Looking like a canceled trip for us :(

[Dizneykid]

I want to start by saying that safety is always most important and I pray that this hurricane miraculously turns away from us.

I'm from the northern United States and we had planned to drive down on Saturday afternoon. This would pass us through the Carolinas on Sunday. I have no idea what the forecast will be but it's looking like a prolonged flooding event through the weekend and beyond.

Our only options left would be to take a crazy detour into Tennessee or delay our trip by several days. I don't know if that will be an option either if it doesn't let up by then.

I'm just sad but this was precisely why we got the insurance. It feels strange to cancel a trip because of a hurricane that isn't affecting where we currently are or where we will end up. I'm being told that all of NC will be a mess through the weekend. I feel terrible about anyone dealing with it directly. I should be grateful for not being impacted by it. I just had to grieve somewhere. Bless.

 

[MomofPrincessGrace]

We will be flying down Thursday from Atlanta. TBF, when we went September 2015 it rained 1 day. 1 day out of 10 days. We decided to go in May last year and it was so hot that we decided that we will never do May again. I wouldnt let a detour ruin your trip.

 

[Dizneykid]

Sounds like you're facing this logically, and I congratulate you for that. Ask yourself if it's worth the stress, and I think you'll find your answer.

Thank you. I don't know. I have serious OCD and I was still raring to go. It takes a lot to break my stride but I might have finally met my match. Disney is worth a great deal to me though. This will likely be our only opportunity. I'm being told by people to not go at all because NC will be a total nightmare. I'm not hearing about the 81 detour from most people. It must be horrendously out of the way. People are telling me to leave today and drive right through. Haha my husband is at work ...not an option Oh boy. I have a lot to think about anyway.

 

[Nemo14]

Actually the 81 route is the way we always go from RI. Mileage - wise it's longer, but no traffic issues like you encounter from New Haven CT to Richmond VA, and no tolls. We take 95 to just after the CT River, then 9 to Middletown,CT, then 66 over to I-84, which takes you right to I-81. It's a much prettier drive than 95 and far less headaches.
Depending on where you're coming from in MA, you could take the MassPike to Springfield, then 91 south to 84.

Anyway, not trying to influence you either way, but just keep your eye on the weather and follow your instincts. Like I said before, only you know if the stress is worth it to you.

 

[Nottamus]

Like stated above, Leave earlier----stay offsite for a few days,.

2016? i think, we drove down like 6 weeks after a hurricane that washed out portions of 95, there re routing traffic around...routes 20 to 26 through Columbia, so there is always a way!

 

[wendysue]

If it were already planned for us, I would find a way to drive around the hurricane. Just stay overnight someplace on the way, but not close to any evacuation routes. Make a new adventure of it. Just go......

 

[ctcdisneymama]

Anyway you can leave earlier and detour the Carolinas? Make it a longer trip and stop somewhere different. Or bite the bullet and fly down there, rent a car and drive back up. This surely will be a trip you all will remember so why not make it even more memorable. Has anyone in your family been to Tennessee? It's beautiful and would be an awesome stop. At least the hurricane isn't hitting Disney World!

 

[Clamman73]

Starting to show it stalling out a bit right at the coast.

 

[Dizneykid]

Starting to show it stalling out a bit right at the coast.
View attachment 312235

Thanks! What does stalling mean? I keep reading about that and how it's mostly bad news because of prolonged flooding. What makes it stall? Conditions at the coast?

 

[MomofPrincessGrace]

I havent looked, but if he is saying that it is currently stalling, the that could mean strengthening/weakening prior to landfall or a delay of when it would hit. Stalling after it hits land (Thursday/Friday) what would cause flooding.

 

[MomofPrincessGrace]

Fun story. My daughters birthday is tomorrow. We live in central Alabama and are within a couple hours of Atlanta. On this day last year a hurricane was predicted to hit us. I was super frustrated because I had planned to let her stay home from school and we were going to drive over to Atlanta and go to the aquarium. School is cancelled (very rare for central Alabama schools to close due to hurricanes but lucky her to get a free day on her bday) and was praying that the aquarium would be open and we can still go. The next day comes and the hurricane is downgraded to a tropical storm. We didn't even get rain at our house. Long story short, weather is unpredictable and what was supposed to be a horrible hurricane turning into just a thunderstorm at the coast. You may only have to deal with some rain and may some localized flooding.

 

[Dizneykid]

Thank you everyone so much. I feel like I can't do anything until I know something. We have trip insurance which I'm thankful for. I was close to buying MNSSHP tickets but I guess I'm glad I didn't. It's so up in the air. We have a friend in central NC that we worry about because there's nothing concrete about that region yet. I'm glad they are getting the coastal people out of there now though.

