Hurricane Floyd 1999-Who was there?

[cbate717]

Sept 14 1999- DisneyWorld closed completely for the first and only (i think) time ever.
I was there for the week, about 13 years old. I was thinking about it recently. I remember then telling us to close our curtains and fill our bathtubs. I guess it was a pretty powerful storm. But where would i rather be stuck in a hurricane than disney right?

Did anyone else experience this? Just curious.

 

[avic77]

My cousin was in Disney 9/11 and I remember her saying they shut down and gave everyone a free non expire ticket.... but maybe im wrong

 

[cbate717]

Oh really? That would make sense.

During the hurricane they shut down all of wednesday and reopened only AK on thursday and only to resort guests....i remember it being PACKED

 

[WDWjen]

They did close the parks.. at the time I think that was the 1st time it had ever happened.

We were staying at the All Stars - they told us to stay in our rooms. We bought some snacks at the marketplace and hung in the room. If I can remember right the CMs handed out flashlights? I think most of the storm hit overnight and by the next day the parks were open.

We were married but didn't have kids yet so it was no big deal for us... we had been in one of the water parks in the rain (didn't matter once we were wet anyway) and it was empty.. got to ride the big slide over and over b/c there were no lines.

Funny we were just talking about this the other night when we got the FD pin for Aug and we were afraid another hurricane would hit! Of course our last 2 trips we have all gotten the stomach virus so I don't know what is worse!!!

 

[alloyd1170]

My parents were there. I was watching the news back in SC and called to tell them to get out of there. The storm was so huge and there was talk of it moving up the coast. It would've hit their property on the beach in Hilton Head. Thankfully they listened to me and beat the rush of people trying to leave the state. They stopped home, grabbed the pets and valuables, then head inland to our place. Later, we watched the evacuation of the SC coast. A normal 2 hour drive inland took almost 24 hours.

 

[cbate717]

We were staying at the All Stars - they told us to stay in our rooms. We bought some snacks at the marketplace and hung in the room. If I can remember right the CMs handed out flashlights? I think most of the storm hit overnight and by the next day the parks were open.

We were also at all stars. I do remember there being flash lights and stocking up on snacks. My little brother and I were in the arcade for while too. We were the only ones in the arcade. Back then the arcade games were still token operated. I remember the arcade CM giving us a whole cup of tokens to play with. We thought it was fabulous.

 

[mattsdragon]

You sure it was Floyd?

I only ask because I remember Floyd well, I was living in Charleston at the time, and the only deaths were from people dying in their cars during the evacuation, which sparked many changes to the Lowcountry's evacuation plan. My Cutter had just returned from a deployment to Europe in support of Kosovo, and we had to leave again the day after we got home from a 4 month deployment. Nasty seas, rough couple of days.

The storm came ashore along the North/South Carolina border. Orlando wasn't touched.

 

[Uncleromulus]

I think that is right--the forecasters had Floyd devastating Orlando, but then it turned North and never made landfall in Florida.
I know they got wind and rain, but he hurricane never hit.

 

[TiggerStac]

I was on my honeymoon part cruise part WDW. We were on cruise when floyd hit. We missed ports but got to a different port. It was crazy when we got back because we saw all the damage driving back from PC and we were out in the ocean in the sun during the entire thing!

We got to go to Freeport for like 2 hours, didn't go to nassau and ended up going to key west for 1/2 a day. they said yes to KW, then said no, then the next thing you know we are pulling up to land and we're in KW!

 

[TiggerStac]

You sure it was Floyd?

I only ask because I remember Floyd well, I was living in Charleston at the time, and the only deaths were from people dying in their cars during the evacuation, which sparked many changes to the Lowcountry's evacuation plan. My Cutter had just returned from a deployment to Europe in support of Kosovo, and we had to leave again the day after we got home from a 4 month deployment. Nasty seas, rough couple of days.

The storm came ashore along the North/South Carolina border. Orlando wasn't touched.

yup it was floyd in 9/99
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Hurricane_Floyd

I remember a lot of toppled trees, etc.

