I was at Disney on 9/11/01

[Barb Lee]

I was attending the Nursing Management Congress at the Coronado Springs. On Tuesday 9/11 I went to a meeting on generation x,y, and z. The speaker said let us have a moment of silence as a plane has crashed into the World Trade Center. When the meeting was over, Disney had set up TVs in the hallways. Everyone was gathered around a TV. We saw the horrific events unfold. Disney closed its parks. It was comforting to just sit with othe nurses and watch tv together. The rest of our Disney plans were over. We were lucky to get a rental car to take to Wisconsin. It took us 23 hours of driving. You never want to be home as bad as when you cannot be there.

[snuggles]

I can't imagine driving that long but I'm glad you were able to get home safely. Thanks for your report.

[izzy]

I was also attending a conference at the DD Hilton when it happened. We had just had the best speaker I had ever heard. His whole message was about being happy and cheerful, and he was as funny as comedian. When we got ready to go to a break, they told us the news and everyone thought they were kidding at first. We found out the sad truth when we looked at the TV in the bar near our meeting room. I was supposed to stay until Sunday, and I never did make it back to the parks. After the conference finished midday on Thursday, my mom and I took our rental car and drove back to Virginia. I was getting sick with bronchitis and a sinus infection, we didn't know the status of our flights (some airports had only minimally opened by Thursday), and then they were calling for a hurricane to hit on Saturday or Sunday. I said lets just bag it and start driving. I will say that the tornado warning we drove through near Daytona wasn't too much fun! Thank goodness I didn't know about that until later that evening. We spent the night in Georgia, but all in all it was a 15 hour drive. (I'm glad I didn't have your 23 hour drive!) I was still so lucky, though. Mom and I had rented a car when we got down there the Saturday before, so we were able to keep the one we had. So many people at our conference had a hard time getting a car. I was supposed to move from the Hilton to the Yacht Club on Thursday, and I also had Cirque tickets for Friday night. Disney let me cancel everything and refunded my hotel deposit and my tickets. They couldn't have been better about things. While we were disappointed that we weren't able to have a little vacation after the conference, Mom and I counted our blessings all the way home. We didn't have any family or friends directly affected by the tragedies, and we were safe. (Although my dad was about ready to pitch a fit that we weren't home when all this happened.)

It will definitely be a conference I always remember, but unfortunately for the sad circumstances surrounding it.

[sters]

I was wondering if any one was in Disney on that fateful day?

[PrincessCandaceMarie]

I too, was at Disney, right before 9/11, I left Disney on 9/10 and drove back to St. Pete Beach (staying at the Don CeSar) and ended up driving back home alone (thanks to Avis not charging a drop fee 4 states away) since my friend who was visiting me was flying back to the UK.

I haven't been the same since, and I hope I never have to drive alone, in a rental car back to Chicago again.....

PrincessCandaceMarie

:crazy2:

[gigi1313]

we had flown home from wdw on the 9th of september that fateful year... and boy were we glad we were home!

given the recent terrorist warnings, hurricane seasons, dh/i are considering renting a car on our upcoming trip, in the event that if something does cause the airports to close down, we can still get home... any thoughts?

[DISLOVE]

My husband and I were in Disney on 9/11. We were scheduled to go home that night and had packed up our suitcases, brought them down to bell services, and then headed to the MK for out last day. We heard random things about things happening but didn't hear the real story until we were standing in line for Winnie The Pooh.

We ran down Main St... got on a bus as they closed the parks. Disney was incredible... We were there for an extra 2 days with no charge whatsoever....

We ended up renting the last car National had and we drove home to NH. It was a decent ride home, lots of time for reflection and listening to the news. Such a sad sad time.

[dzneelvr]

I was at a business conference in Charlotte, North Carolina. We'd just opened up the session when the news came in. The next day (after hours of planning, negotiating, and worrying) 2 other associates and I hopped in what had to be the last rental car to be had in Charlotte and began a 17 hour trip back to northern Illinois/Southern Wisconsin.
That was a terrible time--OHare airport in Chicago was completely dark, something we'll not see again in our lifetime. (we had to pick up our vehicles there since we flew originally).
We were never so happy to be home and with our families. Because at that time, we just didn't know what was going to happen next!
I will never forget it.

[popeyeohoh]

In Epcot on 9-11.

[Robmom]

I thought of what it would be like to be there that day. I was there the week before.

[momtotwinglesx4]

We were at MK that day--my 40th birthday, btw--and I was waiting outside BTMRR with the baby while dh was on the ride with the bigger kids. I saw the CM at the entrance to the ride turning people away from the ride. I thought there was a problem with the ride so I walked over and asked. She informed me that the parks were closing "due to circumstances beyond their control". When pressed for details, she just said we should go back to our hotel and turn on the news.

