There's a Disturbance in the Force - Will Debby Do Florida?

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Lizzy_B's picture
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There's a Disturbance in the Force - Will Debby Do Florida?

http://www.weather.com/news/weather-hurricanes/debby-gulf-outlook-20120621

My husband just alerted me that we totally may get a tropical storm, like, this weekend...or maybe not at all! It's so crazy when these things pop up this fast. What would YOU do if you were headed this way with a major rainmaker on your heels? Bring ponchos and make the best of it?

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The first year i took my wife (fiance at the time) was in 2004, right in the middle of a hurricane, and i mean in the middle of it. I don't remember the name but is was i august at the same time as the Olympics. We were heading to the car to go to the airport when the airline called my phone and said the Orlando airport was closed because of the hurricane, well this did not stop us, we went to the airport anyway and on the way i frantically called the airline to change flights. We were able to get a flight from logan to N.C. then transfer to Ft. Lauder dale, which eventually was changed to Miami. From there we rented a car and drove 4 hours to Orlando with the storm coming right at us. Orlando was destroyed all except for WDW, it was amazing. The funniest part was my wife trying to read the highway signs that were lying on the side of the highway. The whole trip took us from 700Am til 1200am, we were exhausted, but nothing was keeping us from WDW. thinking back it was not the smartest choice i have ever made.

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Lizzy_B's picture
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Charley. That charming little fast and furious hurricane was Charley, and it ripped a path straight across the state, from Port Charlotte to Daytona/Flagler. Good times. It was followed by a number of others - 3 or 4 we got that year. We moved during the next one, on Labor Day weekend, and there was another one later in the fall. We holed up in our apartment and ate key lime pie while we waited that one out Smile

Glad you made it!

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Yep, it's been gloomy and rainy here in Tampa for 3 days now and with Debbie it's looking like no relief til weds at the earliest. We made our Disney day trip early last week after looking at the forecast. I feel bad for people here this week, a little rain is nice break but everyday for a week is not fun. Disney is great at rainy day activities, but it get old doing everything in the parks with a Mickey raincoat on!

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Mase's picture
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I'd make the most of it. Challenge it. Wave a golf club in the air!

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I'll be like the guy on the "Keys to the Kingdom tour " " Don't they just put a big bubble over Disney World when a storms comes" Ha ha ha ha ! rolling Yes we would make the best of it!

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I say Bring It!

How bad does the rain have to get for them to close WDW anyway? Will it stay open for lightning? Tropical Storms? Hurricanes? The Rapture?

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We were there yrs ago during hurricane George, it wasn't a direct hit, just the outer bands w lots of heavy wind, and rain. Disney is exceptionally well grounded for lightening, there are lightening rods everywhere. I can only think of a couple times they have actually closed the parks. Last time was the year of charley , Francis and Ivan, where all hit Orlando directly. They've stayed open during all the tropical storms that I can think of. Here in Florida we get severe thunderstorms regularly, so they stay prepared and open. It takes a hurricane actually hitting Orlando for them to close. We've been there during some really bad storms with major lightning and rain. It's a different experience, and still crowded!

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We got nailed Saturday afternoon and today. Had some small tornadoes do some damage but we are all fine. I feel sorry for anyone at Disney right now.....they are getting or about to get hammered. sad

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At HS today our estimate was 29k and by noon they dropped it down to 22k, but only 9k were in the park at the time! If you don't mind the rain, it would've been a good day to be there! It was just a steady drizzle allllllll day and I felt like I was in a sea of ponchos!

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My friends were just at Disney for the week and were supposed to be on a flight home last night. They didn't get back to NY until earlier today with the delays and all. Judging by their photos the weather wasn't bad, which I'm happy about. It was their one year anniversary and I know they went all out with it!

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If they were here last week the weather was nice earlier. It was gloomy thurs and fri. Then rained some sat, today was a complete washouts w tornado warnings all day. Hope they had a few goo days.

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We were there in 2005, the year with Katrina and so many hurricanes they ran out of names and had to use the Greek alphabet (Alpha, Beta, etc.) The "W" hurricane (was it Wilma?) hit in the middle of the night we arrived and the parks were closed the next day because of the horrendous weather. It cleared up by late afternoon, though, so we went to DisneyQuest. Next day we found out the parks had eventually opened the previous afternoon and stayed open late to make up for the time lost. But we were staying offsite, so we didn't know it.

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The parks have only been closed a handful of times (I thought 2, but maybe 3) - Charley, once before in 1999 I think it was (that one turned out to be nothing when the storm went north) and the one that CCP mentions above (I didn't remember that one. Too busy with a baby I guess. Smile ) They don't close for lightning, although they sometimes close attractions. I sometime wander around and look up at all the lightning rods, and am ultimately spooked and relieved. They really do think of everything. mickey

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Lizzy_B's picture
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Stupid Debby, btw, decided not to go to TX and is dumping a ton of rain on FL, as all of you know. We are dryly in NC, but I hear my town is fine. We are thankful for the rain, but some folks are really suffering with the floods.

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I have a friend there right now. She is so angry!! She said they had their ponchos on and were still drenched on Monday(?)
I think it was Monday!
She went 4 years ago, in October, and had the same problem!

Maybe she should stop going?

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Lizzy_B's picture
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I promise, it's a freak thing - at least in October. I've seen September be uncharacteristically rainy, but usually, October is pretty nice, as we (FL) start to enter the Dry Season. Tell her to hang in there. Bless her heart. I always hate it when people come to visit and have crappy weather.

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Julie wrote:
If they were here last week the weather was nice earlier. It was gloomy thurs and fri. Then rained some sat, today was a complete washouts w tornado warnings all day. Hope they had a few goo days.

They did! Apparently they got their ride and firework needs out of the way earlier in the week and spent Friday watching some of the shows, really enjoyed Beauty and the Beast. Saturday night was when they were stuck at the airport and their flight delayed til Sunday morning. But those things happen, they were so happy from the magic it didn't bother them. mickey

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Finally the sun is back in the sunshine state! clapping Looking forward to a nice Disney afternoon/evening tomorrow, and a sunny weekend.

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Julie

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