A long shot--'99 & up board members

[tecdavidt]

OK, any board members remember way back to huricane Floyd in '99? I know it hit after our very first Magic cruise and it took out Castaway Cay. Honestly, I can not remember how long it was before the ships started to stop there. I know it was several weeks and and I know on our cruise the following year the dock was still being worked on. And I do mean another 365 days later! Inkognito or CarolAnnC do you remember?
Kathy

 

[WDWLVR]

We sailed in October of '99 and the Magic stopped at CC, but only to drop off supplies. We anchored out and a small boat came back and forth for the supplies. The whole island looked brown from being drenched in sea water.

We didn't get back to CC until we sailed again in May of 2001.

 

[LisaGoeke]

WOW...is this a coincidence or what? DH and I were just talking about this at dinner tonight. I don't remember the date...check my signature for my sailing, but we were the first ship to start going back there. We did the land/sea package and we were told that we would NOT be able to go there because of the hurricane; however, when we were in line at the hotel to board the bus to the ship, they happily announced that we would be the first ship to go back. The island was still pretty much a wreck; however, we still had a great time and were thrilled to be able to go there!!

 

[mmouse37]

We were also on the Wonder in October of '99 but not sure of the date....I do remember them telling us we were the first sailing back to CC after the storm....I thought it more mid October but I could be wrong.

I have to dig out my old KTTW card...I save them all!!!


MJ

 

[inkkognito]

Indeed I remember! We were on the very last cruise to visit the island (other than the "rescue mission") before Floyd did its damage. Although Disney did an admirable job of restoring it, I still notice some little differences.
Barb

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Ok, so if Floyd hit Castaway on Sept 14, just after Kathy's cruise and Inkkognito's cruise, , and Lisa's and Mouse37's cruise on Oct 10, was the first that was able to visit since Floyd, then it was a little less than a month that CC was closed to guests.

We were on the Oct 1, 1999, and CC was far from ready for fun.

When you stop and consider the damage that Floyd dumped on CC, Disney did a great job restoring it to its original beauty.

Tink

 

[mmouse37]

Ok....I just checked and we sailed on the Wonder on 10/21/99 which would put us at CC on 10/23/99. I remember them telling us we were the first cruise back but obviously that is not true since Lisa's cruise was the first one back.

Must be like the line the Cruise Director tells everyone that this is the best weather they have had all month!!!!

Anyway I remember that we disembarked the day before Payne Stewart was killed in the plane crash. We were sitting by the Pool at the WDW Swan and heard the news. He died on 10/25/99.

MJ

 

[tevagirl]

Where's Columbo when you need him?

 

[LisaGoeke]

Originally posted by mmouse37
Ok....I just checked and we sailed on the Wonder on 10/21/99 which would put us at CC on 10/23/99. I remember them telling us we were the first cruise back but obviously that is not true since Lisa's cruise was the first one back.

Hum....maybe they tell everyone that so they get extra excited thinking they're the first ones back?!

I checked my pictures and it was 10-13-99 that we were there. Couldn't see any major damage from my pics but I do remember trees and stuff being down and also looking kind of bare.

And only a month to get things back in working order...that's pretty good. I guess they want to keep their guests happy.

 

[tecdavidt]

Our '99 cruise was in early August and Floyd was a couple weeks later--maybe even three weeks later? Here is another question, for those who were able to stop in Oct., did you tender or did you dock since the dock had damage? I wish we had more photos on our web site of pre and post Floyd because there was a difference, mostly in the plant life and of course, the different concrete dock. I know the photo of CC we bought in '99 looks a lot different than how the dock area looks now. Also, it was after Floyd the ships started to back in a lot more often. In '99 we pulled straight in and the DCL photo of the ship at CC shows the Magic straight in. Probably has something to do in how they had to rebuild to make it more huricane proof.

