Any Frances provisions reccommendations from Charley survivors?

[KelNottAt]

We land at MCO Friday morning. Originally we planned to make a grocery stop on the way to BWV. We'll still do that, but I'm kinda nervous that the shelves may be somewhat empty in anticipation of Frances.

As an emergency back-up, I'll bring some very-basic, easy-to-pack food items on the flight with us. I'm thinking:
tuna
cream of wheat
nuts
popcorn
canned veggies (ugh)

Anyone have other suggestions? Worse case scenario, I'm planning for the supermarkets and restaurants in/near WDW to be unavailable for 3 consecutive meals.

Can the Charley veterans offer any advice?

TIA,
Kelley

 

[NHmouse]

We were there for Charley and I would recommend that you bring your own flashlights and batteries (some resorts handed them out but some did not) We did not lose power but you should be prepared. Also make sure that you have bottled water. Be prepared to be locked down in yourroom for an extended period of time so cards and board games for the kids are a good idea. Also be prepared to have not access to food or drinks because of lock down conditions. In a villa with kitchen this is not as big an issue as a regular hotel room. Also fill up your gas tank before the storm!!! The lines for gas were incredible!!
Most of all be patient with the cast members who stay to man the resort!! I spoke with many cast members after Charley who had damage to their homes and loss of power for the weeek we were there, but they were still at work for our comfort and pleasure!!
Good Luck!!

 

[goofy4tink]

Peanut butter!! Thank heaven I had packed some peanut butter crackers for our flight. We never ate them on the flight, but they sure came in handy the afternoon/evening that Charley hit!!! Bottled water is a good idea but hard to do if you're flying. Again, flashlights/batteries. Maybe granola bars.
I remember complaining about the excessive humidity two days after Charley went thru. When the poor front desk CM at the BWV told me to be glad I had running water and some a.c. to go back to, I felt awful. Told her I wouldn't mention it again!!! Those CM's did an awsome job!!!

 

[Alacrity]

Flash lights and batteries are a good ideal...Frances should hopefully be past when we get there. We land Monday about noon!

 

[goldilocks_63]

Maybe first aid kit, such as neosporin, and few bandaids, etc.

Flashlights and batteries,

Gas for car.

****

On the fun side, DVD's, popcorn, books, a good bottle of wine, and maybe some games for the kids.

(IE stuff to do in the room while waiting).

Maybe a cooler? to put ice in, for food. (collapsable is smaller).

Cell phone, charged cell phone batteries.

***

RAINCOATS and Rain gear. Extra sneakers.

 

[manning]

You may not land there friday morning!!! Keep checking the airline. Right now the projection for landfall is friday night saturday morning.

 

[BigTigger]

We were there for Charley and bottled water is the first thing to go at the stores. To get around this if you don't like the Florida water taste, get one of the collapsable plastic water storage units they sell for camping and a Brita filter and fill it up from the tap and cool it in the fridge. I'd bring a luggage bag with cheerios, peanut butter, bread, snacks, etc. as you'll find yourself snacking to pass the time. Fill up your rental car as gas lines will be long for a few days after the storm.

 

[KristiKelly]

Would it be possible to buy a case of bottled water @ Walmart or wherever before you leave & just put in on as luggage - can you do that?? I know the tap water is awful.

Maybe also take an extra small suitcase with crackers, peanut butter, micro. popcorn, you know, lots of snack foods in case the food courts are too busy.

I don't know what they'll let you take on a plane but I would try to take as much as possible. If the storm hits, grocery store may not even be accessible. Good Luck!!

 

[tixx]

flashlights and batteries .. My friend shoots commercials for a living in Orlando, He can locate anything at anytime..part of the job.. He called last night and said .. you cant buy a flashlight or battery anywhere in Florida

 

[threegoofys]

Hi! Good luck!! We live in NC and deal with hurricanes more than we would like. Forget the grocery store, it is going to be empty of the essential stuff when you get there unless you are lucky enough to show up right after they get a delivery. We have family in FL and they said shelves are empty already. Any non perishable food items that you can get in your suitcase I would pack, better to be over prepared than not to have enough. I would call your resort and place a Grocery order, if it's not too late. Might pay a little more but at least it would save you the hassel of trying to stand in the long lines in the grocery store fighting over bread or milk. Not fun way to start a vacation! Might sound silly but pack baby wipes, if there is no power and possibly no water and its hot and humid those baby wipes will be a huge relief. We had no power or water for 5 days when we were hit with Fran and those baby wipes were heaven!! Hope this storm doesn't mess up your vacation too much. Have a safe trip.

