Feeling guilty about taking DCL/WDW vacation due to hurricane

[WisconsinDisneyGirl]

My DH and I have been watching the Weather Channel ALOT - like most of you. We have seen the path that Francis has left on TV and I am sure that it is so much worse in person. We have been talking about the guilt we have been feeling about taking this trip. We should have been onthe Sept. 5 and have been fortunate enough to rebook for the next Sunday Wonder. We will be staying at WDW from Wed- Sun. We have been feeling guilty about comming down to FL and taking someone elses hotel rooms at AKL, using gas that other FL people could use, eating food that could be used for FL folks. We don't have alot of money- it has taken everything we have to take this "lavish" vaction. My question to all of you is---what should we do? I have no excitment in my heart at this time because I feel such guilt by comming to FL. I am a medical professional- I should be comming to FL to help out- not go on vacation. I am sure that there are alot of others out there that are feeling the same. God Bless you all from the bottom of my heart and I hope that all are safe!

Anyone know how Shirley is at The Perfect Gift?????

 

[inkkognito]

Don't feel guilty...think about it as helping the economy. The sad thing is, when tragedy strikes, a lot of people cancel their vacations. This hurts the state and the people who depend on tourism for their jobs even more. Keep them in your prayers and bring your tourist dollars!

I, too, am wondering about Shirley and Norm. We are flying out tomorrow so I will try to contact her.

Barb

 

[MarkRG]

I would say this; their economy is almost totally dependant on us, the vacationers. Everyone avoids going there and they will siffer even more than they have. Just try to be a little extra courteous as every castmember is giving up time at home dealing with personal disasters to provide for your vacation.

 

[FoodLover]

It looks like services that affect tourists (i.e. airport, WDW parks and resorts, roads between airport and WDW, etc.) should be in pretty much fully up and running on Tuesday.

Most people who were evacuated will be on their way back home by Tuesday. Once the weather settles down, gasoline will be delivered, so my guess is that Tuesday or Wednesday the gas supply will probably be back to normal.

Assuming Ivan is not a threat at the time of your vacation, I don't think you should feel guilty at all.

Orlando depends on your tourist dollars. Those folks who have lost property in the hurricanes will be even worse off if everyone stays away and they end up being laid off!

Just my .02 worth.

Mary
MouseSavers.com

 

[Scotsman]

I think you should cancel the whole trip and send me your tickets! I will gladly help Florida rebound and rebuild by supplying them with there number 1 resource: TOURIST DOLLARS. Now cheer up and start packing your bags and for goodness sake HAVE A GREAT DISNEY TIME

 

[Wish I lived in Fl]

With your trip you will be bringing money to Florida which they will need in rebuilding. The worst thing for a tourist spot is to have tourists avoid it in the wake of problems. Donate a Dinners worth or so if you can afford it to the Red Cross

Yes, people will be trying to rebuild their lives but that will include working. Losing their job would not be a help!

My brother lives and works near Lady Lake Florida and he was just hoping his job would still be there after this Hurricane. He called today and is okay but no power for who knows how long. He works at Home Depot so as long as the store remainded standing there should be plenty of work for a while.

Go and enjoy. Everybody NEEDS a vacation and a cruise sounds wonderful.

 

[goin2disneyagain]

Don't feel guilty. Like the other posters said, you are helping the economy. Thank you though for being considerate and not getting upset that you had your vacation plans changed. I keep reading about people being upset about their plans being changed because of the hurricane. With what residents of Florida are going thru that seems so inconsiderate to me. It's not like DCL can control a hurricane. Take your cruise and enjoy it.

 

[WisconsinDisneyGirl]

Thank you all for your heart felt posts. I think it is the Catholic in me that gives me the guilt!

 

[tinkerbellmagic]

I agree with all of the posters above. Your tourist dollars are especially needed now. Labor Day Weekend is one of the big weekends for tourist trade. The revenue that would have been made on Labor Day was lost due to the hurricane. I think those that depend on tourist dollars would very much appreciate that you chose to spend your vacation dollars there. Have a great trip to the sunshine state!




