News Major Hurricane Dorian impacts to Walt Disney World 2019

[worldfanatic]

When & if it appears that Dorian is going to almost certainly going to move through Central Florida, I'll be all for people cancelling WDW trips.
I'm still hoping that won't be the case.

 

[larryz]

How are we bullying people into cancelling their vacations? We have to take this storm seriously because it will impact us directly as people who live in Disney's backyard and because of that, we can try provide our best opinion to those who might be impacted on their vacation.

Nobody should feel pressured by this forum.

What they should feel pressure from is these circumstances: A major hurricane is approaching Florida and people have to decide whether or not to risk a ruined vacation Sunday thru Wednesday of next week -- and there's not a lot of time to decide, either.

I know what I would decide -- BTDT in 2016, cancelled a trip in early October due to Matthew, but that's because my travel coincided with Matthew's expected arrival in the Orlando area. But if you're still on the fence, you've got to sort thru the chaff and decide what's most important to you. The storm doesn't really care, and it might not even make landfall in Florida. But even if it stays offshore, it will likely disrupt air travel Monday thru Wednesday and trigger coastal evacuations this weekend. I know I wouldn't want to fly or drive into that kind of mess, even if I had planned this vacation for five years.

Fortunately, Disney and the major airlines have relaxed change restrictions, so that should make a decision to cancel a lot less financially painful. Besides, that's why they sell travel insurance.

 

[JenniferS]

Nobody should feel pressured by this forum.

What they should feel pressure from is these circumstances: A major hurricane is approaching Florida and people have to decide whether or not to risk a ruined vacation Sunday thru Wednesday of next week -- and there's not a lot of time to decide, either.

I know what I would decide -- BTDT in 2016, cancelled a trip in early October due to Matthew, but that's because my travel coincided with Matthew's expected arrival in the Orlando area. But if you're still on the fence, you've got to sort thru the chaff and decide what's most important to you. The storm doesn't really care, and it might not even make landfall in Florida. But even if it stays offshore, it will likely disrupt air travel Monday thru Wednesday and trigger coastal evacuations this weekend. I know I wouldn't want to fly or drive into that kind of mess, even if I had planned this vacation for five years.

Fortunately, Disney and the major airlines have relaxed change restrictions, so that should make a decision to cancel a lot less financially painful. Besides, that's why they sell travel insurance.

FYI - if you book directly with Disney (as we do every year for BounceBack), you must be a resident of the US to purchase travel insurance.

This must be fairly new, as we didn’t qualify for insurance this year, whereas I know we did in 2017. Not sure about last year.

 

[Allyp]

Nobody should feel pressured by this forum.

What they should feel pressure from is these circumstances: A major hurricane is approaching Florida and people have to decide whether or not to risk a ruined vacation Sunday thru Wednesday of next week -- and there's not a lot of time to decide, either.

I know what I would decide -- BTDT in 2016, cancelled a trip in early October due to Matthew, but that's because my travel coincided with Matthew's expected arrival in the Orlando area. But if you're still on the fence, you've got to sort thru the chaff and decide what's most important to you. The storm doesn't really care, and it might not even make landfall in Florida. But even if it stays offshore, it will likely disrupt air travel Monday thru Wednesday and trigger coastal evacuations this weekend. I know I wouldn't want to fly or drive into that kind of mess, even if I had planned this vacation for five years.

Fortunately, Disney and the major airlines have relaxed change restrictions, so that should make a decision to cancel a lot less financially painful. Besides, that's why they sell travel insurance.

I agree and I wanted to stress the importance of taking this storm seriously. I don't want for people to take away the impression to take this storm lightly because of the different models or hoping that things will move in a positive direction away from WDW and still retain my vacation plans.

But for me personally, the stress and anxiety of watching this storm from afar in hopes that I could possibly make my original plans is way too much pressure. Those feelings are not something I would want to be dealing with before a vacation.

