Rookie w/ weather question

Jpavey88

Jpavey88

New Member
Hello all:

My family and I have a trip coming up in 2 weeks (9/16-9/22) staying at AOA. We've never been before and even worse haven't been to Florida in a LONG time, and never in September. SO with all the talk about this Hurricane Florence maybe continuing west instead of curving out to sea, and also these next two systems right behind it (Issac and Helene) should we be concerned? I think Florence will be moved on before 9/16 but the other 2 behind it have us worried. Any advice on what we should do or if we should go ahead and cancel the trip? (We have trip insurance)

Thanks
 
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ToyStoryMiss

ToyStoryMiss

Well-Known Member
Me and my family are scheduled to leave next Wednesday and we’re still planning on going. After last year’s experience with Irma (our flight down was cancelled but I was able to rebook a flight for the same day, thank goodness), I would definitely not cancel this far out if I were you. Florence could always turn north, and the other two, while unpredictable this early on, could always fizzle out or go elsewhere, so I wouldn’t worry too much if I were you.
 
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LAKid53

LAKid53

Official Member of the Girly Girl Fan Club
Premium Member
You've got trip insurance, so your costs will be covered if there are cancellations. But don't cancel. You'll have at least 24 hours advanced warning, if any of the systems will approach Florida. Your flights will be the first to be cancelled. And if you are at WDW when one approaches, you'll be okay. The resort buildings can withstand major storms. Just follow the directions of resort CMs.

Lived in Florida 52 years. Been through 4 hurricanes.
 
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T

Telly03

Active Member
Most modeling still has Florence veering North before hitting E Coast, with only a few hitting N Carolina before shooting North. I don't think you have anything to worry about.
 
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LeighM

LeighM

Well-Known Member
Don't cancel the trip yet. I've been to WDW 3 times during hurricane season and 2 of the trips have been impacted by hurricanes - one in 2012 that was in the Gulf and Hurricane Matthew in 2016. I'm from a state that does get impacted by hurricanes, as well, and I would rather be in WDW with their safer resorts than back home dealing with one there.
 
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Jpavey88

Jpavey88

New Member
Original Poster
LeighM said:
Don't cancel the trip yet. I've been to WDW 3 times during hurricane season and 2 of the trips have been impacted by hurricanes - one in 2012 that was in the Gulf and Hurricane Matthew in 2016. I'm from a state that does get impacted by hurricanes, as well, and I would rather be in WDW with their safer resorts than back home dealing with one there.
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Even if one were to hit Florida it would only impact Orlando for a day at most right? Not like itll ruin an entire trip unless it was a devestating hurricane.
 
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Smiley/OCD

Smiley/OCD

Well-Known Member
Disney is probably one of the safest places to be in FL during a hurricane...if you read any of the other treads of storms in the past, the parks are empty, and for the most part, while you may be stuck in the resort for a day, you'll pretty much have the parks to yourselves. I REALLY wouldn't worry about it, I would RELISH the thought of having a vacation at Disney with a relatively empty park....don't worry about it and ENJOY!!!
 
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Smiley/OCD

Smiley/OCD

Well-Known Member
This of course all hinges on the fact that you would be there during a hurricane...the only piece of advice I would give is that IF you were there during a hurricane, I would stock up on nonperishable food and snacks to keep in your room. I know last year when the hurricane came through, WDW closed for 1 day and there was very little hot food available for that 1 day ONLY
 
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LeighM

LeighM

Well-Known Member
Jpavey88 said:
Even if one were to hit Florida it would only impact Orlando for a day at most right? Not like itll ruin an entire trip unless it was a devestating hurricane.
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Most likely depending on how much clean up they have to do from the storm debris and if the curfew is lifted on the roads. During Matthew, they closed all parks early one day and had transportation shut down by a specific time. The park was closed all the next day but they opened up parts of Disney Springs that night after all threats had passed. Luckily, Matthew turned at the last minute and never went directly over Orlando. We were at Riverside and resorts were on lockdown but we still went to the food court after the worst of the rain bands passed. They didn't have the full menu selection but definitely had hot meals available for the guests who came to the lobby. A lot of the people never left their room that day until Disney gave the all clear so they didn't know that hot meals were available for breakfast and lunch (it was lifted by dinner) and characters in the lobby. They made the arcade free for everyone to use. We purchased some drinks and snacks to use just in case of worst case scenario and we couldn't get out of the room for a while. Plus, Disney left flash lights in everyone's room. I felt extremely safe there even at the time we were looking at a possible category 5 hit. Power flickered once or twice that night but my husband and I slept like babies during the worst of the storm.
 
