Hurricane Matthew Closes WDW - Reopens Saturday, October 8th

[kandb]

Just to be clear about you assuming things when I have already said otherwise. Disney offered NO other alternative to US AT ALL. Even thought I specially said we will be ok if we needed to move. Which apparently they had since someone said that they were able to booked pop. I love how people always assume Disney is right. We went back to the lobby there was 5 people cancelling and leaving early (today and tomorrow early). And only one person trying to extend. There was multiple upset guest that were told the same thing we did earlier and they were livid as 5 people were canceling leaving tonight. In fact some really nice lady in line that change her flight to leave tonight said we could have her room for tomorrow night that they were refusing to cancel and refund her when she talked to Disney customer service. The manager did take care of her, but she said she will never be coming back after how she was treated.

Thankfully universal on the other hand has been fantastic and just in one call not only they find us a room but went the extra mile and made sure we were giving the rate and discount we have even though it is sold out and a 7 am check in. If we ever consider buying DVC before now for sure we will never will. We have never been in a hotel that has handle the situation so badly. And by the way we were willing to pay whatever rate they wanted as long as they will give us a room.

Just to add I am not saying that they should not move people from campsites they should but they should be able to accommodate all their guest.

I understand your frustration and it seems like Disney is overwhelmed and it seems like they do not have enough rooms for everyone they have to accommodate. The whole situation must be extremely frustrating for all of you involved. Thankfully you were able to find a room.

 

[Irish_Mike]

Over 1000 flights have been cancelled ahead of the storm, with more likely to come.

http://abcnews.go.com/US/airlines-cancel-1000-flights-ahead-hurricane-matthew/story?id=42603031

Even if you are flying in to Orlando later this weekend, give yourself plenty of time as airports will be busy with people attempting to reschedule.

 

[anniemae]

Been reading this post at home here in sunny Sydney Australia.
The comments about being upset about missing a dining reservation and people commenting because they can't fly they will drive down, I find quite ridiculous.
Are u people serious. Why on earth would you want to be anywhere near where a hurricane is heading.
Surely safety is more important than being at wdw.
It seems absurd people are still trying to get down there, if this thing hits , imagine the damage ect, surely Wdw doesn't need more people descending on it at this time, Disney should be advising people to stay home.
thats my opinion anyhow.

I thought the same thing. Some people are insistent on getting there (not just here, on fb too) and I have to say I am a little surprised. It's different if the storm is hitting in the middle of your trip and you are already there. In that case, I would probably stick it out. If I was currently at Disney and scheduled to leave for home on Fri or Sat, I would try to get out before. I can't understand staying in the path of a hurricane to sit in your hotel room and wait to go home.

I think some people think it will just be a day of rain and wind and then all will be fine the next day. I don't think people realize the impact this could have and how the area could be devastated for days or weeks afterwards. Power could be out, airport shut down, roads impassable etc. I was in FL shortly after Hurricane Andrew hit Miami and I could not believe the devastation. It took months and months to get things back to semi-normal. I believe that was a Cat 5, so it was much worse, but still.

Yet I also understand the flip side. Disney trips are expensive, require tons of planning, many are booked a year in advance, fp and adr's are booked months in advance, time is taken off work etc. It's not easy to just switch to another date. So I get it that people are grasping at straws and trying to convince themselves they can get there safely and it will all be good by Saturday. I hope that is the case and that it has little impact on the area.

 

[*MomTo2Princesses*]

I think post #559 now includes the posted policy from Disney on refunds. I think the lines will be long ... imagine many with cars and feeling they can get home will leave in morning.

Thank you. He went to the lobby and was told they can't do anything for them because they are on the dining plan? The front desk also told them business would be as usual Friday and that "the winds would die down before it got here."

 

[kandb]

Has anyone attempted to cancel their hotel reservation online? I have the option to do so on my MDE account but am concerned that I won't get my deposit refunded if I don't talk to someone directly. I am currently on hold and it says that the wait time is "more than 60 minutes".

I would cancel on line and send an email to guest services requesting your deposit, which will be dated. I am sure you will get refunded. Why wait over an hour on the phone when an email is sufficient.