 

[Amused to Death]

We have to take this storm seriously because it will impact us directly as people who live in Disney's backyard

Amen. These discussions always end up rubbing me the wrong way. Via the forums, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., we get to see people staying until park close the night before a hurricane is going to hit, not at all caring about whether the CM having to buckle them in for Dumbo at 11:59 PM will have time to go home and prep. Then, after the storm has passed, we get to hear people bit'ching and moaning about when Disney is going to reopen Jar Jar Abrams' desert shopping mall, not at all caring that a CM can't get out of his/her driveway because a tree has collapsed on their car. Or whether their house is even still standing. I'm sorry, but going to Disney World does not need to be anyone's priority right now.

 

[MisterPenguin]

If anyone thinks WDW is a great place to ride out a hurricane that's going to cause a closure, consider this:

1. If WDW is going to close, they'll close up half a day to a full day beforehand. They need to lash everything down and guests only get in the way. They're not going to wait for 40 mph winds and close the parks. They'll be closing the parks while it seems to still be nice. You'll be spending half a day to a full day cooped up in your hotel room even before the storm arrives.​

​

2. So... what are you going to do in your room for, at the very least, 2 full days? Watching TV might do it... if the power doesn't go out. So... what are you going to do in your room for, at the very least, 2 full days with no power? No power also means no A/C and more than likely, you can't open your window. So... what are you going to do to for at least 2 full days in the lobby of a hotel crowded with people and no power and no A/C?​

​

3. And what are you going to do for food? Think Disney will feed you? For a while, yes. But if the power goes out, all the food that needs refrigeration will quickly spoil. The first day may have emergency lights, but when those batteries die, any food-service area will not be open when the sun is down. Are you going to stock up on food in a tiny room-fridge that might lose power?​

​

4. And if this is a storm that moves real slow... the scenario painted above will be at least 4 days long. Maybe five if they have to wait to clear the streets and wait until CMs are able to physically return to work.​

​

This is all to counter anyone telling you "WDW is safe" in a hurricane. Well, it may be safe in that the buildings won't fall in on you. But it will be horribly inconvenient. And WDW isn't able to wait on their guests when their own infrastructure of power and workers have ground to a halt. No room service. No restaurants. No power. No TV. No A/C. That's the kinda "safe" no one wants to live through.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Probably because before Hurricane Irma, on a very similar WDWMagic thread , many people berated me and several others for not cancelling our vacations.
I was ready to, and certainly would have if I needed to.
But I waited, and had one of the best vacations I've ever had.
This is a Walt Disney World Site.
We talk about the storm as it's related to Walt Disney World.
It's very frustrating for people who have vacations there planned. And I don't think people should be bullied into canceling unless they really have thought it through and want to do that.

Ok...

But what happened on a prior storm doesn’t really Have any bearing now...and that doesn’t really give the “opening” to head into a storm.

 

[worldfanatic]

Ok...

But what happened on a prior storm doesn’t really Have any bearing now...and that doesn’t really give the “opening” to head into a storm.

Nobody should head into the storm based on the past.
They should watch and pay attention to what the professionals say, and then make their decision.
Latest update is not encouraging.

 

[monothingie]

If anyone thinks WDW is a great place to ride out a hurricane that's going to cause a closure, consider this:

1. If WDW is going to close, they'll close up half a day to a full day beforehand. They need to lash everything down and guests only get in the way. They're not going to wait for 40 mph winds and close the parks. They'll be closing the parks while it seems to still be nice. You'll be spending half a day to a full day cooped up in your hotel room even before the storm arrives.​

​

2. So... what are you going to do in your room for, at the very least, 2 full days? Watching TV might do it... if the power doesn't go out. So... what are you going to do in your room for, at the very least, 2 full days with no power? No power also means no A/C and more than likely, you can't open your window. So... what are you going to do to for at least 2 full days in the lobby of a hotel crowded with people and no power and no A/C?​

​

3. And what are you going to do for food? Think Disney will feed you? For a while, yes. But if the power goes out, all the food that needs refrigeration will quickly spoil. The first day may have emergency lights, but when those batteries die, any food-service area will not be open when the sun is down. Are you going to stock up on food in a tiny room-fridge that might lose power?​

​

4. And if this is a storm that moves real slow... the scenario painted above will be at least 4 days long. Maybe five if they have to wait to clear the streets and wait until CMs are able to physically return to work.​

​

This is all to counter anyone telling you "WDW is safe" in a hurricane. Well, it may be safe in that the buildings won't fall in on you. But it will be horribly inconvenient. And WDW isn't able to wait on their guests when their own infrastructure of power and workers have ground to a halt. No room service. No restaurants. No power. No TV. No A/C. That's the kinda "safe" no one wants to live through.

