Hurricane Irma?

[KimBean]

"Our little thread" is focused on one specific aspect of Irma. National news covers a bit more. They'll catch up eventually.

Mesa, mesa, mesa... And here I was trying to praise those getting us this news so quickly, my bad. And I thought I was literal.

 

[AdvancedPlacement]

Has anyone had any success with Universal Orlando with cancelling or know of any experiences with Matthew. They have been pushing back on cancelling, etc and then disconnecting when I ask for clarification about the hurricane policy. Thanks!

 

[Bullseye]

Wow, a 600-ton steel frame and 10-inch concrete walls? Sounds like Cinderella Castle could actually function as a real defensive castle should the medieval era ever return.

Yeah I was pondering if you had to be in the parks when this thing hit where would you choose to shelter? I was thinking Utilidors, HM, Dinosaur, TOT...any good brick structure.

 

[sherlockmiles]

Yeah I was pondering if you had to be in the parks when this thing hit where would you choose to shelter? I was thinking Utilidors, HM, Dinosaur, TOT...any good brick structure.

I volunteer to stay in the castle and keep watch!!

 

[patrickpiteo]

Keep in mind if your trip is booked for next week that many folks may still be trying to get home, and Disney may move you or not have room for you.

Can only imagine what the back up of fights at the airport will also be ..

 

[mrsclark]

I've been following this thread since about page 13. Signed up to reply and wanted to thank everyone for all the posts. We've been "planning" our trip for about 4 years now to coordinate with our 10 year wedding anniversary (we did DW for our honeymoon) as well as our daughters 5th birthday. We arrive Saturday the 16th in the AM and leave Saturday the 23rd. We were absolutely devastated as the hurricane news kept creeping out but are feeling more and more confident our trip will stay intact and we won't run into any major issues. A day lost here or there isn't a huge issue for us so we're very much looking forward to the trip.

Hello! Our 10 year wedding anniversary is at the end of this month and we too had our honeymoon at Disney in 2007!

This year, my dad and stepmom are taking us on a big giant trip with my stepbrother, his wife and their kids at the end of September so we will be there to celebrate our 10th (I hope - I am worried about widespread road damage, power outages and/or gas shortages). My dad, stepmom, DH are set to arrive at Universal on 9/24 - with a hurricane this size I am planning to keep track of the damage to make sure it will be ok to drive down as planned. My stepbrother and his family are flying and are scheduled to arrive on 9/29...

 

[Raeven]

Has anyone had any success with Universal Orlando with cancelling or know of any experiences with Matthew. They have been pushing back on cancelling, etc and then disconnecting when I ask for clarification about the hurricane policy. Thanks!

I called on wed to get my Volcano Bay tickets refunded. On the phone with guest services in under a minute, refunded everything immediately, and asked if there's anything else I need to cancel.

 

[mswhittaker]

Yeah I was pondering if you had to be in the parks when this thing hit where would you choose to shelter? I was thinking Utilidors, HM, Dinosaur, TOT...any good brick structure.

Immediately my mind went to Spaceship Earth....and then visions of Raiders of the Lost Ark flashed before my eyes.

 

[Belle1962]

If you are going to be unhappy because I ask you to stay away don't read any further. I am providing hotel information for those who are or have family stuck on 75. If you are not stuck coming North and decide to come South please do not. Do not take a hotel room from someone who has had to leave everything behind and been on the road for several several several hours.

For those who are coming North and looking for a hotel. Using check in date of today and leaving Monday. I used Kennesaw State University and points North for my reference.

Beginning in Kennesaw there are hotels from there up to Rome on the Choice hotels website and most rooms are around $130-150.

Nothing for Hilton hotels.

Marriott had one in Kennesaw.

If you plan on leaving GA altogether head into VA. For right now they are outside the cone of possibility. You can take 40 East from 75 and then 81 north. You can even take 81 into WV. Avoid inland SC and NC as any of their evacuees will be headed that way.

Hope this helps someone.

Again-watch the National Hurricane Center website for any changes or wobbles. Your children will take their cues from you so stay calm.

 

[Bullseye]

I volunteer to stay in the castle and keep watch!!

heck I forgot about all the good spots in WS. I'll do my time in the Biergarten. Solid structure full of beer and and wine and good eats!!

