Hurricane Irma?

[Tonyz]

We are at Disney now until Saturday but have since changed our flights to Friday to be safe.

You probably would have been safe on Saturday honestly.

 

[Amy___M]

Sorry! Just got out of a meeting. There was Saratoga springs and a sprinkling of other resorts. I was able to give up our first two nights at boulder ridge in a 2 bedroom. We are now at boulder ridge from the 13-19 and then one night at grand Floridian villas for the night of the 19th. I was able to change our rental car and the scooters for my parents. Busy morning but my stress level is way down.

Now my thoughts and prayers are with everyone in irmas current path, and my former employee who just moved to west palm beach.

Are you pretty confident in the airport being open on the 13th?

 

[SpookyJ]

Sorry to sound reprimanding but September IS THE HIGH POINT of the Hurricane season. If you booked a trip in this period, you gambled. Nobody has lost the bet yet. But if you booked a short Fri-Mon stay then you're probably better off canceling or rescheduling. For the week longers, you'll probably have 2 days washed out

Yes, I can see that. Having never booked a trip to WDW I didn't know this until now, my travel agent didn't mention it, and in all the research I did it somehow didn't come up. I can see this situation is entirely my fault for not doing even more research, I feel bad enough as it is as I'm sure everyone else does. Its not like I'm a veteran traveler that would have known better. I tried to be educated.

 

[Jack Stake]

Basically from all the information available we have now. Friday and Saturday will be fine at WDW and the airports all day. The question is about Sunday afternoon and Monday. So will flights be arriving and departing Sunday afternoon. Probably. Since Orlando is in the middle of the state and not a coastal city. WDW could possibly close early that day not for damage to the park but just so everyone is not on the road if the hurricane is the vicinity. But Matthew was right on the coast and it didn't cause too much damage, in Orlando at least. Irma looks to be further away from Orlando when it passes by from the current reports.

 

[Amy___M]

Yes, I can see that. Having never booked a trip to WDW I didn't know this until now, my travel agent didn't mention it, and in all the research I did it somehow didn't come up. I can see this situation is entirely my fault for not doing even more research, I feel bad enough as it is as I'm sure everyone else does. Its not like I'm a veteran traveler that would have known better. I tried to be educated.

You are fine. It's perfectly ok that we are all on here asking questions and strategizing. No need to feel bad or guilty.

 

[wonder whisper]

Latest model has the eye never going over Orlando.

Given there are literally scores of models, which one are you referring to? Most of the present composite spaghetti maps (the ones that display multiple projected paths) have the heaviest concentration going right up through Florida. And BTW, latest NHS measurements show peak sustained winds approaching 180 mph with analysts saying the current and near term path of the storm may skirt the windward islands, which if the case means the storm would not be degraded by land terrain and could actually continue to strengthen as it approaches Florida.

And note the following comment made in todays 11am NHS update:

"Irma is the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic basin outside of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico in the NHC records."

This is definitely not a storm you want to experience if it does enter Florida and takes a north/northwesterly track through it.

 

[WizD]

Flying in on the 9th, hoping the park stays open on the 10th, and then potentially riding it out on the 11th at the AoA, assuming the park closes that day (which is just conjecture at this point). Hoping all is back in full swing by that Tuesday for MNSSHP. Not trying to minimize the potential threat, but maybe if it doesn't hit Orlando directly, it'll make for low crowds and low humidity. Gotta be positive somehow, right?!

Right there with ya! Same dates, same plan. Hoping for the best.

 

[SL6827]

We will be at the Yacht Club CL so things could be worse.

That is great. I "think" I read last year that someone who was there in Matthew was giving the advice that they were glad they were in a hotel where it was all one unit, like AKL, WL, ect. I think I would prefer a ground floor room if one was available. But if your CL, I guess that is the 5th floor?

 

[Shaun Davis]

Well I'm still hoping to fly on on the 10th. Flying down on SW so we'll see what happens.

 

[kbelz78]

My travel agent emailed me at noon and is on hold with WDW about hurricane warning. She said I would not be refunded without a warning but I don't want to go to Florida with it in a state of emergency. I know it's a lot of what ifs but my biggest fear is drowning by water. Waiting for travel agent to call back

Travel dates - 9/7-9/12

Just got off the phone with DRC. They would not confirm that policy was in effect. We had some back up dates ready to reschedule, but they could not accommodate our new dates (in February BTW) - so they REFUNDED 100% OF OUR COSTS (RESORT, TICKETS, MEMORY MAKER, ADR'S ETC.) We were made 100% whole.

