(CNN) — Vacationers headed to Florida for the Labor Day holiday and the unofficial close of summer are in for a nerve-racking weekend.
Hurricane Dorian is expected to strengthen to a powerful Category 4 storm by Sunday and is likely to make landfall along the Florida or Georgia coasts on Monday after rolling through the northern Bahamas over the weekend.
Getting out of the storm’s path will be tricky, as its path is still unpredictable with four days to meander over very warm water.
Flights
The advisory follows several previous waivers issued by American Airlines for destinations in the Caribbean.
The carriers have posted those details on their web sites and are adding Florida destinations as the storm’s path evolves.
Cruises
Guests that pre-purchased Royal Caribbean shore excursions for CocoCay will receive refunds credited to their onboard accounts.
Florida’s beautiful Cocoa Beach is among the Atlantic Coast spots that may see landfall Monday.
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“As the safety of our guests and crew is our number one priority, we will continue to keep an eye on the storm and provide timely updates as more information becomes available,” the advisory said.
Disney Cruise Line posted an advisory about several sailings on its website.
“At this time, based on the current predicted storm timing and path, we do not anticipate any changes to the Disney Fantasy sailing on Saturday, Aug. 31. We are closely monitoring potential implications for the Disney Dream sailings on Friday, Aug. 30 and Monday, Sept. 2,” the advisory posted Wednesday afternoon said.
Amusement parks and other attractions
While Dorian’s impact on the inland city packed with theme parks is not likely to be severe, Galaxy’s Edge faces a potentially soggy opening weekend and scores of disappointed fans who may opt to reschedule their visits.
Universal Orlando Resort is monitoring the situation. “At this time our park operations and hours are continuing as normal. We have plans and procedures for serious weather that are time-proven and we will continue to make operating decisions as we learn more,” the company said in a statement.
Kennedy Space Center Visitor Complex, one of Central Florida’s most popular tourist destinations, is monitoring the storm’s path and may move its Mobile Launch Platform inside. The facility tweeted that it would provide more details about facility operations as information becomes available.
Change of plans
Some travelers are proactively canceling Florida plans.
Lindsey Wolf and her husband had planned to take their children, ages 8 and 10, kayaking and tubing on the Rainbow River with friends who had recently moved to the Ocala area, but the Atlanta family has made other plans.
“It was an easy decision to make to cancel the trip considering how large of an area the meteorologists are expecting the storm to make landfall,” Wolf said.
She knew the rain would ruin their time in the sun, and the roads would be filled with evacuees heading north.
Luckily for her family, she found a hotel with an available room in Orange Beach, Alabama, “so we will still get sun and water,” she said. “Plus, we will get out of there before any of the rain makes it there.”
“The kids will understand one day, but last night our son didn’t eat dinner and both kids cried their little eyes out.”
Rerouted flights and revised cruises: Florida travel snarled by Hurricane Dorian
