Hurricane Matthew Closes WDW - Reopens Saturday, October 8th

[HopperFan]

I'm also going into this storm with personal experience in hurricanes and being at disney in them. I would pick disney as the place to ride out the storm or some situation like extended power outages after it if needed. I don't live more than a couple miles from property. Disney has a strong history of buildings built for much worse storms, fast cleanup and keeping the power on.. Anything is possible but be prepared to be in the room a day or two with proper supplies and food and this is just a bump. The reward of lower crowds after it generally makes up for the lost time and cost of just being there..

Where I am concerned is this is my first storm in this rental house. I just have more unknowns that back where I us live, I knew exactly when it wasn't safe to be there and time to go somewhere.

Speaking of "fun". I just happened to have some pizza and stuff coming from nyc on thursday..

My past experience was if my home was safe and I could safely travel, get to disney. I feel safe at disney but nhas to make up their mind.. I have 2 trips during or after a hurricane and 2 near misses under my belt, I love disney in the storms.

Disney is a safe place to be in a hurricane and my S FL friends evac to it .................... I don't see any problem being there if you don't mind being asked to stay in your room a few hours, lots and lots of rain in the parks, and closed outdoor rides.

The problem I see is TRAVELING. Driving can be just plain dangerous in the storm from debris, flooding, hurricane and tornado issues. Flying can be full of delays and cancellations and way too much time in an airport. I have traveled in hurricanes, it is not the same as being in the hurricane stationary.

It depends on what a person is willing to endure during a VACATION. I cancelled. Driving in during it, pouring rain for two days, maybe my Halloween party cancelled ......... that is a ruined vacation so I will wait. It's less about any fear of the storm (although some fear is good) but rather a trip ruined by weather.

 

[Geoff_M]

anyone got an updated cone?

This graphic is dynamic, NOAA will update the GIF:

 

[Leia's Mom]

We are scheduled to land in Orlando at 8 p.m. tomorrow night. I'm just going to wait until tonight to make any calls. As everyone says, hurricanes are unpredictable. We'll just have to see how it plays out. Not happy to lose the trip, but feeling very fortunate not to be someone in Haiti who perhaps lost a home for this.

 

[HopperFan]

I'm expecting OCPS to cancel school in Orange Co for tomorrow and Friday.

Interesting that Georgia coastal schools cancelled today on so folks could evac and it's still days away. DS is supposed to take a team to Disney tomorrow ........ coaches think they should cancel going, I mean they are the ones responsible for all these kids. Administration wants to wait to see if UCF closes ..................

 

[Grym]

video of Hurricane Matthew aftermath from Baracoa Cuba from a National Geographic Photographer.



https://twitter.com/MikeTheiss/status/783667725436465152?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

 

[yulilin3]

I would like to take a moment and just point out that if you are already here, visiting the area or if you are arriving today,tomorrow or even Friday remember that all the Cast Members that are working have family and friends here in the Central Florida area. They will be working to make your stay as magical as ever but they will also probably be concerned for the safety of their loved ones. If we get hit with a strong storm and you, as a guest are frightened or just upset about your vacation being ruined, don't take it out on the CM. Follow their instructions and don't give anyone a hard time. I say this generally because even though I know that most of us on this thread value the CM a lot I know that in times of crisis it's easy to forget that CM are people with family and property here too, and they have to put on a happy face for all of you

 

[yulilin3]

Interesting that Georgia coastal schools cancelled today on so folks could evac and it's still days away. DS is supposed to take a team to Disney tomorrow ........ coaches think they should cancel going, I mean they are the ones responsible for all these kids. Administration wants to wait to see if UCF closes ..................

OCPS is notorious for dragging their feet oon these decisions. A new update is supposed to come at noon.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

PLEASE don't pay attention the amateur wishcasters on this message board. Listen to the local Orlando news http://www.wftv.com/, NHC or the weather channel for current accurate info. Make informed decisions to keep you and your family safe.

 

[nikapluto]

Just as a heads up. After being on hold for an hour with Disney:
The Magical Express will be running as long as it is "safe". That is their policy. If for whatever reason they stop running they recommend calling city checker 407-422-2222 or Transstar 407-888-5530 . As of this moment even with the warning there is no word that they would stop running the busses but this is something to think about if you are flying in or out of Orlando in the next 48 hours.