Starting from square one = better than risking it on a dangerous hurricane.

 

[Tonyz]

Basically from all the information available we have now. Friday and Saturday will be fine at WDW and the airports all day. The question is about Sunday afternoon and Monday. So will flights be arriving and departing Sunday afternoon. Probably. Since Orlando is in the middle of the state and not a coastal city. WDW could possibly close early that day not for damage to the park but just so everyone is not on the road if the hurricane is the vicinity. But Matthew was right on the coast and it didn't cause too much damage, in Orlando at least. Irma looks to be further away from Orlando when it passes by from the current reports.

I'd say this is a pretty accurate picture of the situation. MCO might stop flights midday Sunday. As for parks closing, I would say there's no way anyone can say for certain they will. Maybe Sunday closes early and Monday opens late or something.

 

[Alicialee05]

Allegiant is offering one-time change to travel plans if you're flying into impacted airports with flights between Sept 5th and Sept 9th. FYI

https://www.allegiantair.com/travel-alerts

Hopefully they extend that to the 10th, because that's our fly-in date, and we are about 97% sure we are postponing to later this month.

 

[Tonyz]

Given there are literally scores of models, which one are you referring to? Most of the present composite spaghetti maps (the ones that display multiple projected paths) have the heaviest concentration going right up through Florida. And BTW, latest NHS measurements show peak sustained winds approaching 180 mph with analysts saying the current and near term path of the storm may skirt the windward islands, which if the case means the storm would not be degraded by land terrain and could actually continue to strengthen as it approaches Florida.

And note the following comment made in todays 11am NHS update:

"Irma is the strongest hurricane in the Atlantic basin outside of the Caribbean Sea and Gulf of Mexico in the NHC records."

This is definitely not a storm you want to experience if it does enter Florida and takes a north/northwesterly track through it.

Latest GFC.

I'm not saying nobody worry and let's all fly down to Miami to laugh at the storm. But there's plenty of doubt left as to when and if and how bad this storm will affect WDW for people Sunday/Monday.

 

[Tom P.]

So far, for our trip which *begins* on the 12th, it's looking like we may be able to be okay. Does anyone have any reason to think differently thus far? As of now, we're just staying in a holding pattern watching and waiting. But we're not making any changes at this point.

For those of you who live in Florida, or those who are scheduled to be there over the weekend, know that you will all be in our prayers that this does not turn out to be as bad as it is looking right now and that, above all else, there is no loss of life. A vacation is insignificant in comparison to that.

 

[Tom Cottone]

Yes, I can see that. Having never booked a trip to WDW I didn't know this until now, my travel agent didn't mention it, and in all the research I did it somehow didn't come up. I can see this situation is entirely my fault for not doing even more research, I feel bad enough as it is as I'm sure everyone else does. Its not like I'm a veteran traveler that would have known better. I tried to be educated.

Those of us that live on the Atlantic/Gulf coasts are very familiar with it. Don't beat yourself up over it. A good TA should advise about peak hurricane season. That's why I put my plans off till November

 

[mellvswdw1]

Are you pretty confident in the airport being open on the 13th?

I was pretty iffy about trying to fly in on Tuesday and the lady at southwest with all those years of experience suggested Wednesday or Thursday even. Thursday to Thursday doesn't really work for us, but I do feel better about Wednesday. Where are you flying out of? I was able to snag an early morning flight that was super expensive before they let me change it at no cost. I hope I didn't just shoot myself in the foot if it's really bad at Mco.

 

[desapaulecidos]

Splash is already closed and being refurbished as we speak.

Right, I knew that, I guess I worded my question poorly. Is this something that could possibly extend the refurbishment since they'll likely have to stop during the storm and afterwards possibly deal with other damage?

 

[mellvswdw1]

forgot to add quote!

 

[HarperLeigh]

Right now, we are leaving Alabama for Orlando, before the crack of dawn on Sunday, the 10th. And leaving the 17th.

Debating going a day early and arriving on Saturday. That will get us there before anything might hit.

According to the current models, you'll get there at the same time as Irma if you arrive Saturday.

 

[Speri337]

Well... I just packed up a box of diapers, snacks and what not and shipped it off to our resort. I kinda feel like I am out of my freaking mind. We are scheduled to arrive 9/12. We've decided to proceed as planned until we have more information, but we've been through Sandy and that wasn't even a Cat 1. This thing is going to be biblical. I just can't even imagine.

To all the Florida residents on this board, particularly those on the coast: my thoughts and prayers are with you. Please stay safe.