What are my options - Irene?

[WolfpackFan]

Okay, as of right now Hurricane Irene will be sitting right over my house on Sunday morning as a category 3 hurricane. Now I know hurricane tracking this far out is really subject to change, but I'm just trying to figure out my options. We are supposed to drive down to HHI on Sunday morning and check into the resort for 5 nights. I am not concerned about the HHI resort as it looks like the hurricane will be more east from them. I'm concerned about my having to deal with damage here and also driving down to the resort on Sunday.

Should I cancel my ressie now? If so, what would happen to my points? What if I keep the ressie and can't get there on Sunday (or Monday or Tuesday), what has happened in the past - will DVC work with me as far as my points or will they just be lost?

Any advice about this would be greatly appreciated. I am so disappointed. I was and am really looking forward to going to HHI.

 

[hakepb]

If you cancel now, your points become holding points. Holding points must be used (in DVC options) by the end of your use year, but you can only book 60 days or fewer out.

Personally, I would still plan to go. Does arriving a day earlier help? It seems DVC has been good in the past with people having weather related problems as long as you let them know(although that is not a right, and it could change)

 

[WolfpackFan]

About going earlier, that is a possibility. The problem is we have some obligations on Saturday morning we can't get out of - but we could leave around noon though. My main concern though is us getting down there and finding out we have trees on our hour here. My lot has a lot of trees (big oak trees) and one is right next to my house. If we get another Fran here, I could be in big trouble. I am still hoping that the tracks will continue to move east. Best worse case - we get hit hard but no house damage and we go on down to HHI for the week while the power is out. Worst worse case we have major damage here to house and we have to skip a day or so at HHI while we get the house covered, etc. Hopefully DVC will work with me on the points. If not, I guess I just loose them.

 

[DMKEDM]

I posted this somewhere else, so apologies to all those who (like me) are reading every Hurricane Irene thread cuz our personal travel plans may be affected!

Anyway--during the horrible blizzards of 2009, I had a flight confirmed at noon on Sat to depart Sunday morning to start my Disney vacation. At 8 that night the airlines canceled the flight--well after MS closed. I called CRO and they did "work their magic" to move my reservation to Monday (at that point, the airlines had rescheduled me to leave on Monday)...long story short, the reservation wound up being completely canceled due to my inability to get a flight to Orlando until after my vacation would have ended. With each flight change, MS (the subsequent ones happened while MS was open) moved my reservation around...all points were restored to me, altho they did go into holding (and I was able to use them a couple of months later).

So yes, MS will work with you. I don't know if the reason you give will matter...e.g., if you tell them you can't get there due to the hurricane that might result in a different reaction than if you tell them (on check-in day) that you have to stay home due to storm damage.

In any event, here's all the pixie dust I can get my hands on that Irene skips over your house and your trees! Salvaging your vacation is important and to be hoped for--but even more, I hope for no tree damage to your house!

 

[castleri]

In the past I believe they work with people and if you call and cannot get there the first day or so the points get put in holding and then the last days are still there if you go. I imagine every case is based on it's merits. If my plane is cancelled the day I am supposed to get there I will be on the phone first thing to let them know. Hopefully that will not happen but if it does I have every confidence they will work with me. Then I will just have to find a way to use the holding points. Either way you stand to end up with holding points. If you cancel now and this thing takes a sudden turn east you will wish you had waited, if not you will be glad you did it. I would wait until the last minute since the end result will be the same. Just try to call before check in date if that is what you decide.

 

[wdrl]

Having gone through Rita in 2005 and Ike in 2008, I understand your concern about how a hurricane may affect your home. Hope everything goes well for you and that Irene's impact on you is slight.

DVC has a hurricane policy that you can read on the member website (see https://dvc.disney.go.com/dvc/member/memberDetail?id=MemberHurricanePolicyDetailPage). It appears that you have some options that might help you save your points, or at least reschedule your vacation. I suggest you call MS to see what options you have.

Good luck!!

Here's the entire Policy as of today:

Disney Vacation Club Hurricane Policy Statement

From June 1 to November 30, 2011, in the event a hurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area, Vero Beach area, Hilton Head Island or for the Member's place of residence within 7 days before the scheduled arrival date, the Member may call Member Services prior to check-in to cancel or reschedule, based upon availability, their Disney Vacation Club Resort reservation without any cancellation or modification penalty.

Note: This policy pertains to hurricane warnings only. Other weather advisory levels are handled on a case by case basis and Members should contact Member Services.

Questions and ANSWERS

When does this temporary policy become effective?
The temporary policy is effective in the event ahurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center no more than 7 days before your scheduled arrival date for the Orlando area, Vero Beach area, Hilton Head Island or for the Member's place of residence.

What can I do if a hurricane warning is issued?
If a hurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area, Vero Beach area, Hilton Head Island or for the Member's place of residence no more than 7 days before your scheduled arrival date, you may call Member Services in advance to modify, based on availability, or cancel your Disney Vacation Club Resort reservation without any cancellation or modification penalty.

If you are to be staying on a Member Getaway and a hurricane warning is issued for that destination, please contact Member Services.

Will I be responsible for any cancellation or modification penalties or other amounts?
If you have products and services provided by third party suppliers that were not obtained through Member Services, such as airlines, hotels, car rental agencies or vacation insurance companies, you will continue to be responsible for any non-refundable payments, as well as cancellation penalties or change fees assessed by those suppliers. The policy does not apply to certain special events or dining experiences (e.g. Member cruise).

What if I prefer to reschedule my vacation to a different date because of a hurricane warning? Will I be able to get my same accommodations?