When my family exited the ride, I met them and told them what the CM said. We headed toward the exit, thru Adventureland. Lots of people were still laughing and smiling and heading *away* from the exit. We were almost out of Adventureland when they announced over the loudspeakers that the parks were closing. By the time we got to Main St., it was wall-to-wall people, but everyone was calm. Confused, puzzled, but calm. CMs at the exit turnstyles gave everyone one day park passes as they left.

I didn't hear what had actually happened until we were walking down the exit ramp from the monorail at the TTC and some guy was walking next to me talking on his cell phone. I asked him what had happened and he told me.

We heard more details on the car radio as we drove back to our villa at the Disney Institute, then watched tv all afternoon at the villa.

We had planned to go out to dinner somewhere for my birthday, and since the restaurants at the hotels were still open, we ended up going to Juan and Only's at the Dolphin for dinner. It was completely deserted.

They did open the parks the next day; we were there until 9/22 and I've never seen the parks anywhere near as empty as they were that trip.


__________________

[sters]

Thanks for your stories. I imagine everyone will remember very clearly where they were when they heard. (What a bummer of a birthday present.)

[Jungle Skipper]

I was working at WDW when it happened. Acctually the night before I had worked a late shift and hit PI with some friends the night before...I slept through most of the morning...I was supposed to have the day off...

The phone rang and woke me, it was my manager at WDW...knew I had no family there and wanted to know if I would come to the resorts and help him out. They were closing the parks and wanted as many CMs as they could have at the resorts to help with crowd control He knew I loved playing with kids and wanted me at the CR (since I knew it so well) to help with the children there.

Talk about a surreal day...I remember sitting in the lobby trying to be happy and playing with these kids...when I had found out 2 of my former CMs were in the WTC building when it had been hit. Like a trooper I stood fast and tried my best to create some magic...there was no way to make WDW a happy place that day...i think thats why is was so surreal..i've never seen the place so strange. But I like to think I helped keep some kids from becoming to engulfed in the situation. Hopefully I did my job...I was there for 24 hours straight before heading home..sleeping for 6 hours and going back to my Jungle boat. It was strange at WDW for quite some time after that..something I NEVER want to experience again.

Jungle Josh

[mrskay9]

Your stories give me chills. But a lot of respect too.

and btw, Jungle Josh, if I were single (and probably younger!) I'd email ya!
Hope you find your princess.

[ARF]

I will try and make this as short as possible, but after reading the other reports I just felt that I had to tell my story…

Earlier in the year I had 2 surgeries 2 months apart, and having major panic attacks, so the only thing that I had to look forward to was our trip to Disney on September 13, 2001. My DBF had never been to Disney, so I spent many days planning our trip. The planning sometimes got me through the day. Then September 11 happen.

I was in my office in Long Island City, which is right across the river from Manhattan, I could not understand why no one could make a phone call and why there was a dark cloud coming from downtown. I turned on my radio and heard the news, and the only thing I could think of was getting home, which was 35 miles away. I got in my car and started driving. I could not drive pass any airport so ended up taking all back roads. It was really creepy being the only car on the road. The streets were like a ghost town. As I am driving home and listening to the radio the reporter came on and said that the first tower had crumbled to the ground. I started to cry while I was driving and all I kept on thinking was I just want to get home.

Well the next two days were terrible, you heard all the news and at times you just could not pull yourself from the TV. The airports are all closed, so my trip to Disney was off. But my DBF insisted that if the airports were going to open and our flight was leaving NY then we were going. All he kept on say was he is not letting those (Bad Word) dictate our lives. Well we heard that the airports were going to be opening at 12:00 on the 13th, so we called Delta and were told that our flight would be the first flight out, but we had to be at the airport by 8:00 am. So I started to pack, not felling right that we would be going on a vacation after this terrible thing just happened. But on packing I went.

We get to the airport and get out of the car and the first thing that hit you was the smell of burning rubble. The smell over took every thing. The Delta check-in was so crowded. All the passengers that have been stranded for the last two days were all there. We had First Class tickets because we had to use up miles, so we had no line at all to wait on. At about 10:00 am the Delta employees start checking passengers in. We check-in and head over to security, all of the sudden all the employees that were in the terminal start running out then you see the security personnel running out telling you to leave the terminal immediately, and there is a bomb scare. OK I just about had enough, lets just go home, but DBF kept telling me no. OK pop a few Xanax calm down, after about 20 minutes they let us back in. We get through security (I will not get in to detail about that, lets just say that it was an experience), and a second bomb scare happen and we had to leave the terminal again, 20-30 minutes later we are allowed back through the security check points. So we finally get to the gate and were told that there would be no food or ice on the flight; they were handing out box lunches as you enter the plane. We finally take off at 2:00 pm, and as the plane flew over ground zero it was the most disturbing sight. I just could not hold back the tears. I could never put into words of what I felt at that time. It would be a year or so later before another plane was allowed to fly over the sight.

