Are you cancelling because of Katrina?

[bonnielynn]

We were going this weekend. We canceled. But not because of gas prices. We are semi-local, 2 hours away, but with all that's going on in N.O., I cannot go and spend money there when so many others are in such need. We have, instead, donated what we would have spent to the Red Cross.

God Bless ya.. for you are rare...

 

[angiedora]

We are still going. We are flying down. If we were driving it may have been different. We would have needed to drive through the areas where people evacuated to. I don't know if finding a hotel room in that area is something that is even possible now.

We will continue with our plans of driving to Disney. Our original plan was to leave after DH gets home from work Friday night and drive first 4 hours. Now I too am concerned a little about finding a hotel room along Hwy75. Our county (30 miles south of Atlanta down hwy85) is one of
7 in the state of GA housing Katrina refugees. I have already met a couple of families while I was out consignment store shopping today. They were some of the people who evacuated before the storm hit. They were stuck here in a hotel being helped by our Department of Family and Children Services. One of the Mom's told me that she still had family there that she hadn't heard from. I told her that they were in our prayers. Please keep them in your prayers too.

 

[*love*2*shop]

We too are still going..We are going on a 7 night DISNEY cruise and have already paid over $6,000..We are all excited about it and so arent the kids..BUT WE are TOTALLY aware of what is going on down south ...But we arent cancelling*

 

[stczt]

We are driving down Saturday morning. I feel guilty but I know I have done all that I can afford to do to help.

 

[Uncleromulus]

We're still going Oct 1--.

 

[dyna]

We cut our disney visit short a day mostly out of fear of not gettin gas later figured it was best to head on home. Drove straight thru 16 hours driving time rather than taking a chance on waitin and finding ourselves stranded cause of NO GAS.

We prolly would have went ahead and went had we not already went. But prolly would have drove DH's gas saver rather than the mini van.

 

[molly213]

We were going this weekend. We canceled. But not because of gas prices. We are semi-local, 2 hours away, but with all that's going on in N.O., I cannot go and spend money there when so many others are in such need. We have, instead, donated what we would have spent to the Red Cross.

Both my husband and I are feeling the same way. We haven't cancelled yet but we keep thinking of the donating the money instead of spending it on a trip. We will make a donation one way or another but it sure puts a damper on things knowing how the other people are suffering right now. The biggest reason we haven't cancelled yet is because we know this will be the last time the whole family will probably be able to take a vacation together for quite a while. We also planned on visiting a few colleges in FL during our trip. Our sons are getting ready to college and have so many other obligations (work, school, sports) that it is almost impossible to find a time to go. In fact, this is the 5th time I have had to cancel since March because of other obligations and health issues.

The gas situation is also a consideration, not the prices but possible shortages. When we go we drive from OH all night long (20 hrs). I don't want to get in a situation where we can't find gas in the middle of the night. We are supposed to leave on 9/28 so we still have another week or so to decide.

 

[SJSKJ]

We are planning to arrive in WDW on October 30. We have been told that, thanks to Katrina, our power will be out between two to three months. We are looking forward to our WDW trip even more because we'll have air conditioning while there!

I am with tjevans here. We are still going to WDW on 9/10. We live in Biloxi, MS and have minor damage to our home compared to most. I have spent the past 9 days helping all of my grandparents (both paternal and maternal) sift through debris and mud to salvage what the could from their homes. We've taken baths in a swimming pool, sweated day and night in the heat, sat in line after line for water, ice, food, gas... We have seen more damage and heartache than anyone should ever have to see in a lifetime.

We need this trip now...if nothing else, but to help us feel somewhat "normal" again. Maybe I'm wrong, but as long as my family doesn't think so, I guess it will be ok.

 

[Baloo]

SJSKJ ...Bless your heart!

If anyone deserves a dose of Disney Magic it's you and yours!

Have a wonderful time...you and all those that have suffered Katrina's wrath are in my thoughts and prayers.

 

[GinaGrumpyDwarf]

some people are saying that their vacation is costing like 4500-6000...is that US DOLLARS?? omg...stay in a cheaper resort, spend less, and donate the rest!!! I just cant believe that people really pay that much money for a vacation at disney!!!

you do what you can, give what you can...that's all we can do. Things will get better...they have too. We all need to be hopeful and believe. A little Disney magic would do ANYONE good these days. I work hard all year, DH works hard all year, and i WONT deny my DD for any reason. People make sacrifices all year long just to GET to disney for a few days of MAGIC. No one's reason is any better that anyone else's.

Hey, if not going makes YOU feel better...so be it. We all need to do what makes us happy, and if it's DISNEY...then so be it!!

 

[mamaprincess]

I don't believe i would enjoy it if I wen't right now. My heart is to heavy and I've buried myself in local relief efforts because thats the only way I know to feel a little better. I feel a little more hopeful every day so I hope by the time our trip roles around, I will feel I earned the right to be frivolous.

 

[minkydog]

We were going this weekend. We canceled. But not because of gas prices. We are semi-local, 2 hours away, but with all that's going on in N.O., I cannot go and spend money there when so many others are in such need. We have, instead, donated what we would have spent to the Red Cross.

Same here. It has nothing to do with gas prices. We haven't told the kids yet, but we're cancelling our November trip. Postponing until things settle down. I grew up on the Gulf Coast--hurricanes don't scare me, I lived through Camille. But when I see my "neighbors" struggling for basic necessities, I just cannot feel great about taking this trip. We cannot afford a Disney vacation AND give generously to people who we know are in need. So we will stay home for now, divert some of the funds to the Salvation Army, Red Cross, and various others, and plan to visit family at Thanksgiving.

 

[awb52204]

First, I would like to say thank you to anyone who has contributed to helping the people who have been hit by Hurricane Katrina. I was one of them. I live 20 miles west of New Orleans. I was one of the lucky ones. My home suffered minor damage. Some of my family was not so lucky.

Unfortunately, me as well as most of my family have lost our jobs until the city is back up and running again.

My husband's family and I have a trip planned for December. We are going to try our hardest not to cancel it, but we may need to dip into our Disney savings for bills.

Once again thank you for keeping the survivors of Katrina in your thoughts and prayers. You are greatly appreciated!!!!