Disneyland Florida tomorrow with potential hurricane.... would you go?

[carriemumsnet]

OK so we booked the Disneyland experience and have been looking forward to it since April. Kids are 4 and nearly 7 so perfect ages. I am 26 weeks pregnant (sorry meant to announce earlier, never got round to it - that's third babies for you...)so unlikely we'll be heading that way again for next 4 years!

We are due to fly to Orlando. Airline is saying it's OK and they won't refund or re route though we could move dates, but we can't cos of pregnancy/school hols etc etc

Hotel are saying they rode out 3 hurricanes last year including Charlie a category 4 and you just have to stay in.

Met office are saying it's going to hit probably southern florida on Monday night so best to go earlier rather than later and listen to local advice....

Grandparents threatening to lie in front of plane to stop us going....I'm for going - am I mad?

I would probably go too. On BBC News this morning a family were heading out there and were planning to stay in Boston (I think) if the advice was to leave the area. Just make sure you can afford to move to another hotel as I don't think acts of God are covered under insurance policies.

No not mad. My boss is due to fly to Mexico tomorrow with his kids and the hurricane hit there earlier today. They are in same situation - can't get any money back and have to go in half term. His rationale is that they need the rest too much to cancel! If it was that bad, the Foreign Office would stop all travel.
Congrats on your pregnancy and hope you have a lovely time even if a few bad weather days

not much advice here sorry carrie

all I can say is trust your instinct!

If you do decide to go I hope you have a lovely time.... oh and Congrats on your new bump

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Carrie, I am here in Longwood about 45 minutes North of Disney. The center of the storm hopefully will not pass though here, but will be 180 miles at least to the South of us. We will still have bad weather....I don't know what to say, but it is so tough to cancel....I would come anyway, but we are so used to it I guess! I hope the holiday turns out nicely for you. If you need anything at all while you are here, I can be reached at 407-339-3306, Wendy Read. XO, Sunny

Hi carriemumsnet,
I have been to orlando and been in a hurricane last year. They are very good with hurricanes as they are used to it, but the truth is that you do have to stay in and then it's getting flight home depending when you return, I had a 5 day delay and insurances are not very good at paying out the full wack as act of nature. You also may be diverted on the way.
To be honest, is there any point in going if you can't see the sights just to be stuck in a hotel room.
I would transfer and go at a later date and would try to go out of hurricane season if you can. larsxx

Yes. We did last summer. We flew over the night before the hurricane (Charlie I think it was). The next day we went to Universal Studios for the morning and then left as it closed at noonish. s we got to the car park the heavens opened and it was incredible rain and wind - possibly the outer part of the hurricane. It slowed though. We drove back to the villa, stopping en route to get basics from the shop. Then we holed ourself int he villa and let it pass. the eye didn't hit us- but we did get bad weather. But we felt very safe in the villa and in no danger at all. They are very strongly built.

Next morning the parks we open and ready for business, opening just one hour later than normal but staying open an hour later at night.
You saw some damage on route. near us trees and posts were down, TV and telephone was down. As we drove furtehr metal signs were knocked down too, and some higher rise and weaker buildings damaged.

One ride in Sea World was out of order. Rest of Disney and Universal was perfect. Even the leaves had been swept up!

Disney is very central and the hurricane had lost much of its strrength by time it got there.

Go - you'llprobably miss 1 day of parks maximum, and the rest will be magical and amazing.

Here's a map of the projected "track" of the storm. Sorry I can't do links properly, but you can cut/paste and refresh for updates.

www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT24/refresh/AL2405W5+gif/150811W_sm.gif

Good luck, and if you go, have a great/safe time.

BTW, we had no problems getting into or out of the airports and to/from home.

I would go, but keep alert and ready to move if necessary.

Poor grandparents. They'll have a nerve jangling week though.

I'm very cautious and would probably be having colly wobbles about it but dh would tell me not to be daft and we'd end up going, but I wouldn't be happy about it!

You just never know with weather, you could end up going all that way just to be indoors most of the time, on the other hand you could have a ball.

Tough call, I don't envy you!

Sorry, try again....

www.nhc.noaa.gov/storm_graphics/AT24/refresh/AL2405W5+gif/150811W_sm.gif

Thanks so much. Dh on way home and this will give me something reassuring (in the main) to show him. Lars - why were you stuck because you were due to fly out on day of hurricane? Or just flights were full. Don't think we'll be in danger and don't mind being stuck in hotel for day - even 2, but any more than that would probably see us killing each other!

Sunchowder- thanks so much for your contact - hopefully we won't need to call on you but it's good to know there's a friendly face nearby. Do you think the weather will be foul all week?

We were supposed to be heading to Sanibel after 4 days in Disney - but am assuming that probably won't happen now....Dh just freaked on phone about spending 8 days in Orlando, but am sure there's enough to do- no?

oh and thanks for the pregnancy congrats. Just been trying on summer clothes to see what I can pack (am also packing winter woolies and macs!) amazing what doesn't fit any more....

Enought to do? LOL! We spent 14 days there and still didn't do everything!

Erm, I would go.

but I'm reckless, and if something happens, don't bleme me. n

Agreed Hula, shed loads to do there! congrats on the bump too!

carrie, congrautlations on PG no 3. Having endured 200 mph super-typhoon in Manila, I would say Hurricane 3 would be no problem. (Force 4 is 100x stronger than force 3 etc).

Oh yes - congratulations on the baby

See you at the airport Carrie! We have two weeks booked in Florida and leave from heathrow tomorrow. I've been looking forward to this trip so much that I refuse to let a hurricane get in the way! I'll be gutted if they won't let us fly tomorrow. have a great trip

Carriethe weather is supposed to clear up quickly after Tuesdaythat is the lastest! Please feel free to call if you need anything. I adore Sanibel, you might still get to go there. The storm is supposed to weaken as it comes though the gulf. Happy and safe flight to you. XO, Sunny

Gosh have you seen the pictures on the news.

Hope they're nowhere near it!

Definately go Carrie. You will be kept updated frequently on new channels. Plenty of other things to do if necessary. we were in florida whe hurrican estruck - not any where near us. Congrats on pregnancy by the way

Hi Sunchowder,
Just seen the news and wondering how you are and if its affected Orlando, we have friends there until Weds, so hope they are ok, they have looked forward to this holiday for so long, just hope they can fly back ok.

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