Hurricane Dorian / WDW Theme Parks Discussion

[GADisneyDad14]

Reluctantly, creating a thread on the topic so the mods can update the title and Post #1 if and when needed.

This thread is located on the Theme Parks Attractions & Strategies Board. Discussion of the storm’s impact on the theme parks, tickets, WDW trip planning, how/if you are modifying your plans, options Disney is providing to folks, how to handle modifying plans, etc, are all welcome. This is information that is useful to folks as they determine what is best in their own individual circumstances.

Accurate information and a clear plan can be helpful when faced with the uncertainty and anxiety tropical systems tend to create, particularly when travel plans are involved.

Let’s try to keep the discussion theme parks and storm related. Off topic posts may be removed at the discretion of the moderators. This is not a thread for debating if a poster should or shouldn’t travel, storm strength predictions, or topics not directly relevant to the WDW theme parks.

Thanks everyone.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

WDW 9/4 operational updates (announced Tuesday 9/3 approx 3pm ET):

https://streamingthemagic.com/wdw-operational-updates-for-wednesday-september-4th/
WDW 9/2 & 9/3 operational updates (announced Monday 9/2 approx 5pm ET):

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/weather-updates/
https://streamingthemagic.com/walt-disney-world-adjusting-operating-hours-due-to-dorian/

http://www.orlandoparksnews.com/2019/09/advisory-hurricane-dorian-to-affect.html

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Helpful Links

WDW Website Info - https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/weather-updates/


National Hurricane Center (NHC) - https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

• NHC publishes updates every 3 hours - 2, 5, 8, & 11 AM & PM
• NHC on Twitter: https://twitter.com/NHC_Atlantic

Mike’s Weather Page - https://spaghettimodels.com/

Brian Shields / WFTV9 - https://twitter.com/BrianShieldsTV

Denis Phillips / ABC Action News Tampa - https://twitter.com/DenisPhillips28

Disney Hurricane Policy - https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/hurricane-policy

Gas Buddy - https://tracker.gasbuddy.com


Other Dorian discussions around the DIS

General Open Dorian Discussion on the Community Board - https://www.disboards.com/threads/dorian.3767192/

Dorian Discussion on the Disney Resorts Board - https://www.disboards.com/threads/hurricane-dorian.3767113/

Several Threads on the Transportation Board - https://www.disboards.com/forums/transportation.16/

General Dorian Discussion on the Disney Rumors & News Board - https://www.disboards.com/threads/dorian-expected-to-strengthen-to-cat-3-hurricane.3767189/

 

[Mike Mantis]

Latest forecast from the National Hurricane Center have trended to a East Coast of Florida impact as a Cat 3 Saturday morning (as of Wednesday at Noon Central).

If I was going to be at the parks this weekend I would assume you would be getting heavy rain, if not worse.

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at5+shtml/151450.shtml?tswind120#contents (Winds)

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at5+shtml/151450.shtml?cone#contents (Path)

 

[MakiraMarlena]

start watching this storm now if you are flying to/from Orlando on Saturday, Sunday or Monday. other days may be added to that depending on what Dorian does over the next couple days.

 

[Happyinwonerland]

We were planning to drive over to Epcot this weekend, but I think if there is a hurricane we will stay home. I was hoping Dorian would break up before it got to Florida.

I know it won't change opening day for SWGE, but I wish this would have been a different weekend. The parks and resorts will be packed and so many staff will be required to work during the hurricane instead of evacuating or at the very least staying home and safe with their families and not driving to and from work.

 

[MikeOhio]

We were planning to drive over to Epcot this weekend, but I think if there is a hurricane we will stay home. I was hoping Dorian would break up before it got to Florida.

I know it won't change opening day for SWGE, but I wish this would have been a different weekend. The parks and resorts will be packed and so many staff will be required to work during the hurricane instead of evacuating or at the very least staying home and safe with their families and not driving to and from work.

Just an FYI people who live in Orlando don't evacuate for hurricanes.

 

[FastPasser.]

Just an FYI people who live in Orlando don't evacuate for hurricanes.

