is due for one and its a big one!

 

[jessfriends]

If the track does go through FLA and they close WDW, my advice (having been there last year for Matthew)... buy food at the park and bring it back to the room for the next day (we got pizza from via Napoli).

The line for boxed lunches at the resort stretched over 2 hrs long the night before Matthew.

And the price for the boxes was crazy

We did the same thing but got sandwiches from Norway to keep in our fridge. The gift shop line at POFQ was insane as shelves of snacks and food were wiped out and the food line was probably about a 2 hr wait there too.

 

[larryz]

You can't evac Orlando, way to many people and where do you try to send them? Doesn't matter way to many people to evac.

Unless you head all the way up to Georgia, evacuation in Florida is a crapshoot anyway. In 2004, lots of folks evacuated from the Tampa area to Orlando to escape Charlie's anticipated trip into Tampa Bay. When Charlie decided to go into Punta Gorda instead, all those people who went to Orlando found themselves right in Charlie's path, and spent a few days trapped in Orlando by the storm.

 

[wendysue]

Staying in WDW during a hurricane is not fun.

When Matthew hit, WDW sent all but a skeleton crew of CMs home -- as they should. That small skeleton crew will not run buses or restaurants or room service for you. Boxed lunches is all you get. Nothing may be open for two to three days. You'll ask for bottled water and they'll be none. You'll go to the food court and it will be devoid of food. You'll go to the pool and it will be closed (and you wouldn't want to go in it with all the stuff that's been blown into it). The storm will pass and the parks still won't be open. Disney Springs won't be open. Citricos and Ohana and Boma and Whispering Canyon won't be open.

And that's assuming the power stays on, which it might not. And then you'll be in your room in the dark with no TV or internet and with your phone battery dying. And no air conditioning.

Yes, WDW is relatively safe in that it is highly unlikely you'll get the type of wind that will tear off the roof of your hotel. But it most definitely can knock out power and leave you hungry and very uncomfortable for a few days.

Anyone who says it's great to ride out a hurricane in WDW is purely delusional.

Agreed! I have no intention of spending that much money, possibly riding out a hurricane in my room or walking around in ponchos at best. Will keep watching the forecasts, but most likely will change to another date.

 

[Sans Souci]

On the flip side, some news media is being really sensationalist about this storm. Yes it's bad and people should prepare and ensure that they're ready, but to spread information such as there are 'fears WDW will be flattened' is just irresponsible. (http://www.dailystar.co.uk/news/wor...lando-disney-world-florida-state-of-emergency)

To be fair, this is the Daily Star you've linked. Sensationalism is their bread and butter.

I did chuckle at the Irma satellite image with Mickey ears on top of it.

 

[JohnD]

And yet more good news. The latest GEFS ensemble - an aggregated collection of 21 different US forecasters - seems to be trending with CMC rather than GFS, bringing the storm west. The farther west this trends, the more of Florida gets spared, and the more likely central Florida gets away from the brunt of this beast.

That's not good news. When the peninsula is missed people think Florida is "spared" forgetting the Big Bend/Panhandle which includes Tallahassee, Pensacola, etc. Even if Florida is technically missed there is still the rest of the Gulf Coast. Central Florida is still not out of the woods. It could make a turn to the north in the Gulf putting the worst winds on its east side over Central Florida. Regardless, I realize our lense here is WDW but if this thing moves into the Gulf it's bad news for wherever it makes landfall.

 

[GCTales]

To be fair, this is the Daily Star you've linked. Sensationalism is their bread and butter.

I did chuckle at the Irma satellite image with Mickey ears on top of it.

Sounds like a National Enquirer level rag....

 

[Jordanaous]

To be fair, this is the Daily Star you've linked. Sensationalism is their bread and butter.

I did chuckle at the Irma satellite image with Mickey ears on top of it.

Oh yeah. Don't get me wrong. I realise that, but there's sensationalism and then there's bat crazyism...

----

Also looks like Irma could be upgraded to Cat 5 soon. Hurricane Watchers witnessed 10sec average speeds of 177mph. That's a powerful storm!

