Tropical Storm Dorian - Cancel SVV Orlando Stay?

[dioxide45]

We booked four nights at SVV in Orlando this weekend and it now looks like it may end up being a washout with Tropical Storm Dorian blowing through.

Being this close, any cancellation is going to cost us $75 and our points will be restricted to 60 day checkin. The stay was going to cost us a $38 housekeeping fee anyway, so if we cancel we are only out about another forty bucks. Though a rebooking will probably cost us the same HK fee.

This was going to be the start of our, likely annual, birthday trip. My birthday is in August and DW's is in September. So we are able to take advantage of a lot of BOGO offers and credits with many of the restaurant clubs. Some of the offers aren't available here in Jacksonville (Landry's Select $50 off), so it would still require a trip to Orlando, but perhaps we just go for a couple nights next weekend instead of having a washed out four day stay over the holiday.

What would you do?

 

[CPNY]

We booked four nights at SVV in Orlando this weekend and it now looks like it may end up being a washout with Tropical Storm Dorian blowing through.

Being this close, any cancellation is going to cost us $75 and our points will be restricted to 60 day checkin. The stay was going to cost us a $38 housekeeping fee anyway, so if we cancel we are only out about another forty bucks. Though a rebooking will probably cost us the same HK fee.

This was going to be the start of our, likely annual, birthday trip. My birthday is in August and DW's is in September. So we are able to take advantage of a lot of BOGO offers and credits with many of the restaurant clubs. Some of the offers aren't available here in Jacksonville (Landry's Select $50 off), so it would still require a trip to Orlando, but perhaps we just go for a couple nights next weekend instead of having a washed out four day stay over the holiday.

What would you do?

I’m headed to HRA Sunday. According to reports, it looks like it may take a track Over the DR it will break up rapidly and not hit the lower 48. If it tracks between DR and PR then it has a higher chance of hitting Florida. Either way it will break up. I’d wait since you’re likely to get hit with cancellations tomorrow as you would today. I’m headed to HRA regardless, not cancelling

However, Orlando availability is pretty open usually so 60 day restrictions is easy to rebook in Orlando

 

[dioxide45]

I think we can cancel as late as Friday with the same $75 penalty and 60 day restriction on points. So we will wait it out as long as we can. The long weekend was ideal because it was a bonus day off work that works perfectly with all those BOGO offers we get for our birthdays. We could still figure out a way to use most of them except perhaps one of our $25 credits at Landry's. But this seemed like a quick, easy and cheap getaway that we actually booked less than 60 days out using some already restricted points. So I have already paid $50 once to cancel a reservation, I don't want to keep feeding them cancellation fees if I can avoid it.

 

[dioxide45]

I’m headed to HRA Sunday.

Nassau in September reminds me of my wife and my first trip together. We weren't married yet. We went to Nassau in early September 1999. The same year that Hurricane Floyd, a high category 4 swept through. It was horrible. We had no way off the island and they literally locked us in the Marriott Resort & Crystal Palace Casino. While power was out, they did have backup generators. We also requested to be moved from the tower closest to the ocean to one further back. The generators did keep the casino operating and we played for hours on the nickel video blackjack machines. At the time it was frightening, and even looking back it was frightening. Good thing Dorian is just a TS and not what we went through.

 

[blondietink]

It rains in Florida all summer. It has never stopped us from visiting during that time. Once we were there during Tropical Storm Fay and it rained for 4 days straight. We had a great time.

 

[Sea Six]

Looks like a huge washout to me by Sunday. Not a wind event, maybe a tropical depression, but the radar shows a huge mass of rain clouds heading for central Florida. If that will ruin your vacation, re-book it. Sure, we get rain this time of year, but usually just an afternoon thundershower, not a tropical storm.

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at5+shtml/174940.shtml?cone#contents

 

[CPNY]

Nassau in September reminds me of my wife and my first trip together. We weren't married yet. We went to Nassau in early September 1999. The same year that Hurricane Floyd, a high category 4 swept through. It was horrible. We had no way off the island and they literally locked us in the Marriott Resort & Crystal Palace Casino. While power was out, they did have backup generators. We also requested to be moved from the tower closest to the ocean to one further back. The generators did keep the casino operating and we played for hours on the nickel video blackjack machines. At the time it was frightening, and even looking back it was frightening. Good thing Dorian is just a TS and not what we went through.

Yeah I’m connecting in Miami. Ugh

 

[Sea Six]

Now forecast to be a hurricane. STAY AWAY!

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at5+shtml/174940.shtml?cone#contents

 

[dioxide45]

Now forecast to be a hurricane. STAY AWAY!

https://www.nhc.noaa.gov/refresh/graphics_at5+shtml/174940.shtml?cone#contents

Problem is that the forecast seems to be moving further and further north. Making us more in the path here in Jacksonville than we would be in Orlando.

 

[CPNY]

Problem is that the forecast seems to be moving further and further north. Making us more in the path here in Jacksonville than we would be in Orlando.

Do you think flights to Miami would be ok in that case? Ugh, i have so much going on this weekend and already had to change flights due to work so now flying to CLT then working on Saturday and leaving CLT TO NAS connecting in MIA. I already lost a day on the trip because of work. I’m hoping this works out for me. I really wanted to try my new grill on the beach haha

 

[dioxide45]

Do you think flights to Miami would be ok in that case? Ugh, i have so much going on this weekend and already had to change flights due to work so now flying to CLT then working on Saturday and leaving CLT TO NAS connecting in MIA. I already lost a day on the trip because of work. I’m hoping this works out for me. I really wanted to try my new grill on the beach haha

It is hard to say. A lot will depend on conditions in Nassau and Miami the day of your flight. So much will depend on how far south this tracks in the current forecast cone.