If you are scheduled to arrive within seven (7) days of the hurricane warning, you may call Member Services prior to check-in to reschedule, based upon availability, without penalty. We cannot guarantee availability of similar accommodations for the new travel dates. The policy does not apply to certain special events and dining experiences.
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[DenLo]

I don't blame you for worrying about your home. We live in southern Houston which is less than 35 miles from the gulf, and although we wouldn't get a direct hit after going through Tropical Storm Allison, I don't ignore the possible after affects of a storm. So IMO traveling in hurricane season can be nerve wracking because what's going on at home. Do you prepare the house before you leave, stay at home, just do the regular we'll be gone stuff, or just add on to the prep list by moving the patio furniture and garden stuff into the garage? I flip flop on that one.

All of the hurricane warnings for the United States have been removed as of this morning. I would just keep an eye out for NOAA's annoucements regarding Irene. You can check it direct here, http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/graphics_at4.shtml?5-daynl?large#contents or just watch the weather channel on TV.

Good luck.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Thanks everyone for your input and special thanks to the poster who posted the hurricane policy. I feel a lot better. The models are looking better for me this morning. All of the models except for one have the hurricane skirting the NC coast rather than coming inland. If that happens the effect on us will be a lot less. If this is the way it is heading, I may have us head on down into SC Saturday afternoon. Except we do have the problem of what to do with our kitty on Saturday. But that is a whole other issue .

 

[Muushka]

WolfpackFan (and neighbor) remember the ice storm back in 2002 (I think that was the year)? Cary was covered in ice. I worked for the state at that time and work had been canceled. We were supposed to go to WDW the next day. My co-worker called and encouraged me to hit the road early, leave that day. I had already lost a huge weeping willow in the front yard and we have tons of trees in the back yard that could have fallen (like the huge one in Fran that hit the house) and we had no power.

I remember driving down the road, around downed trees, wondering what the heck we were doing leaving having no idea what was going to happen. (We did have neighbors who kept track of things for us while we were gone).

It was the best thing we could have done. The electricity ended up being out for about 24 hours. No more trees fell.

And we were at WDW.

 

[WolfpackFan]

Muushka - I remember the ice storm real well as well as Fran. You're exactly right. I figure we'll head down to HHI just as soon as we make sure the worst is pass. I would like to go down Saturday, but we're leaving our kitty in the house alone, with one of those self feeders. Our daughter will be coming by every other day to check on her, but kitty is very scared of storms and I just hate for her to be here alone if a storm is going on outside. What you do for yours pets .

 

[Muushka]

Several years ago, post Fran, we had another hurricane (not a Fran though).
I kept in close communication with my neighbor as we were at WDW.

We had 2 cats. One was upstairs in the very dark bathroom wrapped around the toilet (the scardy cat Loretta!!).

The other was out on the back porch enjoying the wind! (we have a pet door, she could have come in the house).
The late-great-brave Brenda!

Good luck and good vacation!

 

[WolfpackFan]

Muushka - Did you feel the earthquake? Wow, what is next?

 

[Muushka]

Muushka - Did you feel the earthquake? Wow, what is next?

No! I just now found out about it from a friend in NJ! Wish I had. Did you feel it?

 

[WolfpackFan]

Yea, I felt it. I was over at a friend's house in Picardy Village helping him with a computer problem and the house starting shaking. For some reason I knew immediately what it was.

 

[Muushka]

Mr Muush felt it. He works off of Weston. I wish I had felt it!

 

[DMKEDM]

I was in Falls Church, VA (about 10 miles from the White House for those not from the DC area)...like Muushka, I'd always sort of wanted to know what an earthquake felt like. Now I know and I don't ever want to feel that again!

It's the weirdest, strangest feeling...my body shook for a good 30 minutes...and it was not emotional shaking--it was physical shaking even tho emotionally I was calm as I could be...I'm still a lot more worried about Hurricane Irene getting in my way as I try to fly to Disney on Sat than I was scared by our earthquake!

So--combine emotional calm with unrelated worry and phyiscal shaking...weird, weird, weird...

Glad it's over. Hope it doesn't happen again. And still hope Irene stays out of our way as we try to get to Orlando Sat morning!

 

[Muushka]

I was in Falls Church, VA (about 10 miles from the White House for those not from the DC area)...like Muushka, I'd always sort of wanted to know what an earthquake felt like. Now I know and I don't ever want to feel that again!

It's the weirdest, strangest feeling...my body shook for a good 30 minutes...and it was not emotional shaking--it was physical shaking even tho emotionally I was calm as I could be...I'm still a lot more worried about Hurricane Irene getting in my way as I try to fly to Disney on Sat than I was scared by our earthquake!

So--combine emotional calm with unrelated worry and phyiscal shaking...weird, weird, weird...

Glad it's over. Hope it doesn't happen again. And still hope Irene stays out of our way as we try to get to Orlando Sat morning!

OK, you convinced me. I don't want to experience an earthquake!!

 

[jgdsoarin]

I'm about 40 miles from the epicenter... here in central Virginia. We felt it very strongly. It was definitely something I would not want to experience on a regular basis. I'm just very thankful that there were no injuries. I can't believe how far away it was felt! We have had several small aftershocks.

 

[cjb-nc]

Tonight's forecasts all have Irene staying off the coast, maybe grazing the banks. You should be good to go unless it changes again. Good luck and have a great time. BTW, greetings from the other side of Raleigh, we live near Knightdale. The 2002 ice storm hit 24 hours before we had a flight to the UK for 10 days. Left the house with no power and just grateful the airport was actually open. Its good to have nice neighbors!

 

[Muushka]

OP, Cary report:

Wind was not bad. Not that much rain. We didn't lose power. No downed trees.

Hope HHI is fun!