Could Parks Have Opened Saturday?

[seashoreCM]

Perhaps the folks living near WDW and still on line could share their weather observations of earlier today (Saturday). The storm has slowed its progress but ... was the weather rainy and unpleasent most of the day? Windy yet? Sunny breaks? If there was no hurricane but weather conditions similar to now prevailed, would some of the rides have been stopped?

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

 

[cindy_k]

I am at the Saratoga Springs Resort and I will give you my opinion.

Hurricanes are very hard to predict, even as early as last night we were supposed to have had major hurricane winds and rain by 10am.

That is all Disney has to use the judge their park operation. If the weather people had been correct than opening the parks would have been very bad.

We received a letter at our room earlier this afternoon from a CM. Because of the speed of this storm, the theme parks will be closed tomorrow (Sunday) also.

Disney is being very responsible with this storm, and it is costing them a lot of money I am sure.

Cindy from NY, currently in SSR.

 

[LibertyBelle]

We live locally (and I am a CM at MK). We have been getting some really bad feeder bands coming through (with tornados, heavy rain and high wind). They sheriff of Orange county also wanted EVERYONE off the roads by noon and we have a curfew from now, until the storm is clear.

I think the correct decision was made to be closed today (Saturday) in light of everything. They probably could have opened until noon or so, but then you are going against the "off the roads by noon" request as the CM's tried to leave.

As was stated we have already been told NOT to report to work tomorrow (Sunday) as they are not going to be open and that Monday is in the air right now (based on how fast the storm moves through and what damages are sustained).

 

[bigsis1970]

HI Libertybelle -- keep safe .. so then i assume CM's from friday and early saturday (for the hotels and animal kingdom) just stay and ride out the storm with the guest doing the best they can ?

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

What difference does it make if someone thinks that the parks could have been opened? They were not, based on good safety oriented decisions and that is that.

Hindsight always seems credible, but unless you intend to learn something from it, it's pretty worthless.

 

[Safari Steve]

I live just about 100 yards off property, and there have been high winds and heavy rain periodically all day, certainly nothing that would have been safe for guests (this opinion is based on personally seeing the parks operate with a heavy thunderstorm just about every day for the last five years). Especially considering that this storm is now crawling by, and we will have dangerous amounts of wind and rain for the next 24+ hours, and there was still a large amount of debris left from Charley, there was a considerable amount of preparation that had to be done.
Everyone involved is safer because of the decision to close the parks today, and any questioning or discussion thereof is utterly without benefit.

 

[Pig Pen]

I think it is very responsible for WDW to close down - I would imagine it would take a lot of hours and manpower to "batten down the hatches."

If shutting down for a couple extra days keeps everyone and everything from blowing away, it's fine with me.

Hopefully my Vero Beach DVC will come through the storm intact!

Keep safe everyone down there.

 

[Baloo]

Orginally posted by Safari Steve

any questioning or discussion thereof is utterly without benefit

AMEN!!!!!!!!!

 

[chyam]

Originally posted by DVC~OKW~96
What difference does it make if someone thinks that the parks could have been opened? They were not, based on good safety oriented decisions and that is that.

Hindsight always seems credible, but unless you intend to learn something from it, it's pretty worthless.

Amen to that also! Why question the decision, it was made and it was made to keep people safe, you just can't open and close Disney in 5 minutes!

 

[SyracuseWolvrine]

Originally posted by bigsis1970
HI Libertybelle -- keep safe .. so then i assume CM's from friday and early saturday (for the hotels and animal kingdom) just stay and ride out the storm with the guest doing the best they can ?

Disney designated "ride out" crews, who are scheduled to be working for basically the entire duration of the storm. A great many of these are at the resorts, to help the guests who are stuck there. The others may include some of the vetrinary staff at AK, and some managers and security folks who will be responsible for a lot of the initial damage assessment.

It's expected that shortly after the storm, a lot of CMs will get a call to come in and help on the clean up.

 

[Tigger&Belle]

My DH and I were discussing this last night and I was questioning the decision to close totally as opposed to close early. The conclusion that we came up with was that the speed of the storm was uncertain and that workers needed to be home with their families preparing for the storm. Of course resort CMs needed to work because people were staying at the resorts, but the parks could be closed. I think if was the right decision, but it is natural to analyze the decision.

Hopefully it will pick up speed and pass quickly, but it sure didn't seem to be doing that when I was watching coverage this morning.

Of course I wouldn't be happy to have my vacation disrupted, but it is hurricane season, afterall.

T&B

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

There was a brief rumor that the parks would open for a few hours...but it just was not possible. The city managers of Orlando, county commissioners and police were very clear about wanting to have the roads clear by noon.

It takes a long time to empty the parks and get everyone where they needed to be. They closed the swimming pool at noon--and it took a good 15 minutes to clear the pool and deck areas. That is when the rain started happening and it was doing that sideways funky kind of rain and the trees were practicing their skills of flexibility. If the parks were open--it this weather would have been going on while people tried to get back to their hotels. Not a safe situation. After Charley--there is no way a corporation such as Disney is going to go against the orders of the county--even if they are in the Reedy Creek Mgmt District and for all intents and purposes self-governing. They don't have to listen--but like I said--after Charley's unpredictable path--no way Disney is going to go out on a limb and place guests in possible danger.

So for vacationers, it is a shame that a few hours were lost--but if somone would have gotten blown off of the monorail platform, that would not have been good either.

For resort guests, they brought in characters and entertainment from the parks--so WDW certainly did try to make the best out of the situation. At WL, we had Mickey, Minnie, chip and dale come visit as well as the EPCOT performers: the African musicians and the Candy art lady from japan. Recreation kept the kids entertained all day on Saturday with crafts and games and noisemaking opportunties. So they are trying to make the best out of a perilous situation.

 

[LibertyBelle]

Originally posted by Pig Pen
Hopefully my Vero Beach DVC will come through the storm intact!

That is what I am worried about. Vero and Castaway Cay (of course) got hit pretty hard. My concern right now is not so much for Castaway as this is not a first for them (an won't be a last), I know they can come back from it...but the Vero Beach DVC has never seen anything like this before. From the weather reports Vero got hit pretty hard being on the North side of the eye wall. Should be interesting to see how they faired.

Also I don't think the OP was trying to question the decision to close, I think they were just wondering what the weather was like here.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Originally posted by SyracuseWolvrine
Disney designated "ride out" crews, who are scheduled to be working for basically the entire duration of the storm. A great many of these are at the resorts, to help the guests who are stuck there. The others may include some of the vetrinary staff at AK, and some managers and security folks who will be responsible for a lot of the initial damage assessment.

It's expected that shortly after the storm, a lot of CMs will get a call to come in and help on the clean up.

Additionally--these CMs are permitted to bring their families and some have brought their dogs. Some pets are in the WDW kennel--but there is only so much room.

Also--lifeguards from the water parks were helping with the recreational activities at the resorts.

Our host at check-in said they would stay in a conference room--but there were enough rooms that they do all have hotel rooms.
The dog I saw gets to stay on the concierge floor . Wish I was lucky like that dog