Hurricane Matthew Closes WDW - Reopens Saturday, October 8th

[HopperFan]

bioreconstruct ‏@bioreconstruct 1 minute ago
Universal Studios Florida now closed, sweep of guests well underway. #HurricaneMatthew

 

[muenginerd]

My coworker is planning to fly in on Saturday and staying until Wednesday of next week. He's considering cancelling but would lose $800 in air fare. He's wondering if he should take a chance and go. Any advice you experienced travelers can give him?

He should check with the airlines. Depending on the damage Orlando takes, some airlines may refund his fare or provide a voucher for travel within a year.

Years and years ago we were due to fly into Cancun right after they took a major hit. The hotel zone was pretty much shut down. Roads were still not clear. Government was asking tourists to stay away while they cleaned up. We were able to cancel everything with trip insurance. Otherwise, our airline was offering vouchers to use within 12 months

 

[si-am]

We're watching the progress, we leave very early in the morning. We'll be down there til the 16th. We're driving from TN. We're not panicking, but we're certainly concerned. While we hope to make our check in @ CBR tomorrow, if we have to stop and stay put elsewhere through the night; do you know if Disney would credit our reservation back? We didn't purchase insurance on our package. I'm wondering if they make exceptions for emergency type situations such as Matthew? If not, stopping would still be worth our safety. But, recouping the added cost for another hotel would be helpful. I of course would call them to inform we got stuck and won't be there til Saturday. Would I just call the general reservations line if so?

I wouldn't leave tomorrow. Are you driving through GA? The radio was saying that hotels are gone here, too, along I-75.

I just don't think it would be safe.

 

[Irish_Mike]

Traffic remains incredibly slow on I4, primarily heading westbound. If you know the area, take the backroads if possible.

 

[wilkeliza]

We're watching the progress, we leave very early in the morning. We'll be down there til the 16th. We're driving from TN. We're not panicking, but we're certainly concerned. While we hope to make our check in @ CBR tomorrow, if we have to stop and stay put elsewhere through the night; do you know if Disney would credit our reservation back? We didn't purchase insurance on our package. I'm wondering if they make exceptions for emergency type situations such as Matthew? If not, stopping would still be worth our safety. But, recouping the added cost for another hotel would be helpful. I of course would call them to inform we got stuck and won't be there til Saturday. Would I just call the general reservations line if so?

Please push your drive at least a day. People are currently trying to evacuate and hunker down the area. The storm is not suppose to actually hit Orlando until noon tomorrow. It will be over 24 hours of rain and winds. Please do not try to drive into this when many people are trying to drive out of it.

 

[nduckles]

We're watching the progress, we leave very early in the morning. We'll be down there til the 16th. We're driving from TN. We're not panicking, but we're certainly concerned. While we hope to make our check in @ CBR tomorrow, if we have to stop and stay put elsewhere through the night; do you know if Disney would credit our reservation back? We didn't purchase insurance on our package. I'm wondering if they make exceptions for emergency type situations such as Matthew? If not, stopping would still be worth our safety. But, recouping the added cost for another hotel would be helpful. I of course would call them to inform we got stuck and won't be there til Saturday. Would I just call the general reservations line if so?

Trying to drive into Orlando tomorrow would be foolish. I cancelled Friday night at the Yacht Club and got a refund for that night. They absolutely make exceptions for the hurricane. I would call them tonight and plan to drive on Saturday....at the earliest....instead.

Edited: In fact, since you're in full control of your travel and not dealing with airline costs and delays, I would strongly consider waiting until Sunday. The area is going to be an absolute mess with people trying to get home, potential flooding, etc, etc.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

Got the rental car parked at Disney springs garage so it should be good there

Made it back to the room ok minus a little scuffle at the bus stop....a few people didn't want to move down the line because they were "here first" yet they were standing in the second queue. I ended putting the chains up and the rest of the people moved around them. They eventually "fell in line"

It's a bus. It holds 72 people aprox. we all got on!

We kinda did this too when we were there a few weeks ago. Front line and there was a break in the mddle of the line. Our little group was like whats the deal, and they were like, we don't know if this is the begining or that is. I kindly informed them that the yellow line is where the bus pulls up to so that was the begining. They didn't move so we just went around. Eventually everybody made it on the bus

 

[LivingforDisney]

The choice

My coworker is planning to fly in on Saturday and staying until Wednesday of next week. He's considering cancelling but would lose $800 in air fare. He's wondering if he should take a chance and go. Any advice you experienced travelers can give him?

the choice might get made for him, the airport might be closed, I guess no one will know until this thing hits

 

[DLM1980]

My partner just called and said that here at CBR OPR is staying open till midnight with standard food service

 

[HopperFan]

We're watching the progress, we leave very early in the morning. We'll be down there til the 16th. We're driving from TN. We're not panicking, but we're certainly concerned. While we hope to make our check in @ CBR tomorrow, if we have to stop and stay put elsewhere through the night; do you know if Disney would credit our reservation back? We didn't purchase insurance on our package. I'm wondering if they make exceptions for emergency type situations such as Matthew? If not, stopping would still be worth our safety. But, recouping the added cost for another hotel would be helpful. I of course would call them to inform we got stuck and won't be there til Saturday. Would I just call the general reservations line if so?