Tink

 

[mmouse37]

I don't think people worrying or venting over their changed vacation plans are being inconsiderate....they are human....I have not read one post where anybody didn't preclude their statements by saying they feel for the people of Florida and understand their predictament but they still have a right to vent their displeasure and disappointment of changed plans...

Let's not be so hard on everyone.....we all know what the people of Florida are going through...we all can empathize....that does not mean we have to bottle up all our own feelings about our plans as well. I keep reading posts of someone venting and then they get bashed by people saying that at least they are safe, they have a home, etc....I am sure the posters know all that...they do not have to be told the severity of the situation....they want to vent about their changed plans...so let's let them with beating them up.

MJ

 

[amymouse]

We can help Floridians recover by continuing to pour our vacation money into their piggy banks. Soooo many Florida residents depend on the tourist industry for their livelihood. The worst thing we could do is deprive the economy of what it needs to rebuild and recover.

Of course, though, we have to be mindful of what the people have been through. A little (alot) of consideration and understanding should be the name of the game right now.

 

[Topper]

Originally posted by mmouse37
....we all know what the people of Florida are going through...we all can empathize...MJ

Unless you have been in Florida over the past month, you do not know what we have been thru - yes you can empathize, but you cannot really know.

To the OP, come on down. We welcome all visitors to the Sunshine State!

 

[Poly Pal]

Don't waste anymore time feeling guilty. Go and have a great time! Floridians need your tourist dollars!

 

[CatLady]

Topper's right, on both counts. If you weren't here, you don't really know what it's like to sit through two hurricanes in a row... or the awful feeling of realizing that there are a whole conga line of them spinning over/off Africa behind Ivan.

But please don't feel so guilty that you don't come down here for vacation! The industry needs you to keep traveling, keep coming to the parks. It really hurts the industry to lose a holiday weekend like this, especially the smaller companies (off-site mom-and-pop motels, non-chain restaurants, etc.).

The Orlando area is nowhere near as hard hit by Frances as we were by Charley, and we're certainly open for business. Like they (used to) say on The Price Is Right: "Come on down!"

 

[mmouse37]

I would never even try to make anyone think that I know what it is like....you are 100% correct...if you are not living through it you do not know...but we can still feel for you in Florida and people should not feel guilty about discussing their plans.

MJ

 

[CRSNDSNY]

I felt guilty for a bit worrying the last few days if I'd ever get on my 9/4 cruise. BUT, like many have said, FL needs us there to help them rebuild -- Tourists = $$$$$$

I'm going to try not to agonize over our decision to cancel the cruise (I had about 24 hours of it and am now over it) -- 4-nights and Cozumel was not our idea of a dream cruise (we've already been on 2 4-nights and one Eastern -- NEVER once had too much interest in Cozumel). We're going to take our refunded money and RUN TO WDW this coming Wednesday. FL can have some of our money anyway this week.

 

[Disneyfan37]

Please don't feel like that.Come on down!We are in FL,and please don't hesitate to come to FL.We all need to take a vacation.

We hope to hear all about your trip!

Maria

 

[CPM]

Originally posted by WisconsinDisneyGirl
We have been feeling guilty about comming down to FL and taking someone elses hotel rooms at AKL, using gas that other FL people could use, eating food that could be used for FL folks. We don't have alot of money- it has taken everything we have to take this "lavish" vaction.

Who's hotel room were you taking? If it was taken they woudln't have given it to you. We will be getting plenty of gas tommorrow when the ports open. Can't imagine there is a food shortage here either, even after teh devastation of Charley the grocery stores were open and full the next day.
Have a good time on your cruise, wish I was able to rebook.

 

[cjsmith]

The rooms that were needed here in Florida for us Floridians were needed this weekend which is why every hotel was booked solid. Everyone is now heading home. Please still come, we really do need your tourist dollars to help rebuild the state. You will keep the economy going and that's one of the best things that can happen in here in the state. Gas will be delivered tomorrow and that will go back to normal. The only thing that is in short supply are things like generators and batteries, things that you won't be shopping for unless you have a strange fetish!

 

[Talking Hands]

Don't feel guilty. Continuing with your plans is the best thing you can do for Florida right now. We need the tourist industry.