Help - Need to Know if Dennis Closed Parks

[InstImpres]

.lots of lightning strikes were reported but the parks didnt close.

Disney is one of the safest places when this happens. Next time you are strolling down Main Street, take a look at the top of the buildings, you will see literally hundreds of lighting rods (ever foot or so) to avoid this problem. They are done like this all over all the parks (knowledge thanks to KTK Tour). It is just another example of the great forthought as well as creative design. I walked down Main Street hundreds of times and never noticed. Guest safety is always a priority but the do it without intruding on the magic,

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Just to note: in Southwest Florida, NBC-2's weather team and Fox 4's weather team join forces and create one team during hurricane threats. They throw competition out the window and both broadcasts are shown together non-stop.

Last year during Charlie, they actually predicted the last minute turn towards land at SW Florida before even the National Hurricane Center did, possibly saving MANY MANY lives. Very commendable.

I don't think it was NBC-2 & Fox's -4. It was NBC-2 & ABC-7. They are both in the same building on Central Ave in Ft Myers & both run by Waterman BroadCasting. They were the ones that teamed up for Charley. Fox is located in Cape Coral, there is no way that they can team up together when they aren't even located in the same city. Yes, they did a very good job of telling us that Charley had turned towards us. They went against NOAA's forcast (NOAA was still saying Tampa as it came towards us).

 

[TimothyG]

Alright, I guess I got my facts screwed up. For some reason, that hurricane name popped into my head.

 

[DVC-Don]

 

[Martha7]

C'mon, OP! Tell us what happened!!!

 

[Atotty]

bump

 

[Mickeefan]

bumping up

 

[SusanDK]

I also feel very sorry for that child who was looking forward to a trip to WDW and was not taken by that parent.

However, I remember how my parents always acted when there were storm warnings of any kind or the 'authorities' cautioned people not to go out. They always took those kinds of warnings seriously and, despite that the promised bad weather may not ever come to pass, we would have been kept home as well. (In my case, it would generally have been snow storm warnings.)

So I wouldn't automatically assume that this parent was mean-spirited or planned to disappoint the child. My mother is a big chicken if she hears on the news that they are telling people to stay home due to storms. And maybe that parent experienced the hurricanes last year, and just felt safer staying close to home. And felt it was easier to say the parks were closed instead of saying that people were told to stay home (not that I'm condoning lying to the child).

Of course, it is a shame that the child was put to work on the house and made to babysit.

Like others, I'm curious as to how this all turned out.

Susan

 

[CdnDisneyFan]

Add me to the list of people who want an update too!!!

Jules

 

[Martha7]

I guess DisneyRefugee really has become one! I hate these cliffhangers!

 

[dgaston]

Someone who just returned from WDW here. We arrived 7/9 and there was some rain. Illuminations was wierd that night -- no fireworks, just the one opening shell and then one colored one. Without fireworks it's a strange show! We took the boat to MGM and rushed to Fantasmic which went off without a hitch. Sunday we went to the MK and while the skies were overcast, we figured it kept the temps down a bit. We were able to do all three mountains, Buzz, HM, Philharmagic, etc. We watched Wishes near Dumbo. No perspective on the castle, but shells explode overhead.

Poor child that couldn't get to experience some of this!

Waiting for an update now too!

 

[Disney1fan2002]

Ok....I realize it is none of my business but I'm dying to know the details...did this parent send their kid to Florida with a friend or relative and were promised a day or 2 in WDW and it never happend???

From deciphering the OP, it seems her 11yo G-dson was invited down to visit a friend, and visit the places she listed. It seems, he got down there, and instead of going off to enjoy the theme parks, he got stuck helping the family work on the house, and babysit. The mother told him all those places were closed because of Dennis.

WOW! If I were the OP, I would call up her G-dson's mom and let her know the info she found out here. The mom should call down there and give the so-called hostess a piece of her mind!!!! That is just terrible. The poor boy! Not only does he NOT get to visit any of those places, but they put him to WORK. Did they at least pay him?????

 

[DisneyRefugee]

Sorry, had a little accident that kept me occupied...

It is not the parents. The parents are furious. A "friend" invited him to come down to visit their son and said that they would do all these things, but in the end did not do them. She spent her time getting manicures and beauty treatments and so forth while my god-son was working around the house all-day and babysitting. Not only that, but she was only feeding them PB&J the entire week, while she was eating steak (yes steak!) in front of the kids. He was starving!

I was really excited for him to be able to go down and have this experience, and it really burns me up to see this happen. Needless to say, he will not ever be visting that family down in Florida ever again! The woman came up to our area last week, and my god-son's mother just had to avoid her to make sure she did not get into any kind of altercation.

There are just some people out there who are simply not good people. You just don't do that to a kid.

I appreciate everyone who gave feedback on the hurricaine's impacts, and once again apologize for taking so long to get back to folks.

 

[DutchsMommy]

That is just pathetic. I can't even find words!!!!!!!!!!!! How old is your Godson? Is there something maybe we can do - Dh and I are going down in Sept - I would be more than happy to pick-up something and send it with a card (maybe from Mickey if your GS is young enough to believe it?) to him. Kids are so trusting and loving and this is just shameful. I feel for that woman's own children - their lives must not be a bowl of cherries either!

Well - give big hugs to your DGS so he knows not everyone is such a ^%@&$.

 

[DutchsMommy]

oops - just re-read and realized he is 11. Anyway, offer still stands - just let me know - I would love to do something if you think it would help.

 

[VSL]

How AWFUL! I must say, if I had been your Godson's mother I would have gone ballistic and given her MORE than a piece of my mind!

Is there no type of legal action that could be taken? I mean, the fact that he was PUT TO WORK and practically starved all week could be held against that woman.

What a horrid woman.

Just remember.. what goes around comes around.

 

[Laugh O. Grams]

She spent her time getting manicures and beauty treatments and so forth while my god-son was working around the house all-day and babysitting. Not only that, but she was only feeding them PB&J the entire week, while she was eating steak (yes steak!) in front of the kids. He was starving!

That is the most bizarre story I have ever heard on the DIS! Did she think his parents couldn't just call to see if the parks were open? I'm surprised they didn't want to see her face to face to see what was up with her "hospitality"! I certainly would have!! How did the son meet this "friend"?

 

[zurgswife]

Sorry to hear what happened...I'd be furious if I was that parent...

 

[DisneyRefugee]

oops - just re-read and realized he is 11. Anyway, offer still stands - just let me know - I would love to do something if you think it would help.

Appreciate the offer, but I am actually taking my family next Friday (8/5) for 11 days!

He met the son while they were friends in the same neighborhood before the kid moved to Florida.

 

[Local_Girl]

What a horrible thing to do!

The 11-yr. old and his family should prepare an invoice and bill the woman for his services during his stay...