So on our way to Florida we go and as we are flying down they close down the national airways, grounding all flights, our flight was the only one that left the airport during most of that day. All of a sudden we hit such bad turbulence and the plane start to do the turbulence dance. The pilot comes on the speakers and tells everyone that there is a storm ahead to please be seated and fasten your seat belts. We did not know that we were flying into a tropical storm. Anyway we land in Florida, and guess what MCO is closed due to the fact that air traffic was still suspended and the airport was near empty due to a recent bomb scare and a suspicious package in the chapel. We were one of the few flights that landed in MCO and the only a few passengers walking through the airport. Now that was really creepy. We get our luggage and head outside to get a cab, guess what there are no cabs to be found. Now for the last few months I have been telling DBF that we did not need a car, because once you get to Disney, you could use the buses. OK how do we get to Disney? We spotted this lonely person behind the Avis counter and they were renting cars to people that were stranded at the airport. We were able to get a car for only $30.00. Now we get in the car and it is raining so hard that you felt like to car was in a pail of water. We finally get to the Boardwalk and check in with on problem at all.

The next day we are heading over to MK. Now it is still raining because there is a tropical storm going on and I tell DBF to just put on the Mickey poncho and leave his male ego at the door. After all I went through to be here we are going to MK. When we reach MK I had my first experience with the bag search. Well MK was so empty that at times we walked for about 10-15 minutes with out seeing anyone. At the time that the first tower crumbles Disney held a moment of silence. I felt totally guilty for being at Disney again I could not hold back the tears. After the moment of silence we duck under a building over hang to get out of the downpour of rain and found ourselves standing along side to Disney Security Men who were speaking with headquarters about the possibly of shutting down the park due to an on going high speed chase involving police and suspicious van entering Disney property .

As we were leaving MK and shopping on Main Street a CM came in and was telling other CM’s that if the winds picked up any more that they were going to get everyone in the tunnels. OK were did I put those Xanax.

After that first day, the sun came out and Disney came alive again. I still felt guilty for being at Disney, but we ended up having a great time and even extended our stay one day.

Sorry this story took on a life of it’s own but once I started to typing I just could not stop, thanks for those of you that stayed to the end.

[linnettevl]

I saw the plane hit World Trade Center
I felt the earth tremble
I could not understand what was going on
I still have panic attacks when I take the train....:sad:

We cancelled our Disney Vacations that year.

Linnette

[cooldisneymom]

To ARF and linettevl - My heart goes out to both of you. :hug: How awful that must have been for the both of you being so close to the events of that awful day. I live in GA and the events of that day have changed my life forever. I have anxiety attacks too and cannot fly now AT ALL. Thank God we only live a short 8 hour ride from WDW. My thoughts and prayers are with both of you and all the families that were destroyed that day. :sad:

[DisneyWisher]

It was myself, DD17, DD15, and DD8. The older girls wanted to go to BB that day. We had talked about it the night before. While I took the youngest to MK they would go. DD8 and I woke up early and grabbed a bus to MK about 8:30. MK was not even opened yet when we got there. We rode a few quick rides. As we were getting off HM, DD8 decided she was thirsty. We stopped by the courtyard where they do the silhouettes to get a something. As I placed my order an announcement was made that MK was closing, at the end of the announcement they said code 1. I saw the startled look on the CM's face that was helping. She told everyone that they had to exit. A few people lingered but she was firm. I didn't know what was going on. (I hadn't turned on the news that morning). As we exited we were given 1 day passes. I remember people saying a cessna had crashed into a building in NYC. I didn't understand why they would close WDW for that. Getting a bus back to POR was not a problem they had busses waiting. Still to this day I remember this part crystal clear. MY dd8 and I sat on the seats right in front of the rear doors on the bus. I was looking around the bus still trying to take all of this in. When the woman next to me said "do you know the twin towers? I said Yes. She said they're gone. I thought What does she mean gone? my only reply was OMG. Still it didn't sink in. We were let off at the lobby at POR. I remember walking into the lobby and seeing a big screen TV in the lounge replaying the 2nd crash into the WTC. I was in complete disbelief. I ran to the house phone to call my other 2 DDs. But they were not in the room. I panicked. I called my mother and my father wanted me to come home asap. I asked a CM if I decided to leave early what would happen. He said that I would not be charge for that night. That if I decided to leave to be careful. I had rented a SUV for our trip and I knew they would need it back as soon as possible so people could get home. About 10 mins later my DDs come walking through the lobby. They had gone to MGM to ride ToT and were in the process of going to BB when they were rerouted back to the hotel. They wanted to stay. They got lunch and we made our way back to our room. (this was the one and only time we stayed at POR). We planted ourselves in front of the TV watching everything in total disbelief. How could this happen here? Was my main thought. Even to this day how can anyone think about this and not cry. The next day Wednesday 9/12/01 was the beginning of checking bags and purses at WDW theme parks. One thing that always made me go hmmmmm. Was they would check bags and purses but never mugs or mens shorts that have a lot of big pockets. Seems like alot could be place in those.

