Cancelling because of Wilma

[SamanthaL]

I come in on Sunday afternoon. Just not sure about our flight. SO far they say there will be wind gusts and heavy rain for Orlando. Would they be landing planes?

 

[TiggerAllie]

Glad to see so many others arriving on Friday who are still going! The only way we wouldn't make it would be if the flight was cancelled-- We're supposed to fly at 4pm from Detroit but may try to standby on an earlier flight. We're staying until Thursday, but if the airline waived the change fee, I'd be happy to stay (and pay) for an extra day (or 2!) to make up for rainy weather.

Here's a quesiton: We booked a Fantasmic dinner package for Sunday night. On some predictions, that could be during the "worst" of the storm. However, it requires a 24 hr cancellation, which means I'd have to cancel Friday before I even get on the airplane! Do you think Disney will hold us to the cancellation policy if we cancel because of the storm?

 

[ruttie]

I would hold off canceling dinner if you still intend on going. Disney holds you to there cancelation policy unless they say that they will be closing early etc.. for the huricane. Last year that occured about a day or 2 before.. usually when orlando starts having closings for school etc.... Everyone in florida is still in a wait and see pattern so keep the ressies and if you cannot make it becasue you are there but the hurricane is keeping you in your room they will not hold you to the cancellation policy... good luck and enjoy!

 

[edjbiologist]

I am supposed to arrive at BC on Sunday. I am very concerned and still unsure if to cancel or not. Is anyone worried that even if Wilma doesn't directly strike Orlando(which it so far appears it won't) there will still be pretty rainy and cool weather which you paid all this money for?

 

[TiggerAllie]

I would hold off canceling dinner if you still intend on going. Disney holds you to there cancelation policy unless they say that they will be closing early etc.. for the huricane. Last year that occured about a day or 2 before.. usually when orlando starts having closings for school etc.... Everyone in florida is still in a wait and see pattern so keep the ressies and if you cannot make it becasue you are there but the hurricane is keeping you in your room they will not hold you to the cancellation policy... good luck and enjoy!

But what happens if they cancel the Fantasmic show itself because of rain/lightening? Since it's the dinner "package," could we then cancel it? I guess I'll have to call and ask.

 

[marthachick]

THis has got to be very frustrating for anyone anticipating a long-planned trip to WDW.

Boy is that an understatement! We've (DH & me) not been in 15 years & DS14 has never been. So we are anxiously watching Weather channel. Of course, we don't go til Tuesday, Oct. 25, so should be Ok. But still anxious.

 

[Tinkerchele]

But what happens if they cancel the Fantasmic show itself because of rain/lightening? Since it's the dinner "package," could we then cancel it? I guess I'll have to call and ask.

I have the Fantasmic dinner package on Sunday night as well and have the same question. I'm going as planned unless they cancel it do to the weather.

 

[ruttie]

Disney will hold you to the cancellation policy UNLESS they cancel... I know from experience we booked the ALBATROSS pirate cruise few weeks ago and had a hurricane sitting 45 miles off our dock in Merritt Island.. I called on tuesday evening (it was scheduled for wednesday) and said I did not think we were gonna make it it was windy pouring etc...they said it had not canccelled yet and they would not know till next day of it would cancell.. Then the next morning i called 3x becasue it was raining windy etc.. they said it was still on.. so my parents took them it was windy and rainy but they did teh cruise anyway! On teh other hand last year we had ressies at for dinner at the Lohau at poly and we were at disney for evacuations (coincidentally) and they never even notified us that it was cancelled but... we were in lockdon in our room and parks were closed.. so ,..... If you are going go ahead and keep the ressies if you can make it they will have it if it cancels then no worries.. But if you wnat to be safe and you still can then cancel.. I would just hate for you to dio that then have perfect weather sunday.... since we really are still ina wait and see pattern here....

 

[rie'smom]

If, and let's hope not, but IF we do end up cancelling, any idea about what will happen - we have already paid for the room, Hoop Dee Doo and Halloween Party? I might post-pone to later in the week, but not sure about work. Would they exchange our MNSSHP to another party night? Let's just all hope for the best. We are driving down for a weekend trip Friday night. Thanks -

MNSSHP I believe is sold out. I don't know if they could change the dates. As a south Louisiana resident who unfortunately has experienced some nasty'canes this year, don't change your plans. Orlando is far enough inland not too experience too many problems. Wilma will probably be a 2 or a very weak 3 when she enters FL.. The Gulf waters are a few degrees cooler than the Carribbean. A few degrees makes a great deal of difference in storm intensity.
Go and have fun. We're sending pixie dust and prayers for all of you-both tourists and residents.

 

[seashoreCM]

At the rate the storm is expected to move across Florida, just one whole day or two half days will be affected. Do you really want to cancel your vacation?

Want to fly down early? If the airline lets you change your reservation for free, fine. If not, don't make chanes over the phone but show up at the airport anyway. With cancellations likely the airline will probably let you stand by for free.

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

 

[KBFinFan]

I'm flying down tomorrow... I really think the storm will move far to the south and that WDW will be minimally affected. I was there for Charley last summer, so I know what to expect... but I don't think this will be even close to that.

To Uncleromulus, thanks for the positive vibes.. you are a great dining reviewer and weatherman too!

