WDW + Tornadeo = Chaos?

[Disneyfan2000]

Hey everyone i was just wondering because seeing that Florida is now on occasion being hite by tornadeo's. Does anyone know what Disney does in a situation like this? Like what happens if there just so happens to be on heading right for the resort and the park is full of families.

 

[MiceysBestPal]

Hey everyone i was just wondering because seeing that Florida is now on occasion being hite by tornadeo's. Does anyone know what Disney does in a situation like this? Like what happens if there just so happens to be on heading right for the resort and the park is full of families.

What happens ANYWHERE if a tornado hits?

 

[marni1971]

WDWs parks are some of the safest places if the worst happens. There are plans in place to evacuate into the Utilidors (MK), out of the parks, and into main designated shelter buildings in the parks. Every structure at WDW is built to the EPCOT building code - designed to stand upto a cat 5 hurricane or anything but a direct F5 hit from a tornado. Even then the buildings are designed to stay upright, though obviously taking major damage.

Ever wonder why Horizons took so long to trash? It was a storm shelter.

Add to this WDW has some of the most advanced weather monitoring systems - they can give the precious extra few minutes of an approaching storm. As an aside, does anyone know if they have designated Doppler radar?

 

[Zummi Gummi]

I imagine (though I don't claim to have any knowledge of official policy on this) that they'd move guests as quickly and efficiently as they could out of the outdoors and get them inside somewhere. Perhaps the MK plan involves herding guests into the Utilidor??

 

[goofyfan13]

I'm willing to be Disney has a plan in place for the possibility of Tornados approaching their parks/resorts. All you can really do anyway is get to a hardened shelter away from windows and doors.

But in all seriousness. Anywhere + Tornados = Chaos.

 

[PurpleDragon]

What?!!?!?? WTH?!!?!? Walt Disney World does not have tornados, just like they dont have any mosquitos. :lookaroun

 

[dubba10]

The problem is not if they hit the parks during the day. They have the means to handle that situation. What if they hit the resorts?

 

[Lucky]

Now we know why Walt put the thing in Florida and not in Oklahoma.

Tornados are relatively uncommon in Florida, as they've always been, but there are more reports of them because Florida has become more crowded. They can happen, but many more people have their trips disrupted by hurricanes and other problems than by tornados. I'd place it pretty far down on the things that are worth worrying about.

 

[RiversideBunny]

Tornados happen fast and come on quickly. Not like hurricanes, which can be tracked for days ahead of time.

You just have to get lucky.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Hey everyone i was just wondering because seeing that Florida is now on occasion being hite by tornadeo's. Does anyone know what Disney does in a situation like this? Like what happens if there just so happens to be on heading right for the resort and the park is full of families.

First, there is no "e" in tornado. The plural has an "es" added to the end of it as in "Tornadoes." As someone who wrote them in many a photo caption in the past 6 weeks, i kinda take that seriously.

According to The Tornado Project (www.tornadoproject.com), The State of Florida ranks Third in the nation in Tornadoes and first in the Nation in annual Tornadoes per 10,000 Square miles.

Disney has detailed disaster plans and evacuation routes mapped out. Exactly what those plans are, i'm not sure. But rest assurred, since the NFPAA (National Fire Protection Agency) uses Disney as a model for what their fire codes should be, i'm very confident that if somewrath of god storm should arise, they will take care of the guests and know what they are doing.

 

[gibsonc]

I imagine (though I don't claim to have any knowledge of official policy on this) that they'd move guests as quickly and efficiently as they could out of the outdoors and get them inside somewhere. Perhaps the MK plan involves herding guests into the Utilidor??

I may have this the wrong way round, but the Magic Kingdom has 3 evacuation routes - A - using normal park exists, B - normal and backstage exits, and C - make use of the utilidors.