Thats my "where were you when the terrorists crashed planes into the WTC?"

May everyone that was touched by this tragedy be remembered and prayed for.

Shirley

[ARF]

Linnette

I cannot understand what you must have gone through that day. Especially now with all of the extra secuirty and the high alerts we are having, I don't know how you go into the city everyday...If you still do. I know that when I have to go into the city for meetings I try to drive when ever possible. I also have panic attack when I am on the train and never take the train myself. I give you a great amount of credit.

Kristen

Thank you for your thoughts and prays. Yes it was a teribble day and a day I thinking no one will ever forget where they were or what they were doing.


My outlook is that I still need to keep living and now I when I talk to my parents I never end the call without telling them I Love You and before I go to bad at night I tell my DF that I Love You. You just never know...

Toni

[Michelle GT]

my family was at mk on 9/11 . It was me,DH,2 DSs,DD- It had been 8 years since we were on a vacation ( honeymoon at WDW in 9)
We flew out of Phili and on the way there, my DH got sick on the plane. Luckily there was a nurses convention at disney that week, so the plane was filled with nurses and one retired doctor. They had emergency services on the phone and had my DH on oxygen pretty much the whole time. they were able to keep him stable and when we landed, they had an ambulence ready to take him to a hospital. One of the nurses who had helped my husband on the plane was nice enough to offer some help to me,as I had 3 small kids(18 mos. 3, and 4) and needed to get a double stroller,2 carryons, and 2 other bags at luggage claim. She picked up my luggage claim bags and offered to take them to her hotel for us to pick up at a later time. I took the rest and my children to the hospital to see about my husband. ( I must add that my husband has had many med problems in the past ,but never to this extent. WE did get to Disney and had a good week, but it was on our last day there that they had to close the parks. It was such a sad day.

[Mickey4Me]

It's strange that even though I sometimes have trouble remembering what happened yesterday, I can remember the events of one single day that occured almost 3 years ago like it just happened.

I was living and working in PA at the time. My job called for lots of travel and most of my plans were made months ahead of time. I had an assistant who would make all my travel arrangements and give me a schedule for the month of when and where I was supposed to be.

I had two trips scheduled in Sept. - one to the West Coast and one to Canada. About a week prior to 9/11/01 I looked at my schedule and realized that I was scheduled to leave for the West Coast trip on my daughter's birthday - Sept. 11. I had my assistant change my travel plans so that I would be heading out to Canada on 9/12 and do the west coast trip the following week. That way I could be home for DD's 17th b'day.

I had a meeting scheduled at the office for 9:00 AM on 9/11. On my way through the break room to the conference room, I saw the TV and was horrifed to see the events that were unfolding. I immediately asked my assistant to make sure that none of our associates in the field were on the scheduled flights. About 30 min. later, she came to the door of the conference room and was white as a sheet. I immediately started a mental checklist of where all my people were scheduled to be that day and if any could be involved. The look on her face really scared the *&#@ out of me.

I left the meeting to talk to her and that's when she told me that she had just gotten off the phone with the corp. travel dept. They had called to see if I had made my flight that day!?! Seems that my original schedule to fly to the West Coast that day had been on American flight #77 out of Dulles into LAX. That was the plane that hit the Pentagon. Seems that they had changed my flight plans but still had the original itinerary in the computer. When what she told me started sinking in, I just went sort of numb and spent the rest of the day in a sort of "out of body" state. I kept thinking...What if DD had been born on a different day? What if I had decided to take her with me to LA for her b'day? What about all those other people on that ill fated flight? It could have very easily been me.....

