Disney to shelter Hurricane Victims...

[klwdisney]

I just got off the phone with a VERY helpful Disney Cast Member with whom I made some arrangements for our upcoming trip to WDW. During our conversation, she informed me that Disney Resorts will be accommodating victims of Hurricane Katrina.

At the moment they have not been told what hotels will be utilized or how long the victims will be staying but they were told it would be a LARGE number and would affect a wide range of resorts - not just value resorts.

I wanted to make sure everyone with an upcoming trip planned was aware of this influx of guests as it will surely affect such things as food court and pool crowds, along with the very slight possibility of affecting park crowds. So please plan accordingly. And since we're sheltering a number of victims all the way up here in Massachusetts (at Otis AFB and Camp Edwards), I'm glad to see that Disney is sheltering victims also - so much closer to their homes/families/friends, etc. :grouphug:

[JimMIA]

There have been a bunch of us over on the DVC boards wanting to donate points for DVC resorts for victims, but we couldn't get much encouragement from MS. All they said was call the Red Cross.

Hopefully, they'll set up something, because I'm sure a lot of our members would donate...and that wouldn't cost Disney a penny.

[goin2disneyagain]

I am so glad to hear that WDW is helping the victims of Katrina. I had wondered about this since so many other companies were helping out.

[JimMIA]

Disney donated a bunch of money the day after the storm...a million or $1.5 million.

[goin2disneyagain]

Disney donated a bunch of money the day after the storm...a million or $1.5 million.
Thanks, I had not heard that. Although it really doesn't surprise me.

[AuntieM03]

I wonder how they decide who will go where? I know they asked for volunteers to go on the cruise ships and nobody did. I would think more would be willing to go to Disney.

[lyeag]

Just a thought, if some of these people going to disney don't have many resources, is disney going to help them out with food? I hope so, because as we all know, it isn't cheap...

[ducklite]

My guess is that WDW probably hopes that some of the people they will be housing will be interested in employment with the company. They are DESPERATE--they've been out to the clubhouse in my community twice in the past month or so trying to recruit people.

Anne

[madge]

Thanks, I had not heard that. Although it really doesn't surprise me.

I think the number is $2.5 million. SOme of it to the Red Cross and some to specific children's groups. very nice :)

[lbgraves]

I wonder how they decide who will go where? I know they asked for volunteers to go on the cruise ships and nobody did. I would think more would be willing to go to Disney.

I really can't blame the people who do not want to go to Galviston to stay on the ships. They are afraid to go back to be near the water since another hurricane could come. Evidently not every aspect of doing that was looked into. 249 million down the tubes that could help so many people in other ways. :(

[jgmklmhem]

I really can't blame the people who do not want to go to Galviston to stay on the ships. They are afraid to go back to be near the water since another hurricane could come. Evidently not every aspect of doing that was looked into. 249 million down the tubes that could help so many people in other ways. :(

There was a quote in today's paper here about a boy who asked if the rain actually touched the ground here.

Derrick Louis, 10, had just one question about the place his mother, Nicole Miller, is thinking about making their new home: "Does the rain touch the ground?"
Miller said her children -- along with Derrick, there is Dominque, 8; Deja, 3; and Denzel, 6 -- are confused about the past week's events and are "still dreaming about water. All of us are dreaming about water."

Salt Lake Tribune Article (http://www.sltrib.com/ci_3004205)

[Blondie]

I wonder if they are putting them up in the resorts AND giving them unlimited access to the parks. My guess would be not, but who knows.

[ducklite]

I wonder if they are putting them up in the resorts AND giving them unlimited access to the parks. My guess would be not, but who knows.

I doubt it.

Anne

[momof1princess]

omg duck, i hope and pray my DH doesn't read this-when i took him to WDW the first time (he complained all the way from AL to FL, lol) all i heard our last day was "you know, we COULD stay here and get jobs!" :rotfl:

Donya
*doing the i'll be at WDW in 20 days dance* :banana: :cool1:

[Free4Life11]

Maybe they will give them vouchers for food? Hiring some of them to work might be a good idea, even if it is just temporary work. At least give them a chance to start earning some money, but I've no idea how much Disney pays.

[peachgirl]

I wonder if they are putting them up in the resorts AND giving them unlimited access to the parks. My guess would be not, but who knows.

Wouldn't that be wonderful! If anyone deserves a little magic, these people do!:flower:

[Free4Life11]

At least give them a pass for a few days! That would be nice. Maybe not unlimited, because they wont have time to go to the parks every single day, but let them spend a few days forgetting about all the tragedy.

[Lisa loves Pooh]

That is wonderful.

(Though I hope they get a large discount on the food court---that can get expensive!)

