Appreciate any reports from Orlando

[Us 2 cajuns]

My daughter is in Disney World, staying at the Animal Kingdom Lodge. She feels that they are fairly safe there. Any reports from the area will be greatly appreciated.

[birdwomn]

WDW takes good cares of the guests and has excellent storm preparation and great building codes. I would not be too concerned, although it won't be a great vacation for her.

[weatherlover427]

Last I heard gusts were around 55 MPH in Orlando (as of 1 AM EDT). Rain was just beginning to pick up in that area.

[Sean in New Orleans]

Somebody was saying that Walt Disney World has it's own power company and that it's power lines are underground, therefore, they don't lose power in the resort.

[NFLnut]

WDW almost never loses power, and I can't remember the last time I've heard of major damage at WDW. I live just north of Orlando and there has been VERY little rain, and the winds are just gusting to about 40-50 mph, but nothing major.

[anjou]

Apologies for thread drift.. but I just realized... if the water table's so high that no one can have basements in Central Florida, how the heck can Disney have the 'Disney underground' - tunnels the workers travel and all that ... I think the site was just a big drained swamp/field...

[anjou]

Reporter in Melbourne on Wex Channel says power outages all over Central Florida (and I think she said no power there in Melbourne), which is to be expected.

[birdwomn]

WDW has generators for all the properties, from what I understand.

They really do take every precaution to be able to continue to operate and take care of all guests and staff.

[Hurrikaren]

I'm north east of Orlando, near UCF. We still have power. Wind is gusting pretty good now.

I'm watching channel 9 reports live here: http://www.wftv.com/index.html?refresh=1200

They do a decent job.

[Shoshana]

Info:

Orlando

http://www.wesh.com/index.html

http://www.wftv.com/index.html -live feed

http://www.local6.com/index.html live feed

[clearwater]

f the water table's so high that no one can have basements in Central Florida, how the heck can Disney have the 'Disney underground' - tunnels the workers travel and all that

They moved ground level.

My understanding is that the "underground" was actually built above ground, then everything else built on top of that -- so ground level is actually the second story.

Or so rumour has it.

[Tracie]

I'm in Orlando, close to the Orlando airport. So far so good, still have power but it looks like we are just now starting to see the hefty winds/rain.

[tronbunny]

Oh my..
just found out my 14yo cat has been on my west facing lanai since midnight!!!!
she's fine.
we still have power. wind steady aroud 60.

[tronbunny]

5:30am first power flicker..10 mi. east of WDW

[OrlandoDad]

I'm in Apopka, 12 miles NW of Orlando. Wind and rain is pretty stiff, but I still have power. As of 6:10 am.

[delta lady]

My understanding is that the "underground" was actually built above ground, then everything else built on top of that -- so ground level is actually the second story.

That is correct.