I went home earlier than normal that day and was so happy to see DD and DH there. DD decided that she didn't want to go out for dinner as planned because she didn't feel like it was right to celebrate anything that day. We ordered pizza instead and stayed home glued to the TV. Later that evening I told DH the whole story and how my orig. travel schedule had me on the Dulles flight (I used to always fly out of BWI or Dulles). It was one of the few times I've ever seen DH openly weep and I wish I hadn't told him. I never did tell DD.

When I think about that day now, my thoughts go to the passengers on the 4 planes. I can't begin to imagine what they were feeling, thinking the last min. before their plane crashed. I keep putting myself in their position and seeing it through their eyes. I know the events of that day changed many people's lives. I know it did mine. I now take nothing for granted in my life and make sure that my job never takes priority over family, friends.

[CapeCodFam]

I was at home very excited for my first trip ever to WDW.(me, ds's 3&5, dh)Our travel day was suppose to be June 17th, but everything was closed. As scared as we were dh said if Logan And WDW open we would still go. Well, we did go. It was great to get away from it all. Great for my ds5 who heard about it at school. He was asking a lot of tough questions. Disney was very quiet. IT was great to see other young families on the plan, and as my ds puts it, not letting those bad men win. Disney felt very safe wich was what we all needed.

God bless our troops.
joy:D

[zurgswife]

DH and I were at WDW on 9/11......When it all started I think we were on test track. We decided to head back to the BWV and change DH's shoes...he was getting blisters. DH's sister was also at BWV....we usually called them at night to go to dinner...but I decided to see what they were doing that morning. When I called SIL she says turn on the TV....well we sat there for a while and watched the buildings being hit and fall. I tried to reach my kids at home to let them know I was OK...but couldn't get through until much later. It was very surreal...DH couldn't stand it and needed to go to the parks...we headed to MGM....he didn't want to go to MK because he felt it would be a target. We love Millionaire....so about 11am we head in to see a Millionaire show....We discuss between the 2 of us if they might revamp the beginning of the show where Regis talks about flying to NY....When we head out the street are completely empty and there was a line of CM's pointing you toward the front gates....we knew what had happen so we understood....Lots of people were bewildered....We were one of the last groups to escorted out.....We headed back to BWV watched a little more TV...check on our rental car..to see if we could keep it...."They said if you might need it then call and let them know where you would be taking it"

We then head over to the YC/BC pool BW pool was closed....you could just tell the guys that were there and worked in NY....It was so sad to see these guys on cell phones all day.....

We weren't able to get a flight out 2 days later when we were scheduled to leave so we drove our rental home to Philly.....Long drive...so a terrrible accident outside Florence SC...the driver was thrown on to 95...it was 11pm at night....very sad....Lots of rental cars on the road for the next 18hrs......DH and I had decided to get a cute little sports car for the days we were tooling around Orlando...boy did I wish I had rented a full size car...by the end of the trip I was peeling myself out of that little car.....Only humorous side to those few days....

For those few days that we were at WDW the staff at WDW did an amazing job to help everybody get through it...

[Pkdcoastrs]

Well I wasn't in WDW on Sept 11, though I was there a few weeks before that.

I do live 7 miles from NYC in Bergen County, NJ so I was near all that went down. I was in gym class (senior year high school) when I saw my one teacher run to the closet in the gym that had the phone. All of a sudden some of my classmates came upstairs from the locker rooms and said "a plane hit the World Trade Center". If I could describe the feeling that tookover my body, I would, but man did it feel horrible. For the next couple of weeks I wasn't the same person. I wasn't even directly affected (no relatives injured/passed away), but I still felt like I was in the middle of it all being so close.

My dad teaches in North Bergen which is just up the river in NJ from it, all he kept saying that day was the amount of smoke coming into the classrooms was a lot.

I look back and now I still can't believe it happened. The new terror alerts don't help more (Newark and New York City)

I remember reading these message boards and thinking to myself what it must have been like to have been in WDW (or anywhere) other then your own home.

Well sorry this post slid a little from the main idea of being there, but it's always good I guess to tell your own story and see how it was in relevance to your own.

[Alysa]

Mickey4Me – you must be joyous just to see your DD's shining face every morning. Perhaps you are meant to do some great thing in life...

My prayers to all those touched by this terrible tragedy.