When I did the keys to the kingdom tour last year someone asked about evacuations after seeing an evacuation route A, B or C sign on the back of one of the large gates that leads to backstage. The tour guide did tell us that the utilidors route would be used when for whatever reason cover for guests was needed quickly.

 

[PhotoDave219]

Tornados are relatively uncommon in Florida, as they've always been, but there are more reports of them because Florida has become more crowded.

Thats completely wrong. According to the NOAA (the weather people) at

Florida is Tied for third in the nation for average number of tornadoes from 1953-2004. This is tied with Nebraska and just behind Oklahoma and Texas.

During the same time period, Florida ranks first with number of tornadoes per 10,000 square miles.

The good news is that they don't average strong-violent tornadoes any more than Indiana.

In short, the average tornado in florida is small and not horrifcally destructive like those that tore apart the Lake Mack and Lady Lake mobile home parks. Also, the 21 people who died, they died living in trailer homes. -> http://www.orlandosentinel.com/news/weather/orl-tornadoes2307feb23,0,2719329.story

 

[Tim G]

Next time when I hear tornadeo news on the radeo, I will hurry to put the tornadeo on video and will take it to the rodeo... :lookaroun

 

[majortom1981]

Hmm

I dont know about tornados but my gf was at disney when they got hit by a hurricane.

Everybody was stuck in their rooms but they let you out to eat and played disney movies on tv .

They were pretty hospitable also.

 

[disney9752]

i was lucky enough to get a "tornado/severe weather" sop from a retired cm from wdw. it was written in the late 70's so some of the info has changed, but the main idea is there. in event of a tornado guests would take shelter in the utilidors"tunnels" what cm's were to guide guests, merchandise, attractions, foods, etc, anticipated guests flow via each stairwell such as if it was a larger path or smaller, such as mickey's mart or next to pooh i believe it is. also, alternate park exit strategies if main street or main entrance were to be blocked. also details, the stages wdw goes thru in preparing for a hurricane, by days, tying loose stuff down, executives deciding on closures, etc. if i recall wdw has a direct wire fron the weather service including very advanced radar. :zipit:

 

[head mouse]

Well, Since WDW has only CLOSED it's gates 2wice since opening day (once for Hurricane Jeanne a few years ago, and once back shortly after it opened for another major storm) I'd say they would do what they could to protect the guest, ride the storm out, then open the parks while they repaired what was damaged. (Kinda like they did after that Hurricane Jeanne.)

 

[Rob562]

As an aside, does anyone know if they have designated Doppler radar?

I don't know if they have *dedicated* Doppler radar, but I know they at least have live monitoring in Test Track's tower.

The first time I tried to ride Test Track way back in '98, a severe thunderstorm came through the area while I was in line. They shut the ride down, and most people left the queue. But I stuck around, as well as a fmaily whose mother was terrified of going outside with the lightning. Well, after playing a game of Uno with a couple CMs on the floor outside the briefing rooms, one of them took us on a mini tour that included the control tower. I got off two quick pics before they asked for no photos.

In the first one you can see the radar screen. (And the heavy storms that were moving through the area).

-Rob

 

[Mr Bill]

Nice pics Rob! Thanks for sharing!

 

[monorailguy01]

Well I just found this out last week on my trip to Disney, my friends and I were watching Wishes from the Contemp resort, And I was told that there are storm doors where the monorail comes in and out of that can stand winds up too a cat. 5 hurricane.

Just some info I thought I would share since the topic is storms.

Have a great day or night.. :wave:

 

[wedway71]

YEP a Tornado sure does happen in Florida.I spent the last 33 years in Florida.I remember as a kid in Middle school coming home from school on the bus there was 3 yes I said 3 Tornados next to each other.As scared as I was I was also in a trance to see this act of nature.
Turns out my house in Sunrise,Fla was close to a FPL plant and the twister overturned an FPL truck and a bunch of the "spools" were ripped about too.
I just moved to Indiana and I thought there will be more Twisters here but turns out Fla has more.