[crazyforgoofy]

:teeth: Clean sheets, air conditioning, a private room with bath AND MICKEY MOUSE. It's not New Orleans or Biloxi but it ain't bad! I'm sure they'll figure out a way to provide food.

Way to go Disney! :cheer2: :cheer2: :cheer2:

[RadioNate]

Ok at great risk of being totally flamed can I please say that we are going to WDW on Sat and I have a few concerns?

Belive me I know these people have been through hell and before I get accused of being uncarring and selfish I have spent the last 2 days at our local food bank helping with the relief effort and I have donated nearly all of my baby items even though I'm pregnant with #2. I can't even begin to list the things my DH has done (including jobs, shelter and reuniting families).

Because I am pregnant I've been advised by my Dr and the Red Cross not to volunteer with evacuees because of potential health concerns.

What does this mean for me at WDW? We've spent thousands of dollars and this will be DS4's last vacation before the new baby comes.

I'm in no way saying that Disney shouldn't house people. I think it is wonderful that the survivors will have a place to settle and hopefully find work etc.

[WebmasterAlex]

Let's see how it plays out. I don't see Disney putting them in any available room with unlimited park passes.

[palmtreegirl]

Let's see how it plays out. I don't see Disney putting them in any available room with unlimited park passes.

I agree. Plus how in the world would they decide who gets them? Some go to Disney, some to a gym somewhere to sleep on a cot? That really doesn't make much sense. Someone on the Resorts board called CRO and was told that they aren't offering free rooms just discounted ones(59/a night at Value resorts) that sounds a little more realistic.

Here's the resorts thread on this subject- http://www.disboards.com/showthread.php?t=905093

[MrsToad]

I wondered about the Fort Wilderness cabins...they could have their own units with their own kitchens and so might feel like they were in a more "normal" setting than in a hotel room...

[CheshireVal]

I agree. Plus how in the world would they decide who gets them? Some go to Disney, some to a gym somewhere to sleep on a cot? That really doesn't make much sense. Someone on the Resorts board called CRO and was told that they aren't offering free rooms just discounted ones(59/a night at Value resorts) that sounds a little more realistic.

It would be incredibly unfair to give some people a free vacation at Disney while others are at gyms somewhere.

If Disney is offering just discounted rooms, that's a lot more palatable to me.

[poohbear1029]

I think we need to wait and see what Disney does. Not to doubt the CM who disclosed this, but sometimes we dont always get the CM with the most up to date information when we call.

I think it would be very generous of Disney to do, but at the same time, I could see many evacuees reacting the same way to this as the cruiseships. It is very likely that there are more hurricanes on the way, and unfortunately FL tends to be in the path of those storms quite often. I know if I were an evacuee, I would not want to chance another storm. However, the prospect of a warm bed and potential job might outway that.

I dont think it should disuade officials from dispersing victims across the country (safe shelter is obviously a top priority), but I do hope they are being mindful of the spread of disease as well and putting into place some precautions. The news tonight said some of these water born illnesses can take up to 3 weeks to show. I would hate for the evacuees to suffer any further illness, but also hate to see a more major and widespread medical crisis.

I do just think its awesome how many states are opening their doors to the victims. :grouphug:

[peachgirl]

Maybe they'll do it like they did the cruise ships....ask for volunteers.

I really don't think anyone has to worry about catching diseases from hurricane evacuees. After all, these children are going to be sitting beside your children in school sharing everything!

If they aren't at risk in school, I doubt other Disney guests are at risk.

[Feralpeg]

From what I heard, they are not putting them up for free. They are giving a discounted rate ($59 a night) at the value hotels for those affected by the hurricane.

[RadioNate]

I really don't think anyone has to worry about catching diseases from hurricane evacuees. After all, these children are going to be sitting beside your children in school sharing everything!

If they aren't at risk in school, I doubt other Disney guests are at risk.

I really hope this is the case. I just know that as a pregnant woman I've been advised to find other ways to help.

I know in TX my DS needs tons of vaccines to be enrolled in school or even day care so I feel like he is more protected than I or the new baby. For example I don't have any hepititis vaccines yet my ds has all of them.

Hopefully illness won't be a concern. I was more thinking out loud and voicing a concern I had. I know very little about the potential health risks, just all the alarmist stuff I'm hearing on TV.

Thanks for not flaming me.

[goin2disneyagain]

I received this thru the Disney Insider email tonight.

In response to this unprecedented crisis, on Thursday, August 31, The Walt Disney Company announced that it would donate $2.5 million to aid relief and recovery efforts in the wake of Katrina. Of that money, $1 million will go to the American Red Cross for immediate relief efforts, another $1 million will go to rebuilding efforts targeted at children's charities, and the remaining $500,000 will be directed to volunteer centers providing services to the affected communities.