[Banshee]

Originally posted by linnettevl
I saw the plane hit World Trade Center
I felt the earth tremble We were there too Linnette.:( We were right there on the street remember people screaming and my friend was screaming that how did this happn how did they not see the building? And I just knew that it wasnt an accident. I remember screaming at her we have to get out of the city this isnt an accident the city is under attack. I grabbed her arm and started running and wound up losing my shoes and running bare foot. I called my DH on my cell. and told him what was going on and the phone cut out and wouldnt work again. we made it home that evening to southern ocean county in nj. It finally hit me when I saw my DH and my DS and they both started crying. We had just found out the week before that I was pregnant with our second DS. It is a day that will be etched in my memory forever.:(

[YCFAN]

My husband was in France on business. The plant manager over there approached the Americans in the building and simply said "your home office has called and asked me to have each of you call your wives." Of course they closed down international flights and my husband ended up standing in line at Charles De Gualle airport in Paris for three days. Because he flies so much he is what they call Chairman Status as a frequent flyer. On the third day they opened up the first flight and had one seat left to fill. They saw his Chairman Status ticket and pulled him out of line and put him on the plane. He had flown out of Charlotte but he didn't care where the plane was going as long as it was going to the USA. The plane was flying to Philadelphia and he said when they came into US airspace as they flew over they could see the smoke from the WTC. He said not another word was spoken on the plane. When the wheels touched down on the runway in Philadelphia the whole plane broke out into cheers and clapping. They were so glad just to be back on American soil!

[Cailin'sMom]

I should have been in the WTC on 9/11.

I had been scheduled to go for a seminar in 6 WTC, (not one of the Twin towers, but too close for comfort.) However, I had been doing most of the traveling for our office so I asked that someone else make the trip. A guy out of our New Orleans office actually made the trip. He was in 6 WTC when the planes hit. Everyone in that building got out OK, but he said that it was the most horrible experience that he ever had.

When I saw the 2nd plane hit, the first thought that went through my mind was that I was supposed to be there.

My heart goes out to all the families that lost loved ones in the WTC.

[OhioTony]

We were there 10 days later, after much debate on keeping our plans or to cancel. To cancel, in my mind, was to admit defeat. We drove from Ohio. World events were ALWAYS in the back of our mind. The park was described as "a ghost town" in comparison to the usual crowds by many employees. We waited in line for NOTHING. I remember riding Splash Mountain 3 times without getting out of the logs, they just let us ride through. I remember our family of four,plus Grandma, at one point being the only people on the bus to MGM from our resort, and the only ones on the monorial to EPCOT. It was not untill the weekend that we noticed more crowds. This was our kids 1st disney experience. We will be returning again late Sept 2004.

Although we enjoyed our time there, it took our minds of these terrible events, I hope to see WDW as it should be seen. Through the smiling faces of MANY kids & adults!!!

God Bless!

Our Wonder cruise report "A prayer for Halley"
http://www.disboards.com/showthread...2Bfor+%2BHalley

[madhouserobey]

i was working in the watergate buildings in dc. had just called pregnant wife to tell her to turn on the tv .was on the phone with her when the second plane hit.told her everything was all going to be all right to calm her down.i stayed on the phone with her for a few minutes and hung up .just then the office i am working in get a phone call saying the pentagon was just hit. ran out of the building and they were evacuating the kennedy center .so when to rt 50/66 bridge over the potomac river and watched the pentagon burn and could hear the explosions from the pentagon. the whole time trying to get a hold of my wife .to tell her i was ok.but the phone line were jammed.findly got a hold of my mom.she was smart enough to send my dad up to stay with my pregnant wife .it was so surreal watching people walking over the bridge because they were afraid to take the subway and also hearing but not seeing the fighter jets flying overhead. the second part to the story is that the building i was has the saudi medical attache and the yemen embassy.i rode the elevator with some and they would not evem look at me ,eyes to the floor the whole time,real nice huh did not even have enough guts to say anything or offer apologies .but the next day sept 12 someone try to run their car though the front doors of the saudi embassy which i had the pleasure to see the car on the front steps .police came from every direction. not a day i will soon forget .

[mmausse]

I've read these posts and they all brought tears to my eyes. Not just for the horrific tragedy and the lives that were needlessly lost, but also for the true human kindnesses, American kindnesses, that were given to people that were stranded far from home by WDW and the car rental companies.

Where was I when the world stopped turning?

I had worked at the Pentagon until 4am and was sound asleep when the call came in from my office. I had overslept. But they told me to stay home - they were glad I "was" home instead of at the meeting. The meeting area was hit.

All day long I stayed glued to the TV and cried.

The next day I went with fellow EMT volunteers to look for survivors at the Pentagon. NOTHING could ever prepare you for those sights (& I won't go into detail here, afterall this is a family friendly site) but worse than the sights were the odors. And we all had to be very stoic because the press and media were out with long range cameras, watching our every move and our faces when we came out. What was even sadder were relatives who would thrust pictures of missing loved ones at you, asking you to look out for them.

