What does WDW do during a Hard Frost?

[flavious27]

That was taken last week on a bridge at SSR. The frost actually made the bridge slick and we had to tread carefully.

We were definitely not prepared for the cold weather (coming from NH we too thought it wouldn't be that cold). First stop in Animal Kingdom saw some of us buy hoodies, gloves, hats. The CMs commented that was the third time they had filled those racks and the hat my dad bought was the last one they had at their location.

RE: Monorails, I know there were several issues with the monorails on the express line from TTC to MK. Red sounded awful. Might not have been the cold though. I know Yellow was down for a while too.

It couldn't have been that bad of a frost in florida that running the heat on high for 5 minutes couldn't solve.

I know how bad that bridge could have been, our condo complex switched to that plastic that looks like wood for our decks and walkways.

During a trip down in nov a couple years back, we had to get a couple of hoodies at mousegears after illuminations because it got too chilly for us.

 

[cblodg]

they hosed down a ramp in freezing weather? :brick:

I wonder if there is anything they could add to the water, that is non toxic, that would prevent it from freezing. I doubt that disney would add like 200 gallons of vodka to their fountains, because that would be frontpage news. Something that drops the freezing point a couple of degrees is all that is needed, if it gets down to single digits, disney would have alot more problems than the fountains' pipes freezing.

Easiest way to keep water from freezing is to keep it moving. Running the fountains is probably the most cost effective way of doing this.

 

[joel_maxwell]

I give up. :lol:

 

[Phonedave]

they hosed down a ramp in freezing weather? :brick:

I wonder if there is anything they could add to the water, that is non toxic, that would prevent it from freezing. I doubt that disney would add like 200 gallons of vodka to their fountains, because that would be frontpage news. Something that drops the freezing point a couple of degrees is all that is needed, if it gets down to single digits, disney would have alot more problems than the fountains' pipes freezing.

Anything that you add to water will depress the freezing point (and also elevate the boiling point)

Salt would work, it's non-toxic, but not too tasty.

Really though, keeping them running is the easies way. What would REALLY be the easiest way would be to put frostless fountains in. We have had lows of 19 and highs of 27 for the last 4 days. The outdoor drinking fountains in the park where I run are still working nicely.

All that really is, is the shut off for the water is INSIDE the building, where it is warm. Since the water shuts off inside, there is none outside to freeze.

They also make frost proof pedistal fountains, where the water in the fountain drains back into a sump located below the frost line, for locations where the fountains are not attached to a heated structure.

-dave

 

[joel_maxwell]

Anything that you add to water will depress the freezing point (and also elevate the boiling point)

Salt would work, it's non-toxic, but not too tasty.

Really though, keeping them running is the easies way. What would REALLY be the easiest way would be to put frostless fountains in. We have had lows of 19 and highs of 27 for the last 4 days. The outdoor drinking fountains in the park where I run are still working nicely.

All that really is, is the shut off for the water is INSIDE the building, where it is warm. Since the water shuts off inside, there is none outside to freeze.

They also make frost proof pedistal fountains, where the water in the fountain drains back into a sump located below the frost line, for locations where the fountains are not attached to a heated structure.

-dave

I like living in Alabama where we really dont have these these issues like our neighbors up north. About once a year, I get worried about the pipes, but other than that, easy breezy.

*With that said, i fully intend on returning home from work today and seeing water gushing from the side of my house from a frozen pipe*

 

[mickey2008.1]

We just got back from six days in wdw last night, and it was cold. Most if not all flowers were covered with white fabric and parachutes. It really made the place look boring. I will post pics later on after i download them. We did see alot of dead foliage as well, even small palm trees were affected.

 

[loveofamouse]

Yeah, those heaters were amazing. You could see the big flame inside. I can only liken it to seeing an afterburner on a jet engine. It was crazy. I have done some work on a natural gas terminal construction site where we had to lease really big equipment including portable a/c's, generators, heaters, etc. I know those industrial mega-heaters are expensive as all heck. What really impressed me was that all those heaters aren't leased. Animal Kingdom owns them. Their name is painted on each unit. That means they made that significant of an investment in equipment that is intended for a 'just in case' scenario. Yes, the need has been there this year & last but that frigid of weather is more an exception than a rule. So when you think about it, Disney has thought a lot thru that most folks would never even think possible and they've chosen to spend a pretty sizeable amount to prepare themselves for worst-cases that are pretty far out there. THAT is impressive to me.

It's not necessarily a worst case scenario. As some of the other Floridians here can tell you, Fl gets freezes every year. Several times, in fact. We get frozen pipes and have to cover our plants many times during the winter. So, if anything, it was a smart expenditure.

 

[loveofamouse]

That was taken last week on a bridge at SSR. The frost actually made the bridge slick and we had to tread carefully.

We were definitely not prepared for the cold weather (coming from NH we too thought it wouldn't be that cold). First stop in Animal Kingdom saw some of us buy hoodies, gloves, hats. The CMs commented that was the third time they had filled those racks and the hat my dad bought was the last one they had at their location.

RE: Monorails, I know there were several issues with the monorails on the express line from TTC to MK. Red sounded awful. Might not have been the cold though. I know Yellow was down for a while too.

As a Floridian living in VA, I will say that 20degrees in FL is ALOT colder than 20degrees up here. Here, I can go outside in a hoodie, speghetti top, and sweatpants in 20degrees and be okay. In Fl, once it hits 55, we're crying like babies:lol: I think the main difference is the moisture in the air. I think the heavier humidity in Fl makes the cold feel like wet-cold. Add to that alot more wind, esp in Jax(where Im from). We'd get that wind right off the ATL that would freeze you to the bone!

