ALL of Florida is in danger. My mom lives on the west coast of the state and she’s in danger. Orlando isn’t in danger of storm surge, but heavy rains and strong winds are going to pay Mickey a visit.

Yes, the whole state is in danger. If the current tracks are accurate, Lake Buena Vista (the location of Disney World) will likely experience category 2–3 conditions. If you’re planning to ride Splash Mountain next week, I’d postpone.

Oh, that papier-mâché castle is toast.

Not too terrible. I think they are estimating category 2 when it gets to Disney. It’s cat 2 winds right at the eye wall, so it matters where the eye actually winds up going. The hurricane strength winds will extend out only about 30–40 miles probably at that point.

Things that aren’t secured well will break free and fly around. The buildings should be fine.

How’s @JLeslie doing ?

Stay away from the windows and watch out for twisters.

I’m scared. Not for me, I am safe on the plains with soft breezes playing in the tall grass.
This storm holds the potential to leave behind an awful lot of carnage.
I have been wondering about @Seek. Does anybody know how she is holding up? Hurricanes get her so upset.

She is evacuating. @Patty_Melt

I’m glad.
Damn, if there is anyone who should be living in my neighborhood, for sure she is one.

This is what Disney is saying on its website…

“In anticipation of inclement weather, Walt Disney World Parks and Disney Springs will be closed Sunday, September 10 and Monday, September 11. We will be operating as planned Friday, September 8 and will have modified hours on Saturday, September 9.”

“Inclement weather” is a bit of an understatement and there is no information as to what will happen on September 12 and subsequently.

I’m fine, thanks, @Patty_Melt – We are safely sheltering with friends, evacuating from the water and hiding from the wind – I live not near the coast, but in a low lying swampland area. We will be close enough to the center of the state that if she hits us directly she’ll be significantly weakened (Category 1–2 most likely), and if she rides up the West coast of the state we won’t be affected by storm surge.

I’m also horrible at keeping secrets, apparently.

Be safe!
I just saw a satellite photo of Irma next to one of Andrew.
OMG.

Yeah. She’s apparently headed right for us. It keeps tracking West which will put us on the “bad side” of the storm. I’ll probably start another thread for live updates during.

They are closing Disney World down for Sunday and Monday.

So, the hurricane went right for Disney. Mickey got some of the highest winds that were happening up at that latitude (the hurricane was much stronger when it first hit the lower 48 down in Naples, FL). Disney was closed yesterday, Monday, for some clean up I would guess, and maybe some electricity repairs I’m guessing. Disney, and universal for that matter, are both opening today, Tuesday, with the exception that Blizzard Beach and Typhoon Lagoon are still closed. I didn’t hear about Universals new waterpark specifically so maybe it is open today.

Hey, great updates!
Funny that what you said are still closed are both weather themed. LOL

^^Oh yeah. Haha. I didn’t even realize. They are waterparks so they need to clean up the water. Maybe some of the slides and stairs and lifts came down. Funny, Universal’s waterpark is Volcano Bay!

I wonder how much the parks lots from being closed a few days.

I also wonder what, if any requirements they had for their workers to not leave, but to stay around to be at work. I know the Disney hotels were open, so they had to have workers.

@jca Good questions. Orlando is actually the place many Floridians evacuated to, so probably not many people in Orlando evacuated. Just happened the eye went right towards Orlando in the end. I would assume some workers slept at the hotels. When I checked Marriott availability in Orlando and near Disney for Friday night before Irma there was still plenty of availability. Probably plenty of people who planned to go to Orlando for vacation had postponed.

This is a slower part of the year for the parks, so possibly hotels had higher occupancy than typical for this time of year because of the storm. A close friend of mine was stuck in Orlando for a week, because she evacuated from Ft. Lauderdale. She would not have been there otherwise.

The parks must have lost some money, but a portion will be made back over the next few days. It would be interesting to quantify it.

I wonder how they handled the situation with people who’d prepaid for admission to the parks (probably a large majority) and then the parks were closed? Would they get refunded or is it just tough luck?

A friend of mine has a time share in Disney and she is spending the week there, till tomorrow, so they must have had availability.

@jca I don’t think the tickets have specific dates? Do they? Aren’t they good for a couple of weeks or 6 months or something? If someone had to completely cancel a trip then that’s a different thing, I’d guess they would refund the money. I’m not sure though. Maybe that’s what trip protection is for? Our governor has asked airlines and hotels to wave change and cencellation fees.