 

[windi622]

We were not there for Floyd. But, we did get to see Hurrican Jeanne October of 2004 (I think). We were staying at BWV at the time. And she hit on a Saturday night. They closed everything down about 7 pm Saturday in anticipation. I think she hit us sometime around 2 or 3 am. I remember waking up at 6, and not hearing any noise or anything. I asked my Dad "so, I guess they were wrong, it didn't hit?". Wrong. We were in the middle of it. Talk about impressive soundproofing. She hit throughout the day Sunday, and everything was closed all day- reopening on Monday morning. I remember being relieved that it was a Sunday, because football was on all day, and as a huge fan- I was happy to have that to watch It was obviously not ideal, but Disney did a wonderful job of keeping everyone calm, and handling everything. I suppose if you have to be in a hurricane, there's better place to be. Our power didn't even as much as flicker. However, after 36+ hours in a villa with my parents and sister...we were all ready to be let loose Monday morning!

 

[RabFlmom]

You sure it was Floyd?

I only ask because I remember Floyd well, I was living in Charleston at the time, and the only deaths were from people dying in their cars during the evacuation, which sparked many changes to the Lowcountry's evacuation plan. My Cutter had just returned from a deployment to Europe in support of Kosovo, and we had to leave again the day after we got home from a 4 month deployment. Nasty seas, rough couple of days.

The storm came ashore along the North/South Carolina border. Orlando wasn't touched.

You are right, but first it was heading right toward the Melbourne area of Florida. It was a huge powerful hurricane that would have covered the whole state of Florida had it come ashore. I think it came about 35-50 miles from the shore before the course changed to NNW instead of the due West prediction. All of us were thinking it was another Andrew-only moving slower. That storm was the first time we fled the coast for an Orlando area hotel. Ended up being just a little wind and rain with very little damage
in Florida. That was when most of us here on the coast realized what was worth saving in a hurricane. For us it was the kids, the cat, and some of the pictures. Everything else could be replaced.

 

[RescueRanger]

We were there! The food court was a madhouse and I really felt bad for the CM's. We were fortunate that the hurricane turned north and did not come straight into Florida. My parents kept calling us and asking us to leave; however, we explained that the buildings were designed to withstand strong winds and we were safer staying. Thank goodness, because we later found out that our radiator had a small hole in it, and if we had been in the evacuation traffic, we would have been in trouble.

 

[EloiseHarper]

We were at the All Star Music for our honeymoon. My grandparents were evacuated from the keys, and joined us. I remember filling the tub, but not the flashlights. I remember being told to sleep in the bed farthest from the window, if possible. They also told us we should buy food, and the store was crazy! The line was so long, and there was nothing left. I think we ended up with orange pop and cookies. We went to Boardwalk the next day, and it was really windy, we have a picture where my hair is almost straight up in the air.

 

[jdpopp]

I was there too. The thing I remember was them tying everything down to the concrete benches. Then, it didn't really hit the area at all and i was wishing the parks would open. Thankfully they got AK open for the day.

It looks like they have better plans in place know for these types of things. The parks seemed to be open a lot faster the past few times a big storm has hit.

 

[babydovesx2]

I wish I would have been in WDW for Floyd. I was in SE North Carolina where Floyd came on shore. The wind and rain were horrible. We were without power for days and many roads and businesses were closed due to flooding.

 

[Kurby]

being Canadian we don't have to deal with hurricanes so i don't understand the "fill your bath tub" instruction.

why do you need to do this?

 

[DisneyBamaFan]

We were there, at All Star Movies. My oldest son was 2, and my wife was 6 months along with our youngest. My in-laws (who had an RV in Cocoa Beach) came and rode out the "storm" with us in our room. It rained heavily that night, but the hurricane turned up the coast. They closed everything, then the storm missed. It was bright and sunny, but the employees were not available to open the parks.

Since the WDW parks were closed, we went to Sea World. It was packed, but we still had fun. Disney let us extend out stay for one day for free, and I seem to remember eating at the resort for free for that one day, too (though I am not certain about that part).

It turned out to be a great experience for us.

 

[Uncleromulus]

kurby: In my case at least, if the power goes out and stays out--we have no water. On a well, and electricity needed to operate the well pump.

 

[tzvdmd]

I was there with my wife and son. We were evacuated from CBR to the Yacht Club Convention center for the night. That was a long evening. But we were thankfull that it missed us.