This is kinda profound.

My SIL @Me 'Earties just got back today from WDW and her husband was checking out, the CM at the front desk of the Poly said you’re leaving just in time. He said that there were people checking in to flee the storm from the coast. The reason why they were coming....because they have no where else to go. Even if it costs them $700/night.

A majority of people aren’t coming to play, they’re coming because Disney has a large contingent of well built hotel rooms located in the center of the peninsula away from the coasts where these people fear their houses may not exist to come back to.

 

[EvilChameleon]

I don't know why, but I find it fascinating that one of the leading models is from Europe. Like there are a bunch of people across the pond mapping out what track this hurricane will take to affect us dumb Americans.

 

[drp4video]

It is my understanding that Disney has it's own power generator and most of the lines are underground so they do not lose power during hurricanes. In 2004 I was there for Hurricane Charlie, we did not lose power. The parks closed at 1:00 p.m. on the day of the hurricane and disney showed movies on the tv all night. Parks were opened the next day, except for the Animal Kingdom which was closed for two days. The food court did close the afternoon of the hurricane and snacks were handed out by CM's. Those of us smart enough, coughmecough, stocked up on food before the food court closed. Once the hurricane went through, at about 11:00 pm, the food court opened up for sandwiches and other cold items. It was opened for full breakfast the next day.

 

[monothingie]

It is my understanding that Disney has it's own power generator and most of the lines are underground so they do not lose power during hurricanes. In 2004 I was there for Hurricane Charlie, we did not lose power. The parks closed at 1:00 p.m. on the day of the hurricane and disney showed movies on the tv all night. Parks were opened the next day, except for the Animal Kingdom which was closed for two days. The food court did close the afternoon of the hurricane and snacks were handed out by CM's. Those of us smart enough, coughmecough, stocked up on food before the food court closed. Once the hurricane went through, at about 11:00 pm, the food court opened up for sandwiches and other cold items. It was opened for full breakfast the next day.

The only power Disney generates today is solar. Everything else is supplied through two or three regional utilities with grid interconnections running on overhead transmission lines.

In the 70s and 80s they had a cogeneration plant behind the MK that they received a ton of money from the DOE to construct as a prototype. The plant in theory could have powered two parks but unreliable technology, expensive operation, poor design made the plant unviable and it was shuttered. I believe @marni1971 has more info on it.

 

[EricsBiscuit]

Amen. These discussions always end up rubbing me the wrong way. Via the forums, Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, etc., we get to see people staying until park close the night before a hurricane is going to hit, not at all caring about whether the CM having to buckle them in for Dumbo at 11:59 PM will have time to go home and prep. Then, after the storm has passed, we get to hear people bit'ching and moaning about when Disney is going to reopen Jar Jar Abrams' desert shopping mall, not at all caring that a CM can't get out of his/her driveway because a tree has collapsed on their car. Or whether their house is even still standing. I'm sorry, but going to Disney World does not need to be anyone's priority right now.

That’s a harsh take. If the CM didn’t value the pay more than the opportunity cost of preparing, then they wouldn’t be there.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

If anyone thinks WDW is a great place to ride out a hurricane that's going to cause a closure, consider this:

1. If WDW is going to close, they'll close up half a day to a full day beforehand. They need to lash everything down and guests only get in the way. They're not going to wait for 40 mph winds and close the parks. They'll be closing the parks while it seems to still be nice. You'll be spending half a day to a full day cooped up in your hotel room even before the storm arrives.​

