Hurricane Matthew Closes WDW - Reopens Saturday, October 8th

[kandb]

I'm trying to cancel my resort reservation (oct 6-10) but can't get through!

They are letting people cancel and giving refunds. I suggest emailing guest services since you cannot get thru via phone. To be honest, I am sure Disney would rather people email for a situation like yours then call since they seem to be overwhelmed.

 

[Ndusmama]

Really unsure of what to do. We are supposed to be arriving at Disney at 9:30pm at MCO on Southwest on Friday night. We already moved that from a Wednesday flight a few days ago back when it looked things would blow over by Friday afternoon. Now that looks like a slim chance. We've considered moving arrival date to Monday, as there are no more flights Saturday or Sunday, but that would mean giving up a much promised and awaited Akershus character breakfast since I doubt we can reschedule that. Hate to give up a chunk of our trip when things might change and it might work out to fly Friday.

Does anyone know if Southwest will let you change a ticket date after they've cancelled it? Afraid the new ones on Monday will be much more expensive than the ones we bought months ago. Also, what happens if I can't get through to Disney on Friday to change the reservation dates? Is that money just lost? I just don't know what to do.

On my first visit to wdw I was so disappointed in BOG I walked over to cinderellas table and asked what to do and if they could help. They told me they could usually find same day reservations if you were flexible. So that's one thing. Another is. Would imagine a lot of people canceling a day or two before. If you have touringplans.com account you can request reservations for specific restaurants at specific times and when what you want opens up they will text you. I have done this and gotten reservations. Personally making reservations 6 months out is insane to me but I'm a Disneyland fan morehan wdw.

Edited: so if your concern is getting a reservation and giving up one, I personally wouldn't worry. Food and reservations are a minor concern. Family is more important. But what you really have to ask yourself is do you really want to go somewhere immediately after or during a major event like a hurricane?

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Really unsure of what to do. We are supposed to be arriving at Disney at 9:30pm at MCO on Southwest on Friday night. We already moved that from a Wednesday flight a few days ago back when it looked things would blow over by Friday afternoon. Now that looks like a slim chance. We've considered moving arrival date to Monday, as there are no more flights Saturday or Sunday, but that would mean giving up a much promised and awaited Akershus character breakfast since I doubt we can reschedule that. Hate to give up a chunk of our trip when things might change and it might work out to fly Friday.

Does anyone know if Southwest will let you change a ticket date after they've cancelled it? Afraid the new ones on Monday will be much more expensive than the ones we bought months ago. Also, what happens if I can't get through to Disney on Friday to change the reservation dates? Is that money just lost? I just don't know what to do.

You can most likely rebook without additional charge. See here: https://www.southwest.com/html/advisories/swa_travel_advisory_20168281475106509419.html

(Sorry Ndusmama! Accidentally quoted you before correcting my post.)

 

[Tiggerette]

For newbies on-site a few reminders below. Knowledgable folk please feel welcome to correct anything that might be mis-spoken:

Just a quick reminder that when you call "front desk" from your hotel room, you're not actually being directed to the front desk of your resort. If you have any questions or concerns specifically for your resort, it's better to go to the front desk. The lines there might be significant considering the changes due to the storm. If general questions, you could use the "front desk" number.

Also, be wary of the pizza delivery inserts popped under your door. Sometimes these aren't actual companies, but places that act like a real company. They'll take your financial info and never deliver anything. I would avoid using companies that put a flyer under your door. Disney has it's own pizza in-room delivery. On the meal plan, Disney pizza delivery costs two table service credits and includes gratuity. I don't know when delivery service will end thursday while the storm passes through overnight.

 

[ravenclawtrekkie]

Well, I really wish I were packing up my car and heading north right about now! My HOA slipped letters under everyone's doors today warning us that the streets will likely be impassable and we should expect to have no power for at least a few days.

