Keeping an eye on Tropical Weather 2024

[0FF TO NEVERLAND]

Us three. My airline allows one change or cancel without fees so I want to be clear on what I’m doing before I make a change.

Adding to that, I rented with an agency to stay at Bonnet Creek and don’t have a clear answer on what will happen if I cancel. Last I heard they were only refunding those checking in on the 10th. We check in on the 12th.

I’m trying to wait and make the most rational decision possible and not lose thousands in the process.

The final piece of the puzzle is that my adult daughter and her husband were visiting my sister and are currently evacuated with my sister and her family. My sister lives in Tampa and is going to have major damage to her home. I don’t know how to get my daughter and her husband home if we cancel.

It’s all a mess. This isn’t “not understanding the magnitude”. This is just not knowing what to do.

Hope for the best. Nothing is guaranteed

 

[raidermatt]

Why do you think that you might need to cancel your trip? Things should be almost back to a normal weekend at WDW by Saturday.

We will all know by 7 AM or so on Thursday what things look like for the Orlando area and a confirmation by 2 PM Thursday as to what recovery will be needed between MCO and Disney.

Dave

I don't think that's a realistic timeframe. Based on the current forecast, the eye should be over central Florida around 7am Thursday. Definitely too early to expect a final assessment of damage. Even 2pm is pushing it. Info could be slow coming out depending on how bad (or not) it is.

And sure, things will probably be relatively normal at WDW by Saturday. But one thing that everyone should understand about these storms is that you don't know how severe the damage will be until its over. And as we have learned from other storms, recovery can take a lot longer than a day.

 

[raidermatt]

Us three. My airline allows one change or cancel without fees so I want to be clear on what I’m doing before I make a change.

Adding to that, I rented with an agency to stay at Bonnet Creek and don’t have a clear answer on what will happen if I cancel. Last I heard they were only refunding those checking in on the 10th. We check in on the 12th.

I’m trying to wait and make the most rational decision possible and not lose thousands in the process.

The final piece of the puzzle is that my adult daughter and her husband were visiting my sister and are currently evacuated with my sister and her family. My sister lives in Tampa and is going to have major damage to her home. I don’t know how to get my daughter and her husband home if we cancel.

It’s all a mess. This isn’t “not understanding the magnitude”. This is just not knowing what to do.

It's tough, but I suspect by Thursday evening there should be enough info to make your decision. Definitely by Friday morning.

 

[Dave006]

I don't think that's a realistic timeframe. Based on the current forecast, the eye should be over central Florida around 7am Thursday.

Sure by 7 AM we will know the narrow track of Milton and if the Orlando Metro area is in the direct path or north or south. So yes a realistic time frame. Milton is currently scheduled to make landfall between 1 - 2 AM in Tampa or north or south of the bay.

Oh and at the 8 PM update Milton is expected to be on the Atlantic coast by 2 PM on Thursday. That's the great thing about the DIS forums we all get to post our views on many topics.

Dave

 

[raidermatt]

Sure by 7 AM we will know the narrow track of Milton and if the Orlando Metro area is in the direct path or north or south. So yes a realistic time frame. Milton is currently scheduled to make landfall between 1 - 2 AM in Tampa or north or south of the bay.

Oh and at the 8 PM update Milton is expected to be on the Atlantic coast by 2 PM on Thursday. That's the great thing about the DIS forums we all get to post our views on many topics.

Dave

Knowing the path and knowing the damage are two different things.

 

[Willows909]

We are at VGF and scheduled to leave on Saturday morning.

We’ll be leaving Saturday as well

 

[disneydenisel]

We arrived late Friday night for eight nights. Staying at BCV and hoping that we aren't in lockdown all day Thursday because BCV is not connected to BC. Guest Relations told me that I could get refunded for 3 days of our 7-day park hopper if we don't end up using them.

Friends from home have texted me and asked why we didn't fly home earlier, and my response was that we felt like we just got here, and turning around and heading home just seemed like it wasn't necessary. Not to mention how much money we would lose (DVC points/dues) if we flew home early. Today was a really nice day weather-wise and crowd-wise. Barely any lines at Food and Wine today. Hoping we can fly out of MCO on Saturday night.

 

[Willows909]

We arrived late Friday night for eight nights. Staying at BCV and hoping that we aren't in lockdown all day Thursday because BCV is not connected to BC. Guest Relations told me that I could get refunded for 3 days of our 7-day park hopper if we don't end up using them.

Friends from home have texted me and asked why we didn't fly home earlier, and my response was that we felt like we just got here, and turning around and heading home just seemed like it wasn't necessary. Not to mention how much money we would lose (DVC points/dues) if we flew home early. Today was a really nice day weather-wise and crowd-wise. Barely any lines at Food and Wine today. Hoping we can fly out of MCO on Saturday night.

