Hurricane Milton coming to FL

[donsullivan]

Stay at the room

It’s not that it’s dangerous to be in the park…it causes unnecessary stress on those that have to stand there and think about what happens later tonight.

…I know…I’m a dreamer

And if you are one of those who are staying at a Disney Resort through this storm please remember that all of those cast members there to ride out the storm with you are away from their families and homes. Please don't become the whining, entitled guest because they don't have enough <insert anything here> the way you want it. They'll do the best they can to ensure everyone is safe (highest priority) and have the basics available to make it through the storm.

And then on the backside of it, the WDW team will need to evaluate damage in the parks, start a clean-up plan and determine if/when they can reopen safely. Once they do reopen, understand they will likely be short-staffed during the early stages of the restart since not all cast members may be able to get back for their shifts due to storm impacts.

Essentially, be respectful of all the Cast Members you encounter throughout this. They have all the same stresses and more (their homes and families were likely impacted) and don't need an entitled guest coming at them because they can't get or do <whatever>. Each guest also has to take some personal responsibility for readiness and not blame the CM when you didn't do what was needed to prepare.

 

[LSLS]

See: above

People will be different though. Personally, if I HAD to work, I'd rather have stuff going on instead of having to sit there and think about it. No, I wouldn't want to be slammed, but a constant easy stream would make things easier for me personally.

 

[cr3346]

It's currently showing about 1,000 millibars which is better than what you're showing. I looked it up and 1,000mb is approx 50mph. Regardless, FL doesn't need any more tropical systems after Helene and Milton.

View attachment 819879

Well that's certainly some good news! Still plenty of time, so hopefully it stays that way.

(Just wanted to point out that there was something showing and that it wasn't Leslie)

 

[cr3346]

 

[Purduevian]

Stay at the room

It’s not that it’s dangerous to be in the park…it causes unnecessary stress on those that have to stand there and think about what happens later tonight.

…I know…I’m a dreamer

Disney has decided to open the parks up today for limited hours. Those workers will there regardless of if guests come or not. I don't blame any guests that have nowhere else to go but WDW for going to the parks today.

 

[LAKid53]

That picture- of all the guests in rain ponchos at the HS gate- I know parks open for a few hours - but if I was a cast member, how could you NOT get aggravated at people coming in today ?

I read Disney keeps room inventory for cast member’s safety in storms like these, but what about their family?

I know working is probably voluntary, just hope it is.

Thanks all, random thoughts….

It is voluntary. Not sure if family members can join their CM at the resort, but I would hope so.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

While it is predominantly Disney's fault for not outright closing the parks fully today, they wouldn't have any incentive to keep them open if there was no one wanting to visit to begin with. For every person who visits during this, Disney smells money and can't resist the taste. Cast members who could have been taking this extra time to prep or evacuate aren't able to do so.

If you're reading this and are considering visiting the parks today, don't.

 

[rubydoo2]

A lot of guests there will be international guests who were unable to leave. I’ve got a friend there from the UK currently, arrived Monday, would have lost a lot of money if she’d come home early and forfeited the remaining 14 days of her holiday.

I totally understand the thought that guests shouldn’t be flocking there unnecessarily, but there’s always a little more nuance to it.

If I was there from the UK I’d visit the parks this morning- what else would I do? I’m going to sat in the room for potentially the next 36 hours, so might as well get out for a few hours this morning if you can.

Totally agree with all the above thoughts on being thankful and thoughtful to cast members, hopefully a majority of people will be!

 

[LSLS]

I'm so tired of people saying this, as if it's just as easy as snap your fingers and your travel plans get changed. What if you got off a cruise on Monday? How simple would it have been to change your flight with MCO closing 36 hours later and tens of thousands of other people doing the same thing you want to do but with a headstart because they had access to apps/phone lines? Been there, done that. It's not as simple as you think it is.

Also lets not forget as of like Saturday, this was forecast to MAYBE become a 3 in the Gulf and downgrade to a 2 or maybe even a 1 by landfall. I was on a cruise ship for Irma. When we left, it was small and in the middle of the Atlantic and not predicted to do anything. They announced Nassau day switched with Castaway and we thought nothing of it. Then they announced we are skipping Nassau day and returning to Port a day early because of the hurricane that was supposed to be nothing. Turned out it became a massive Cat 5 and Florida was evacuating. We were dumped back into Canaveral a day before we were supposed to in the middle of this giant evac. Point is your scenario is far from crazy.

Also, I'll point out in college, we had Disney listed as a place we SHOULD evacuate to if we need to evacuate for hurricanes, because it is far enough inland, has the ability to make sure you have basic needs, and they are rated to withstand about anything that could get to Orlando.

 

[esskay]

This is my standard storm psa: if you’re in a park today and NOT wearing a nametag…you’re certifiably nuts.

That is all.

Hard disagree, if I'm an international tourist and I'm stuck on site anyway, I'm sure as hell going to be taking advantage of the quiet parks. I've got nothing else to do, nowhere to evac to, and a room to go back to knowing I'll be taken care of. As calous as that might sound its just the facts, you're there, cant leave, so make the most of it.