 

[Ndusmama]

And to add on - get some food and drinks that won't need refrigeration or heating capabilities (even if you have a resort fridge/kitchen) - you can't count on having power. Think shelf-stable fresh fruit/vegs (apples, clementines, bananas, baby carrots should all be around), peanut butter, jelly single serve packs, bagels or bread, oatmeal packets, cereal boxes, muffins, popcorn, nuts, juice boxes, starbucks single serve beverages (if you need coffee), chips or sweets as comfort food, bottled water, etc. A 24 pack of bottled water is $16 at AoA and might be the best $16 you'll spend in Disney.

Can I add get a deck of cards or another game or two. Maybe a puzzle, some crayons, and paper. Cause hungry kids and bored kids are not fun stuck in a room.

 

[FeralCatRogue]

Dominos will also deliver past midnight for people who had to last minute change to the lobby of those in Pop! or AOA. Unsure about other ones. Ended up getting in late learnt that when my flight was MAJORLY delayed, if you do get one of those fliers the front desk when they warned me told me to bring it too them if i ever got any.

 

[Zim]

JetBlue is starting to email cancellations. My flight landing in MCO at 1pm has just been cancelled. Not sure if anyone has mentioned JetBlue yet.

 

[skuttle]

They are letting people cancel and giving refunds. I suggest emailing guest services since you cannot get thru via phone. To be honest, I am sure Disney would rather people email for a situation like yours then call since they seem to be overwhelmed.

What email address should I use? All I'm finding is phone numbers.

 

[Sammie]

We are at SSR right now. Does anyone know if Disney will bring supplies to the separate buildings? If we cannot leave for 24 hours or so, what do we do to eat? There are no instructions so far, and I am a bit concerned about eating. We usually stay in a single building hotel, and I can see how that would be ok, but somewhere like this where the restaurant and CS is more than a 5 minute walk from our room is concerning me.

No, and actually even in the single building hotels, food is limited. You will need to be self sufficient for that time with food, etc. Make sure you have a flashlight too and maybe a board game to occupy the time. If the power does not go out, during hurricane Charley, they played nonstop Disney movies on TV.

 

[mswhittaker]

Well, took several hours and a lot of stress, but we have moved our trip from this weekend to next weekend. Not much availability next weekend though without a significant price increase but I am glad we didn't have to pay a difference in airfare and we actually saved a little bit on the Disney piece because our daughter dropped out and can't go with us next week. Phew.

 

[wilkeliza]

Dominos will also deliver past midnight for people who had to last minute change to the lobby of those in Pop! or AOA. Unsure about other ones. Ended up getting in late learnt that when my flight was MAJORLY delayed, if you do get one of those fliers the front desk when they warned me told me to bring it too them if i ever got any.

Dominos will not be delivering during the active storm or if roads are at an impass. It is a great suggestion when not dealing with tropical storm strength winds.

To those on property I would get a case of water at the hotel and some nonperishables. Enough for at least half a day. Not sure how long the storm will be active and hopefully it passes over night but you can never really be sure. Standard prep is 5 days but that's for a house so I'd do half a day to a full day at the hotel.

 

[Tuffcookie]

Well, our flight from Tennessee was just canceled. Looks like we're going to Rent-A-Car to drive down and try to get some time in the parks Saturday and Sunday and then take a returning flight back on Monday. We already have a nonrefundable Hotel, rental car and return flight so we might as well get down there and try to do what we can.

Also to mention we were flying out of a smaller airport between Nashville and Atlanta (about 3 hours drive from home) bc the airfare was about $80 less per ticket and there are 5 of us... they didn't have any other flights we could have taken earlier. Just the one. So we are going to drive down there and rent the car out of that airport and then take the flight home we originally booked. (They were separate one way flights)

I hope you will re-think this plan! This does not sound like an enjoyable trip and it will be full of stress and, quite possibly, cost you your life! Stay safe!

TC

 

[xipotec]

To my friends as DIS,

I witnessed first hand the incredible devestation in Homestead FL after Hurricane Andrew.....I am a survivor. To this day I can still see and feel everything like it was yesterday.