To do this day, I am still gravely saddened by the losses our country felt and the personal tragedies of the deaths as well as the survivors and their on-going struggles.

Prayers and Pixie Dust to us all.

[sters]

I'm interested in your stories, because I was really curious what "the happiest place on earth" was like on the saddest day on earth (at least for Americans).

[janeossie]

I wasn't there on 9/11 but my friend and I flew out on the 16th. We were on one of the first few UK run planes out of the UK and decided that if it were going so were we as we would be admitting defeat. Mum wasn't happy and would've prefered us to stay at home but I'm very stubborn and wouldn't let terrorists beat us!

We actually had a number of people from where I work in New York and area on vacation on 9/11 and until we got word that everyone was ok it was worrying. One person had been getting one of those photo postcards the day before and had sent it on that day. It was a very strange feeling seeing that card.

Jane

[mushumadness]

I flew into new york in nvember 2001, on my way to florida, it was a very different place to what it used to be.

we flew by virgin jumbo there were only 70 people on my flight compared with the normal full plane. It was very unusual going through passport control, in the uk. my entire family traveled that day and the check in staff actually asked us if we had changed our wills to reflect the fact that if anything happened we would all go togther.

we got to florida, it was very quiet in the parks, and there were thank you for travelling banners in frount of all the hotels, very strange thing to see.

On 9/11 I was on a bus and the first I knew about it was when an american guy who had some sort of radio on near me, asked to use my cell, i let him of course, and we are still in touch now, turns out he worked for on of the firms on the upper floors of the first tower they lost nearly everyone. So strange how someone on a bus with you can suddenly have so much change in the space of seconds. I returned home, as I didnt think the city was a safe place to be and I watched the news for the rest of the day.

I still fly, but I always get the what if? feeling before I step onto a plane

[#1hockeymom]

I have nothing to add, I just want to say that I have been following this thread and have been thoroughly moved reading every post. I love what Mmause wrote about human kindness and hope that that is what we keep out of that horrific day, in the long term. Thank you to all for posting your stories.

Debbie

[disneynay]

My sister and I were in EC on 9/11. We had just been on the Living with the Land ride and were shopping in the little garden shop next to Food Rocks. I noticed a CM with a name tag from our home town and said hi. He told me that a commuter plane went down in PA. I remember saying "oh" like it was no big deal. I didn't realize what was going on. We left the Land pavilion and rode another ride( I can't remember what... blocked out the memory).
Then we were going to shop at DD, and left the park. I remember hearing people talking on our way out and thinking it's weird that the CM's don't stamp my hand for re-entry. Well, on the bus we heard all about it from a tourist who had a two way and was getting messages.
We went back to Dixie Landings and watched awestruck from the big tv in the lounge. I remember just being scared and thankful that my sis was with me, but wanting to go home. We called our folks, and got 1 day passes from guest relations because the parks closed.
We went to MGM the next day and my sis rode the Rock-n-Roller Coaster for the first time. I rode the TOT for the first time in years. Hey,if the world was going to end we had to be brave.
We also had the hurricane on Friday, the day we went to finish EC. We observed the moment of silence in the American pavilion. We made it there in time despite the blowing rains.
Looking back on our video, we did alot before we heard about the attack that we did not remember. We will never go on vacation without cell phones again!
Did the WDW lose any of the magic? Yes/no. We did not make our annual pilgramage the following year, but went last year and will do so again in October of this year. But, we will never, ever go in September again.
It was nice to read so many stories of those that were affected.

::MickeyMo ::MinnieMo

[MUFFYCAT]

I wish I was at WDW. I work at Rockefeller Center in Manhattan, which is midtown. We heard a plane very close and just thought the airports are flying them low that day. A few minutes later a co-worker's wife called to tell us a plane hit the WTC. We all thought that was wierd being that it was a clear day. As he is still talking to his wife he screams out another plane hit. The office went numb. We could see the smoke filling the sky. My first thought was my kids they were 10 snd 7 at that time. I was worried that the older one might think it was my building. The school didn't say anything to the younger grades, my older daughter found out because her teacher's father worked in the building and didn't know where he was( he got out fine). I called my neighbor right away to pick them up from school.
To make matters worse my husband was in upstate Cooperstown. I did talk to him and he was driving home right away. The phones went dead at about 9:30. We all left, I tried to get to the LIRR (commuter train ) before that halted, but missed the last train by 2 minutes.

