Hurricane Matthew Closes WDW - Reopens Saturday, October 8th

[HopperFan]

To those thinking about driving in to it ..................................... or even leaving that will need to stop.

Been shared that many hotels along I-75 in Georgia south of Atlanta are fully booked, Macon is booked .......... these are folks who evacuated from the coast.

 

[LivingforDisney]

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

I reckon, why would you attempt this?

 

[OhhBother]

We're at Saratoga Springs in a 2 bedroom and a studio. We're supposed to leave Saturday but are assuming we'll be here longer. We live on the coast of South Carolina, and our counties are being evacuated for impact there Saturday night. We don't really have a choice other than to stay here. So we'll ride out the storm here. We just made a Publix run and bought bread, peanut butter and jelly, bottled water, chips, etc.

I've been on the phone with multiple Disney people about extending our stay but was told I have to do that tomorrow -- that they're doing it on a day by day basis and they'll get to us later since we have a room through Saturday morning. They did assure us we'll have a place to stay.

 

[Roythe13th]

Thus, the "almost everyone"...it is unfortunate Hotwire is not refunding anyone...that may not serve them well for future business...

I got a non refundable Hotwire reservation at the Extended Stay by Sea World from Wednesday October 5th to Tuesday the 11th. I called last night and just mentioned the hurricane and the whole stay was refunded. The CS agent said it was up to the hotel, not Hotwire to refund in this situation. And she called the extended stay and the refund was no hassle. I'm planning on driving down Saturday if the damage isn't terrible and the storm doesn't circle back. I'm wondering if Disney will refund my Monday MNSSHP tickets if my whole trip is canceled for the hurricane. I should have waited to buy the party tix like I did for HHN.

 

[FeralCatRogue]

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.

I should clarify that I in no way meant to call them during the storm.

 

[HopperFan]

I know many of us sound all doom and gloom but we have been through this, we have family whose lives were altered by these like Andrew and we know it's so much more than wind and rain. It's like things movies are made of. I've been trapped in blizzards, hurricanes, tornado storms (I'm a magnet) and take in stride but appreciate the danger.

I have a home 250 yards from the beach. I was supposed to be there tonight and then I was heading to Disney. I decided it wasn't worth it. No vacation, no trip, nothing was worth it. It's not just the stinky weather but the danger from flooding (flash too), wind, debris flying, downed wires, contaminated water, debris in the road, no gas, highways that look like parking lots and honestly when it all gets jammed up the ugly in people comes out.

I am sitting here glued to the tv all day, sick thinking about my home. Visualizing 8' plus storm surges (my first floor is ground level). Not just the barrier is mandatory evac but they just announced mainland has to evac back into the center of the state. Every hotel along 75 in north FL will be fully booked.

While I won't know for days what has happened to my home and everything in it (much of it new, some family pieces of furniture, art my kids made etc) ............ they are things.

I will know that my family is safe.

If you aren't there, don't go. If you are there, be careful.

Off to hopefully sleep and would love to wake up and find that bad boy turned hard right...

 

[Aryn]

The only experience I have with a hurricane was in 04 with Jeanne. We had to drive back to Atlanta following the storm because my husband needed to get back to work. I would never do it again. The rain was terrible. So bad in fact that we actually burned out the motor in the wipers and had to replace it. Stay safe and inside!

 

[andyman8]

I know many of us sound all doom and gloom but we have been through this, we have family whose lives were altered by these like Andrew and we know it's so much more than wind and rain. It's like things movies are made of. I've been trapped in blizzards, hurricanes, tornado storms (I'm a magnet) and take in stride but appreciate the danger.

I have a home 250 yards from the beach. I was supposed to be there tonight and then I was heading to Disney. I decided it wasn't worth it. No vacation, no trip, nothing was worth it. It's not just the stinky weather but the danger from flooding (flash too), wind, debris flying, downed wires, contaminated water, debris in the road, no gas, highways that look like parking lots and honestly when it all gets jammed up the ugly in people comes out.

I am sitting here glued to the tv all day, sick thinking about my home. Visualizing 8' plus storm surges (my first floor is ground level). Not just the barrier is mandatory evac but they just announced mainland has to evac back into the center of the state. Every hotel along 75 in north FL will be fully booked.

