We should be going at a different time.

[Cole'sMom]

Hi everyone! I am getting really bummed-I was looking at weather.com and thinking of the hurricanes. We are leaving in 10 days for the world and we cannot wait for this vacation. We were supposed to take our annual trip in May but I was having pregnancy complications-I was on bedrest for 7 months and in and out of the hospital. We can't take our vacation any later due to my husband's work schedule. I'm going to whine, but we deserve a sunny vacation. I know it's a risk going to FL in the late summer, but how much do hurricanes impact central Florida? We just really want this vacation to be great since it will also be our son's first trip to WDW-not that he will remember it! Thanks for the input!

 

[darthjohnny]

Well, no one thought Hurricanes would hit central Florida, and then Charlie, Frances, and Jean all hit Orlando.

 

[CrashNet]

Well the good news is this year has been extremely quiet, and the only two major storms our there right now are Ernesto and John, which is in the Pacific. Its still the rainy season, but its on the way out, and you are going after Labor Day, the official end of summer and the last day off for kids for a while. Basically that means short lines! And I mean short as in some attractions are walkon. You should be good provided nothing new develops in the Atlantic.

 

[MissM]

There is honestly no way to predict in advance if a storm will be in the area or what effect a storm will have if there is one. Hurricanes may have several days of projected paths, however, it's almost impossible to know for sure where the landfall will be and where the path and intensity will be until only a few hours prior. For example, Ernesto was originally on course to hit where I live in Tampa as a catagory 3. By the time it actually landed, it hit south Florida as only a tropical storm. You really just can't forecast these things very well due to a massive amount of factors involved.

Generally speaking, at it's worst, a hurricane will shut down the parks for a day or two with heavy winds, lots of rain. WDW however is one of the safest places to be and being inland, the impact is less then on the coasts.

September is our peak season for hurricanes, but don't stress over something that you can't control. Keep an eye on the weather but try to enjoy yourself and remain excited about your trip.
-m

 

[ryank007]

I'm local, and I have to say, as long is the hurricane or storm isn't "major" (lots of damage), the day after the storm is the BEST time to go to the parks. We went the day after Frances to MK, and the day after Jeanne to EPCOT, and I have never seen the parks so empty. We waited for 1 ride at MK (5 minutes), all others we walked onto. Not to mention that as long as the storm is moving along at a decent clip, a day or two after is beautiful, sunny weather!

Ryan

 

[David]

As previous posters have said, don't get too stressed out about the hurricanes. First, as you mentioned in your post, this was about the earliest you could go because of work schedules and the baby. Second, there may not even be any hurricanes while you are there. Our last trip down in 2004, we had a few days of RAIN, but we, and thousands more, just put on ponchos and went on, and it really was not that bad. Granted these were not hurricane rain storms, but it was a lot of rain. Lastly, and most important, you're at DISNEY. Whatever happens happens. Don't worry about what you can't control, and don't let it spoil your trip.

Have a great time!

 

[metscool]

It has been quite down here this summer. That is a good thing. But if you think about it, it could be a busy rest of the season. You will never know how the season will be.

 

[Nemo14]

Why stress yourself out over something that you have absolutely no control over? The fact is, you're going to WDW! what could be better? You know you'll have a good time no matter what, and even though that little one won't remember it, you will never forget how much fun you had! :sohappy:

 

[Yellow Shoes]

My trip is also coming up, and I booked knowing full well it was hurricane season.

But there is never a perfect time to go.

Quite frankly, I'm more worried about the crowds. Resorts are sold out and ADRs are nearly impossible to get for our time frame. I am expecting an impossibly long wait for Soarin'.

 

[Trishnh]

Just remember these Hurricanes can change on a dime!! I was sure I was going to have to cancel my trip starting tomorrow on Monday based on the weather forcasts!! Fortunately Ernesto turned out to be a rain storm and should be gone by the time we arrive tomorrow:sohappy: . It was a pretty stressful week, though and now I need this vacation more than ever-LOL!

It has been a very quiet year in the tropics so lets hope it wtays that way!! I still think Sept/Oct are one of the best times to go! Have a great trip & dont worry about what may happen..There is always a chance of bad weather and you just make the most of it!!:wave:

 

[tink81]

My trip is also coming up, and I booked knowing full well it was hurricane season.