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Skibum1970

Skibum1970

Well-Known Member
I've waited and had a huricane completely miss or go through early. Last year was just terrible timing. Irma hit right on the first day that we would have been there and I cancelled about 48 hours prior. Had no issues as WDW was very accommodating.
 
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"El Gran Magnifico"

"El Gran Magnifico"

Mr Flibble is Very Cross.
During Hurricane season I'm on the ready for a Disney trip at a moment's notice. Most often it's a non-event. The media will work everyone up in a frenzy, people will cancel and very rarely will the storm impact as forecast. Means short lines and minimal waits for me.

I did miss MNSSHP a few years back...not because a hurricane hit Disney - but because it hit me.

Disney is in the middle of the state. Usually you're going to get a rain and wind event. Some downed trees, some power outages, but not much in the way of structural damage. Disney will take precautions and may close the parks depending on several factors. Liability being a main one (for guests and employees alike)

All that being said. If you happen to see Jim Cantore around those parts - it could be a whole different ball game. There's a big difference between a Cat 1 or 2....and a 4. I think it's way to early to tell (accurately) how Florence will develop or what track it will be on.
 
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Tom 55

Tom 55

Well-Known Member
In 2004 I was at DW when hurricane Jean came threw. The fourth hurricane of that year. DW has plans to deal with hurricanes. The park was closed one day and we had to stay at our hotel with no bus service. The food court was still open so we had to walk in the wind and rain for meals but was not a big deal. They played Disney movies all day long. My trip insurance paid me for the day we lost.

It was amazing to see how Disney handles a hurricane. The day before all the thing that can be blown around were removed. Hanging plants, trash cans. Thing like that. You did not see them moving them out. You walk down main street and they are there. The next time they are not. As we were leaving MK at the end of night the day before we ran into CM coming in. They stay in the parks and start clean up as soon as storm has past. So the day after the parks opened on time and the only evidence that a hurricane came threw was that trees were missing. Blown down during storm, cut up and removed. DW has there own power plant and all the power lines are under ground. So they do not lose power when trees take down poles. Local residents come to the hotels to ride out the storm because it is safer than at there own homes.

For us it was in the middle of our stay so we did have to deal with travel plans. We left the day after the storm. Had to change planes in Atlanta. Was raining there as part of hurricane Jean. Continued up to Boston. The next day hurricane Jean rained on us there too.

I hope there are no problems 9/25- 10/4 when I get down there.
 
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JIMINYCR

JIMINYCR

Well-Known Member
Smiley/OCD said:
This of course all hinges on the fact that you would be there during a hurricane...the only piece of advice I would give is that IF you were there during a hurricane, I would stock up on nonperishable food and snacks to keep in your room. I know last year when the hurricane came through, WDW closed for 1 day and there was very little hot food available for that 1 day ONLY
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A friend of ours happened to be there then with her son. Her biggest complaint was having guests buy up massive amounts of food, snacks, drinks leaving the food court basically bare for others. Some events bring out the worst in people.
 
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Tavernacle12

Tavernacle12

Well-Known Member
I'd be concerned about the hurricane impacting your flight there. Once you're at Disney, even if it hits, there won't be much to worry about except maybe losing a day or two at the parks. It's bad, but you'll have a good story about it, and Disney is really good about keeping everyone safe during hurricanes. Grab some extra food beforehand just in case.
 
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LeighM

LeighM

Well-Known Member
Tavernacle12 said:
I'd be concerned about the hurricane impacting your flight there. Once you're at Disney, even if it hits, there won't be much to worry about except maybe losing a day or two at the parks. It's bad, but you'll have a good story about it, and Disney is really good about keeping everyone safe during hurricanes. Grab some extra food beforehand just in case.
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We had to fly over Hurricane Matthew in 2016 to return home. We were lucky the winds had subsided enough in Orlando to allow our flight to leave but flying back home was miserable. The pilot had to change the route to get to VA to avoid the worst of the storm but we still had to go over it at maximum flying altitude and it made landing difficult. It was a horrible, horrible flight!!! But it did make a great story LOL. I'm preparing for Hurricane Florence now and I would definitely feel a lot safer being in a WDW hotel instead of being here!
 
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