Originally Posted By mickeymad Hi Everyone, We are planning a trip to WDW next year and would like to come around the 21st of September for a couple of weeks.We live in Australia and the only thing putting us off is Hurricane season.Can anybody fill me in on how bad they are, do the parks close because of them, I would hate to come all the way over and not be able to get the maximum use of our days.Also what are the crowds like at this time of the year??? Our other option is just after Easter about 10th of April.What are the crowds like then? Any help appreciated. Thanks
Originally Posted By bloona I think it would be busier in April time, I think that is the end of Spring break. We went in October 2004, it was a bad year for hurricanes that year around August/Sept time.They have good charts on the www.nhc.com website. The parks do occasionally close for a day if the hurricanes are due to pass through Orlando itself. Occasionally flights to the area are cancelled too for a day or so. www.allearsnet.com has tips on crowds I believe .
Originally Posted By dsnyredhead The parks will close if the hurricane is in the direct area. We were there last year during one of the hurricanes, Wilma I believe, which turned out to be fairly minor. The parks were only closed for the morning that it hit the area. Animal Kingdom did close for the entire day though. It was actually nice in the afternoon after the storm came through. it was cool and the parks were not they opened the parks up to the hotel guests so it wasn't that crowded.
Originally Posted By disneydad109 we were there for one big blow and the parks were up and running the next day. The day the park was closed everyone had three free meals at their hotel and a free extra day admission to the parks to make up for the missed day. we were told that most of central Florida goes to disney hotels as it is the safest place as they over build to be ready for the storng winds. plus it was neat to see the wind and rain.
Originally Posted By trekkeruss I'm not a meteorologist, so I can't comment on future trends or anything like that. But I have been to WDW many times in September, when Disney used to have Disneyana Conventions there. Not once was there ever a hurricane close. There was a day or two that I can recall of some VERY heavy rain storms, but they were short-lived.
Originally Posted By vbdad55 mickeymad -- it is a crap shoot re: hurricanes. I too used to attend Disneyana conventions in September ( miss them by the way) - and there were no issues -- weather patterns seem to have changed but no one can predict year to year. There are times of the year when surely the odds are less than in September though and you may want to consider until the pattern changes again. I was there the first week of June and a tropical storm came thru -- not muchmore than heavy rain for a day....but June- November you run a risk. So basically it's your call..
Originally Posted By NikkiLOVESMickey Don't try to plan around a hurricane because it's just not possible. I'd plan your trip and have a good time and worry about a hurricane if one shows up.
Originally Posted By mickeymad Thanks Guys. We do have hurricanes here so I am not worried about them as such it was just I didn't want to miss any of the parks if they were closed for long periods of time.I have to work our holidays around school holidays here and September seems to be the best holiday time for us. When are the Disneyana Conventions so I can avoid them???? Thanks again.
Originally Posted By Labuda Well, I am now in the habit of going in mid=-late Sept and qe've bee lucky and ot ecountered any hurricanes - hoping tht continues this Sept/early Oct when we're there! Also, as for going in April - the one time I got there the day after Easter Sunday (2003), the crowds TOTALLY were on the way out as I was arriving.
Originally Posted By MinnieSummer September is definitely less crowded than april due to spring break crowds. As for the hurricanes, I go to WDW when a hurricane is approaching South Florida (where I live) because they never lose power and they seem to recover within 12 to 18 hours. I've never seen the parks closed for more than one day due to a hurricane.
