As some of you may know, I was in Orlando when Hurricane Irma came a knockin’ at Florida’s door. Yes, I knew it was going to hit somewhere in Florida. Yes, I knew people were starting to evacuate. Yes, I knew it probably wasn’t a good idea to fly INTO a hurricane. Yes, I went anyway. Hey – it’s Disney and I’m an addict.
So, anyway, here I am flying to Florida – with a bunch of other people I might add, I was not the only person tempting fate – on a beautiful late summer day, overjoyed that I would soon arrive in my happy place. When we arrive, the airport is strangely quiet. Our bus delivers us to our hotel where the lobby is overflowing with people – checking OUT so they won’t have to be in Florida when the hurricane hits. Silly people.
After checking into our room we head over to the the Magic Kingdom Park, where more people are heading through the exit gates than through the entrance gates. Score!! That’s right, the more people who leave, the less time I have to wait in line for a ride, or a show, or for food, or to use the bathroom. Keep leaving people. Keep following the Governor’s suggestion that you evacuate. I’ll keep enjoying a nearly empty park.
The three days leading up to the actual fury known as Irma were absolutely amazing days at all 4 of the Disney parks. Very low wait times, no crowds, no long lines. Best time to be at The World. The day before Irma actually showed Orlando her fury was sort of surreal. It was warm and breezy, virtually crowd free, and we were able to walk on all rides. At one point my husband and I actually wondered if perhaps they had closed the park and forgotten we were still inside the gates. Kind of creepy cool.
Yeah, yeah, that was followed by 12 hours sequestered in our hotel room while Irma huffed and puffed and tried to blow our hotel down, then another 36 hours of hotel grounds confinement while the city and Disney employees began their clean-up duties, but hey, those first 3 days were ah-maze-ing!!
The storm itself was kind of scary but not really. You see, Disney is actually an evacuation center for surrounding Florida cities. Disney property owns and operates their own power plant and has their own cell towers and such. It’s like its own little independent city. During the entire storm we never lost power or wifi. So, while we were directed to stay indoors, we could watch movies, play computer games, talk on the phone, all that fun stuff. It was really just forced relaxation for vactioners like me who try to see and do everything, every moment or every single day. No big deal. Just lay around, eat junk snacks, and watch TV.
Don’t get me wrong people, while I never encourage anyone to travel during a hurricane, especially if the Governor has issued orders to evacuate the area you’re visiting, I will say, that if you have plans to visit Disney World and you are due to arrive a few days BEFORE the storm is due to hit, don’t cancel your trip. I mean unless the roads and airports are closed, then yeah, probably should think about canceling. Disney is very safety conscious and provided over-the-top hospitality the entire duration of our stay. I felt safer there than I would have at my own house.
My question to you, would you have canceled your trip? Would you have left early? Are you a storm chaser? Come on adventure seekers, let me know what you’d do.
Word of the Day: Hermeneutic
Fun fact about me: Irma was my first up close and personal experience with a hurricane.
Original post by Jansen Schmidt, October 2017. Photos courtesy Google Images.
jansenschmidt 
I’ve been to Disneyland before where it’s been crazy-quiet, and it was the best! I’m with you, I wouldn’t have canceled my trip. Sounds like an amazing time, and I bet even the forced relaxation was nice. No Irma can scare off true Disney addicts!
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Amen Sista’! Nothing stands between this girl and her Disney. Although, had the airline, or anyone from Disney told me not to go, I wouldn’t have gone, so I’m not really that much of a rebel. Irma was NOT supposed to go up the center of Florida; it was supposed to hug either coast. So much for relying on the weather people.
We had an absolutely lovely time, except for the last couple of days. The last 2 days were blistering hot. Even the humidity of home was longed for.
Thanks for visiting. I knew my “people” would understand why I flew into the eye of a hurricane.
Patricia
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My only hurricane experience was going through New Orleans a day or so after Hurricane Carla came ashore in 1961. Even though I was behind the hurricane and landfall was a couple of hundred miles west of New Orleans, when the train crossed Lake Ponchartrain, it was about 40 feet higher than the following spring when I rode back through. But I wasn’t even remotely in any danger from it.
Although it lacked the potential trauma of your experience, your story reminds me of a time my wife and I went to Schlitterbahn, in New Braunfels. Since it’s one of the best and busiest water parks around, you normally stand in line for 20 or 30 minutes for each ride, but we arrived on a day when it was drizzling – just enough to keep the crowds away but not quite enough to make us uncomfortable – and we walked up to each ride with no wait at all.
Your post today, as usual, didn’t require any hermeneutic to understand it.
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Forgot to mention that I LOVED your first little quotation or whatever it was. You don’t have to start caring about my opinion, because I have no intention of paying for your vacation. lol.
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Those are called memes. And, I’d never turn down any contributions to our vacation/Disney collection fund. I’ll shoot you my address so you know where to send the check. Oh wait – you’re NOT going to contribute? Sheesh. What kind of friend are you?
Patricia
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Lol
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We never even considered canceling our trip. We knew we were set to arrive about 3-4 days before Irma hit and the airlines weren’t canceling flights so we didn’t even think we’d be in danger. Disney is very cautious and only closed the parks and resorts because the Governor instructed the entire state to comply with his curfew orders. Otherwise, we’d probably have been riding rides on the day Irma actually came across Orlando.
I bet it really fun to say Schlitterbahn out loud. I’ve done it twice since reading your comment!
I’m easily amused.
Thanks for visiting.
Patricia
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Wow, sounds like a fabulous vacation, Patricia. You are so brave. Would I have canceled my plans? I’ll give you a hint: I’m afraid to fly. So would I want to fly with a hurricane on the horizon? Not even if I drank a bottle of tequila to make myself pass out! It’s good to know Disney has its own power and you were in a safe place. Bummer about the humidity. I was wondering about that. We have Disneyland near us and the best time to go there is on a cold, rainy day.
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I used to live in California Lynn and we’d wait until the forecast called for rain before heading to Disneyland as well. No crowds and lines. It was the best time to be there.
And, Florida is always humid no matter when you go. You’d think I’d have adapted since I’ve been in Mississippi for a couple of years now, but there is no humidity in the world like the Florida humidity.
Thanks for stopping by. Always nice to see your always smiling face.
Patricia
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Well, thanks for that great travel information. Who knew??? I think we probably would have cancelled our plans. However in the future, when a hurricane threatens south Florida, I’m booking for Disney and telling them you sent me! xo
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Ha ha ha ha. You do that Patricia. I’m sure they’d love to know about my hurricane testimonials.
Believe me, had we been advised to stay home, we would have. We’re not that brave. I come from wildfire country and when they tell you to get out, you get out – no arguments. That’s how I feel about any of these weather related things. Always think safety first. And Disney second!
Thanks for stopping by.
Patricia
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