Hurricane Matthew Closes WDW - Reopens Saturday, October 8th

[Geoff_M]

Um, about that "loop" thing..... at least it might "only" be a TS by then.

 

[DLM1980]

That went away quick no more Chew studio

 

[Skywise]

For those of you who may be in the parks or going to the parks, please make sure you give yourself extra time to get back to your resorts or homes before this evening. The roads around property are going to fill up quick, if they haven't already.

That's why I take the monorail because it's always on time and never breaks down ... AAUUUGGGHHH!!

 

[dawne98]

They say it's going to stay a cat 4! We live 26 mi from Daytona beach to the south west, west of us 27mi from New Smyma beach,and 53 mi from Walt Disney world.... the only way things are going to be good is if the eye of the hurricane stays on the water but if the eye moves on land it's going to be real bad! I just saw
Orlando International Airport to shut down at 8 p.m. Thursday

 

[dawne98]

Olando International Airport will be closed to commercial flights starting at 8 p.m. Thursday night, officials said. Officials said the goal is to reopen on Saturday but only after a damage assessment is done.

But hours before its expected arrival, Hurricane Matthew was already disrupting traffic at OIA.

By early in the day, there were scores of delayed flights as well as 13 canceled arrivals and eight canceled departures. The number of flights canceled was expected to increase dramatically as the weather gets worse.

Pat Edwards said her flight to Albany, N.Y., was on time, but the nursing conference she attended was cut short by a day due to the hurricane. She said the conference reported that it had 8,000 attendees.

"A lot of people were looking to change flights or just get out," she said. "If they're not getting out, they're hunkering down."

Orlando Sanford International Airport shut down its domestic flights at 10 a.m. Thursday and will cease all international flights 6:30 p.m. Thursday. Those closures will be in place through Friday.

 

[dawne98]

 

[Elsaalltheway]

Very well said! As I mentioned earlier, I'm sure the CM's are swamped with guests requesting information and cannot imagine the CM's helping each guest find accommodation on or off resort. When all of the flights up the east coast were cancelled out of MCO a few years ago due to a fire at the control tower in NJ the airline clerks were getting the worst abuse from people trying to find out what was going on - when I approached the desk you could see them flinching from what they thought was going to be another verbal attack. When I asked if would be easier to re-book me on a flight for the next day as I would miss my connection to Nova Scotia regardless - they were so surprised that I wasn't complaining that they comped me a room at the airport hotel.

I never understand people taking out their frustrations on staff for issues that have nothing to do with company policies staff are abiding by or events they have no control over such as the weather. 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). As for the event above, I had been staying at Disney at the time and I certainly did not expect Disney to have a room available to me because all flights were cancelled.

I too understand this. When we flew to DW just last month our flight was delayed and they already knew that most people were going to miss their connecting flights. I think the people were preparing for a fight, but we got to the counter and were fine with making it up to Denver, sleeping in the airport, then catching the first flight out. I think she was a little shocked, but we already were prepared and had a backup plan. It was, what it was. And not once did we raise our voice, we simply said its ok, we understand. But I guess its hard to know exactly what was happening at the time. But I can see it from both standpoints. All the people were doing was looking for a room. I get that, but to be told there is nothing we can do, and it doesn't sound like it was just them, if another person actually offered them their room. Sounds like it was not just one individual being told sorry. It was my belief that the people from the camp sites were being offered cots in the convention centers as alternates. I don't know about anybody here, but for me, if I was a kid I would actually find it another adventure to be in that situation, maybe even set up the tents in the center, but if I needed to extend my day because my flight was canceled, as im sure some people were, and to be told there is no room at the inn, and not given any other help. Yeah I would be upset, but again thats just me. I would be asking for other alternates. Who knows if they were given them or not. We were not there. I just hope everybody is safe, and I would think that because this is hurricaine nation that they would have some system in place for stranded travelers like an open network so they can find rooms available at closer hotels. Like the Whydymm that is on property or the hotels across from downtown Disney. Sorry, Disney Springs...Above all else I just want people safe, but to be told we can't help, and we need your room, and not given an alternative, doesn't sound like trying to help a stranded traveler.

 

[rteetz]

CMs are now being alerted about the closures. 5PM today all day Friday.

 

[buzznina]

They say it's going to stay a cat 4! We live 26 mi from Daytona beach to the south west, west of us 27mi from New Smyma beach,and 53 mi from Walt Disney world.... the only way things are going to be good is if the eye of the hurricane stays on the water but if the eye moves on land it's going to be real bad! I just saw
Orlando International Airport to shut down at 8 p.m. Thursday

Hopefully their wrong, but I just saw their latest projection and they have the eye coming almost over Orlando now

 

[DLM1980]

I would never have thought to wrap up lamp posts but it makes sense to contain broken glass

 

[dawne98]

Hopefully their wrong, but I just saw their latest projection and they have the eye coming almost over Orlando now

I hope they are so wrong because I am not happy about that.... it's going to go right over us!