 

[CPNY]

It is hard to say. A lot will depend on conditions in Nassau and Miami the day of your flight. So much will depend on how far south this tracks in the current forecast cone.

I’m hoping for a track over DR so it breaks up and stays south of the lower 48! We both need to use our star options!

 

[dioxide45]

I think a track over the DR is becoming less and less likely and it seems to be heading in to more open water. Thus the reason they are forecasting it to strengthen.

 

[CPNY]

I think a track over the DR is becoming less and less likely and it seems to be heading in to more open water. Thus the reason they are forecasting it to strengthen.

I’m remaining hopeful and delusional at the same time. Hopefully they let me change by tomorrow to the direct flight CLT to NAS. May have a better chance of getting to Nassau behind the storm if it’s over JAX by Sun afternoon

 

[Sea Six]

Problem is that the forecast seems to be moving further and further north. Making us more in the path here in Jacksonville than we would be in Orlando.

I didn't know you were in Jacksonville - I thought you lived in Ohio! Well, if any of the Hs turn into an M you can treat it as an evacuation instead of a vacation. The rain is going to affect you no matter what.

UPDATE - National Hurricane Center just changed one of the H to an M - it's getting worse

 

[CPNY]

I think a track over the DR is becoming less and less likely and it seems to be heading in to more open water. Thus the reason they are forecasting it to strengthen.

Looks like Orlando is a wash out. Save the options, go another weekend

 

[Pedro]

After the last update from the NHC showing the predicted path towards the Space Coast and expecting it to be a category 3 hurricane, I went head and made a reservation at SVR to escape the (possible) blunt force of the hurricane at home. At least, 50 miles inland, you get somewhat of a buffer from the very strong winds.

 

[bnoble]

I would probably go anyway. There is a lot of land between the coast and Orlando, by which time a lot of the storm's energy will have dissipated. You might be "house-bound" one day, but it's still vacation somewhere other than home.

 

[CalGalTraveler]

Looks like Orlando is a wash out. Save the options, go another weekend

Good call. We visited Tampa St. Pete when a storm hit a few years ago. No beach or pool time. Stores, restaurants closed. It was a wash out. Would rather go when the sun shines than be in a cramped room with a risk of no water or electricity. Better to stay home and relax.

 

[TUGBrian]

every forecast over the past 12 hours has been worse and worse in terms of path and strength predictions for landfall.

thats never a good sign

 

[Sea Six]

But in the case of the OP, they may be better off in Orlando doing nothing, rather than sitting home getting blasted by a CAT 3. Where I live, CAT 3 means mandatory evacuations, and the Disney area books up FAST! They may be happy to get out of harms way. If they stay home, they risk loss of power and miserable days. Go to Orlando, you'll probably not lose power, and having air conditioning this time of year is a big WIN! In fact, they may choose to extend their stay if their home area is without power. When Irma came through here 2 years ago, I would have killed for a nice room in the Disney area. You may think that area is overbuilt, but there are many times you can't get a room.

 

[dioxide45]

I didn't know you were in Jacksonville - I thought you lived in Ohio! Well, if any of the Hs turn into an M you can treat it as an evacuation instead of a vacation. The rain is going to affect you no matter what.

UPDATE - National Hurricane Center just changed one of the H to an M - it's getting worse

We did live in Ohio but moved to Jacksonville a couple months ago.

The problem we have is that the current projected center of cone is right over the space coast and then over Orlando. We aren't in an evacuation zone where we are in Jacksonville, even though we are only 20 minutes to the beach or 20 minutes to the St Johns River. If the direct path is over Orlando, I think we would be better to stick it out here in Jacksonville instead of driving in to the path of the storm. More recent paths are having it come a little more south than earlier ones were and now it look like Orlando is in the cross hairs.

We are still not sure what we will do, probably won't make a decision till Friday as our cancellation penalty and restriction is the same if we make it now or then. I understand that the cancellation penalty on an SO reservation under 7 days is $75 and points are restricted to 60 day checkin. I just don't want to pay them the money if I don't have to and we can still go.

 

[TUGBrian]

latest track has it shifting further south for florida landfall pushing the threat more towards central and south florida

(although good news for us jax folk!)

 

[sjsharkie]

We are still not sure what we will do, probably won't make a decision till Friday as our cancellation penalty and restriction is the same if we make it now or then. I understand that the cancellation penalty on an SO reservation under 7 days is $75 and points are restricted to 60 day checkin. I just don't want to pay them the money if I don't have to and we can still go.

I'd wait if I were you. No point in cancelling in advance, plus if confidence increases (according to the NHC) of it hitting Orlando, you have a better chance of getting the fee waived by Vistana as a courtesy.

Right now you would pay the $75 and have restricted options. And there is no harm in waiting for you -- that option will still be there up until day of check-in.

-ryan

 

[farsighted99]

Dorian is now a Hurricane. It's just leaving the Virgin Islands right now ... The 10 day weather forecast is for Thunderstorms (rain) for each and every day.

I dunno. I could think of other places I'd rather be.... Bad luck. Sorry.