Castaway Cay after Frances

[fknaut]

Anyone know what the status is of Castaway Cay? Did they evacuate everyone in time? Is it under water? Any damage results? Any idea on hopw long it would take to get it back to the way it was before the storm? Weeks? Months? Years?

 

[Dreamer04]

According to the Weather Channel, the Bahamas are still taking a hit from Frances.

 

[MarkRG]

Best guess is here: http://disboards.com/showthread.php?s=&threadid=638129

As Hookoodooku said there the only good thing is the fact the eye did sit over CC for a long time, so there was a good deal of calm. But, as slow moving as it is, it also hit it from both sides of the hurricane for a very long time.

Here's the most current hurricane map: http://www.boatus.com/hurricanes/hurricane_field.asp

If you follow the 'comma' shape of the islands that's in the center of the view, on the bottom right there is a triangular island. To its left is a small dot. That is Castaway Cay. Which is right now still being subjected to 70~80 MPH winds. The inner red circle is the 'eye'. The larger red circle is the estimated outer wall of the hurricane itself.

I would guess at this point we won't hear anything until at least tomorrow on Castaway Cay's condition as noone is going to get over there until the hurricane leaves the area.

 

[HooKooDooKu]

Latest wind maps still show CC as being hit with tropical storm level winds (it's just barely outside the ring of hurrican force winds). With the storm moving so slowly, I don't think even Disney is going to get a first look at the island until Sunday at the earliest.

 

[DVC from NJ]

Our Cruise on Wednsday went back to Castaway cay and evacuated the 45 crewmembers who live on the island. We spent about 3 hours there while they got all of the computers and store items onboard.

 

[LAMPSKIES]

Still no update? Just wondering....we're sailing Thanksgiving week and are to stop twice.......we were there Feb. 2000 after the last big hurricane that hit the island.....the dock was still pretty messed up 3 months later.........

 

[ivanova]

I doubt DCL will be able to report on CC until a ship can return to the island - some time next week - guess it depends on what the itineraries will be for the 3 day Wonder and 5 day Magic leaving on Monday - one of them will probably carry the 45 CMs returning them to the island.

 

[Grumpy's Mom]

Do you think DCL will send a reconnaissance plane out instead? I don't think they would take a ship full of passengers by...but what an interesting stop that would be.

DVC from NJ - were passengers allowed off the ship at CC the day of the evacuation?

 

[Horace Horsecollar]

Originally posted by ivanova
I doubt DCL will be able to report on CC until a ship can return to the island

I think it's the other way around...

A DCL ship cannot return to the island until DCL can report on CC (and can complete the needed cleanup and repairs to the facilites.

Once the danger from the storm has passed, I'm sure that representatives from DCL will visit CC to assess damage and determine the next steps. They won't use the Wonder or Magic to get there. In fact, one of the first assessments will need to be whether the dock is damaged and whether too much sand has been swept into the docking channel.

Also, I'm sure that DCL will return the 45 crew members to CC in advance of the first return by the Magic or Wonder. The Magic and Wonder will again begin calling on CC when the island is ready to handle and the DCL ships and to provide a safe and pleasant experience for guests.

 

[kimber79]

Originally posted by DVC from NJ
Just got back
My df just got back from a 4 day Wonder cruise on Thursday. The last day at sea changed to a day a Castaway Cay. The passengers were not able to disembark, but the crew was sent ashore to help pack up the island. I believe the crew that usually stays on the island evacuated with us too. What a change. . . the day before we could see the Hobie boats, hundreds of chairs & hammocks on the beach--but now everything was secured away. The captain was very concerned with what was going on and made many announcements to us letting us know what was going on. Hope Castaway Cay survives alright--it was a beautiful place to visit.

 

[lbgraves]

I agree that they probably will not send one of the ships full of passengers with cameras at the ready back to CC without knowing what it looks like. With everything else in the news, that would be on the front page for sure.