 

[robinb]

When Charley came though Florida I didn't cancel. Oh no! I flew down early, LOL! We had been sceduled to fly in the day that Charley was going to hit Tampa. I thought that the airlines and airport would be really messed up, so I called Southwest to see if they could get us on a flight a day early. There was no change fee (because of the hurricane) and they had no problem getting me 3 seats. I booked my stay at Pop Century while waiting in the airport.

I thought we would be perfectly safe with some heavy squalls and that would be about it. Nope. Charley changed course and went right over us! My friends still make fun of me. *sigh* If I were in the same situation where a hurricane was predicted I would do it all over again. I would leave home early (if I could) so I could batten down the hatches at WDW.

 

[robinb]

Disney will hold you to the cancellation policy UNLESS they cancel...

That has not been my experience. We had the Fanstamic! package booked on our August trip. We were staying at Beach Club Villas and tried to catch the boat over to MGM about an hour before our reservation. It was pouring down rain with lightning. The boats were on a "navigational hold" which meant they just sat at a dock for more than an hour. I went into the YC to speak to the concierge who at first told me there was bus transportation and when I questioned that he called someone who said that the boats were all we had. I cancelled the Fantasmic! reservation less than 15 minutes before before the reservation time and I was not charged anything. We ended up at Flying Fish where they greeted us at the door with fluffy towels to help dry off. It was a good meal and Fantasmic! was cancelled anyway.

Now ... I have heard that you are out of luck if you eat your meal and Fantasmic! is cancelled due to weather. I also don't think that generally "icky" weather gets you a pass, it has to be really storming like in our case.

ETA: When we originally looked into cancelling after waiting for the boat for a half hour the concierge said Fantansic! had not been cancelled.

 

[ducklite]

Disney will hold you to the cancellation policy UNLESS they cancel...

Not for rooms they won't. We were supposed to check in the WL last year the day after Frances hit, we were stuck 20 miles away in our house and finally got through to cancel, absolutely no problem and no fee.

I think the big difference is that the storm HIT WDW as opposed to having bad weather in the greater Orlando area, and/or where you are coming from. Bad weather happens year round in these parts. They aren't likely to work with you for some bad weather. However if a hurricane crosses over WDW, they have trouble just staffing, and are more than happy to have some cancellations.

Anne

 

[ruttie]

That has not been my experience. We had the Fanstamic! package booked on our August trip. We were staying at Beach Club Villas and tried to catch the boat over to MGM about an hour before our reservation. It was pouring down rain with lightning. The boats were on a "navigational hold" which meant they just sat at a dock for more than an hour. I went into the YC to speak to the concierge who at first told me there was bus transportation and when I questioned that he called someone who said that the boats were all we had. I cancelled the Fantasmic! reservation less than 15 minutes before before the reservation time and I was not charged anything. We ended up at Flying Fish where they greeted us at the door with fluffy towels to help dry off. It was a good meal and Fantasmic! was cancelled anyway.

Now ... I have heard that you are out of luck if you eat your meal and Fantasmic! is cancelled due to weather. I also don't think that generally "icky" weather gets you a pass, it has to be really storming like in our case.

ETA: When we originally looked into cancelling after waiting for the boat for a half hour the concierge said Fantansic! had not been cancelled.

Thats what i ment they did not have the fantasmic and teh weather was horrid they do understand in that instance but had you tried to cancel a couple hours earlier they would hav eheld you too it....

Also Ducklite is correct disney is very flexible once a hurricane has been identified to come through the area tha is what i ment by disney cancelling last year during the storms once they made the decioson which was about a day and half before the actual hurricane they made an announcement on their phone line sthat anyone wishing to reschedule could do so without penalties.. but a couple hours before that announcement people were still being told they would be held to teh cancellation policy.....

 

[shelby_36]

Personally I would rather lose a few hundred dollars in cancellation fees then to waste thousands sitting in a hotel "battening down the hatches".
I;d rather save my money for a trip I could enjoy.

 

[Uncleromulus]

KBFINfan:
If only I could predict the weather!!!!
Just that many years of noticing that what they say 5 days out-- and what actually happens-- are frequently two different things, which has made me quite a skeptic!
Good luck on your trip!
And now to the Weather Channel to check on this hours changes!

 

[robinb]

Personally I would rather lose a few hundred dollars in cancellation fees then to waste thousands sitting in a hotel "battening down the hatches".
I;d rather save my money for a trip I could enjoy.

I enjoyed my trip! The days around the hurricane were empty! There were no lines in the middle of August. Not so this last August. Plus (I have to admit) going through a hurricane was pretty exciting. Scary, yes. But still exciting. I wouldn't recommend riding out a hurricane on the coast, but Charley lost a lot of power after landfall.

 

[shelby_36]

I'm not sure everyone that was in the path of Katrina would describe it as "exciting'

 

[disney1990]

To everybody that is heading to see the Mouse, I hope that the storm misses you entirely. We can sit here and argue back and forth over whether or not people should cancel or go. And, if it were me, I know I would still be going. However, after I got there, I would be keeping an eye on the weather.

Remember that Hurricane Andrew (Category 4) hit Florida and caused destruction virtually across the state. If a Category 4 storm was headed to Disney, I would be in my rental car heading north ASAP.

I hope you all have Magical Memories!