While I won't know for days what has happened to my home and everything in it (much of it new, some family pieces of furniture, art my kids made etc) ............ they are things.

I will know that my family is safe.

If you aren't there, don't go. If you are there, be careful.

Off to hopefully sleep and would love to wake up and find that bad boy turned hard right...

These are the type of poststhat make me wish we had a "LOVE" button! Amen!

Stay safe everybody! Please listen to the FL authorities and their advice. While I know many dismiss it as sensationalist, local news is also good to keep an eye on. In this case, they're not overstating the risks. Please listen and stay safe! Thoughts and prayers to all.

 

[Irish_Mike]

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

It's definitely gotten a lot worse the past 24 hours.

Keeping everyone in the area in my thoughts the next couple days, and as has been stated before, please everyone stay safe and sheltered.

 

[Jonathan Shearon]

I know many of us sound all doom and gloom but we have been through this, we have family whose lives were altered by these like Andrew and we know it's so much more than wind and rain. It's like things movies are made of. I've been trapped in blizzards, hurricanes, tornado storms (I'm a magnet) and take in stride but appreciate the danger.

I have a home 250 yards from the beach. I was supposed to be there tonight and then I was heading to Disney. I decided it wasn't worth it. No vacation, no trip, nothing was worth it. It's not just the stinky weather but the danger from flooding (flash too), wind, debris flying, downed wires, contaminated water, debris in the road, no gas, highways that look like parking lots and honestly when it all gets jammed up the ugly in people comes out.

I am sitting here glued to the tv all day, sick thinking about my home. Visualizing 8' plus storm surges (my first floor is ground level). Not just the barrier is mandatory evac but they just announced mainland has to evac back into the center of the state. Every hotel along 75 in north FL will be fully booked.

While I won't know for days what has happened to my home and everything in it (much of it new, some family pieces of furniture, art my kids made etc) ............ they are things.

I will know that my family is safe.

If you aren't there, don't go. If you are there, be careful.

Off to hopefully sleep and would love to wake up and find that bad boy turned hard right...

I got a good reality check from my son tonight when I raised the possibility of our trip possibly being canceled due to the hurricane hitting Florida. I expected tears and foot stomping, but instead his immediate response was a panicked "Oh no! Are the people there going to be ok?!"


It's humbling as a grownup to get so hyper-focused on "the plan" and saving your vacation only to have your 11 year-old worry about the important stuff and slap you back into reality.

 

[book_junkie]

It's gotten worse in the last 4 hours- every update seems to bring it closer to shore, and closer to WDW. Honestly, stay put or delay until Saturday at the earliest.
My relatives in Florida Hospital system are being sent home as of noon Thursday unless they're essential, then it's 3 pm unless they're ER or on call and having to staff the hospitals.
I have friends in Orlando who have booked rooms at Disney and Universal for Thursday-Saturday to ride out he storms rather than their apartments.
And each update is bringing it closer to the east coast. Honestly, no vacation is worth it.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Just FYI, the next National Hurricane Center public advisories on storm track/etc. come out at 2am (intermediate advisory) and 5am (complete advisory) Eastern, available here: http://www.nhc.noaa.gov/

 

[NGavush]

I got a non refundable Hotwire reservation at the Extended Stay by Sea World from Wednesday October 5th to Tuesday the 11th. I called last night and just mentioned the hurricane and the whole stay was refunded. The CS agent said it was up to the hotel, not Hotwire to refund in this situation.

Thanks for that tidbit. I've managed to cancel our rental cars and will try to cancel the hotel tomorrow. Hopefully we can get the airfare for Monday back too.

We've decided not to go... we may head up to kings island in OH or Dollywood here in TN or something to soften the blow tho it requires a complete wardrobe change. Will figure it out tomorrow.

 

[Keels]

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!!!!!!!

Until you've walked out of a center-building bathroom, after spending 20-plus hours stuck under a mattress in a bathtub, only to find that it's the only room with standing studs (but no roof), please do not talk about Hurricane Andrew.

This is NOT Andrew. Andrew was a tighter storm that actually crossed a narrower portion of Florida - Matthew is a larger wind-based system that is just "cruising" up the coast. Also, Andrew destroyed everything with a perfect storm highlighted by tornadoes, high winds and a massive storm surge.