 

[Qwackertoo]

We rode the boat from Port Orleans to Downtown Disney back in 2004 after multiple hurricanes and WOW the damage and downed trees . .. seeing it up close & personal.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Canceled:
MNSSHP has been canceled for tomorrow, Thursday, October 6th.
Guests can call 407 566 4985 for more info.

 

[ErinsMommy]

I live how it is not bad costumer service when they accommodate people in the campsites but people on hotel room too bad app sad that makes sense ...

You keep saying bad customer service but even according to you, your scheduled to depart Disney Thursday anyway to go to Universal -- checkout time is noon I think. You can leave and still make it to your new resort without storm effects or minimal effects. Why do yuu want Disney to keep you an extra night when there's no need for it other than you may be your just wanting to stay an extra night? It's not like Disney is telling you to leave your room a day early.

 

[BigAlsGal]

Been reading this post at home here in sunny Sydney Australia.
The comments about being upset about missing a dining reservation and people commenting because they can't fly they will drive down, I find quite ridiculous.
Are u people serious. Why on earth would you want to be anywhere near where a hurricane is heading.
Surely safety is more important than being at wdw.
It seems absurd people are still trying to get down there, if this thing hits , imagine the damage ect, surely Wdw doesn't need more people descending on it at this time, Disney should be advising people to stay home.
thats my opinion anyhow.

I can't imagine either really. It's just a bad idea. People are trying to get out! You're that fool going in guns ablaze! Literally "going to Disney come hell or high water!"

I might consider it for half a second and then logic and reason would punch me in the face and tell me what a terrible idea I just had.

It's going to be a mess and people are acting like this is just an afternoon Florida shower.

 

[NS8VN]

I don't know if anybody is a fan of Justin Scarred on Youtube, but he has been at a cabin in FW. They moved him to POP and he has been in line for over 3 hours to check in. As he puts it (in his typical attempt to be cheerful), it is the only line at WDW that is longer than FEA. He will be there through the storm so should have some videos from the next few days available when he is able to upload them.

Best of luck to him and everyone there through this!

 

[hiroMYhero]

Please keep comments centered around Hurricane Updates.

Arguing about other guests' frustrations does not help with planning for those who need info regarding the next few days in Florida.

 

[TwoMisfits]

I can't imagine either really. It's just a bad idea. People are trying to get out! You're that fool going in guns ablaze! Literally "going to Disney come hell or high water!"

I might consider it for half a second and then logic and reason would punch me in the face and tell me what a terrible idea I just had.

It's going to be a mess and people are acting like this is just an afternoon Florida shower.

Agreed - every family member I have in the hurricane's path (Melbourne, Orlando, Charleston) have all evacuated to western areas. These people have lived through storms and are leaving b/c they can't imagine putting their kids through the hours and hours of this storm followed by the possible aftermath - they know this one, if it comes close to predictions, is no joke.

We have a saying in my family - stuff is replaceable, people aren't. Disney trips fall firmly in the stuff side - you can always go again, especially since every part of the trip is refundable at this point for almost everyone.

 

[ErinsMommy]

DS received email from Disney that their event at Wide World of Sports on Saturday has been cancelled.

They already decided not to go, but it is a sign they are slowly cancelling some things.




- Disney Dream is stuck at sea. All those guests that would have gotten off and flown home will have missed their flights. Disney needs to put them up until they can get on the next flight. They are Disney's current guests and the change in the cruise plan has impacted them.

- The 7th cruise was cancelled, today. Am sure there were folks already there, in their hotels planning to take the Cruise bus. They are now having to arrange a way home. They are Disney guests and were to be their guests on the 7th.

- Disney has guests in a campground surrounded by water and full of trees. DANGEROUS. These folks must be moved to safety as well those in the water bungalows and in treehouses. I think it's safe to say all guests that are being moved have current reservations that Disney is honoring.

- INCOMING guests tomorrow that have reservations paid for absolutely should have their room held for them.

- From what it reads the poster who is upset was scheduled to check out tomorrow. They do not have a reservation. They asked to stay longer. Disney "had no rooms for them when they were asking" and they were upset. Now it may be they just couldn't stay in their room or their hotel or didn't want to stay somewhere offered or for a price of something else. I don't know, but I don't think Disney wouldn't have offered them a room somewhere if they had one .........