 

[Tom]

As a Floridian living in VA, I will say that 20degrees in FL is ALOT colder than 20degrees up here. Here, I can go outside in a hoodie, speghetti top, and sweatpants in 20degrees and be okay. In Fl, once it hits 55, we're crying like babies:lol: I think the main difference is the moisture in the air. I think the heavier humidity in Fl makes the cold feel like wet-cold. Add to that alot more wind, esp in Jax(where Im from). We'd get that wind right off the ATL that would freeze you to the bone!

You are exactly right about cold temps feeling worse in Florida. It's absolutely because of the moisture in the air. We live in Indiana, so we're also used to cold weather.

However, it sounds like you have a much higher tolerance to 20-degrees than I do...a sweatshirt, sweat pants and spaghetti top wouldn't cut it for me (and that's ignoring the fact that I'd look silly in a spaghetti top, and people would start to wonder, lol).

But at least the wind and cold air is dry up here. Last January at WDW, the "wet" wind and air felt so biting. It was awful.

 

[loveofamouse]

hey, no one's seeing the speghetti top lol. Last week, I was doing some candy making so I took my sweater off and had on only a S. top. I had to pick up my kids from school so I just grabbed my jacket and ran out of the door. I was fine.

Maybe I am just warm blooded

 

[meekoman]

I know when it really frosts over, Splash Mountain converts to a bobsled track.

 

[sweetpee_1993]

It's not necessarily a worst case scenario. As some of the other Floridians here can tell you, Fl gets freezes every year. Several times, in fact. We get frozen pipes and have to cover our plants many times during the winter. So, if anything, it was a smart expenditure.

Actually, I lived in & around the Orlando metro area from '81 to '91 and I don't remember there being that many freezes. Maybe 2 or 3 times. Then again, we're talking 7 to 17 years old so it's entirely possible that it happened and I simply don't remember. I agree, it's a smart expenditure. I'm not really used to being amazed at someone's level of preparedness...usually I'm marveling at their lack of... LOL! If maintained properly with such minimal use those heaters should hold up for many, maaaaany years, too. Very smart expenditure indeed!

 

[LSonDubz]

they up the price on hot drinks and make more profit :shrug:

 

[flavious27]

they up the price on hot drinks and make more profit :shrug:

no you have it wrong, they are just raising them back from the summer decrease in prices.

 

[NYwdwfan]

Here are 2 photos of the tarps covering the plants in France last week. These types of tarps were all over the parks on the topiaries, poinsettas, flower beds, etc.:

And for the record - I'm from New York and used to sub-zero temperatures - and it was COLD. I'm used to running from house to car, car to work, etc. Not standing outside for prolonged periods of time...like for 30 minutes on the boat dock of Fort Wilderness Campground waiting for the boat to MK after the Hoop Dee Doo when it was about 5 degrees with the wind chill

 

[cblodg]

As a Floridian living in VA, I will say that 20degrees in FL is ALOT colder than 20degrees up here. Here, I can go outside in a hoodie, speghetti top, and sweatpants in 20degrees and be okay. In Fl, once it hits 55, we're crying like babies:lol: I think the main difference is the moisture in the air. I think the heavier humidity in Fl makes the cold feel like wet-cold. Add to that alot more wind, esp in Jax(where Im from). We'd get that wind right off the ATL that would freeze you to the bone!

You are exactly right about cold temps feeling worse in Florida. It's absolutely because of the moisture in the air. We live in Indiana, so we're also used to cold weather.

However, it sounds like you have a much higher tolerance to 20-degrees than I do...a sweatshirt, sweat pants and spaghetti top wouldn't cut it for me (and that's ignoring the fact that I'd look silly in a spaghetti top, and people would start to wonder, lol).

But at least the wind and cold air is dry up here. Last January at WDW, the "wet" wind and air felt so biting. It was awful.

The "wet" air makes more sense. We could not figure out for the life of us as to why the air felt so cold and we were reacting so poorly to it. I mean, like you two, we're used to cold air. But I definitely think the moisture content really made it worse.

 

[Atomicmickey]

And for the record - I'm from New York and used to sub-zero temperatures - and it was COLD. I'm used to running from house to car, car to work, etc. Not standing outside for prolonged periods of time...like for 30 minutes on the boat dock of Fort Wilderness Campground waiting for the boat to MK after the Hoop Dee Doo when it was about 5 degrees with the wind chill

I'm from Minnesota--and did that exact same thing--waiting for the boat after Hoop--and it was one of the coldest experiences of my life! Funny.

It's the cold, plus the moisture, plus the fact that you don't really bring your super cold weather gear to WDW, it's a disconnect to be cold around palm trees!

 

[unkadug]

The "wet" air makes more sense. We could not figure out for the life of us as to why the air felt so cold and we were reacting so poorly to it. I mean, like you two, we're used to cold air. But I definitely think the moisture content really made it worse.

It's the same moisture content that makes it sooooo hot in the summertime also. The moisture is so high that when you sweat it doesn't evaporate as quickly and you get drenched.

 

[loveofamouse]

Wlecome to Florida

Extreme hot with extreme cold with wet air to make both a PITA

I call it home and wouldn't trade it for anywhere else

 

[flavious27]

It's the same moisture content that makes it sooooo hot in the summertime also. The moisture is so high that when you sweat it doesn't evaporate as quickly and you get drenched.

Welcome to living to the Delaware valley. phoenix can suck it with their 120 degree dry heat.