 

[21stamps]

Unless you head all the way up to Georgia, evacuation in Florida is a crapshoot anyway. In 2004, lots of folks evacuated from the Tampa area to Orlando to escape Charlie's anticipated trip into Tampa Bay. When Charlie decided to go into Punta Gorda instead, all those people who went to Orlando found themselves right in Charlie's path, and spent a few days trapped in Orlando by the storm.

The same happened with Wilma, Katrina, and Jeanne in other areas of Florida. Then people blamed Jeb Bush for the wrong predictions, running out of water, and gas stations being closed.
It wasn't the governors fault. However, the one thing good that came out of that crazy year is that new policies were implemented. I don't want to see another major hurricane in Florida, but I am glad that a repeat of the aftermath of '04/'05 is not likely.

 

[Jordanaous]

It's official. Hurricane Irma is the strongest Atlantic storm since 2007's Dean and Felix. Both of those had 175mph winds, which is identical to Irma. That's solid category 5 territory.

The hope right now is that it goes over Cuba (as harsh as that sounds). Mainly because making landfall in Cuba should weaken the hurricane significantly. The European and Canadian model say that this should happen, although the US model disagrees. National Hurricane Centre thinks 150mph winds could hit Southern Florida.

This storm is no joke. Hope everyone stays safe...

 

[Tom P.]

So we are in a bit of a different spot than many of the people discussing it here. As I said way upstream, we are not scheduled to arrive in advance of Irma. Our main package does not begin until next Tuesday. We had planned to actually arrive the night before, but could easily dump that extra night with little to no impact to our plans. Based on what we know so far, what would folks here suggest for someone who is scheduled to be on the back end of this thing? Is it likely to be done and gone by Tuesday? Is it too soon to consider changing those plans? Or should we be going ahead and moving things?

Thanks.

 

[LAKid53]

Governor Scott just declared a state of emergency for all 67 counties. Projected landfall are southern tip of Florida, Naples or Ft. Walton Beach. Category 5 at 175 mph.

Oh, lordy....another Andrew

@JohnD, can you imagine if Irma hits Ft. Walton at that strength....and we're on the backside?! There won't be a tree left in town...and we'll be dark for several weeks.

 

[Jordanaous]

So we are in a bit of a different spot than many of the people discussing it here. As I said way upstream, we are not scheduled to arrive in advance of Irma. Our main package does not begin until next Tuesday. We had planned to actually arrive the night before, but could easily dump that extra night with little to no impact to our plans. Based on what we know so far, what would folks here suggest for someone who is scheduled to be on the back end of this thing? Is it likely to be done and gone by Tuesday? Is it too soon to consider changing those plans? Or should we be going ahead and moving things?

Thanks.

The European model differs from the GFS model, with the latter saying it'll hit Sun/Mon, while the former estimating that it'll hit late Monday/Early Tuesday. I'd recommend to keep an eye on the storm, and be prepared to be flexible. If you're able to defer plans at a few days notice, then you'll know for sure how this storm is going to play out. A LOT can happen between now and Tuesday....

 

[Kylo Ken]

I live here in Central Florida (Windermere to be exact) and people are making preparations already, as they should be. WESH 2 news (Amy Sweezey, swoon lol) is saying it may impact us here by Sunday or Monday. As people keep noting, it is still too early to tell how it will impact Florida. I have family down in Cape Coral (Lee County) and people there are preparing for the worst.

Do what you feel is best. Monitor this thing and just prepare yourself whether you are here or coming here....and also, Jose isn't far behind apparently

 

[21stamps]

Governor Scott just declared a state of emergency for all 67 counties. Projected landfall are southern tip of Florida, Naples or Ft. Walton Beach. Category 5 at 175 mph.

Oh, lordy....another Andrew

@JohnD, can you imagine if Irma hits Ft. Walton at that strength....and we're on the backside?! There won't be a tree left in town...and we'll be dark for several weeks.

It's so nice to see you write a comment with Governor Scott's name and without a critism following it

@beertiki - are you staying as of now or flying out? I am the most worried about your neck of the woods. My friends are staying and waiting until it looks inevitable.