 

[book_junkie]

Orlando Mayor and emergency management just had briefing. They're asking residents to be off streets by 6 pm tonight and stay in all weekend. Stay away from windows, get ready NOW, know where you're going. Hurricane winds over Orlando predicted now for Friday am, with gusts starting tonight.

 

[Mr. Drauer]

Hopefully their wrong, but I just saw their latest projection and they have the eye coming almost over Orlando now

It says "one of the model runs takes it over Orlando" - the current track has not changed and is expected to make landfall in Brevard County

 

[11290]

CMs are now being alerted about the closures. 5PM today all day Friday.

That has not been communicated "officially". I just was backstage at Emporium and there is a sign on the bulletin board that contradicts that. Will post back when we get the "official" word. CM hotline has not been updated recently. Most of the times on blogs are FaceBook rumors. Some business units bay be letting their cast leave earlier than others due to operational needs.

 

[gwynne]

I too understand this. When we flew to DW just last month our flight was delayed and they already knew that most people were going to miss their connecting flights. I think the people were preparing for a fight, but we got to the counter and were fine with making it up to Denver, sleeping in the airport, then catching the first flight out. I think she was a little shocked, but we already were prepared and had a backup plan. It was, what it was. And not once did we raise our voice, we simply said its ok, we understand. But I guess its hard to know exactly what was happening at the time. But I can see it from both standpoints. All the people were doing was looking for a room. I get that, but to be told there is nothing we can do, and it doesn't sound like it was just them, if another person actually offered them their room. Sounds like it was not just one individual being told sorry. It was my belief that the people from the camp sites were being offered cots in the convention centers as alternates. I don't know about anybody here, but for me, if I was a kid I would actually find it another adventure to be in that situation, maybe even set up the tents in the center, but if I needed to extend my day because my flight was canceled, as im sure some people were, and to be told there is no room at the inn, and not given any other help. Yeah I would be upset, but again thats just me. I would be asking for other alternates. Who knows if they were given them or not. We were not there. I just hope everybody is safe, and I would think that because this is hurricaine nation that they would have some system in place for stranded travelers like an open network so they can find rooms available at closer hotels. Like the Whydymm that is on property or the hotels across from downtown Disney. Sorry, Disney Springs...Above all else I just want people safe, but to be told we can't help, and we need your room, and not given an alternative, doesn't sound like trying to help a stranded traveler.

It's frustrating to be sure.
As much as it is nice when there is help available, this is a far different situation from what is normal.

I would recommend anyone who needs a hotel room to grab a smart phone or get to a computer and start looking. The same goes for changing flights. Grab what you can as soon as possible. It might mean booking a flight that overflies your general destination area, and then getting a connecting flight back home.
Have a paper, pen and credit card at the ready. The more flexible one is, the better the chance of getting something.

 

[HopperFan]

View attachment 199266
I would never have thought to wrap up lamp posts but it makes sense to contain broken glass

They have a detailed plan of all that must be done. Even for certain events in parks (like when NOJ was in MK) they have a plan of everything that is to be removed for safety. Anything that can fly will be put away including trashcans, benches, queue lines ... all locked down. They actually started removing some stuff yesterday, it just wasn't obvious like this.

It's why all the campground had to be evacuated. I think Touring Plans said it was voluntary - no it wasn't - a campground, water, trees, rvs ..... danger danger to people and the campground.

I think since the big boys both finally caved and apparently have a plan we know that the city will be shut down after 5 tonight. Get what you need and get settled. Stay put and follow directions.

Hopefully we can keep our eyes out on info regarding highways, gas availability, flights, flooding etc for those trying to leave or plan coming in after it passes

 

[lilkimmyk]

My goodness this storm is unbelievable! I've been watching The Weather Channel all morning. I have family in Ormand's Beach and an elderly Aunt and Uncle in Myrtle Beach. I pray and hope that everyone heeds the warnings of the governor and is able to stay safe. You are all in my prayers and thoughts.

 

[magic458]

Agreed. Nothing official here yet.

Also it would be nice to focus on Disney world news as well. I feel for the people on the coast and my family is in Charleston but this is about Disney.

 

[DisneyFirefly]

That has not been communicated "officially". I just was backstage at Emporium and there is a sign on the bulletin board that contradicts that. Will post back when we get the "official" word. CM hotline has not been updated recently. Most of the times on blogs are FaceBook rumors. Some business units bay be letting their cast leave earlier than others due to operational needs.

Yeah, I've been checking the hub periodically this morning, and they still have last night's 9:30pm update of "everything is normal, lalalalala". There's no way I'm going to work tonight, I'm scheduled from 4-11 at MK and that just ain't happening.

 

[mikedoyleblogger]

Also from the emergency briefing (watching on WESH), Orange County has ordered a mandatory evacuation of mobile homes and opened shelters for them, and asked people deciding to remain in their mobile homes to call 311 to give the county contact information for their next of kin. Lynx will stop all service by 8pm, and beginning winding down at 6. The county is asking everyone to be off the roads by 6, and not to come back out until an official all clear is given because of the potential for downed power lines. So if you're staying off-property and riding it out in Orlando, maybe leave the parks before the as-yet unofficial closing time of 6pm to avoid any potential gridlock.