 

[bub]

I would add a small battery-operated radio, just in case you do lose electric. Even though WDW has its own underground lines, you never know.
We were able to buy supplies the day of Charley in the store at OKW with no problem (milk, frozen items, snacks). The prices were not bad, and at least the food was available.
I would second the need to get gas wherever possible - it took us an hour to do this several days after Charley when we went to drive home.
Good luck with the storm and your vacation!

 

[DukeStreetKing]

Make sure you have a manually operated can opener for those veggies.

 

[KelNottAt]

We just cancelled the trip. MS is allowing cancellations without penalty, so we're playing it safe and staying home.

We're now waitlisted for any resort Oct 14 - 18. Send pixie dust.

Good luck to everyone who is riding the storm out at WDW. We'll thinking of you.

Kelley

 

[bub]

Kelley - Sorry about your trip, but I think you made the right choice. We were already there during Charley, and it was too late to get out by the time we figured out the storm's path. I felt we were very lucky due to Disney's strong buildings and the final path which passed to the east of us. We made the most of it, but a hurricane is not really how you want to spend your vacation.
Good luck with your wait list.
Mary

 

[threegoofys]

Hey Kelley! Sorry that you are canceling your trip but I think you were smart. It's not worth putting your family at risk with a category 4 or 5 hurricane. The people in orlando have enough to worry about besides having people coming in for vacation. As much as I love Disney and as much as I hate to see vacations not happening this weekend, I think Orlando should have a voluntary evacuation and ask the tourists to not come at this time. Hope you guys have a nice labor day weekend even though I know it probably won't top wdw. Keep my fingers crossed that things work out for you in Oct.
Take care!
Kelley( P.S. Like your name)

 

[bounceytigger]

Kelley---Sorry to hear that you had to cancel your trip, but I agree that it's probably the best thing to do. I hope your waitlist comes through quickly! Did you have good luck with having your plane tickets changed (without penalty, that is)?

On the bright side, I think that October sounds like a great time to go to WDW, because of the Food & Wine Festival, and because of Mickey's Very Scary Halloween Party! Hopefully you'll get to experience both!

I know your family is probably pretty disapointed about having to wait to take the trip, but at least this way you can still be looking forward to the trip one week from now, when you would have been ending it one week from now before!

Take care!
Sarah

 

[lightningcoach]

You made the right decision. This is such a slow moving storm, very different from Charley. They expect 24 hours of hurricane/ tropical storm weather compared with 3-5 hours that Charley gave us. You would be waterlogged if you came.

You will have a great time in October. The parks are much slower.

 

[Bethshaya]

We're stuck at the Beach Club villas, but thought ahead enough to bring flashlights, extra batteries, radio and candles, first aid kit, etc.

We tried to get out on Thursday, but all the flights were booked on Wednesday evening.

We did extend our stay anyway through to Monday even though we were scheduled to leave on Saturday. I'm glad we did that because as of 6 AM this morning, all disney property rooms were unavailable.

We did have a chance at a late evening Friday flight, but I am glad we didnt take it. I didnt want to get stuck in the airport if we were cutting it so close, so we passed. I'm glad we did. We took the Monday flight and I hope the airport is up and operational by then. I would rather weather the storm in the villas than at the airport.

We made our grocery run this morning and sadly, even with the hotel totally booked, no one was out there buying water, PB & J, bread or other non perishable items. Batteries were still on the shelves. So we loaded up and headed back to the room.

No information from the CMs yet on what we are supposed to do, but living near NYC, I have been in survivalist mode for a few years with keeping survival kits, reading informtion and carrying a BOB (Bug out bag) just in case of emergencies. So I improvised it for the trip and took out what I could not carry on the plane and the rest we took with us just in case. Glad we did. I'm just glad we left the kiddies with Grandma in Cape Cod for the week and were taking a second honeymoon. I'm sure we can keep ourselves entertained alot better without the kids (wink wink)

 

[Disney-Kim]

Bethshaya...stay safe and try to keep us posted about how you do over the weekend.

I am here in dry Arizona wishing safe/happy thoughts to you !!