News Walt Disney World is Under a Tornado Watch until 7PM

[noodles]

Neat thread. Hope none of this eventuates, but neat info.

 

[P_Radden]

Most of the larger structures in the four parks are designated shelters. Energy, Test Track, Imag show, Harvest and Seas spring to mind as well as Mexico, the theatres and Biergarten. Plus the CCore basement. Dinosaur show is one too IIRC.

What about at DHS? I'm guessing GMR pre show or maybe Star Tours?

 

[LAKid53]

In the case of MK they have the utilidors if/when you go back stage the doors have signs on them with emergency info on them. It would be a mess but when lives are at stake the utilidors can hold a lot of people. Other seasoned CM friends of mine have told me there were a few ( rare) cases when that plan was put into action.

I've done Keys to the Kingdom enough to know how to get to one of the utilidor entrances. And I'd be running for it.

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Do you see what I see?

 

[larryz]

Do you see what I see?

Santa Clause?

 

[smile]

Do you see what I see?

i've told ya, buddy...
you're the only one that can see those things!

... now put down the slingshot

 

[Disneyhead'71]

Is that an ever so faint funnel cloud or am I see things?

Yep. Touched down in Windermere.

 

[LAKid53]

Haunted Mansion has no windows and no doors...

You wanna be underground for anything F3 and above.

 

[Bolt]

You wanna be underground for anything F3 and above.

Oh, thanks. Because up until you told me that, I didn't think tornados and such caused damage to buildings.

 

[davis_unoxx]

I heard a tornado hit Toy Story Land and DinoRama! Oh Well!

 

[EvilChameleon]

An F5 basically erases anything in its path, they are not called the 'Finger of God' for nothing.

 

[ford91exploder]

I've done Keys to the Kingdom enough to know how to get to one of the utilidor entrances. And I'd be running for it.

Which one - the one in Colonial America? Or the one by SM? Or the access road in Frontierland

 

[ford91exploder]

Props for getting the reference, and yes I've done a bit of chasing myself in conjunction with a university program. And Finger of God is by no means restricted to the movie.

 

[ford91exploder]

Do you see what I see?

Yes some sort of funnel cloud or mammatu (funnel without rotation)

 

[LAKid53]

Oh, thanks. Because up until you told me that, I didn't think tornados and such caused damage to buildings.

:/

 

[Eyemabee]

A tornado watch is now in effect for Orange County, which includes Walt Disney World and the theme park areas.

The advisory is in effect until Seven PM today.

What is the difference between a Tornado Watch and a Tornado Warning issued by the National Weather Service?
Tornado Watch: Be Prepared! Tornadoes are possible in and near the watch area. Review and discuss your emergency plans and check supplies and your safe room. Be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect a tornado is approaching. Acting early helps to save lives! Watches are issued by the Storm Prediction Center for counties where tornadoes may occur. The watch area is typically large, covering numerous counties or even states.

Tornado Warning: Take Action! A tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. There is imminent danger to life and property. Move to an interior room on the lowest floor of a sturdy building. Avoid windows. If in a mobile home, a vehicle, or outdoors, move to the closest substantial shelter and protect yourself from flying debris. Warnings are issued by your local forecast office. Warnings typically encompass a much smaller area (around the size of a city or small county) that may be impacted by a tornado identified by a forecaster on Radar or by a trained spotter/law enforcement who is watching the storm.

We were in Magic kingdom during this. The outside rides shut down. The only reason we knew was because someone’s phone warning went off inside the Tiki Room. Lightning and crazy rain and big winds. They STILL let people in the park. Staff said nothing at all but a couple appeared fidgety.

 

[monykalyn]

Parks emptied out. Was great. Went back to resort between rain storms and showered. Back out for evening and parks were pretty empty! Studios was a ghost town Monday and Tuesday evening and EMH at Epcot Tuesday was great. We are from Midwest so tornados don’t bother us-just kept watch on phone updates

 

[TrojanUSC]

There's three tiers of emergency evacuation response: A, B and C. C is "Take Cover" and what would happen here. Guests would be shuffled into secure, sheltered areas - in the case of MK this would likely be tunnels and some show buildings.

For the record A is just accelerated, meaning they close the park and guests exit normally - this happened on 9/11. B is a blow-out, meaning they open the big backstage gates and guests are evacuated from guest areas as quickly as possible. Alternate version of "B" is often used at Disneyland and Magic Kingdom to expedite exits during the nighttime parade/fireworks. This is why they built that bypass.