Checking in tomorrow, campground closed

[Chipteacher]

We are supposed to be checking in to Fort Wilderness camping tomorrow, but have heard that the campground is closing due to Hurricane Matthew. Any one know what we should do or where we should go?

 

[campingcorgi]

Where are you now? We are at the Thousand Trails in Clermont and we are heading northwest tomorrow morning. I do not want to encounter tropical storm or hurricane winds in my rv. And it looks as if we will get one or the other!

 

[Chipteacher]

We are driving from Michigan. Will be arriving tomorrow. I've been trying to find a hotel room for tomorrow, but everything seems booked.

 

[bama_ed]

We are driving from Michigan. Will be arriving tomorrow. I've been trying to find a hotel room for tomorrow, but everything seems booked.

I wouldn't come anywhere near Florida today or tomorrow. Stay up in Georgia around Atlanta or south of Birmingham in a hotel depending on your route. And fill up the gas tank.

Bama Ed

 

[PaHunter]

I wouldn't come anywhere near Florida today or tomorrow. Stay up in Georgia around Atlanta or south of Birmingham in a hotel depending on your route. And fill up the gas tank.

Bama Ed

You aren't kidding there. Gas could be a big problem, with widespread power outages, pumps are usually down. Reports are that some gas stations have already run out as far north as Jacksonville. Yea, I wouldn't be headed anywhere into the area for now.

 

[Grumpy92]

Tampa and Tallahassee might be the best options for rooms. Otherwise the safest would be the Atlanta area.

 

[mousehockey37]

We are supposed to be checking in to Fort Wilderness camping tomorrow, but have heard that the campground is closing due to Hurricane Matthew. Any one know what we should do or where we should go?

1st thing I would do is bunker down somewhere inland.
2nd thing.. call Disney themselves and ask.
3rd thing.. Check your phones and stuff more often. Hurricane warnings have been issued for Orlando. People are being moved from the Camp and being placed into Values and such for protection.
4th.. This is not directed at you personally, but... use common sense. This is a deadly hurricane that is going to gain power again over the open water and we all know the old "Disney or Bust" saying.. but... make sure you live to see Disney again. I wouldn't be surprised if southbound roads get turned into northbound roads to get people evacuated... Missing a day or two is better than dying trying to get there tomorrow.

Please use common sense and be safe. If that means calling Disney and telling them you'll be checking in a day or 2 late, then so be it, they'll be dealing with lots of calls just like yours. Disney is nothing to die over.

ETA: Also, think ahead. What would/will you do if you do push on into Florida and they start closing roads or tell you that you have to turn back? It may be wiser, as a few of us have said, to just stop and stay where you are until conditions improve.

 

[mousehockey37]

Update: the campground is closed through Sunday. Call Disney now and see what they say.

Depending on your length of stay you'll either be put up elsewhere or you sadly don't have a vacation due to this hurricane.

Again, bunker down, stay put and call Disney ASAP!

 

[bosk]

Not wanting to beat a dead horse, but my family and I were supposed to check in on Friday. Does "through Sunday" mean it should open Sunday, or Monday?

 

[4077]

Not wanting to beat a dead horse, but my family and I were supposed to check in on Friday. Does "through Sunday" mean it should open Sunday, or Monday?

I would assume it could be either depending on what, if any, damage and such ends up needing to be cleaned up. I think you're probably going to have to just wait and see and call/check online sources post storm passage and see what ends up being the case. My opinion....

 

[bosk]

I would assume it could be either depending on what, if any, damage and such ends up needing to be cleaned up. I think you're probably going to have to just wait and see and call/check online sources post storm passage and see what ends up being the case. My opinion....

I am honestly hoping to try to push our whole vacation back a week or two. I don't want to drag a camper through bad winds to an area that has just suffered a bunch of damage and has local residents in need of supplies that I am taking up.

 

[mousehockey37]

I am honestly hoping to try to push our whole vacation back a week or two. I don't want to drag a camper through bad winds to an area that has just suffered a bunch of damage and has local residents in need of supplies that I am taking up.

That's a great thought but it's probably booked. You can try though.

 

[peg110]

All, just PLEASE PLEASE be safe. As previously mentioned, a vacation is nothing worth dying for.

 

[KristinU]

I just received an email from a plan site that I subscribe to regarding evacuation of Fort Wilderness: http://blog.touringplans.com/2016/1...disney-world-not-accepting-reservations-week/

Stay safe everyone!!! An RV is not the place to be during a hurricane, make good choices my camping friends!

 

[Shelly F - Ohio]

Through Sunday means it will not reopen till Monday

 

[FtW Mike]

Just saw on The weather Channel that Jim Cantore is in Melbourne Fla which is like due east Of WDW so expect a severe storm

 

[mousehockey37]

I haven't seen an update to this yet, but I hope you made the right decision to stay away from Florida....

 

[Kidatheart2010]

I was on hold with wdw this morning 2 times for over 2 hours changing my reservation The Fort will reopen Monday the 10th. I finally got it changed. So at least we will have 5 full days now. Kelly at TeeTime was great again today handling the change. All is well. I will send pics of any storm damage. I hope we don't see much.



2 days 18 hours 21 minutes til "Hopefully " we make it to the fort

 

[PaHunter]

Well, hope all goes well and you stay safe. Personally, with places being out of fuel and food, I would not be in any hurry to go into Florida period. If I did not have enough fuel on board to make it from around Virginia to Florida and back to Virginia, would not be interested. Not to mention even once the storm passes there is a chance of not having power for awhile. Will keep all my friends and Dis family in prayers. Be safe above all.

 

[Kidatheart2010]

Thanks for the good wishes ... I am a Florida native and have survived two cat 4 + storms in the past years. It was total devastation. We aren't traveling to the Fort without taking precautions. We will make sure that the areas we travel through are safe before taking the trip. There is ample fuel in the state even with the evacuations. We are driving down to Perry FL to the KOA Sunday. It is only 406 miles from my front door to the Fort. So we will take our time. 3 hours to Perry and then 3 to the Fort. When I spoke to WDW today and changed the reservations they insured me that if there were issues that were going to be unsafe they would let us know 24 hours before our 1:00 pm arrival. WDW has a state of the art power grid. They won't open the fort without power to the sites. We will check the Florida DOT road website to make sure our route is clear and safe. We have been planning this trip for many months. For all the others that are planning this trip please take the time to make sure its safe. Trust me if its not we will cancle and try again next year. Again thanks for the good wishes.