Disney Hurricane Update

[Sammie]

Originally posted by Chip 'n Dale Express
HEY EVERYONE!!!!!

I'm back. What a storm! Everything is okay over here... I live right behind the Magic Kingdom... (Litterally, the Magic Kingdom is across the street) Minor damage to my apartment complex, but we did lose power for about two days.

Moderate damage to Disney... TONS of trees down all over. I felt bad for a lot of Cast Members who got hit hard, and had a lot of property damage. Staffing was VERY short property wide on Saturday, since many cast members couldn't make it into work.

What KILLS me though is that when I went into work on Saturday, I had a bunch of guests who were like, "Ugh, I don't understand what the big deal was, or why they had to close the parks. It was just some rain and wind!" It was these same people who didn't understand why some things weren't open, or why we were so short staffed.

Oh I understand completely. We were there and saw it first hand. I have even read comments afterward about how disappointed some were the storm interrupted their "dream" vacation. I am sorry, but when people are dying and others are losing everything they own, one's vacation should not be a priority. If one is disappointed the courteous thing to do would be keep it to themselves. No one wants to hear it.

Tyler glad you are safe. I will say I was truely impressed with Disney and all the CM's we came in contact with during the storm. I never felt that I was not being taken care of and safe.

 

[summerrluvv]

Originally posted by Sammie
Oh I understand completely. We were there and saw it first hand. I have even read comments afterward about how disappointed some were the storm interrupted their "dream" vacation. I am sorry, but when people are dying and others are losing everything they own, one's vacation should not be a priority. If one is disappointed the courteous thing to do would be keep it to themselves. No one wants to hear it.

Tyler glad you are safe. I will say I was truely impressed with Disney and all the CM's we came in contact with during the storm. I never felt that I was not being taken care of and safe.

Aww that's too bad that people who have saved for a very long time to a take a trip of a lifetime aren't entitled to be dissapointed that their trip was ruined

 

[ducklite]

I can see how people might be disappointed, but they need to be realistic and at this point, glad to be alive.

They certainly don't have the right to take their disappointment and frustrations out on cast members who are in most cases are working double and triple shifts, as well as possibly putting the needs of the guests ahead of their own. Many of the cast had damage to their homes, in some cases don't even have homes to go back to--yet they continue to take care of the guests.

The disgruntled guests should maybe take a tour of the destruction in the Haines City and Conway areas--where a lot of CM's live. Then they might change their tune a little about how it "was just a little storm".

A terrrible natural disater just took place. By the grace of God more people didn't die. By a stroke of luck, WDW wasn't hit much, much harder. Anyone selfish enough to think that WDW isn't doing enough for the guests, well, maybe they should just go home. I suppose next it will be WDW's fault that there was a hurricane to begin with.

Anne

 

[summerrluvv]

Originally posted by ducklite
I can see how people might be disappointed, but they need to be realistic and at this point, glad to be alive.

They certainly don't have the right to take their disappointment and frustrations out on cast members who are in most cases are working double and triple shifts, as well as possibly putting the needs of the guests ahead of their own. Many of the cast had damage to their homes, in some cases don't even have homes to go back to--yet they continue to take care of the guests.

The disgruntled guests should maybe take a tour of the destruction in the Haines City and Conway areas--where a lot of CM's live. Then they might change their tune a little about how it "was just a little storm".

A terrrible natural disater just took place. By the grace of God more people didn't die. By a stroke of luck, WDW wasn't hit much, much harder. Anyone selfish enough to think that WDW isn't doing enough for the guests, well, maybe they should just go home. I suppose next it will be WDW's fault that there was a hurricane to begin with.

Anne

I didn't say they should take out their frustrations on CM's. I was replying to

" I have even read comments afterward about how disappointed some were the storm interrupted their "dream" vacation."

 

[safetymom]

As someone who lived through the storm the other night I am just thankful to be alive. Yes we have some damage but nothing that can't be repaired.

My daughter is a CM and is exhausted in the other room. She has put in some long hours the last several days. As the storm was raging and we were in our safe room she was worried about the guests at WDW and that the parks would be OK. We ended up staying in hotels after the hurricane so she could get some rest so that she could get back to the park.

There are many CM's that put in many more hours than she did and their first concern is to give the guests the best experience they can have in spite of Hurricane Charley.

Please if you see a CM thank them for being there. I am sorry if your vacation plans are up in the air but know that the CM's and Disney and the businesses in the Orlando area are doing all they can do so you all can come to Orlando and have a wonderful vacation.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by ducklite
I heard that those CM's who were able to get in were working 15-20 hour shifts. Those guests should be grateful that they even have anyone there to keep things running. WDW COULD just tell them all to get packing like so many other places have done...

We had a Hurricane Rideout Crew that stayed throughout the hurricane and helped clean everything up to get everything ready for Saturday morning. Some of those people worked all day Friday, slept in the tunnel for a few hours and then went right back to work on Saturday, and worked all day long. (and we're talking manual labor for a lot of it)

The other cast members that were able to go home, they came in on Saturday, and many worked double shifts, to make up for those who were unable to make it in. I myself worked only worked 12.5 hours, but that's because I'm limited by Federal DOT law.

 

[ducklite]

So Tyler, you're back to transportation from Pop? Or was that just a TDA?

I have a friend in productions at Epcot, he reported at 6:00am Saturday for cleanup, and was there until about midnight.
Another friend works dinners at one of the YC restaurants. He called to check in Saturday morning, and they asked if he could come in early to work a breakfast shift. He left 19 1/2 hours later.

Cheers to all of you who are bending over backwards to take care of the guests!