My PSA: If you're staying on site and stuck and NOT in a theme park taking advantage of how quiet it is you're nuts.

Been in the exact situation a number of times (UK), and some of those days have turned out to be the best for getting a ton done that you'd otherwise have spent half a day queueing for.

 

[LAKid53]

A lot of guests there will be international guests who were unable to leave. I’ve got a friend there from the UK currently, arrived Monday, would have lost a lot of money if she’d come home early and forfeited the remaining 14 days of her holiday.

I totally understand the thought that guests shouldn’t be flocking there unnecessarily, but there’s always a little more nuance to it.

If I was there from the UK I’d visit the parks this morning- what else would I do? I’m going to sat in the room for potentially the next 36 hours, so might as well get out for a few hours this morning if you can.

Totally agree with all the above thoughts on being thankful and thoughtful to cast members, hopefully a majority of people will be!

Disney has said they will refund anyone who cancels because of the storm, no penalties. But your friend would have had to cancel before her arrival, otherwise she'd be in the mass trying to get a flight back before MCO closed this morning. And airport authorities have made it very clear you won't be allowed to shelter at the airport if you can't get a flight.

 

[LAKid53]

Also lets not forget as of like Saturday, this was forecast to MAYBE become a 3 in the Gulf and downgrade to a 2 or maybe even a 1 by landfall. I was on a cruise ship for Irma. When we left, it was small and in the middle of the Atlantic and not predicted to do anything. They announced Nassau day switched with Castaway and we thought nothing of it. Then they announced we are skipping Nassau day and returning to Port a day early because of the hurricane that was supposed to be nothing. Turned out it became a massive Cat 5 and Florida was evacuating. We were dumped back into Canaveral a day before we were supposed to in the middle of this giant evac. Point is your scenario is far from crazy.

Also, I'll point out in college, we had Disney listed as a place we SHOULD evacuate to if we need to evacuate for hurricanes, because it is far enough inland, has the ability to make sure you have basic needs, and they are rated to withstand about anything that could get to Orlando.

We were on either the Dream or Fantasy, booking it out of Castaway, which had flooded, outrunning the outer bands of Matthew. Made for a rocky night and if I remember, they locked the doors going out onto deck.

 

[Touchdown]

I made my back up plan the day I started this thread, Saturday, Tuesday flights were wide open. I looked Sunday into possibly leaving Monday and the flights were gone. That said 95 remained realitively open and cars were plentiful to be rented yesterday. There’s a reason I always rent a car when I go in October, most of the time you are less then a days drive from safety. You just need to recognize the danger before everyone else, for Tampa that was leaving Monday morning, Orlando yesterday morning, I4 and 95 were clear when I went to the airport at 7am.

 

[lazyboy97o]

You were saying storm’s eye will be directly over your house which is generalized prime coastline and you’re not in evac zone?????

The eye will not just disappear when the storm makes landfall. The storm is going to cross the entire state. There will be a point tomorrow where the eye will be in the middle of the state as far as it can be from either coast.

 

[rubydoo2]

Disney has said they will refund anyone who cancels because of the storm, no penalties. But your friend would have had to cancel before her arrival, otherwise she'd be in the mass trying to get a flight back before MCO closed this morning. And airport authorities have made it very clear you won't be allowed to shelter at the airport if you can't get a flight.

Disney have said that but she didn’t book through Disney- be honest I don’t know what the travel agencies here have said but I’d be surprised if Virgin, for example, would have offered to refund her her entire 2 weeks stay, and change her flights free of charge to leave early. Its just more complicated for some people than others to leave I think, there can be so many extra moving parts to visiting Disney when you come from overseas!

 

[jlhwdw]

It is voluntary. Not sure if family members can join their CM at the resort, but I would hope so.

When I was a Cast Member I joined the ride out crew each year. I never had to do it (I was a CM in those glorious years in the late 2000s and early 2010s when Central FL went almost a decade without a storm) but I remember when I signed up each year they made it very clear that any accommodations were for me only and not any family members.

 

[MerlinTheGoat]

 

[erstwo]

Most people don't realize this. I am a nurse and when I still worked in the hospital we were required to either stay in the hospital during the storm, or go in immediately after. Police, fire, EMTs, utility workers etc don't get a choice. They have to stay. People's ignorant comments are really irritating.

Agree. My mom was a nurse. My dad was in management for large plants/ mills. When we lived in Houston, both my parents were required to stay in town for hurricanes. My dad had to stay at the mill to prep, ride out the storm, and recover from the storm.
When we were young, my mom was able to be part of the 'relief' team so she could stay home with us during the hurricane. But she had to be there the second the storm passed to relieve the ride out team members.
I know there are other families in Florida in the same situation. Not everyone has a choice to leave.

 

[cr3346]

11am update...it's weakening a bit

145 mph 931 mb

 

[SoFloMagic]

11am update...it's weakening a bit

145 mph 931 mb

Some speculation about concentric eye walls - let's hope it doesnt have time to finish eyewall replacement if that's indeed whats happening now. Hurricane force wind field looks fairly narrow to me at the moment, right?