---------

I'm sorry if I'm being a real d*ck about all of this, but my best friend is in Haiti right now on a medical mission - right outside Port-Au-Prince. She arrived on Sunday (knowing that there was potential for trouble) and is still there helping people save their children from flood waters, helping people just survive - and today, she actually got to work her job as a physical therapist to help people missing limbs, or with injuries, so they can potentially walk down the street (barefoot, by the way, unless the clinic had a used pair of shoes in their size) to go see that the shanty they lived in gone. OH - that's right, there's probably not a bridge anymore.

It's going to be rainy. It's going to be windy. I'm sorry people have to sleep on a cot in a convention center. But Disney is NOT going to lose power. Orlando is going to be fine. It's not a third-world country.

Worry about people on islands, people on the coast. I think everybody needs a real dose of reality right now, and can maybe find it within themselves for a little humility too.

 

[PirateD]

I have been following along as I have family in the area there too. These latest updates are very troubling. I have always thought of the Central Florida area as relatively safe, but I'm worried for them and everyone else there. I'm hoping for the best and praying for everyone's safety.

 

[alisonslp]

Well, we decided to make the trip down because as of 2p today, it was still a little iffy how bad Central would be hit. And we have to be down in Orlando for a convention sat/sun. So we Settled into our hotel on the FL/GA line and got the email at 10:45p that the MNSSHP was canceled for Thur. Bummer... but we will make the best of it.Hoping the hurricane passes quickly and that the Friday MNNSHP is not canceled. If so, then we will park hop on Sunday. Thankfully, we should be down to Disney by around 12 thursday (technically today) so we should be safe. Filling up the gas tanks before we hit the road since there is gas here and seems to be sparse in FL.

 

[Accident]

So I really have no issue being at disney during this as I've said before in the thread. As long as my house was not a possible next place it goes and I could travel to the area safely. This storm however is getting wacky and those off the wall models that had it turning back around or looping around in the ocean is starting to look more and more like what it's about to do. Of course I'm not an expert in this area but what I am an expert in generally when you start to get many simulations suddenly looking similar with more joining in that wacky path then you need to start to think this might be a double header.

I'm not sure I would continue with plans to come in before this storm.. I would probably look at shifting it to just after the storm (if needed, as I generally arrive on sundays when I traveled here) and see what really happens. the storm has changed a lot in the last day or two.

Now I have also been in many hurricanes, some in florida and more in nyc and nj (including sandy). I still would have no issue being at disney so everyone there, just get your supplies however you need too, plan on being in your room for a couple days with no food or water available from the resort until the end of the weekend. Be ready to be in your room for the storm and hopefully it'll be pretty quick for disney to get the last days you have of your vacation or the time you need to leave if it's the end.

 

[Keels]

Be ready for a lot of rain and some heavy wind.

Weather Channel did a pretty cool walk-through of what the storm would do to the state, and it's a lot of rain - storm surge will hit at high tide, so it's predicted to only be a foot or three higher than normal high tide. That's the GREAT news.

Georgia and South Carolina coasts may not fare so well because of tides.

 

[goopysolelady]

We're at Saratoga Springs in a 2 bedroom and a studio. We're supposed to leave Saturday but are assuming we'll be here longer. We live on the coast of South Carolina, and our counties are being evacuated for impact there Saturday night. We don't really have a choice other than to stay here. So we'll ride out the storm here. We just made a Publix run and bought bread, peanut butter and jelly, bottled water, chips, etc.

I've been on the phone with multiple Disney people about extending our stay but was told I have to do that tomorrow -- that they're doing it on a day by day basis and they'll get to us later since we have a room through Saturday morning. They did assure us we'll have a place to stay.

We "escaped" Houston with a quickly rebooked flight the night before Hurricane Ike closed the airport, arriving at the Polynesian EARLY in the morning. They got us into a room quickly but as we were checking in, they were placing other guests in DW resorts. We met a couple from Beaumont (Texas) who were to leave that day but had their flight cancelled. (The Houston airport was closed for almost 3 days.) Disney is very good about finding accommodations for displaced guests. You'll be fine... sending good thoughts and prayers to you when you are able to return to South Carolina.

 

[DrunkJam]

Honestly, people, please do stay safe. No heroics, no last minute crazy stuff. It will be busy, and difficult.
Look after yourselves.

In my thoughts and prayers.