Hurricane Irma?

[Tom Cottone]

Since this is eliminated they'll have to work out something else to refund it to. No clue what they'll do with the 5%

According to the Vacation web site, you have until 9/27 to request a gift card + 5%. So this still could apply since a package was paid for that way. I'm sure a CM might know more

 

[Tonyz]

Anyone else here now or is everyone planning on coming later?

 

[scrapquitler]

On another note, despite the worry which seems to be prevalent out here, I don't think a lot of people are cancelling. There is still little to no availability at most DVC resorts on the hurricane days.... which if people were going to cancel, many would have done so by now.

Based on what the concierge desk at All Star Sports told me about two hours ago, the lack of availability for the next several days that you are seeing is probably because they are not Accepting new reservations for the next several days so that they can have rooms (from cancellations, presumably) to house people already here who might end up unable to leave because of their flights being cancelled.

 

[wonder whisper]

I already said elsewhere that I HAVE been thru similar severe storms (including hurricanes). I've had power out for almost two weeks. I've seen trees down and wires across streets.

I've also seen many, many, MANY dire predictions of horrific storms days out that end up shifting and causing little to no damage to my area.

We are still at LEAST a day away from knowing anything with certainty, and with every projection, the track of the hurricane shifts east away from the coast. Every shift means that the winds that would hit Florida, much less Orlando, will be slower.

Yes it IS a significant decision, and no one should be pushing people to make it before it's absolutely necessary. I'm not crazy... If it looks like the storm is still going to be hanging around by Monday afternoon, or looks like it will be close enough to the coast that the edges really do a number on Orlando, then I will cancel. But I'm not going to go into panic mode while projections keep shifting in a favorable direction.

You speak of projections as if they are facts. They are not, they are an educated guess of what might happen. The only facts are what Irma has already done to the Leewards, which is massive wind and tidal surge damage. The storm is still following a northwesterly track and no person or model can definitely tell anyone exactly when, where and how that will change. We will only find that out next weekend when the change actually occurs.

So unfortunately, those who are understandably looking for certainty now aren't going to get it.

 

[flatlandcycle]

I hate this. I hate it all. I hate waiting, worrying, not knowing.

Go get some light exercise.

 

[HarperLeigh]

If there is a travel advisory for your original flight dates, you pay nothing extra to switch if you fly within the 14 days. I was supposed to fly back to Hartford on Sunday night. My original flight was only $110, one way. I changed my flight home to Wednesday for a flight that would have cost over $300 more had the advisory not been in place.

The voucher does not expire for one year and you can use it to fly anywhere.

The voucher expires one year from the day you purchased the original flight.

 

[Kenzie_nicole19]

This may be silly, but I'm worrying about my trip that isn't until sept 22. Do you guys figure this'll all blow over and everything will be ok by then? (Am I just being too paranoid right now??)

Don't feel like you're being too paranoid because we are suppose to be there from 9/20-9/27 and I am wondering the same thing

 

[Alicialee05]

Allegiant has updated their Travel Alerts section-

Hurricane Irma

Based on forecasted weather conditions, our scheduled service may be disrupted (flights may be delayed, diverted, and / or cancelled) to and from the following cities on the dates indicated below.

Tuesday, September 5th, 2017 – Monday, September 11th, 2017

• San Juan, PR (SJU)
• Sanford, FL (SFB)
• Fort Lauderdale, FL (FLL)
• St. Petersburg, FL (PIE)
• Punta Gorda, FL (PGD)
• Destin, FL (VPS)
• Jacksonville, FL (JAX)
• Savannah, GA (SAV)
• Myrtle Beach, SC (MYR)

Passengers with reservations to / from any of the above cities, will be able to request a one-time change to their travel plans without incurring change / cancel fees. To do so, customers must call Allegiant Customer Care at 702-505-8888 at any time 24 hours per day, seven days a week. Itineraries must be changed within 14 days from this weather advisory for travel on any future open date to any city in the Allegiant network, excluding Hawaii and San Juan.

*Carrier will refuse carriage to any passenger under the age of 18 if not travelling with a passenger age 18 or older under a weather advisory. For complete details please see our Contract of Carriage below.

 

[BigMac3001]

Latest models do show a bit of a move more towards the coast. They are all still showing a right turn. These update several times a day.

https://www.wunderground.com/hurricane/atlantic/2017/hurricane-irma

 

[BigMac3001]

Anyone else here now or is everyone planning on coming later?

Flying in Saturday morning.

 

[PuppyLeo]

She finally called me back. She said that she was in fact incorrect and even though Orlando has been added to the list there is no refund unless the flights are canceled just like the info that you received. She did say that AA would issue a voucher to use within the next year if the flights are not canceled and refunded.

Yeah its a bummer but at least we only lose out on airfare and were refunded for the hotel/tickets. Stay safe, everyone!

 

[AndreaA]

You speak of projections as if they are facts. They are not, they are an educated guess of what might happen. The only facts are what Irma has already done to the Leewards, which is massive wind and tidal surge damage. The storm is still following a northwesterly track and no person or model can definitely tell anyone exactly when, where and how that will change. We will only find that out next weekend when the change actually occurs.

So unfortunately, those who are understandably looking for certainty now aren't going to get it.

Umm, isn't that what I said? That it's too early to tell from current projections? Seems to me that you were the one who was certain that the storm would march right up the panhandle and that everyone should cancel, and that now seems like it will not be the case. No, even projections tomorrow will not be definitive, but they should at least give a clearer picture. There IS a level of certainty that goes along with them and the percentage increases with every day.