But there is never a perfect time to go.

Quite frankly, I'm more worried about the crowds. Resorts are sold out and ADRs are nearly impossible to get for our time frame. I am expecting an impossibly long wait for Soarin'.

When will you be down there Yellow Shoes? We are going Sept 24 and I, too am more concerned about the crowds than the weather....

 

[joelleharbert]

My trip is also coming up, and I booked knowing full well it was hurricane season.

But there is never a perfect time to go.

Quite frankly, I'm more worried about the crowds. Resorts are sold out and ADRs are nearly impossible to get for our time frame. I am expecting an impossibly long wait for Soarin'.

I expect that the crowds might be a little longer than they normally are in Sept., but when I went to the WDW website today, I requested a vacation package and pretty much had my pick of which resort:veryconfu to choose from. Also, I changed our ADR several times and never had a problem getting new times. I know that with the free dining, it might be busier than it was two years ago when we went, but I can't imagine it's going to be anywhere near summer crowds. Most people are just not going to take their kids out of school that early on. That's just my opinion, though. Who knows?

 

[figment1985]

I am in the SAME boat as you, Cole'sMom.

I am leaving in 12 days and I am so freaked out about driving in a storm. Hopefully there wont be an Ernesto following hurricane..

 

[Jerm]

This is my forth time going during the SEASON (don't say the word bad luck) and have never had a problem. I know that saying this could mean I will have the strom roll in the day after we get there but I take my chances. Just as everyone has said it is a slower time right now so it is nice. Plus with Disney's new advance cancel policy having a strom coming that MIGHT get close is a great way to enjoy the parks when everone else decides not to go.

Look at it this way...May HOT and sunny with afternoon rain storms. Sept/Oct cooler with longer rain stroms and shorter lines.

I think someone said they just booked and it was wide open??? I would guess a lot of that is the people who booked and didn't think about the season then decided even a free meal plan was not good enough incentive.

Go and have fun and show your new baby the magic.

J

 

[CoffeeJedi]

I'm going in 9 days. And I'm a little worried about hurricanes, but not too much. I figure that as long as the parks are open, i'll be out there in the horizontally blowing rain.

 

[figment1985]

ROFL!!!!!

yeah coffeejedi, we'll both be there holding on to railings outside... our bodies flying in the air... disney will have a new soarin ride without the machines.. lol

 

[Boray]

We went last year when Wilma hit (cat. 5 in the days before we arrived.) We got there the Saturday before she hit (on Monday). The parks were closed on Monday and when the storm cleared (by mid afternoon!!! not even a whole day of bad weather!) it was beautiful, although a little cool. I was REALLY scared because we drove, and if anything happened to our van, we were stuck. I contemplated rescheduling our trip, but the good people on this site told me not to worry and go and we had a great trip. We had some of the best weather after the hurricane I've ever experienced at WDW. Don't worry. We survived one of the biggest to hit the state and had a wonderful time. We watched a few movies and hung out in our room until the storm passed. You're at Disney, it doesn't get much better!!!

We're tempting fate and going again this year at the end of October - highly unlikely we'll have another storm hit at that time. (Wilma was the first hurricane to hit Florida in October in 40 years - the odds are pretty good that we'll be ok). Hopefully, you'll just have good luck and not have to worry about any storms. If you do, bring a good book, or some games and have fun spending time with your family in the hotel for a day. :wave:

 

[CoffeeJedi]

ROFL!!!!!

yeah coffeejedi, we'll both be there holding on to railings outside... our bodies flying in the air... disney will have a new soarin ride without the machines.. lol

HEEEEEY! LET GO OF THE RAILING AND LEAN TO THE LEFT! I THINK WE CAN MAKE IT TO ADVENTURELAND! I WANT A DOLE WHIIIIP!
/lets go
/blows away

 

[Since1976]

There were torrential rains almost every day when my wife and I went on our honeymoon, but you know what? We hardly remember the bad weather!

Only upon looking at our photos do we remember how cloudy and miserable the weather really was.

Think of the rain as tiny little swimming pools :lol:

 

[scotth1224]

Likewise.......I will be there in 11 days.......
I will be there rain or shine!!!!!