Twenty five years and I never did, but I permanently evacuated 3 weeks ago and will not be on hurricane watch ever again.

 

[Runner225]

Our flight gets into MCO at 7:15 am Tuesday Dorian, move out to sea!

 

[Starbrite]

So far we are planning to make the best of it and continue with our plans to fly in Saturday morning.

What last minute items would you add to your packing list to prepare for the impending weather?

I assume we'll have rainy & windy weather before and after the storm hits. So we'll pack some extra rain gear.

Should I throw some snacks in our luggage in case we are stuck in our rooms at some point? If the parks close, what closes in the resorts?

 

[MakiraMarlena]

Depends on the resort. If you are in a resort that has a lobby you can reach without going outside, you may have access to some or all resort services. If you are in a resort where your room is detached from the lobby, you may have to stay in your room, or in the building where your room is, which may or may not have some kind of food service. None of that is absolutely certain though.

 

[DanielleRhymesWithBelle]

We fly out of DC on Saturday morning. Planned on hanging out at Disney Springs & doing a monorail crawl for arrival day. Universal day on Sunday, Sept 1. Check into AKL Monday morning, MNSSHP that night. Weather now has all of my plans TBD. Hoping the rest of our week is a little less wet.

I'm stalking the storm updates like I'm getting paid.

Wish us luck!

 

[HeiHei2018]

So far we are planning to make the best of it and continue with our plans to fly in Saturday morning.

What last minute items would you add to your packing list to prepare for the impending weather?

I assume we'll have rainy & windy weather before and after the storm hits. So we'll pack some extra rain gear.

Should I throw some snacks in our luggage in case we are stuck in our rooms at some point? If the parks close, what closes in the resorts?

If the forecast later this week shows the storm crossing Orlando, I'd pack a day's worth of non-perishable food. Protein bars can get you through a lot. I'd much rather be in my room dry and eating a granola bar than dashing through a storm to get a cupcake.

 

[Tarheel girl 1975]

We are supposed fly in Friday evening. We were only staying for the weekend. Thinking of cancelling.

 

[OhDannyBoy]

Just an FYI people who live in Orlando don't evacuate for hurricanes.

Correction, people who live in FLORIDA don't evacuate for hurricanes.

 

[wendlle]

We're arriving into MCO 7pm Tuesday night. I sure hope that we still can.
We've ridden out 2 Hurricanes at WDW before, I don't want to make it a 3rd.

 

[Searc]

So far we are planning to make the best of it and continue with our plans to fly in Saturday morning.

What last minute items would you add to your packing list to prepare for the impending weather?

I assume we'll have rainy & windy weather before and after the storm hits. So we'll pack some extra rain gear.

Should I throw some snacks in our luggage in case we are stuck in our rooms at some point? If the parks close, what closes in the resorts?

I'd change your flight to Friday.

 

[mccartcm]

Changed our flights to Saturday afternoon (was on Sunday) staying offsite. Checking in early Sunday and deciding if it is better to go into the parks Sunday or Monday. Plan on stocking up on food for the rooms if needed (staying at POR). The parks, if open, will hopefully have low crowds so kind of looking forward to that

 

[MommaBerd]

So far we are planning to make the best of it and continue with our plans to fly in Saturday morning.

What last minute items would you add to your packing list to prepare for the impending weather?

I assume we'll have rainy & windy weather before and after the storm hits. So we'll pack some extra rain gear.

Should I throw some snacks in our luggage in case we are stuck in our rooms at some point? If the parks close, what closes in the resorts?

Definitely pack snacks. From what I remember with Irma, WDW really takes care of people during a hurricane...but the food situation was hit or miss. I’d also pack a flashlight, just in case and card games or other in-room entertainment. For resorts with outdoor walkways, there was a room curfew for a while.

 

[MommaBerd]

We're arriving into MCO 7pm Tuesday night. I sure hope that we still can.
We've ridden out 2 Hurricanes at WDW before, I don't want to make it a 3rd.

Wow - that’s bad luck...or bad timing!