​

2. So... what are you going to do in your room for, at the very least, 2 full days? Watching TV might do it... if the power doesn't go out. So... what are you going to do in your room for, at the very least, 2 full days with no power? No power also means no A/C and more than likely, you can't open your window. So... what are you going to do to for at least 2 full days in the lobby of a hotel crowded with people and no power and no A/C?​

​

3. And what are you going to do for food? Think Disney will feed you? For a while, yes. But if the power goes out, all the food that needs refrigeration will quickly spoil. The first day may have emergency lights, but when those batteries die, any food-service area will not be open when the sun is down. Are you going to stock up on food in a tiny room-fridge that might lose power?​

​

4. And if this is a storm that moves real slow... the scenario painted above will be at least 4 days long. Maybe five if they have to wait to clear the streets and wait until CMs are able to physically return to work.​

​

This is all to counter anyone telling you "WDW is safe" in a hurricane. Well, it may be safe in that the buildings won't fall in on you. But it will be horribly inconvenient. And WDW isn't able to wait on their guests when their own infrastructure of power and workers have ground to a halt. No room service. No restaurants. No power. No TV. No A/C. That's the kinda "safe" no one wants to live through.

While you paint a more bleak picture than how it actually plays...

It definitely sucks there. People tend to act like Disney can “make it fun” in a storm. They do not.

They try to keep as convenient as possible...but that Isn’t much.

If you can cancel...then cancel. Don’t risk it. I’d like to point out it’s not cheap either...you’re spending a lot to “maybe if things aren’t that bad” have a good time

 

[EPCOTCenterLover]

^( Post 761) This certainly does assume the worst of those on vacation.

 

[Beacon Joe]

That’s a harsh take. If the CM didn’t value the pay more than the opportunity cost of preparing, then they wouldn’t be there.

This. Disney World's hurricane ride out crew is voluntary duty.

 

[Beacon Joe]

I don't know why, but I find it fascinating that one of the leading models is from Europe. Like there are a bunch of people across the pond mapping out what track this hurricane will take to affect us dumb Americans.

Because it's not like any European nation has commercial, surface and air transit, or military interests in knowing and projecting weather conditions beyond their continent, right?

 

[Quinnmac000]

That’s a harsh take. If the CM didn’t value the pay more than the opportunity cost of preparing, then they wouldn’t be there.

I'm gonna disagree...while I think most CMs value pay who do volunteer, I think some genuinely do care about guests and providing them comfort during tough times.

 

[Amused to Death]

If the CM didn’t value the pay more than the opportunity cost of preparing, then they wouldn’t be there.

That's really not the point.

^( Post 761) This certainly does assume the worst of those on vacation.

Only of some. We've all seen the pics in the past. We've all seen the complaints in the past. From some.

There's really nothing cool about showing off your "look at me riding Dumbo in an empty park the night before a hurricane" pic. You don't need to be there until Security is nudging you out the gate. Neither does the CM having to smile and pretend he/she isn't worried about what might happen to their home.

There's nothing funny about a hurricane. Nothing. And yet we've already seen stupid memes in this thread with things like "Dorian wants to visit Galaxy's Edge." It's funny if you're in Pittsburg, I suppose, but it ain't funny if you're a Floridian and you're worried about the safety of your family and home.

If I had an opportunity to cancel my trip, I'd do it without question. The Dole Whip can wait.

 

[MisterPenguin]

It is my understanding that Disney has it's own power generator and most of the lines are underground so they do not lose power during hurricanes. In 2004 I was there for Hurricane Charlie, we did not lose power. The parks closed at 1:00 p.m. on the day of the hurricane and disney showed movies on the tv all night. Parks were opened the next day, except for the Animal Kingdom which was closed for two days. The food court did close the afternoon of the hurricane and snacks were handed out by CM's. Those of us smart enough, coughmecough, stocked up on food before the food court closed. Once the hurricane went through, at about 11:00 pm, the food court opened up for sandwiches and other cold items. It was opened for full breakfast the next day.

Disney doesn't lose power locally because of trees falling on overhead lines. So, while local neighborhoods are out, Disney isn't.

Buuutttt... Disney can lose power if the region loses power. Underground wires don't work if their source of power is out.