At Disney now..should we leave? (Frances)

[pirateofthecarolinas]

3 things to do:

1. Get extra cash.
2. Fill your car up with gas. It may take several days for gas stations to reopen or they may be out of gas. You don't want to be caught in a long gas line when you don't have to.
3. Get food supplies and staples.

Lori

 

[seashoreCM]

It has never happened (?) so I don't know how Disnwy would manage it but, if the public power grid were to go down, Disney would have to black out about 2/3 of itself since it makes only about 1/3 of its power needs. Fortunately Disney is less likely to go down and more likely to be restored quickly because the high strung high tension lines come directly to Disney's substations without intermediate lines likely to be hit by trees.

Hurry to the airport and stand by if you really want out of there but don't subject yourself to long lines of first-departers in traffic and airports because Governor Jeb Bush wants you out of there.

I would not stock up on perishables. Should WDW have to go to rotating blackouts there won't be enough ice in the ice makers for everybody. Buy no more perishables than you can finish completely within one day of the storm start.

You and your family can survive on cereal and water for a couple of days, thereafter it is most likely there will be some semblance of food service at WDW resorts.

Another reason to fill up the car -- If you did not prepay for a tankful you may have trouble finding a station to fill up on car return day. If you did buy the tankful (which I do not recommend) it is tricky as to how much gas to buy in case you need to evacuate versus how little you need to buy to return the car on fumes.

 

[madge]

Originally posted by TammiMcMan
Just noticed on another site that the Weather Channel has confirmed a 6pm Friday closing for Orlando Airport. Looks like it's time to head home folks.

Godspeed to everyone trying to get out of harms way.

they are closing MCO at noon tomorrow (Friday)
http://www.orlandoairports.net:/goaa/press/20040902_1158.htm

 

[missypie]

I'd follow the advice of the Floridians, with the following caveat:

Don't give up your hotel room until you have a confirmed flight out (that has a strong liklihood of actually leaving). Don't just GO to the airport without a flight. It might not be ideal to be in a hotel room at WDW during and after a hurricane, but it sure beats camping out at an airport.

If you're at a hotel, don't expect miracles after the hurricane, even with Disney magic and pixie dust. I was stranded at a Hyatt in Denver during that freak October blizzard a few years back. Although the hotel had food, they did not have very many employees who could make it in. They opened the restaurant for breakfast, lunch and dinner and everyone got the same food (one price - no choice). We were just dying to buy snacks from their little shop but they wouldn't open it because they had no employees to work there. Everything got pretty dirty because there weren't enough employees to clean. (But it still beat camping out at the airport and eating cookes brought by the REd Cross!)

 

[missydisney]

My friend was there for Charley. Delta told us repetedly that the flight was leaving on time. They went to the airport stood in line 2 1/2 hours at curbside to turn in their luggage( never did get it turned in). 30 min before flight time Delta still told me on the phone they were leaving on time. I changed their flight as there was no way to get luggage checked and thru security in 30 min. Delta changed their flight no problem. Only problem was they gave up their room and we had a hard time finding another. If it looks even the least bit iffy I would keep my room another night or two and reschedule the flights. It was so crowded you couldn't even walk inside. No fun especially with children.

 

[TinyToonThor]

Thank goodness nobody told them to stay just because "Disney is a magical place."

 

[macraven]

Originally posted by TammiMcMan
Just noticed on another site that the Weather Channel has confirmed a 6pm Friday closing for Orlando Airport. Looks like it's time to head home folks.

Godspeed to everyone trying to get out of harms way.

and to add there was an update on that. all flights suspended into mco as noon friday.

read on another site that gov. bush will have highway (east west) open to all travel west only.........check it out.

good luck.......

 

[Chicago526]

I don't think they can leave now even if they wanted to, I've check the flights (I'm a travel agent) and everything is booked solid or canceled due to the storm.

If they have a car they can drive, but I'd get on the road now, and try to book a hotel for the night as far north as possible.

I wouldn't stick around unless there was no choice but to stay, and if they are still in Orlando, they may be stuck for the duration.

 

[Chicago526]

oops, double post!

 

[seashoreCM]

Numerous news reports have Orlando Airport officials saying that the airport is not a shelter. Signmificant damage was inflicted by Charley. At least one report said that this time the airport is being closed early enough so stragglers and stranded people could be bused to a shelter elsewhere.

Normally if you are trying to beat a storm, report to the airport early and stand by. But it may not be worth it when it is questionable whether the flight you want to get on will go out.

Disney hints:
http://members.aol.com/ajaynejr/disney.htm

 

[MissingMickey]

I know several folks have mentioned being stranded after Sept 11. Well, there was no warning then. Nothing those folks could have done in preparation. Disney was able to accomodate stranded guests with grace and poise - but they didn't lose power and have cast members that couldn't report because they were stranded at home. I sure hope none of that happens this time, but the weather channel sure is scary.

Hoping the storm weakens . . . please be wise and be as safe as possible.

 

[DizGeek]

Well, its been about 24 hours since my post and I made my decision...we're staying! Why? No other choice....too late....and the best part..we are facing the lake! A wide open target! Maybe we can get a courtyard view. I heard theyre passing out letters to the guests with instructions and plans...didnt get mine yet. I'll keep you posted.

 

[MOQ3424]

Good luck and god bless!

 

[PlutoPony]

Local news here in DC says USAir is redirecting flights this a.m. to get more people out of Florida - sounds like they're adding flights this morning (if the news is to be believed).

 

[seashoreCM]

Originally posted by PlutoPony
Local news here in DC says USAir is redirecting flights this a.m. to get more people out of Florida - sounds like they're adding flights this morning (if the news is to be believed).

THey probably could get a good number of people out, running all the planes to a hub city (Pittsburgh?) where people could make connections. The airline would have to know that the people camped out at the airport trying to stand by out are still there. Not sure whether the hub airport could refuse some of the extra flights because of air traffic, forcing the airline to sort out the passengers at Orlando and fly planes to several different airports as non-stops for those passengers. (Would they accept other airlines' tickets so more people could get out?)

Alternatively it could just be that the planes already there are being flown out early to wait out the storm in other places. There may be some but I don not think many people who would hop on a plane, any plane to somewhere, anywhere just to put some distance between them and the storm (unless that plane and a plane coming back were fare-free).

A possible problem at WDW could be unruly people. There is no predicting how long food would last. Reports about Charley included instances in some areas where food ran out before everyone was served. And there probably won't be security to protect you from line cutters. Even if food did not outright run out, at some point you will be told to disperse from the food line and return to your room. (In a few cases you might be allowed to stay in the food court but be stuck there for the duration of the storm.)

I dare say that a large percentage of WDW guests who are not leaving are staying for the express purpose of seeing the damage after the hurricane. As far as whether to leave, IMHO I do not believe Disney owes anybody a room refund for nights actually stayed (unless the room became or was declared uninhabitable) regardless of how many days thereafter the parks were closed.