The next few hours were very searel. Penn station closed, I live too far to walk home so I sat outside with other people. We figured we wait all day and night because at least we're lucky to be alive. We had no idea how bad it was because everything was dead. The only think ypu heard were police and ambulice sirens. The smoke was extremely thick. I listened to some stories of some people who were there, then took the subway out before they halted.
We finally got on a train 6 hours later arrived home at 7:00 p.m.
I held my girls so tight , their ribs must have cracked. I was thankful they were okay.

New York was unbelievable the next few days. We all hung together and helped out wherever we could.

[CMAKmom]

On 9-11 I was just arriving for work at the nursery school where I teach. Moms and Dads started arriving as the news was unfolding. They dropped their 3 yr olds off not knowing what was going on and we said if u want to comem back and pick them up earlier. The thing I will always remember is watching these innocent children playing with the toys and each other oblivious to the terror going on in NYC . Our Director kept coming in w/ bulletins and gradually parents came back to pick up their kids. I will always remember these children as my 9-11 class.

[CMAKmom]

On 9-11 I was just arriving for work at the nursery school where I teach. Moms and Dads started arriving as the news was unfolding. They dropped their 3 yr olds off not knowing what was going on and we said if u want to comem back and pick them up earlier. The thing I will always remember is watching these innocent children playing with the toys and each other oblivious to the terror going on in NYC . Our Director kept coming in w/ bulletins and gradually parents came back to pick up their kids. I will always remember these children as my 9-11 class.

[Goobergal99]

Well, all of these posts bring me back to 9/11. For me, I had just finished my first week of college classes and was working on a paper while my DD watched playhouse Disney. All of a sudden, the phone rang and it was my mom calling from work, she wanted to tell me that a plane had crashed into the WTC and asked me to turn on the TV. Shannon was just two years old at the time and I remember her getting upset because I was turning off her cartoons. I stayed on the phone with my mom when I saw a plane hit the second tower, at first I thought it was just a replay of the first incident, until I expressed this to my mother and she told me that she was watching as well and that was not a replay it was another plane.

I raced upstairs and woke up DF, who had worked the night before. He sort of just rolled over and then when he finally did wake up, the world was really chaotic, the towers were beginning to fall, the pentagon had been hit and there were still like 9 or 10 unaccounted for planes still in the air. I remeber how terrified I was that night, we live Philadelphia and could here the millitary bombers flying above the house, it was scary!

[tifandjim]

My DH and I were in MK on 09/11/01. We had only been in the park long enough to ride Buzz Lightyear. We walked into the arcade and had a picture taken in one of the photo booths. Continuing through the park just 5 min later, I walked in a store while my DH waited outside. While in the store, I overheard 2 CMs talking and one of them said "someone just bombed the World Trade Center". I found my DH and told him what I had overheard, and to be honest, we thought that it was just a misunderstanding. We decided that we would walk back toward the front of the park. While in Main Street USA, all of a sudden, the music just stopped. That was a VERY odd feeling, you could only hear people walking. A pre-recorded message began to play stating "Attention Walt Disney World Guests. Due to circumstances beyond our control, we are asking that you please exit the park in an orderly fashion. Please return to your vehicle or WDW Resort." I immediately began crying. We were staying at All Star Music, and quickly boarded the bus. There were 2 other families on there. As the bus filled, a woman with her adult daughter and grandson sat behind us on the bus, and she was trying desperately to use her cell phone. She was finally able to contact a neighbor who told her the news. She told us what happened. The woman also told us that she worked for American Airlines and was on leave due to a shoulder surgery. She was to go back to work that week, but had decided to take a week of vacation to take her daughter and grandson to WDW. We arrived back at the hotel. We felt as though we were in on a bad secret. The pool was filled with children and adults playing. The food court was full. The line for check in was full. We quickly got to our room, my DH turned on the TV as I called my mom. We were 11 hours from home, and our families wanted us to come home immediately. We had been at WDW for only 2 full days. Thank goodness we had driven. We checked out and drove the 11 hour trip home in 7 1/2 hours. The interstate was deserted. I think everyone in the US was glued to the TV. We listened to the radio the entire way home. I will definately NEVER forget that WDW trip.

[sters]

BUMP

[Pkdcoastrs]

I wanted to add in another post. I can remember anywhere we went after 9/11, having AM radio on with updates/reports of what was going on. I think it was 1010wins, as weird as it sounds the musci thing they do before each update is like stuck in my head permenetly. I remember being on the internet and reading that a truck was driving reckelss on the NJ turnpike heading for the George Washington Bridge. It turned out to be fake obviously, but we took everything seriously being only about 5 miles from the bridge/NYC.

Ugh...I get a bad stomach each time I think about that day.