Hurricane Matthew Closes WDW - Reopens Saturday, October 8th

[ryansstitch]

A Panera box lunch is about $9. Why is this a surprise?

However, the nasty taste in your mouth might be thinking of that cookie packed in the box.

As for your upcoming trips, "five months" is well past the end of hurricane season.

$9 isn't bad for Panera quality. And THAT lunch ain't Panera quality. Furthermore, how many people are stranded at Panera during a hurricane?

 

[flatlandcycle]

We have a room only reservation at the Polynesian starting Tuesday. There's a balance that's due on check in.

Should I pay the balance before we go or are we okay to wait until check in? (I'm wondering if not having the reservation paid in full would make it more likely to lose the room)

If you have a reservation and have paid the deposit you should be fine. Have there been any stories of people with reservations not getting a room? The problem is with people trying to get new reservations or extending reservations.

 

[pigletgirl]

Just wanted to say,

This thread has been amazing to read. Thanks to everyone who has been posting from inside Disney.
It sounds like things are going to be OK, and maybe even up to somewhat normal operations by tomorrow - that would be fantastic!

I can't get my head around the complaining about the 12.99 box lunch. I order box lunches for my office once a month and they are 12.50 each and do not include a cookie. I think 12.99 is a very reasonable price. Of course, I always buy food at the parks so I am used to the prices. I think it was maybe more a sticker shock for those who prepare their own food while at Disney. A set lunch like that at our theme park by us - Valley Fair near Minneapolis cost 15.99 without a drink as well (and is nasty).

Sounds like Disney did the best they could in a no-win situation. Kudos to them and the cast members!

Exactly. It's cheaper than a QS lunch or dinner (if you are paying OOP).

Yes, kudos to Disney! Amazing work.

 

[dburg30]

Not too bad yet, I'm 10 miles inland. This afternoon will be a little rough but not a direct hit even here.

Really, the radar looked like it was just at that right angle to be getting pounded.. Glad that's not the reality.... yet.. hopefully everyone stays safe..

 

[Huff]

We have dining plan and because of restaurant closures are unable to use all credits. CM said Disney would credit us but does anyone have an idea of what that credit would be? We did change to a signature to use 2 credits each for Saturday night but still have some we can't use.

 

[sotoalf]

For the love of God, people, you pay almost $4 for a Coke in Disney yet $12.99 sounds like price gouging for a box lunch? A Starbucks rice bowl is $7 plus tax without a $3 drink. This is not unusual.

 

[The Sasquatch]

View attachment 199522

Time for French toast from yesterday's bounty platter

psst...the food court is open

 

[dburg30]

So its not false. I have heard from people there that they have been told to stay in their room. Staying in your room equals no food or water. From what I am reading, food courts and restaurants are open for business but the message you left in the room of the parents and 3 kids who are afraid to go out tells them to stay put. Kind of a mixed message dont you think?

I do not fall into that camp but I am sure there are alot of people staying at Disney resorts who take the instructions very literally and are afraid to open the door at this point. Lets hope they didnt listen to Shep Smith because everyone outside is dead...

Unless the water system has failed at WDW, they have water..

 

[Disneylover99]

So its not false. I have heard from people there that they have been told to stay in their room. Staying in your room equals no food or water. From what I am reading, food courts and restaurants are open for business but the message you left in the room of the parents and 3 kids who are afraid to go out tells them to stay put. Kind of a mixed message dont you think?

I do not fall into that camp but I am sure there are alot of people staying at Disney resorts who take the instructions very literally and are afraid to open the door at this point. Lets hope they didnt listen to Shep Smith because everyone outside is dead...

People got their food and water yesterday. If they didn't, I guess they didn't take this storm threat seriously anyways, so they're probably out walking around. I doubt they're taking anything literally.

 

[KimBean]

This thread has been amazing to read. Thanks to everyone who has been posting from inside Disney.
It sounds like things are going to be OK, and maybe even up to somewhat normal operations by tomorrow - that would be fantastic!

I can't get my head around the complaining about the 12.99 box lunch. I order box lunches for my office once a month and they are 12.50 each and do not include a cookie. I think 12.99 is a very reasonable price. Of course, I always buy food at the parks so I am used to the prices. I think it was maybe more a sticker shock for those who prepare their own food while at Disney. A set lunch like that at our theme park by us - Valley Fair near Minneapolis cost 15.99 without a drink as well (and is nasty).

Sounds like Disney did the best they could in a no-win situation. Kudos to them and the cast members!

I've never once made my own food at Disney. Usually eat dinner at signatures. I'm used to blown up prices. Is no one Looking at the picture of that box? It is worse then school cafeteria lunch. A normal Disney sandwich like is in most resort quick service or places like sunshine seasons all wrapped up would not be an issue for $13. Plus just not fair for one person to spend $13 on a good looking sub and another to spend the same for two pieces of white bread and 1 piece of lunch meat.

 

[Lehuaann]

We have a room only reservation at the Polynesian starting Tuesday. There's a balance that's due on check in.

