Any Thoughts On CC After This Passes?

[PlanoNana]

According to Wikipedia it took Disney like 18 months to build Castaway Cay no? If the beach lines are ruined, if the housing CMs are living in damaged, the dock, etc out of service, man I don't know!
How many CMs live there? 100? 200? If Disney has to restore all their homes, redredge the beaches, etc. it could be one week but could easily be next year in my mind depending on damage.
It's taken them 5 plus years to build Pandora on mainland US. I just do not equate Disney with speedy.

When Disney built Castaway Cay they KNEW it was in a hurricane prone area so I'm sure they built all the structures to withstand hurricanes. I know the island took a direct hit in 2004 and if I remember correctly it was only out of service for a week or so. Once the Matthew is out of the way they will probably send a crew via helicopter to survey the damage and then get busy inspecting and repairing. As soon as the island is safe for guests and the channel is safe for the ships to dock they will be back. It's possible that parts of the island may be closed the first couple of weeks but I would think that the family beach and Serenity Bay will be open.

 

[disneyland_is_magic]

When Disney built Castaway Cay they KNEW it was in a hurricane prone area so I'm sure they built all the structures to withstand hurricanes. I know the island took a direct hit in 2004 and if I remember correctly it was only out of service for a week or so. Once the Matthew is out of the way they will probably send a crew via helicopter to survey the damage and then get busy inspecting and repairing. As soon as the island is safe for guests and the channel is safe for the ships to dock they will be back. It's possible that parts of the island may be closed the first couple of weeks but I would think that the family beach and Serenity Bay will be open.

Oh I get the structures being ready but how do you hurricane proof sand? Serious question, I am geniunely asking. Can not all those tons and tons of sand Disney spent months dredging from the bottom of the ocean just...wash away?

 

[rhinodadz]

We're on this cruise as well. I'm hoping we'll make it to CC but there is always the chance we won't. We could have a sea day or they may add a port like St Martin or San Juan since we'll already be by those ports and they have established relationships with the ports and suppliers. I'll have to see how many other ships are scheduled to be there that day too. There may not be space.

Also on this sailing. Our approach is 'que sera sera". Nothing we can do about it so we'll just roll with whatever happens. Another day at sea wouldn't be the worst thing in the world (certainly beats being in the office)!

 

[GoofyDisneyDaddy]

I'd be really happy actually if they swapped CC for St.Maarten.. But it probably won't happen on our cruise because we are Western.

Um, that would never happen if you are on a Western itinerary. You can remove probably from that sentence.

 

[Quellman]

Oh I get the structures being ready but how do you hurricane proof sand? Serious question, I am geniunely asking. Can not all those tons and tons of sand Disney spent months dredging from the bottom of the ocean just...wash away?

I'm actually hoping this is the case with the Serenity Beach sandbar. Maybe people will actually be able to swim over there now instead of just walk around. Same could be said at the Family cabana area, when the tide goes out, you've paid for an expensive sand box.

But I agree I hope the people, plants, wildlife, and the structures make it fine. Speaking of which, I wonder what they do with the stingrays?s

 

[TaraHumphrey]

We're on the 10/15 Magic sailing that only stops at Port Canaveral and Castaway Cay. The other days are At Sea. Any thoughts on what might happen on that sailing? No big deal to us...just curious.

 

[Flossbolna]

I did a search and found this thread from 2004: http://www.disboards.com/threads/castaway-cay-hurricane-damage.660150/

The poster there say they were on the 10/2 Eastern and were the first ship to go to Castaway Cay after Hurricane Jeanne. My research on Hurricane Jeanne leads me to believe that that one went directly through the Bahamas as a category 3 storm around 9/25, so quite a direct hit on Castaway Cay.

The 10/2 Eastern Caribbean cruise would have been on Castaway Cay on 10/8, so that is about two weeks after the hurricane. So if things go the same, we could see DCL ships returning to Castaway Cay around 10/19 or so... If all goes well and not much worse than in 2004!

 

[Flossbolna]

We're on the 10/15 Magic sailing that only stops at Port Canaveral and Castaway Cay. The other days are At Sea. Any thoughts on what might happen on that sailing? No big deal to us...just curious.

Two days at Port Canaveral (if there is space), an additional sea day, or maybe a replacement port along the coast line. However, I think the replacement port would be the least likely option.