Hoping to fly out Saturday as well. Evening flight.

 

[disneydenisel]

Hoping to fly out Saturday as well. Evening flight.

All the CMs we have talked with have told us that WDW is the safest place to be during a hurricane and that the buildings are designed to withstand Cat 4 hurricanes. They said everyone comes to Orlando to evacuate from other places. This is our first hurricane, so our special needs adult daughter has a lot of anxiety about it. We are just hoping that everyone stays safe and that the roads and airport are open on Saturday.

BCV asked everyone to bring their balcony furniture into their rooms.

 

[gottalovepluto]

We arrived late Friday night for eight nights. Staying at BCV and hoping that we aren't in lockdown all day Thursday because BCV is not connected to BC.

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst- you are prepared to be looked down for a full day just in case right?

 

[gottalovepluto]

BCV asked everyone to bring their balcony furniture into their rooms.

Fwiw- Standard protocol, all resorts with balcony furniture require this

 

[disneydenisel]

Hope for the best, prepare for the worst- you are prepared to be looked down for a full day just in case right?

Yes, we are prepared as best we can for our first hurricane!

 

[goopysolelady]

All the CMs we have talked with have told us that WDW is the safest place to be during a hurricane and that the buildings are designed to withstand Cat 4 hurricanes. They said everyone comes to Orlando to evacuate from other places. This is our first hurricane, so our special needs adult daughter has a lot of anxiety about it. We are just hoping that everyone stays safe and that the roads and airport are open on Saturday.

BCV asked everyone to bring their balcony furniture into their rooms.

Please warn your daughter it will be noisy! The wind and rain are deafening at times but it DOES end...won't last forever! Movies would be an good choice of entertainment.

 

[fla4fun]

Please warn your daughter it will be noisy! The wind and rain are deafening at times but it DOES end...won't last forever! Movies would be a good choice of entertainment.

It’s so loud I wear earplugs during the worst of it. I can’t stand the constant noise. Watching a movie with headphones might help block it out. I do that sometimes during a severe thunderstorm, to reduce the noise.

 

[Willows909]

We are just hoping that everyone stays safe and that the roads and airport are open on Saturday.

Agree! Disney staff has been wonderful. We tried to cut our trip short, but couldn’t get a flight (originally scheduled the10th) on Monday or Tuesday. Added a night, then another and booked the Sat flight.

 

[Pinkflmngo]

I don't think that's a realistic timeframe. Based on the current forecast, the eye should be over central Florida around 7am Thursday. Definitely too early to expect a final assessment of damage. Even 2pm is pushing it. Info could be slow coming out depending on how bad (or not) it is.

And sure, things will probably be relatively normal at WDW by Saturday. But one thing that everyone should understand about these storms is that you don't know how severe the damage will be until its over. And as we have learned from other storms, recovery can take a lot longer than a day.

 

[jwolfpack]

Are Fastpasses included in those?

I received e-mails noting refunds for my 10/10 LLSP reservations this morning. I did not call to request those refunds. I have not received a refund for LLMP for that day, but I assume that will come.

 

[lovethattink]

It’s predicted that flash flooding will be worse to the north

“Heads up! The heaviest rain and highest threat of flash flooding will likely happen 40-60 miles NORTH of the center. This is outside of the cone. The impacts from hurricanes extend well away from the center. Don't focus just on the cone or the point of landfall.”-Denis Phillips



5am track

 

[meremac]

I know it's hard when you've spent so much time planning, but for anybody asking about whether or not they'll be good with a Friday/weekend/early next week arrival, the truth is that nobody knows. Any answers you get are pure speculation, and you'd get the same level of certainty from flipping a coin. The predicted path and timing of the storm itself is still changing, and even THOSE are just predictions. After the storm passes (whenever that is), Disney will assess the situation and make some decisions about reopening. Ditto for MCO. How long that will take and what the reopening timeframe will look like is not predictable. We just have to be patient, try not to speculate, and take the news when it comes. At this moment, the only options on the table are to 1) Wait and see what happens or 2) Make a personal choice to cancel/reschedule (you can do so anytime without penalty provided that your arrival day is on Monday or earlier).

I'm sorry for anybody whose trips are impacted, and I'm devastated for those whose lives and property are in danger.

 

[Dave006]

I received e-mails noting refunds for my 10/10 LLSP reservations this morning. I did not call to request those refunds. I have not received a refund for LLMP for that day, but I assume that will come.

Yes they should be all done automatically since the Parks are Closed tomorrow. For others following along the refunds are back to the original form of payment you used to purchase LLMP and/or LLSP.

Dave