 

[Susan Savia]

We are scheduled to leave Saturday morning from VA. We discussed several different scenarios and think we will go 81 to 77. We already had a room booked for that night. The stress is rough but hopefully things will work out alright.

 

[larryz]

Thanks! What does stalling mean? I keep reading about that and how it's mostly bad news because of prolonged flooding. What makes it stall? Conditions at the coast?

Remember that these are just predictions based on models, and models aren't always right.

Still, if I were driving, I'd veer a bit further to the west. S Carolina is emptying their coast to the north, west and south, so that takes I-26 and I-95 out of the equation for the next few days.

 

[MomofPrincessGrace]

Remember that these are just predictions based on models, and models aren't always right.

This... plus they are going to err on the side of caution with evacuations. Its much safer to evacuate for no reason instead of people evacuating last minute if it is worse than expected.

 

[Dizneykid]

Remember that these are just predictions based on models, and models aren't always right.

Still, if I were driving, I'd veer a bit further to the west. S Carolina is emptying their coast to the north, west and south, so that takes I-26 and I-95 out of the equation for the next few days.

Thank you vm. Some newer forecasts are mentioning flash flooding in the western mountains on sunday/monday which would certainly force us to go around into Tennessee ( assuming they aren't affected too). That leaves me wondering when exactly to head out. We have from Friday the 14th to the 28th off ((we are booked at Disney from 16th-22nd. Fast passes and reservations chosen)). I'm not sure what will be worse - Sunday or next week? I had debated trying to reorganize our reservation by coming down next week sometime. I'd rather not do that but we have the rare advantage of buffer days.

 

[larryz]

Watch what Virginia does. If they start evacuating their coast, they'll likely plug up I-64 and 95 moving people west and north. I-64 runs into I-81 at Staunton; likely all that will be over by the time you get there, but may put pressure on amenities (gas, food).

 

[yensid67]

Disneykid...if it were me, I would POSTPONE! Since you have trip insurance, you can get most if not all of your money back. I would plan on May 2019. This would give you a little more time...235 days(if you leave May 4) We are driving from PA leaving 6pm May 4 and returning May 12(Mother's Day) The stress that this is giving you isn't worth it, even a Disney Vacation! I would say move everything until next May...you will have the Flower and Garden Festival at Epcot...that is BEAUTIFUL!

P.S. IF you postpone until May you can meet us and travel together!! No signs of bad weather like this in May!

 

[wplong1]

Thank you vm. Some newer forecasts are mentioning flash flooding in the western mountains on sunday/monday which would certainly force us to go around into Tennessee ( assuming they aren't affected too). That leaves me wondering when exactly to head out. We have from Friday the 14th to the 28th off ((we are booked at Disney from 16th-22nd. Fast passes and reservations chosen)). I'm not sure what will be worse - Sunday or next week? I had debated trying to reorganize our reservation by coming down next week sometime. I'd rather not do that but we have the rare advantage of buffer days.

You ultimately have to do what you feel comfortable with of course and there is certainly unpredictability with hurricanes. However, I can't envision a situation where I-81 would not be fine to drive and I don't think there is any reason to consider detouring into Tennessee. I'm very conservative with things like this and I-81 is definitely the route I would take (lived in Virginia in that area for a few years). All of these forecasts and predictions are for the absolute worst possible scenario plus some over a large area of possible impact. I-81 is over 100 miles from the coast in Virginia and close to 200 miles from the coast in North Carolina, well inland and in the mountains.

 

[wplong1]

Not to hijack the thread, but would travel insurance cover this situation?? (I have looked at, but never purchased travel insurance personally.) The hurricane is not affecting the destination or point of origin and there are alternate travel options of driving around the impacted area or flying.

 

[Dizneykid]

You ultimately have to do what you feel comfortable with of course and there is certainly unpredictability with hurricanes. However, I can't envision a situation where I-81 would not be fine to drive and I don't think there is any reason to consider detouring into Tennessee. I'm very conservative with things like this and I-81 is definitely the route I would take (lived in Virginia in that area for a few years). All of these forecasts and predictions are for the absolute worst possible scenario plus some over a large area of possible impact. I-81 is over 100 miles from the coast in Virginia and close to 200 miles from the coast in North Carolina, well inland and in the mountains.

Thank you. I appreciate all of the advice given. I'm trying to be optimistic. Where does 81 end? I'm looking at a map and it seems to go into Tennessee and I can't find where I should connect south that will keep me away from the affected areas.

I thought travel insurance covered everything. Gosh I hope so. We also got it in case my father had any issues from a cancer recurrence screening this week (which was all clear).