 

[cscream13]

I did a search and found this thread from 2004: http://www.disboards.com/threads/castaway-cay-hurricane-damage.660150/

The poster there say they were on the 10/2 Eastern and were the first ship to go to Castaway Cay after Hurricane Jeanne. My research on Hurricane Jeanne leads me to believe that that one went directly through the Bahamas as a category 3 storm around 9/25, so quite a direct hit on Castaway Cay.

The 10/2 Eastern Caribbean cruise would have been on Castaway Cay on 10/8, so that is about two weeks after the hurricane. So if things go the same, we could see DCL ships returning to Castaway Cay around 10/19 or so... If all goes well and not much worse than in 2004!

I have my fingers crossed for this!! We are supposed to be at CC on 10/18 -- and coming from NYC, there aren't a lot of options if the Bahamas ports aren't workable

 

[cscream13]

Two days at Port Canaveral (if there is space), an additional sea day, or maybe a replacement port along the coast line. However, I think the replacement port would be the least likely option.

I thought the ship had to go to a foreign port because of "the rules" -- I know there's a lot of speculation on other threads about how DCL could get around this or if exceptions can be made because of the weather after the fact.... but I'm pretty sure they cannot just go from U.S. Port to U.S. Port generally.

 

[TaraHumphrey]

I thought the ship had to go to a foreign port because of "the rules" -- I know there's a lot of speculation on other threads about how DCL could get around this or if exceptions can be made because of the weather after the fact.... but I'm pretty sure they cannot just go from U.S. Port to U.S. Port generally.

This is why I was wondering. Without CC, we have no foreign port.

 

[Flossbolna]

By then they would still be able to dock at Castaway Cay for a short while and not let anyone on land. I am not sure how long they need to stop there for it to qualify. Possibly it could even be a stop during the night.

 

[Jessirip]

I have my fingers crossed for this!! We are supposed to be at CC on 10/18 -- and coming from NYC, there aren't a lot of options if the Bahamas ports aren't workable

Me too for our 10/19 date. Thank you for posting that link to share it just might be possible.

 

[Dug720]

Speaking of which, I wonder what they do with the stingrays

I believe the rays are relatively free-range anyway, but if not I'm pretty sure they release them so they don't get damaged by nets and so forth.

I seem to remember hearing tales that after the last hurricane that hit the island most of them came back on their own. They know they have a pretty sweet deal with multiple feedings every day.

 

[Maggie'sMom]

I scheduled to be there on the Magic next week. I'm hoping for the best and it's a top 5 reason why I cruise Disney. But you just hope people who live in the path of the storm are okay.

When you say scheduled to be there next week, are you referring to the cruise that is supposed to leave NY on Friday and be at CC on 10/11, or are you on the cruise sailing out of NY on 10/15? If you are on the 10/7 cruise, it appears as though your cruise will be going north to Canada rather than south.

 

[PoopDeckPappy]

When you say scheduled to be there next week, are you referring to the cruise that is supposed to leave NY on Friday and be at CC on 10/11, or are you on the cruise sailing out of NY on 10/15? If you are on the 10/7 cruise, it appears as though your cruise will be going north to Canada rather than south.

Scheduled to be at CC. I'm leaving NYC on 10/7.

 

[steves100]

I'd be really happy actually if they swapped CC for St.Maarten.. But it probably won't happen on our cruise because we are Western.

You would rather be at St. Maarten than CC?

Why sail Disney then?

 

[Maggie'sMom]

Scheduled to be at CC. I'm leaving NYC on 10/7.

Then it looks like you should swap out warm weather clothes for cold weather clothes.

http://disboards.com/threads/so-abo...ade-a-statement.3550972/page-22#post-56575927

 

[steves100]

When Disney built Castaway Cay they KNEW it was in a hurricane prone area so I'm sure they built all the structures to withstand hurricanes. I know the island took a direct hit in 2004 and if I remember correctly it was only out of service for a week or so. Once the Matthew is out of the way they will probably send a crew via helicopter to survey the damage and then get busy inspecting and repairing. As soon as the island is safe for guests and the channel is safe for the ships to dock they will be back. It's possible that parts of the island may be closed the first couple of weeks but I would think that the family beach and Serenity Bay will be open.

Not sure if it was 04 hurricane or not but one of them it took MONTHS to get CC back to normal

 

[HappilyEverAfter80]

You would rather be at St. Maarten than CC?

Why sail Disney then?

You are drawing your own conclusions.. I didn't say I would RATHER go to St. Maarten over CC. It would be a nice option for me if we couldn't go to CC.
Plus I think it's silly that I would sail with Disney just to go to CC.
It's a nice plus, but not a must for me.