Parts of Kissimmee and Orlando were blue tarp city for months post Charley 2004 where hundreds of homes had damaged roofs from Charley. One item which proved deadly was when some who ventured out walked through puddles of water only to be electrocuted when live voltage lines were dangling in the water puddles.
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Hurricane Milton coming to FL 10/9
- Thread starter Touchdown
- Start date
Which means that for a company that takes guest safety to the extreme, they should do better with their messaging to guests.
Winding down guest operations the day before and having policies that dissuade guest from leaving or arriving is irresponsible. There is no reason why a timeline for potential shutdowns can’t go out early. If things change then you make updates to it.
Sadly a lot is all about money.
People with travel plans are unable to proactively cancel their plans without penalty because the hurricane policy requires watches or warnings to have been issued, and these usually occur within 24-36 hours of a storm. Which makes travel arrangements almost impossible for guests from out of state.
I lived through Charley when I was living in SWFL. My dad, 50 at the time and plenty familiar with being a Floridian, for many decades(as well as typically ejng stubborn) and that one got him to say as soon as it is a 2 looking like a 3 or higher at landfall...we go somewhere else. No more riding out a 4 or 5 potential. Charley was said to go right for Tampa area and our local meteorologist was telling NOAA it would likely make that last minute change to SWFlL. The news ion our TV had live landfall tracking and audio started saying how the pivot for Fort Myers, Port Charlotte and Puanta Gorda...as our power went out and stayed out for three weeks.
Ian changed a lot of perspectives like this as well.
And theie employees too. I know retail and hospitality world is demanding. I have worked it.
But this is certainly something that can improve. Many live in areas that will be severely damaged and people homeless. Not to mention transportation difficulties.
Preparedness of common plan ahead can happen. But the day and a half before and days after should change and communication should improve.
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peter11435
Well-Known Member
Definitely agree. Cancellation fees need to be lifted now and they should announce potential closures today.
ChrisFL
Premium Member
I escaped Tampa to go to Orlando when Charley hit. My parents and I stayed at a hotel next to Old Town and 3 stories of bricks on the back wall of the hotel crashed down on the cars parked below them, flattening a minivan roof in the process. Luckily I had parked my car in a different area. I remember driving through the area and seeing all of the business signs just gone...blown out.
Fido Chuckwagon
Well-Known Member
Shifted a little south but still pretty bad for WDW and WDW well within the cone of uncertainty.11am
Discussion:
KDM31091
Well-Known Member
It has nudged further south but Disney area still by no means in the clear. Wednesday will be a nasty rainy day at the least. We can hope that that's all it is and that impacts are minimal, but who knows.
I see both sides of the argument with announcing closures. The hurricane tracks can and do shift when you're a few days out, and sometimes that makes a huge difference. It would be silly to close for just mild to moderate wind and rain, and people would complain that they didn't need to be closed. So if they jump the gun and close, they lose. If they had closed for Helene, people would have been upset, since in this area it was basically nothing, despite the devastation elsewhere. If on the other hand, they are irresponsible and wait for the last minute, people get screwed with long distance travel plans. So it's a balance. The nature of hurricanes means that in reality they can't announce closures more than say, 48 hours out or so, since it's impossible to really know where it's going before then and where the worst impacts will be.
I sympathize with those who are affected by this and have travel plans destroyed but it's just the risk you take this part of the year especially; September and October are prime hurricane months and it's just the way it is here. This is likely another reason the winter months have become much more crowded in recent years.
I see both sides of the argument with announcing closures. The hurricane tracks can and do shift when you're a few days out, and sometimes that makes a huge difference. It would be silly to close for just mild to moderate wind and rain, and people would complain that they didn't need to be closed. So if they jump the gun and close, they lose. If they had closed for Helene, people would have been upset, since in this area it was basically nothing, despite the devastation elsewhere. If on the other hand, they are irresponsible and wait for the last minute, people get screwed with long distance travel plans. So it's a balance. The nature of hurricanes means that in reality they can't announce closures more than say, 48 hours out or so, since it's impossible to really know where it's going before then and where the worst impacts will be.
I sympathize with those who are affected by this and have travel plans destroyed but it's just the risk you take this part of the year especially; September and October are prime hurricane months and it's just the way it is here. This is likely another reason the winter months have become much more crowded in recent years.
wdwfan22
Well-Known Member
They might announce water park and campground potential closures, but nothing park related. The storm just shifted to the south. They will wait as long as possible.
Ayla
Well-Known Member
They should also block anyone from checking into any of their resorts, starting tomorrow.
Hey Disney, Tell us you’re closing Wednesday without telling us you’re actually closing.
Yes Kissimmee got hit pretty hard with 106 mph hurricane force winds. Can’t imagine what at Cat 3/4 could do which would be much worse.
JohnD
Well-Known Member
I would never advise drivin in to ride out the storm or not trying to evacuate. Nor would I say no place safer. That having been said, if you're out of options, its as safe as possibly can be. And CMs look out for their guests. I rode out Ian at AKL.
If you are stranded at MCO you may be with thousands of other travelers sleeping on the floors and few couches in the Main Terminal. I doubt the hotels in the area will have any available rooms at the inn.
Those huge RVs at Fort Wilderness should have left yesterday today at the latest and drive to GA or LA.
JohnD
Well-Known Member
If not, and they can't leave, they have owners park them in the main MK lot near the Epcot monorail loop then they get put up at a resort.
Which is why I’m leaving Tuesday morning instead of my planed Wed morning.