- If you were scheduled to check out tomorrow and made no adjustments to your reservation when they did have rooms, it would be logical that you would check out.

- We are responsible for taking care of ourselves on vacation. This storm didn't show up yesterday, we've known for days, ever since it turned north that it was potentially going to be a big impact. At that moment, I would have immediately booked a room for a couple nights. If you didn't book a room when they were available, then you need to book a room offsite which the poster did. I don't understand why someone who is not a guest on the books should get a room and a guest that is should sleep on a cot?

Great post

 

[allymouse]

We changed our Friday AM flight to tomorrow at 2:30pm. All we could get. Hope we can get out.

I feel terrible saying this considering everything Haiti and others have been through, but I am so devastated to cut our trip short. Planned for 11 months.

Disney is awesome - we have two one-day park hoppers we can use anytime with no expiration.

 

[Irish_Mike]

For those who are staying in resorts that aren't contained to one building (Value and Moderates, Saratoga Springs, OKW, etc), I'd suggest going and getting some some basics in the morning - including food and some bottled beverages. Even if you can't make it off property, a trip to the quick service locations on property will at least give you some items to keep you indoors through the storm.

Also, anticipate for most hotel restaurants to fill up quickly over the next 48 hours. Be mindful and respectful of all your fellow guests, and especially the cast members in place.

 

[Boopuff]

My DD (the CM) was told that she is to call the "hotline" before reporting for work each day throughout the storm. As of now (Wednesday) she's to report to work tomorrow.
As far as getting a room, extending etc... All the reservations are handled through and off-site reservation center. Even the front desk CM can't override the 'system'.
Hoping everyone will stay safe!

 

[Atilley]

Thank you. He went to the lobby and was told they can't do anything for them because they are on the dining plan? The front desk also told them business would be as usual Friday and that "the winds would die down before it got here."

We just left fort wilderness today. I don't know if it's different because we would have to be relocated either way but we were originally told we would be credited the unused nights at the resort and unused ticket days. When we checked out we were not credited and was told because we were under a package we would have to call the Disney travel company to get reimbursed. I think this may be one of those issues Kevin talks about that the different parts of Disney do not communicate. The ones we need to talk to had a message that they closed at 5 so we will be calling first thing in the morning. I will not be happy if I am not reimbursed as I was originally told.

 

[bumbershoot]

If people are in driving distance of Orlando, they might very well be in an area that's going to get hit at home too. And if someone is flying they might have their own reasons. I doubt people from elsewhere are not taking it seriously. People always take "other" weather more seriously than their own.

But all this talk is making me nervous for my relatives in Daytona!

Just to add I am not saying that they should not move people from campsites they should but they should be able to accommodate all their guest.

There are only so many rooms, though.

Why would you stay longer?

Because you can't get out?

On the other hand, fear can make people seemly more aggressive/abrasive to cover for their lack of control over events they can't change (i.e. weather).

Great point.

And it might very well be something to keep in mind in regards to CMs. They might very well be scared as well.

 

[BuckeyeBama]

I am going to front my below comment by saying I am not belittling a hurricane, that there is much more than just wind and I hope everyone is safe.

I have to lol a little at 50-60mph wind. For us that's 97kmh- Wellington wouldn't even get a wind warning for that.
We have gusts exceeding 75kmh 175 days a year average, 233 last year.
With our largest recorded at 248kmh.

Thank god we don't get the heavy rain to go with it.

Not sure where you live, but you are welcome to it.

 

[HopperFan]

For those who are staying in resorts that aren't contained to one building (Value and Moderates, Saratoga Springs, OKW, etc), I'd suggest going and getting some some basics in the morning - including food and some bottled beverages. Even if you can't make it off property, a trip to the quick service locations on property will at least give you some items to keep you indoors through the storm.

Also, anticipate for most hotel restaurants to fill up quickly over the next 48 hours. Be mindful and respectful of all your fellow guests, and especially the cast members in place.

And to explain why .......... during the brunt of the storm you will be instructed to stay in your room. You will not be permitted to walk around the resort, go to the food court ... nothing but stay in your room and wait instructions. So this post is very important to listen to.