PLEASE DO NOT MESS AROUND WITH THIS STORM!

If anyone here is toying with the notion of heading toward the coast to check out the storm...DO NOT DO IT!!!!

I know there will be people looking for that great video to post....after all you could be there in about 40 minutes.....but you will be risking your life and they lives of those that would attempt to save you. Listen to all the instructions from staff, do not venture outside for ANY REASON during the storm. Flying debris will be lethal. That picture is not worth it. Please help spread the word to anyone considering going out into this storm.

Category 4 is a very real probablily after reading tonights 11pm update....and although WDW will be inland and slighlty less impacted than the coast, it still will be a VERY DANGEROUS situation.....

The storm will gain strength over the next 12 hours, and peak just as it comes near Melbourne Fl. The overall strength will weaken the furthur inland you go, but slight devations of the track could alter this in a profound way. There is very little upper level shear to stop its development. The coupled with the unusually warm water suggest a high probability of a Cat 4.

Stay away from the coast....

Please stay safe.......

We do not need pics of the storm on DISBOARDS when you are putting your life at risk to do it!!!!!!!

 

[rteetz]

Tropical Storm Nicole is strengthening in the Atlantic and could become a Hurricane. Will be interesting to see if this affects Matthew or the Florida area.

 

[DLM1980]

No, and actually even in the single building hotels, food is limited. You will need to be self sufficient for that time with food, etc. Make sure you have a flashlight too and maybe a board game to occupy the time. If the power does not go out, during hurricane Charley, they played nonstop Disney movies on TV.

So as I walk into Old Port Royale I watch families leave with bags and bags of snacks. I'm thinking omg the money Disney is taking in right now. CM trying to tell people not to worry they will have plenty of food.

I guess it's a good thing at the start of my trip I kept refilling the orange juice containers I got with breakfast with my gold peak white citrus tea from my mug to have in the morning when I get out of bed


And here I am thinking I need to get me another one of the puzzles that I won't be able to ever put together just to have something to do Friday.

 

[andyman8]

Decisions on final park hours for tomorrow will come tomorrow morning I'm being told. Hearing that there is a possibility of an early closure of the Disney Parks (sometime between 2 and 4pm), but they really don't want to do that. Check back tomorrow.

 

[oldgrandad]

agree with xipotec. there are, actually, very FEWnwho have posted mon this board who havfe experienced a true Cat 4 hurricane. If this thing stays over mwater, it is one thing. If it hits directly near Orlando and goes inland, the results will be catastrophic. I lived through Rita and Katrina a fewe years ago. There is a huge diffenence in the destructive power of a 2, 3, or 4 hurricane. Take care of you and yours and make intelligent decisions that affect your loved ones. Fastpasses, dinner reservations, and touring plans are ridiculously small things to get worked up about.

 

[wilkeliza]

agree with xipotec. there are, actually, very FEWnwho have posted mon this board who havfe experienced a true Cat 4 hurricane. If this thing stays over mwater, it is one thing. If it hits directly near Orlando and goes inland, the results will be catastrophic. I lived through Rita and Katrina a fewe years ago. There is a huge diffenence in the destructive power of a 2, 3, or 4 hurricane. Take care of you and yours and make intelligent decisions that affect your loved ones. Fastpasses, dinner reservations, and touring plans are ridiculously small things to get worked up about.

I grew up in Houston and experience enough storm to know to never treat any storm like a joke. It doesn't even need to be a Cat 4 to be catastrophic. Katrina was originally a 3 when it made land fall in Lousiana and look what it was able to do. I don't think Ike was a 4 or 5 either. If an area hasn't seen a true hurricane in years even a 1 can be catastrophic.

 

[HopperFan]

Anyone who has been in parks know they don't do well with water, especially MK and DHS.
Potential 7" in Orlando. With 70+ mph wind. That is not safe.


Madeline Evans ‏@MadelineNews6 12 minutes ago

New update brings torrential downpours to most of Central FL. Expecting 5-9" of rain in the next 48hrs #news6