We got back Tuesday night from our trip to VWL/WL, four nights later than planned thanks to Frances. While the extended trip (4 nights first at Univeral, 5 at VWL and an additional 4 at the WL) was not what we planned, I feel Disney handled the whole situation very well.
We were in a 2 bedroom villa from Sun - Fri, but when we learned the airport was to close on Friday (our day to leave), we spoke to the front desk. We could extend our stay in our villa for either points (which we didn't want to do), or a discounted rate of $455 per night. We were also offered other discounted rates for the studio or one bedroom. We opted to take a room in the Lodge for two reasons. One, mainly, the cost. We were offered a regular room for $109 per night, it usually goes for $199. The other reason we chose was because we knew that the Lodge had more facilities (food and activities) than the villas could offer when we were no longer permitted to go outside. It was tough for all of us to go from the 2 bedroom to one hotel room, but we felt safe and lucky to have a place to stay. I know they were not taking any new reservations (and know this was a problem for someone else who has reported here), but there were reasons for this. First, they needed to have rooms for the CMs who were there to work during the hurricane. Second, their obligation was to the people who already had their rooms at Disney. Not only did they evacuate Fort Wilderness, but I know at least people from the All Stars (and perhaps other resorts too) were moved to the WL because with all the rain forecasted, they needed to make sure the people in the lower lying resorts had a safe, dry place to stay.
The CMs were wonderful during it. There were plenty of them there helping everything to run as smoothly as possible. We were kept updated by letters each day (five days while we were there) about what was going on. We also got phone calls in the room to update us on a few things too. They planned activities on Saturday as long as they could do things outside, and then when necessary moved things inside the lobby. They had the characters come numerous times, and brought over some of the performers from other areas ( i.e., the Japanese candy lady from Epcot, African story tellers from AK). We were required to be in our room during the worst of the hurricane on Sunday from 12 - 5. We could get box lunches if we wanted at that time.
I am way behind at home, the kids missed the first day of school, it will take me a good couple of days to catch up. Not how I had planned it, but I feel Disney made the best of a difficult situation. It was a great trip, the bonuses were the parks on Thurs and Fri before the storm were really empty, and on Monday my daughter and I (we have APs) went into MK and I have never ever in all my years of going to Disney seen such low attendance. Pretty much right onto every single ride as much as we wanted. Our trip home was an adventure. We had to drive to Tampa, fly from Tampa to Miami, fly from Miami to Boston, Fly from Boston to New York, and then drive to CT. On the long leg of the trip (Miami to Boston) we were bumped to first class -- first time ever for me -- pixie dust!
I'm happy to answer any questions
We were in a 2 bedroom villa from Sun - Fri, but when we learned the airport was to close on Friday (our day to leave), we spoke to the front desk. We could extend our stay in our villa for either points (which we didn't want to do), or a discounted rate of $455 per night. We were also offered other discounted rates for the studio or one bedroom. We opted to take a room in the Lodge for two reasons. One, mainly, the cost. We were offered a regular room for $109 per night, it usually goes for $199. The other reason we chose was because we knew that the Lodge had more facilities (food and activities) than the villas could offer when we were no longer permitted to go outside. It was tough for all of us to go from the 2 bedroom to one hotel room, but we felt safe and lucky to have a place to stay. I know they were not taking any new reservations (and know this was a problem for someone else who has reported here), but there were reasons for this. First, they needed to have rooms for the CMs who were there to work during the hurricane. Second, their obligation was to the people who already had their rooms at Disney. Not only did they evacuate Fort Wilderness, but I know at least people from the All Stars (and perhaps other resorts too) were moved to the WL because with all the rain forecasted, they needed to make sure the people in the lower lying resorts had a safe, dry place to stay.
The CMs were wonderful during it. There were plenty of them there helping everything to run as smoothly as possible. We were kept updated by letters each day (five days while we were there) about what was going on. We also got phone calls in the room to update us on a few things too. They planned activities on Saturday as long as they could do things outside, and then when necessary moved things inside the lobby. They had the characters come numerous times, and brought over some of the performers from other areas ( i.e., the Japanese candy lady from Epcot, African story tellers from AK). We were required to be in our room during the worst of the hurricane on Sunday from 12 - 5. We could get box lunches if we wanted at that time.
I am way behind at home, the kids missed the first day of school, it will take me a good couple of days to catch up. Not how I had planned it, but I feel Disney made the best of a difficult situation. It was a great trip, the bonuses were the parks on Thurs and Fri before the storm were really empty, and on Monday my daughter and I (we have APs) went into MK and I have never ever in all my years of going to Disney seen such low attendance. Pretty much right onto every single ride as much as we wanted. Our trip home was an adventure. We had to drive to Tampa, fly from Tampa to Miami, fly from Miami to Boston, Fly from Boston to New York, and then drive to CT. On the long leg of the trip (Miami to Boston) we were bumped to first class -- first time ever for me -- pixie dust!
I'm happy to answer any questions