Should I pay the balance before we go or are we okay to wait until check in? (I'm wondering if not having the reservation paid in full would make it more likely to lose the room)

The likelihood of losing your room would depend on whether the resort is overbooked, not your balance. You are fine to pay the balance at check-in.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

I'm from Ohio, dont have to worry about too many hurricanes, but I've seen what they can do, I've seen what blizzards can do, just like I would guess you have. Why someone from the north would not think of a hurricane as a summer snow storm baffles me. Maybe in Canada they dont report things like Katrina or other hurricanes and the damage they inflict. If that's the case, then I guess I could see where you would think it was just a little wind and a lotta rain..

I wasn't going to hit reply but - the tone of this post is insulting to me as a Canadian (not sure where the poster you are replying to lives - but as someone who lives 90 minutes from the US border and who has spent countless time in your country from coast to coast) and I'm sure any other Canadians reading this thread.

Not only do we get pretty much every US tv/cable/satellite tv station that you have in the States on our cable & satellite systems - we have many stellar Canadian tv stations that often have more extensive coverage of things in the US like Katrina or Matthew then many Americans in removed areas are seeing.

Our tv reporters have passports & have been known to travel.

 

[sotoalf]

$9 isn't bad for Panera quality. And THAT lunch ain't Panera quality. Furthermore, how many people are stranded at Panera during a hurricane?

Should the power go out, your food will start to spoil soon. You can't use mayonnaise or spreads on sandwiches. In Miami for hurricanes, we're told to buy things like peanut butter that won't spoil. Do you expect burgers or chicken sandwiches? It ain't happening.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Just wanted to say,

Exactly. It's cheaper than a QS lunch or dinner (if you are paying OOP).

Yes, kudos to Disney! Amazing work.

Its actually right on par with the price of an average QS meal. No i didnt go look it up to quote back to you, ha, but I was doing food pricing for our trip next year earlier this week, and the average QS meal cost right around $13.

 

[HopperFan]

I haven't read forward through the thread...but I'm snickering that you were trying to forget about Matthew by going to play Trivia at a place with HURRICANE in its name...

YUP. And our team name was "Florida is Closed".

You must KEEP CALM and HAVE A SENSE OF HUMOR!

Trivia means no phones. Thought I was golden.
What I didn't plan for was one of the sports events getting the boot on a tv for the weather channel....

When my home is sitting 250 yards from the beach in an area where not only the barrier island but the mainland got evacuated ....
Do whatever you can to not drive yourself crazy on the what ifs.
Right now it's on approach my way ..... hoping for it to keep out where it is and just go north (sorry GA/SC).

 

[GPC0321]

Maybe you aren't getting the fact that not everyone knows what a hurricane is all about. Not sure where your from but I'm from Canada and hurricanes are pretty much unheard of. To most of us, we would think its a big wind storm with heavy rain. Buck up, its only water. I know that is what I was thinking when I was caught in Hurricane Kenna way back when in Mexico. I was very surprised at what a hurricane actually was. Also, to think that everyone on vacation is plugged in is wrong. We don't even watch tv when we are away so I would not only be unprepared but out in la la land with a hurricane warning.

As a pp said, if its a snow storm I'm ready. I know what to do and how to prepare. I would guess that there would be lots of people from down south who would think, 'Its just snow. Not going to stop me from going out to dinner'. I had more than a few guests who had that mind set.
Don't think badly of those of us who don't have the knowledge you do. It could be reversed.

Have you never seen national/international news or weather regarding devastation from hurricanes? I mean, even with Matthew, the reports of the devastation in Haiti and impacts in Cuba and the Bahamas should be a pretty big clue what a hurricane is capable of doing.
I just don't get it. Hurricanes have been devastating cities and killing people pretty much forever, and they often make the world news when they do. How can people not know what they're capable of?

 

[ryansstitch]

Should the power go out, your food will start to spoil soon. You can't use mayonnaise or spreads on sandwiches. In Miami for hurricanes, we're told to buy things like peanut butter that won't spoil. Do you expect burgers or chicken sandwiches? It ain't happening.

I wouldn't expect anything beyond basics, but that pricing is taking advantage of people in what could be a crisis.

 

[Number Six]

Really, the radar looked like it was just at that right angle to be getting pounded.. Glad that's not the reality.... yet.. hopefully everyone stays safe..

Nothing yet worse at my house than an intense summer thunderstorm. The beaches here are under mandatory evacs, definitely starting to suck out there.

 

[KimBean]

LOOKS LIKE CSR

TheDisneyTeen Blog ‏@thedisneyteenss 11s11 seconds ago
Still think it was so cool #Disney had characters come visit everyone in line at the Food Court! Thank you cast members

Is this pepper market? Anyone know if things are open at CSR today?

 

[cel_disney]

Yes! I really can't believe it. And no drink at that. First people don't get their vacation (understandable, storms happen), but that would leave a nasty taste in my mouth about staying at a Disney resort again. I've got 2 stays coming up in the next 5 months, and this gives me pause...

As someone staying here - I don't think that you should pause about anything other than making sure to prepare for an emergency! Disney did a pretty GREAT job given the volume of people and ever changing circumstances!