Another reminder, all of the '99 up to Aug. 12th 2000 the Magic cruises were 3 & 4 day. (We were on the first seven day ) so those Castaway Cay stops add up fast between the Magic and the Wonder. That is why I remember it being many cruises before it reopened; that is four stops per week! I just hope it didn't get ripped apart once again. My thoughts and prayers for all of those in the path of Frances.
Kathy

 

[mmouse37]

Kathy....we docked at CC...

MJ

 

[Surfergirl]

We were on the land / sea that was the first back to CC on Oct. 13, '99. I still have the info we were given which states we would be the first in since Floyd and that they were not sure if we would be able to dock or would have to tender in.[ we docked] I also remember watching them unloading alot of supplies that day and working on the dock rebuild.

 

[tecdavidt]

Lets all hope and pray CC fairs better this time around. I am watching the weather channel and it is new San Salvedor (sp?) right now and it looks like it will be close to CC when it goes over the Abacos. Kathy

 

[TnRobin]

Our first cruise was the Sept 19th, 1999 - 4 day Wonder cruise. I understand how you guys feel. I think it was Tuesday Sept 14th that CC took a direct hit from Floyd. I was at work watching the track of the hurricane. I do not wish that distress on anyone. I also remembering that we were not sure where we would be docking up until a day or two before the cruise. They had told us that a bus would take us to Port Everglades, but that turn out to be not necessary as Canaveral suffered no damage.

So if the hurricane hit around Sept 14 and CC reopened Oct 13. It looks like it took about 1 month to repair. I also seem to remember that Floyd was a Cat 4.

------
I just looked up the date and it was the 14th. As a matter of fact I found the radar image of Floyd over Abaco Island. (CC is off the coast of Abaco- that is the island you see as you pull into CC)

http://www1.ncdc.noaa.gov/pub/data/images/hurr-floyd-19990914-1945utc-g84kmir.jpg

It is scary how similar they look in size.

 

[QueenTrident]

When do you think we'll know the damage (if any) to CC? It's not like they have someone from the Weather Channel stationed there. I keep looking at the map tracking and thinking of that small, helpless island. I really doubt any of the buildings will be able to sustain the winds.

 

[LAMPSKIES]

We were on a Feb. 2000 sailing after the hurricane and the pier was still pretty mangled up......we asked why and they said "left overs from the hurricane".

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

Hi, Here is the sad shape Castaway Cay was in after Hurricane Floyd hit on Sept 14, 1999. Sorry this photo was taken so far away, but this is as close as we got to the island.

This photo was taken from deck 10 of the Magic on Oct 3, 1999. Everything is sad and brown. There was an aura of sadness in the air as it seemed everyone was on deck 10 just staring out at Castaway Cay in silence as supplies were being delivered to the island.

Castaway Cay - Notice the construction vehicles at work. It took about a month for Disney to recreate paradise once again.

<img src=http://www.members.aol.com/frostybars4me/floyd1.jpg>

The two photos below are close-ups of the same shot.
<img src=http://www.members.aol.com/frostybars4me/floyd2.jpg>

<img src=http://www.members.aol.com/frostybars4me/floyd3.jpg>

 

[tecdavidt]

Thank you for posting those shots. I knew it was bad but had never seen any photos. What I was surprised at was that after one year the dock was still being worked on. So there will be hope if Frances destroys it. Isn't it coincidence that it is the no. 6 hurricane of the year could take out CC when it was a no. 6 hurricane that took it out in '99--both F's! Wierd. Kathy

 

[MBELSANTI]

[/COLOR] I was on the ship on 9/9 when we went to CC to drop off supplies to those on the island. It didn't look any better than it did in the above posters photos. All of the trees looked like brown sticks. I can't believe they were able to get it together a week later for people on the 9/13 cruise! That's amazing considering the destruction.

 

[albiats]

Originally posted by QueenTrident
When do you think we'll know the damage (if any) to CC? It's not like they have someone from the Weather Channel stationed there. I keep looking at the map tracking and thinking of that small, helpless island. I really doubt any of the buildings will be able to sustain the winds.

The Weather Channel does have someone reporting from Abaco Island, which is close by, so we will be able to hear from someone very close to Castaway Cay this time.

hth