Go in Sunday and Monday if you are able. We left right before Irma hit and the parks were empty. Kind of wish we'd stayed.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
I'll Start posting daily forecast predictions for those who want the information. FYI NOAA uses many forecast models to make their predictions, with GFS and ECMWF being the two most widely respected models. Even then there is major variations in the two models currently, just to emphasize the fact that it is entirely a gamble right now on what is going to happen
Latest NOAA prediction
Still wait until the 11am update today, but it is always safer to not be in the path of a hurricane. The good thing about this storm is how small it is. Just need to see how fast it’s supposed to move through and where they narrow path down to.
I just hope the airport isnt closed for too long. We’re due to come in Tuesday at 6pm and I can’t change anything as we have an international flight and going thru LAX
Obviously, no guarantees, but this is a tiny storm in terms of actual area. The issue is that some models show it lingering over the state. Airports are quick to open back up after a storm, but Tuesday at 6pm is iffy. You have time to watch and wait, but I’d consider pushing back a day if you’ll be really in a pinch with an infant and toddler. I’m in South Florida and our news is just highlighting the uncertainty with this storm when they would normally be telling us to put up shutters! Tuesday at 6pm you might get stuck. But too early to tell.
They will not reopen the airport until they can. They are going to be in it trying to get up and running asap.There is no general timeline for a cat 2/3. Depending what side of the storm goes through the area could be more damage could be none.
We’re staying at an LAX airport hotel for a night so we can always stay another night if we have to reschedule the flight to Wednesday.
I know that the rental agencies were inflexible when Irma hit. The only refunds went to those with travel insurance or those that purchased the agency’s “cancel any time” policy. As an owner, I would try to work with a renter in a situation like this but sometimes owner’s hands can be tied. In my case, my points expire on Nov. 30. Even if Disney were to refund them, there isn’t much left in inventory to book something before that expiration date. What little there is available is scattered nights here and there at different resorts.
We are in the same boat with DVC rental only our res is from Sun-Sat. We used a broker though, so their policy is no refunds period. Thankfully we paid with a credit card that offers trip protection so if we need to that’s the route will take. Good luck!
I do not understand choosing to drive in before the hurricane. Stay put until it passes. Then drive in.
Well our trip is Sun-Sat (park days M-F) so if current models hold true, driving in after the storm would mean driving down late Tuesday or even Wednesday... so we paid for 6 days and would get 3.
The park will not be open in the storm. Same number of park days.
In addition, Florida when a hurricane approaches looks like a metric ton of traffic on every highway and byway, fuel shortages and trouble filling up a tank, many people evacuating every which way, and shortages of supplies. It’s hard to understand if you have not been through the whole mess a thousand times, but deciding to drive here in the days before a major hurricane comes ashore will be unpleasant at best. And sitting in a hotel room waiting for it to pass is also very little fun.
I get what you’re saying and the idea of being at Disney stuck in our room during a hurricane is not ideal. But no one knows when the park will be closed yet or how strong the storm will be, which is why I’m following here and other places. If it’s open Monday that might work for us. We also have nowhere to stay Monday and Tuesday and would be stranded. Savannah is 4 hours away from our home in the opposite direction of Orlando. We have a room booked at Disney. I just don’t know what our alternative would be.
It’s still to early to make or change plans, and no one is under an evacuation order or even a watch or a warning. I’m just saying that your hurricane plan of driving into a state that is under a state of emergency, would possibly be under evacuation orders, with a major storm bearing down in order to get one or two park days seems like backwards logic. Find a place to stay for the few days that might actually be fun and not dangerous and have that in the back of your mind.
I'm with you here. I'm from the Mississippi Gulf Coast and Cat 1's are watched, but we don't evacuate. Right now we're hoping the same thing as you, that it doesn't go into the Gulf. We're flying in Friday at mid-day and have no plans to change anything right now.