Anne

 

[Mickey's Sister]

I'm sending heartfelt thanks to you & all the CM's for the extraordinary job you do. The CM'S MAKE the magic. Please know that for every rude idiot guest you have to put up with there are scores of us who are so thankful you do what you do.
I MEAN IT!!! My sister & her boyfriend were both CM's for years & I know the conditions under which they frequently worked. But they did it because they believed in the magic. That is a tremendous gift and I thank you and all your fellow CM's. I'm sending TONS of pixie dust & prayers your way because I'm sure many of you have had a difficult time. GOD BLESS!!!!

Jessica

 

[Morganpics]

I for one appreciate immensely all that the CMs do at WDW. Having dealt with the public for a number of years I realize there are those folks who will complain no matter what. However, for every obnoxious "customer", there are usually more than enough who appreciate the work done and don't hesitate to say so. Reading through these posts, it is apparent there are quite a few of us (and MANY more who don't put it in print) who are truly appreciative and thankful for the work the CMs do. I wouldn't do your job for the world (no pun intended!). Pixie dust to ALL of you!

 

[Morganpics]

I for one appreciate immensely all that the CMs do at WDW. Having dealt with the public for a number of years I realize there are those folks who will complain no matter what. However, for every obnoxious "customer", there are usually more than enough who appreciate the work done and don't hesitate to say so. Reading through these posts, it is apparent there are quite a few of us (and MANY more who don't put it in print) who are truly appreciative and thankful for the work the CMs do. I wouldn't do your job for the world (no pun intended!). Pixie dust to ALL of you! I have NO idea what it is like to ride out a hurricane. On our initial trip to WDW, the first morning a tornado watch was in effect. Now you can just imagine little ole us, a family of four from the state of Maine standing around with eyeballs like flying saucers. Don't suppose we looked like tourists, do you?! Now what do we do? We pretty much stayed close to the motel that morning! For sure, we didn't gripe that we were losing a day of our vacation. Seems to me a few folks were being rather selfish and self centered.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by summerrluvv
Aww that's too bad that people who have saved for a very long time to a take a trip of a lifetime aren't entitled to be dissapointed that their trip was ruined

Disappointed yes, complaining and remarking about it in the presence of others who have lost everything, I personally think is in bad taste. Giving CM's trying to make the best of bad situation a hard time is even worse.

Hurricane season is public knowledge. Some might be better off to plan for another time.

 

[Sammie]

Originally posted by safetymom
As someone who lived through the storm the other night I am just thankful to be alive. Yes we have some damage but nothing that can't be repaired.

My daughter is a CM and is exhausted in the other room. She has put in some long hours the last several days. As the storm was raging and we were in our safe room she was worried about the guests at WDW and that the parks would be OK. We ended up staying in hotels after the hurricane so she could get some rest so that she could get back to the park.

There are many CM's that put in many more hours than she did and their first concern is to give the guests the best experience they can have in spite of Hurricane Charley.

Please if you see a CM thank them for being there. I am sorry if your vacation plans are up in the air but know that the CM's and Disney and the businesses in the Orlando area are doing all they can do so you all can come to Orlando and have a wonderful vacation.

Please thank your daughter and have her share with any other CMs how much we appreciated everything they did during the storm. We were at Disney and I was amazed at how giving and caring all the CMs were to the guests.

 

[Chip 'n Dale Express]

Originally posted by Morganpics
However, for every obnoxious "customer", there are usually more than enough who appreciate the work done and don't hesitate to say so.

And thank goodness for that!! The other night I was working at the Magic Kingdom, and I heard a call over the radio that help was needed within Fort Wilderness. FW was closed and empty, but there were still folks there for the Hoop Dee Doo who needed to get to the MK for resort transfer, or the parking lot. Due to the fact that FW was closed, tight staffing, and the Magic Kingdom was in a full blown park exit, we only had one bus for the parking lot, and one bus for the Magic Kingdom. This was just fine for most of the day, except at the Hoop exit, things got busy.

So I hear the call for extra help, and I head in there, not expecting what I ended up finding. As I pulled up, there were a whole bunch of people there, most were friendly, and just confused, but all at once, I had 3 people chewing my head off, and then yelling more for why I wasn't paying attention to them. When we got to the parking lot, I got a bit more from them, but then I had a guest come up to me, and thank me for my hard work, and my continued smile.

It was that last guest that made my night.

 

[cooldisneymom]

Thank you Tyler and all the other WDW CM's that give 110% every day so that families like mine can come to the most Magical place on earth and have our "Wishes" come true!!! Thanks again to all the CM's who put in extra hours and handed out that extra Pixie Dust during Charley and his aftermath.:thewave: Your loyalty does not go un-noticed!!

 

[Dizz42]

Have you seen the photo in the thread called "View Photos of Hurricane Damage at Wilderness Lodge"? There is a link there and these photos (and the brave family that posted them) are amazing! Check out the pool area in a photo at 6 A.M. and then the photo at 8 A.M. It's totally cleaned up. Those two pixs alone speak volumes for the hard work done by the CM's. Incredible!!!

 

[gjerseygirl]

Tyler: What routes do you usually do? I'd love to look you up when I get there!!! You're such a good soul!! I feel so bad that people were mean to you. That must be tough to take. Or I can just get on every bus and say, Are you Tyler? Which, I would do!!

 

[BluOrchid2]

Tyler, please spread the word to your co-castmembers and tell them that there are thousands of us out here who fully appreciate you guys. The night of the hurricane, I chatted with two cm's at Roaring Fork cafe who were there as extras to help with getting people some food. Both of them normally worked at the MK, and not in anything to do with food. One guy had worked till 3 am the night before, securing SpectroMagic floats and things in prep for the hurricane, and was called out again that morning to come fill in over at WL. He was bright, cheerful, happy, a pleasure to converse with in spite of the fact that he must have been exhausted. He is how I think of you.

Here's a big kiss for all you do! ::::TYLER and CM'S::::