 

[Accident]

If anyone wants to hear more of what's going on locally...

http://www.clickorlando.com/live/news-6-watch-live-now

note: it will look like hte video is broken if they aren't reporting anything but once or twice an hour they break into it with up to the minute updates and the lunchtime news is about to start so the entire news program will be streamed when that starts soon.. Just leave it sitting in the background and you'll hear when they have something to say.

 

[mmbrad02]

I know nobody can see what is truly going to happen, but is anyone concerned about trips starting next week? We are scheduled to fly in on Sunday (from Kentucky, direct flight). We have tossed around that wherever our plane is coming from could be delayed, we understand that. But I was curious to know if anyone else is starting their trip after the initial brunt of this storm is supposed to hit, and what your thoughts are... if you are keeping, cancelling, etc.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Interesting that Georgia coastal schools cancelled today on so folks could evac and it's still days away. DS is supposed to take a team to Disney tomorrow ........ coaches think they should cancel going, I mean they are the ones responsible for all these kids. Administration wants to wait to see if UCF closes ..................

CM friend is supposed to fly from MCO to Atlanta on Friday for a Disney Store reopening. If the team makes it to Atlanta, is it safe to assume Atlanta and suburbs won't be greatly affected by Matthew?

 

[boomgoesthemickey]

I'm actually rather amused at the two sides in the thread. There are a few doomsday folks on one side saying it's going to be akin to Armageddon and everyone should stay far, far away. You risk life and limb by going (well, maybe no one has said that but they've been VERY alarming)
And the other side sees a 24, maybe 48 hour window where it's going to be dicey but in no way a harm to be there. Could even be called fun
Seems to be very little in between.
I've ridden out a hurricane and am not going in to this trip blind. I also know to only read limited sources for it. The same type of "alarmist doomsday folks" run some of the weather sites too. Sure does increase their hits, doesn't it. Makes you wonder....

video of Hurricane Matthew aftermath from Baracoa Cuba from a National Geographic Photographer.



https://twitter.com/MikeTheiss/status/783667725436465152?ref_src=twsrc^tfw

Really puts into perspective where a cancelled or post poned disney trip sits in the grand scheme of things

 

[Geoff_M]

PLEASE don't pay attention the amateur wishcasters on this message board. Listen to the local Orlando news http://www.wftv.com/, NHC or the weather channel for current accurate info. Make informed decisions to keep you and your family safe.

I agree with your recommendation, but for what it's worth even the video report on the link you provided mentioned that the dynamics of the storm significantly changed with NOAA's 11 AM update versus their last update.

 

[im4pacers1]

Well we were able to get a flight out tomorrow morning so that is what we are going to do. I'm not concerned for our safety but I don't want to get stuck here either. It's going to rain for the rest of the trip and if we are stuck in the room, I'd rather be home. I'm extremely bummed, but what can you do? This morning, the contemporary front desk told me that the will only refund the room, not the dining or park tickets. I would take a credit for future, but they're saying no.

 

[dawne98]

Just want to let you know I am in the Orlando area and everyone phones are going off with warning more and more County are going under tropical storm or hurricane warnings....

 

[mdb78]

So down here in south FL a meteorologist from the local news posted this on fb. I like loops in roller coasters, but not hurricanes. Hope it doesn't do this!

https://www.facebook.com/video.php?v=1127489833985824

 

[cloudnut220]

Well, we are supposed fly in on Friday early evening from Baltimore on Southwest. I'm really concerned that we won't get in, and once Southwest starts cancelling flights, the domino effect is just out of control and no one gets anywhere for days. We were only coming for the holiday weekend, so I'm worried this will all be a bust. Luckily I talked to DVC member services this AM, and they said that they will be flexible with refunding points that members can't use because of flight issues. There won't be any getting $$$ back for Food and Wine events though.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

if it gets to the point where the DME buses stop running, it's likely there will be a warning to stay off the roads. although they may get to a point when the wind is just too high for buses. If that occurs, then it does follow that one would have to find alternate transportation.

I've already read on the boards at least two persons who say they got refunds on food & wine events. The most you can do is call WDW-DINE and ask. If you had the dining plan, no, they probably aren't going to refund unused dining credits. Use them for snacks to take with you.

 

[HarleenQ]

Best wishes to all there now and over the weekend. We're sticking to our plan to fly out of PHL on Wed., Oct 12 with a possible modification of our plan for a grocery stop at Publix on the way to Board Walk. Regarding that possible 'loop', it looks like by Mon the 10th. Matthew will barely be a cat 1 and will be well away from the coast. We'll see.

Bill From PA

That's reassuring. We come in the 16th - sounds like it should be business as usual by that point.