 

[xWilliam]

You speak of projections as if they are facts. They are not, they are an educated guess of what might happen. The only facts are what Irma has already done to the Leewards, which is massive wind and tidal surge damage. The storm is still following a northwesterly track and no person or model can definitely tell anyone exactly when, where and how that will change. We will only find that out next weekend when the change actually occurs.

So unfortunately, those who are understandably looking for certainty now aren't going to get it.

Except Orlando wouldn't get the devastating tidal surge, and wouldn't get hit at cat5 like leewards.

Please quit the scaremongering. While there is no certainty of what's going to happen, the official forecast models are starting to narrow down the possibilities so we can make an educated guess

 

[BigMac3001]

You speak of projections as if they are facts. They are not, they are an educated guess of what might happen. The only facts are what Irma has already done to the Leewards, which is massive wind and tidal surge damage. The storm is still following a northwesterly track and no person or model can definitely tell anyone exactly when, where and how that will change. We will only find that out next weekend when the change actually occurs.

So unfortunately, those who are understandably looking for certainty now aren't going to get it.

And yet, you are certain that the models are wrong. There is only one person looking for certainty. Look in the mirror to find them.

 

[Roxyfire]

At YC- they sold boxes for Thursday night, Friday lunch, and Friday dinner. There were long lines each time. By Friday lunch- I think the grill at BC CS was also open, but the line was huge. There were definitely boxes still being sold Friday evening at YC with long lines. A lot of people did go to Disney Springs once it opened at 5:00 p.m., but the box lines were still long at the resort. We went to Disney Springs after dinner at Yachtsman just for something to do. A lot, but not all of the stores were open. Disney Quest was free that night. They had no snack or drink areas open and some other things were closed, but there were a lot of games available.

Ugh that sounds miserable. I don't know who would consider staying in that line instead of checking around at the surrounding restaurants.

 

[Sarah Brecht]

Anyone else here now or is everyone planning on coming later?

I am. I'm trying to figure out how scared to be, honestly. I can't see a good way of leaving before the storm, so should I be worried about our physical safety, should I be worried about being stranded for days after I'm supposed to be home, or just a few days of rain, wind, possible loss of power? I can deal with inconvenience but this thread is really freaking me out. I have no idea what to think and I don't have the option of postponing my trip now. I know no one knows for sure, I don't wven know what I'm asking really lol

 

[wonder whisper]

GFS and EURO 12z in pretty good agreement for a S Florida landing. Storm surge would be catastrophic.

It would be. And in a related tangent, more and more news reports of gas and food shortages in Central and Southern Florida. People waiting in hour plus lines just to get gas, regular only.

 

[eastendlights]

The voucher expires one year from the day you purchased the original flight.

That is what I meant. Thanks for clarifying.

We don't book flights much before a month or two or at the most three so we have not had an issue with them expiring.

 

[tinkermom4]

I am on hold now at just shy of 4 hours. First hour was to a CM that said she needed to transfer to guest services. Last 3 on hold with them. I spent 2 1/2 on phone last night and lost power to a storm and it dropped the call. Then 2 hours on hold when power back on for Disney to just drop the call and hang up at 11:30pm. We are suppose to check in 9/9 coming in from central NC. We don't have a good scenario either way. But we booked on a bounce back. We can't loose our package. We can't afford to pay extra. I am trying to shift my trip a few days to give us more time to come in and decide. Because we went through Fran and Floyd here with significant damage years ago. Supplies are already flying off the shelves here and generators are sold out. I will update on what guest services did for us.

 

[fla4fun]

Not necessarily. After Katrina, even Walmart was closed for days. Our entire city was without power. They finally started letting a few people into Sams and Walmart at a time but there was no power. It was a couple of weeks before the stores could restock. Trucks were trying to deliver ice to people not restock grocery stores. Again, have you been in one of these storms? Comparing it to an ice storm is comparing apples and winter coats. Not even in the same ball park.

When trees are down, power lines and power poles are down--vehicles cannot get on the road. Trucks cannot deliver. When the power is off for miles around, stores have a hard time operating if they are able to at all. They can't sell gas without power.

After the storms in 2004-2005, Florida has required any new gas stations built and any along designated evacuation routes to have backup generator capabilities so they can operate without power. Doesn't help if the delivery trucks can't deliver fuel, but if they have the fuel, they can sell it. According to WFTV news, Publix grocery stores here also have generators for the same purpose. Again, if their suppliers can't get the items to the store, that's one thing, but if they have the food they should be able to sell it without power. So that will help the situation return to normal more quickly. Also, in a lot of the newer neighborhoods the utilities are buried, not on poles, which also helps the restoration happen more quickly since a lot of Orlando is new. I would assume Disney has buried utilities since I have never seen them, and in all my visits have only seen one significant power outage due to a power station taking a direct lightning hit during a thunderstorm. The power was off about three hours for that one.

I think the biggest difference between Orlando and either Houston or New Orleans is the proximity to the coast. We are vulnerable, but not as much as a coastal city like Miami or Tampa or Jacksonville. We shouldn't have the widespread flooding either of those areas experienced. There are some neighborhoods that may flood, but the city as a whole won't. There have been floods before, especially along the St. John's River, but in all the years I have lived here, through many hurricanes and slow tropical systems, we haven't had flooding like that. Anything is possible, of course, but based on my experience I don't think it's likely.