Hurricane Irma

[Genericname]

Hey all,

 I've kinda been a member of the community since the go to site was "The Vault".  As a whole, we've been pretty lucky in terms of majors storms. However, it looks like our time is up and we're going to get slammed pretty hard. So my question is this: Does Universal have any plans to expand the event in case of major flooding/damage? If the storm that hits Florida is anywhere near the strength of Harvey, we're in for some rough times.

[Sheev4Senate]

If it's anything like Matthew last year, it'll skirt the Eastern Coast and not really travel inland. Other than that, it is hurricane season so there's always a backup plan. A tiny bit unlikely that it floods as bad as Harvey did since Orlando is super inland.

[Cody]

I don't have a whole lot of concerns. As Sheev said, Orlando is smack dab in the middle of the state and far from any flooding risk areas. The reason Harvey turned Houston into a flooded wasteland is because Houston is a low area on the coast, and Harvey spent so long sitting over the city (several days) that the flooding broke records...and levees. Orlando isn't reliant on levees to keep from flooding during normal seasons.

 

The last time HHN had an issue with hurricanes was the triple blow of 2004. The event still went off without a hitch, and from what I recall the only noticeable issue was that the Field of Screams had to resort to fake corn to replace what got blown away.

[littlegreenghouls]

 I think it will be few down power lines, and few down trees and minor flooring.  
 It might be effect of training of hhn staff.  Usually they train few days before the employee preview. 

[Oysterhead00]

Can we give this topic a break already?  Stop taking the tragedy in Houston and trivializing it by trying to expand it to yourself in terms of your vacation.

 

That was a once in 500 year event.  Houston just had horrible flooding last year due to it's geographic location and the fact that they allow houses to be built in what is basically an old lake so that's where the worst of the flooding took place.  Same with Katrina, the city of New Orleans is BELOW sea level.  Orlando is different in both it's terrain, vicinity to the coast, infrastructure, etc, etc, etc.  IF this were to have a perfect series of events where the hurricane stalled over Orlando for a week and dropped 50" of rain on the park nobody would give a shit about a themepark at that point! The scareactors, employees, their families, and the rest of the whole damn state will be fighting for their lives and any non-essential event like this should, and would, be cancelled indefinitely. 

 

Weather forecasters don't know where it's going, what strength it will be when it hits land, etc, etc, etc.  To ask Joe Schmoe's on a forum like for their opinion is just causing misinformation and hysteria that isn't warranted.  "Do they have a plan to expand the event?"  Of course not.  They HAVE added dates to the event in the past because of weather...but they don't have a plan for a potential storm that will potentially be a category 5 that will potentially be downgraded when it hits land before it potentially hits Orlando and potentially causes mass flooding and potentially....you get the point. 

 

Watch the weather forecasts from the PROFESSIONALS for any updates you need on the storm.  As for it's potential impact on the event...nobody knows.  Stop asking.  Use common sense and turn on CNN and look at the current state of Houston and ask "would people drive through those streets to go to work at a thempark, or attend an event...that would be heavily damaged/flooded as well?"

 

The only OFFICIAL info that can be given about the impact on Universal can be found here & on their official social media channels that will surely provide updates about any closing of the parks.

 

http://www.universalorlandovacations.com/general-information/severe-weather

 

Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations™ Severe Weather Cancellation Policy
At Universal Orlando Resort, we know how important your vacation is to you and your family. And while we can guarantee an incredible vacation experience here at Universal Orlando, we unfortunately can't make any guarantees about the weather.

If a hurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area or for your place of residence no more than 7 days before your scheduled arrival date, you can call in advance to cancel or reschedule your Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations hotel accommodations and Universal Orlando theme park tickets without any cancellation or change fees imposed. Additional elements including air, car rental or other theme park tickets are separate and not part of this policy.

 

About Orlando
Orlando is located 40 miles from the Atlantic coast, which means it is rare that our area is severely impacted by hurricanes. In fact, Orlando's inland location makes it a primary destination for coastal residents and visitors who are seeking shelter from an approaching storm. The Orlando community puts a tremendous amount of resources into planning and preparing for guest safety in the event of any emergency situation, including severe weather.

 

Terms & Conditions:

• This policy is in effect for travel from June 1, 2017 through November 30, 2017.
• Reservations must have been booked a minimum of 7 days in advance and cancelled before 6pm the day prior to arrival.
• Waiver of penalties for cancellation or change applies to hotel accommodations and Universal Orlando theme park tickets only booked through Universal Parks and Resorts Vacations.
• All amounts paid to Universal Parks & Resorts Vacations for accommodations and Universal Orlando theme park tickets will be applied towards a new reservation for guests wanting to reschedule vacation dates, but additional elements including air, car rental or other theme park tickets and any non-refundable payments, cancellation or change fees assessed by these elements may not be available for credit or application towards such new reservation.
• Availability of same accommodations cannot be guaranteed for rescheduled vacations dates.
• This policy does not apply to guest staying at group rates. Guests with group rates must contact their respective meeting/group planner directly for cancellation policy.

[zombieman]

Way to turn off newcomers to the forum, Oyster.

The questions were innocent enough, as were the answers up till yours.

No need to bite heads off.

[Oysterhead00]

12 minutes ago, zombieman said:

Way to turn off newcomers to the forum, Oyster.

The questions were innocent enough, as were the answers up till yours.

No need to bite heads off.

 

It was a response to a single person, but rather this conversation that is all over the boards here, elsewhere, twitter, facebook, etc whipping everybody into a panic and talking about how 4 feet of flood water won't get into the tents as they're 5 feet off the ground and that ridiculousness.  A subject called "The Reality of Hurricane Irma" portends to have definitive factual/real information....but was clearly heading in the direction of speculation and about what kind of damage there might be.

 

Wanted to put an end to this right from the start and put in some real info about the weather policy for the event for the people in other threads talking about their trips and when they're going and should then cancel, etc, etc, etc.