 

[sherlockmiles]

I think this calls for a special limited edition PIN for all of those that weather out the storm (he he - see what I did there....) at WDW.

 

[AngiTN]

??? so you could show up next week and not have a room available (but booked) and have to go elsewhere? I would think that this wouldn't happen unless they have a much worse booking system than it seems they do. Possible I guess though.

This has not been practice thus far. They may indeed have to move you in some cases but to think they'll refuse to place you somewhere is a tad alarmist.

 

[Lsdolphin]

Hope I don't get slammed for this but I'm feeling bad right now after speaking to a family member. I know Florida is a tourist state and how important tourism is to their economy but I'm kind of surprised the Governor, as he tells residents to leave isn't asking for tourists to stay away. Every person that comes into the state is taking away resources needed for the residents. I feel sorry for people unable to find hotel rooms. Gas is not available and should be used for evacuation or emergency personnel. I have family in Tampa who aren't trying to evacuate because traffic is so bad, no gas, and there are no hotel rooms in safer areas. Those that are feeling bad about cancelling, just think some family from Tampa or Miami may have a place to stay because of you.

I would think he assumes that tourists would have enough sense to stay away during the next 2 days at least. Or at least not intentionally hinder evacuation efforts.

 

[buzznina]

As time keeps passing, it keeps looking like Irma's eye will now go up the west coast of Florida or in the gulf just west of Florida, to where Apalachicola is now in the picture Our company just had a meeting and they went over the latest weather conditions and Katia has totally dissolved the cold front that was keeping Irma from moving more to the west and is drawing in the winds toward her. I guess the biggest time point will be about 7am tomorrow when it reaches the Florida Straits. Remember, that the east side of the hurricane is always the worst.

 

[AngiTN]

Has anyone had any success with Universal Orlando with cancelling or know of any experiences with Matthew. They have been pushing back on cancelling, etc and then disconnecting when I ask for clarification about the hurricane policy. Thanks!

You mean with Lowes Resorts? I didn't myself but I'm sure they are going to allow you to cancel. The parks are closing and airports closed. You can't get there.

 

[BattyKoda]

heck I forgot about all the good spots in WS. I'll do my time in the Biergarten. Solid structure full of beer and and wine and good eats!!

I have to second Biergarten (any chance the entertainment stays as well or is that just too greedy?)

 

[Tonyz]

Definitely makes sense to close both days since it'll hit late Sunday or early Monday. If you can't nail down a day no point in risking it.

 

[Grmnshplvr]

still trying to make a decision to cancel or not. Let's just say that MCO is open Tuesday 9/12/17 (my scheduled arrival date) and Disney is open Wednesday 9/13/17. What is the Disney experience going to be like? I mean, will they be fully operational with all the rides and shows open? We don't know. This is what makes me want to cancel and reschedule. I haven't been in 15 years and this will be my 3 nephews 1st trip. I want them to experience the "full" Disney experience. Arghh. So heartbreaking, but I am really trying to hold out until Monday to make this decision, but it is getting harder and harder to wait till then.

look at it this way, even Disney at 50% operating capacity would be a fabulous time!

 

[Tonyz]

NHC is expecting it'll be a category 2 when it hits Orlando.

 

[DisneyMom93]

In other words, they are there to do the job they were hired to do. Just because one volunteers to work extra hours checking people into a resort during a hurricane doesn't mean that employee is preventing loss of life.

It's Disney Inc.'s responsibility to keep its onsite guests safe at all times, not just during a hurricane. You can't leave resort guests alone on a property, so obviously employees need to be present to maintain basic hotel operations. They're "responsible to prevent loss of life" only if their job description says so. They're not the Red Cross, nor are they legitimate first responders.

If Disney can't scrape up enough employees to volunteer to work during a disaster, then you either run on a skeleton crew or management steps up to take up the slack.

What exactly is your argument?

The employees working at the resorts during the hurricane will be responsible for keeping guests safe. Skeleton crew, management, whoever is working... Are you arguing semantics? I won't lump a resort employee in with firefighters and policeman if that's your issue. But it's still the resort employees' responsibility to keep guests safe. Yes, hurricane or not, but we are specifically discussing the hurricane situation.