How is day to day life in Orlando After Hurricanes?

[Azune]

In light of all of the bad weather I was wondering how the actual area of Orlando is bearing up? Have people found that lots of restaurants are shut or busy? Is there bottled water.? Are the theme parks working as normal with the rides open? Do the night shows go ahead ?
These are questions that I think are interesting especially to people whose holidays are happening soon (like me I admit ) people who may be bringing families to Orlando.
The people on the ground who contribute to these boards are the best people to ask about stuff like this?

Any ideas?

 

[bubba's mom]

When we were there for Charley, Disney shut down for 1/2 day. They run their own power and from what i've read, take good care of their guests. It's rare for a hurricane to have that much effect that far inland...but, i think disney faired well. Anyone else to add their $.02??

 

[safetymom]

If you are staying on Disney property then I doubt you would notice any difference.

If you venture off property there are still areas that are flooded, places that still don't have power. If you do any driving around you will see piles and piles of debris lining the roads.

Bottled water and gas seem to be available but some grocery stores still don't have all the usual items. Restaurants are pretty much ok unless they sustained hurricane damage.

Central Florida doesn't look really pretty right now along with other parts of FL. Disney has done their very best to clean up their hurricane debris so the Magic still lives on property.

 

[DVC~OKW~96]

People are still living with blue (and other colors) tarps on their roofs. When you fly in or out, look out the window. It is a very depressing sight.

Some people still do not have clean water. Some still have unsanitary conditions due to septic tank overflows. Some are still in shelters.

Gas is pretty tricky. Stations are out, some are rationing.

The toll of the destruction is mounting on some infrastructure concepts like volunteers. They are quitting their service because they have too much to do for their families. Leaves gaping holes in such things as delivering Meals on Wheels and other social service oriented things.

Still seeing many, many trucks loaded with debris and cut up trees on the roads. Some precariously loaded making driving near them hazardous at best.

Red Cross still calling for volunteers and blood donors.

But through it all Disney remains the constant, the escape. Gotta love WDW.

 

[CatLady]

Day to day life at the parks is going to look just like it did before. Disney has worked pretty hard to be sure that the magic is happening there, no matter what. The gas stations on Disney proerty are getting gas more quickly and consistently than the ones off property, CMs have commented.

Grocery stores are mostly back to normal. Some items are still hard to find, and one local Publix even had shelf signs printed that indicated "Currently out of stock due to Hurricane Frances". I have a photo of that somewhere.

Bottled water is currently easy to find at the grocery stores. I think they got shipments in anticipation of Ivan.

If you're staying on property, you won't notice it much, but if you are off property, you are likely to see a lot of piled up debris and roofs with tarps on them.

But Disney, and the hospitality industry, are back to business as usual. Don't cancel your trip. You won't feel like you missed out on the magic at all.

 

[Nickunited]

What amazed me was that there was so much destruction not to far from Disney (I was there for Charley). All this devestation but Disney really did a GREAT job!

It was closed for 1/2 on the day of the storm and on Saturday parks were open again. There was a skeleton crew but I would say 2 to 3 days after the storm - Disney was back to normal.

I know there are still many people feeling the effects of all these storms and my best goes out to them!