Lots of answers here to help you know what to expect before you proceed ...
https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/hurricane-policy/

Just remember that it will be very difficult for you to find a hotel room to stop on the way.

 

[lionfan 1991]

We're watching the progress, we leave very early in the morning. We'll be down there til the 16th. We're driving from TN. We're not panicking, but we're certainly concerned. While we hope to make our check in @ CBR tomorrow, if we have to stop and stay put elsewhere through the night; do you know if Disney would credit our reservation back? We didn't purchase insurance on our package. I'm wondering if they make exceptions for emergency type situations such as Matthew? If not, stopping would still be worth our safety. But, recouping the added cost for another hotel would be helpful. I of course would call them to inform we got stuck and won't be there til Saturday. Would I just call the general reservations line if so?

Not a good idea. You'll be driving right into the effects or after-effects of a storm. Highways could be a mess, hotels are filled, and emergency personnel doesn't need to be dealing with additional tourists coming to the area. Folks in Central FL are going to have their hands full - no sense adding to their burden. Sorry that plans are disrupted, but whole lives are going to be disrupted down here in FL.

 

[erinch]

I am not sure that I have seen emphasized much that after the storm blows through, there will likely be huge issues: power outages are possible for days, downed trees and damage to windows, roofs and other infrastructure. It is only the most hopeful scenario that things are back up to speed on Sat and Sunday like nothing happened.

I wasn't there, but remember stories in other major hurricanes how the resorts ended up turning their ballrooms into buffets that had pizza and other rudimentary items.

 

[hiroMYhero]

Traffic remains incredibly slow on I4, primarily heading westbound. If you know the area, take the backroads if possible.

Western Way to 429 will take you to 192 and the 27 or the Champions Gate area of I4. That was the only route not showing as "red" a couple of hours ago.

 

[flatlandcycle]

I'm sure one has hit florida in general but there's never been over a 3 that came into central florida.

Charlie 2004 was a Cat 4 and went right through the Orlando area. It didn't have cat 4 winds when it went through central Florida. Frances 2004 passed about 100 miles south of Disney and it was a Cat 4.

 

[OKWDVCMagic]

The governor of Florida is saying some very sobering things.
https://www.theguardian.com/world/2016/oct/06/hurricane-matthew-florida-preparations-evacuation

Thoughts and prayers to all.

Wow, that article lists some scary scenarios for people living on the coast.

My DW has friends who live not to far off the coast near FT. Lauderdale and they are planning a hurricane party at their house.

I think they are making a real mistake staying in their home being so close to the ocean.

 

[muenginerd]

No they don't make exceptions except for perhaps pets that were at the fort. If your pet is at the kennel (Best Friends) or kenneled elsewhere it is best to leave them there. Those facilities are made for this and for pets specifically. A hotel room is not made for an animal that may become distressed in a storm situation they have never been in before. I'm a crazy pet parent but I would trust my pets at their boarding kennel with their care takers any day over a hotel room.

It's also logistical nightmare for the resort. Not that everything else going on right now isn't.

To bring pets in a non-pet classified room the resort would want to make sure neighboring guests have no issues/allergies with pets. Also the room would have to be scrubbed to the max to avoid any pet dander for future guests with animals allergies. Working at a resort long ago we really loved our pet visitors but it was an awful lot of work to accomodate them. Once management made the choice to go pet free, we had a few extreme cases of bringing in pets and it just crazy what goes on in the room afterwards. (ie, accomodating a service animal.) Overall a very deep cleaning and on rare instances replacing sheets or furniture.

 

[Tia1977]

Please push your drive at least a day. People are currently trying to evacuate and hunker down the area. The storm is not suppose to actually hit Orlando until noon tomorrow. It will be over 24 hours of rain and winds. Please do not try to drive into this when many people are trying to drive out of it.

Trying to drive into Orlando tomorrow would be foolish. I cancelled Friday night at the Yacht Club and got a refund for that night. They absolutely make exceptions for the hurricane. I would call them tonight and plan to drive on Saturday....at the earliest....instead.

Thank you so much for the feedback! My gut was leading that way, but we were still foolishly hoping for the best as this will wreck our Saturday plans. But, I do want to be responsible and safe

 

[mjallemand]

bioreconstruct ‏@bioreconstruct 1 minute ago
Universal Studios Florida now closed, sweep of guests well underway. #HurricaneMatthew

Man, I really need to make a Universal Studios pilgrimage one day, I always forget that they have a large "The Simpsons" area.

Back on topic...Floridians and those in Florida really need to treat this as a Katrina-level event. Don't take this lightly.

 

[Irish_Mike]

Western Way to 429 will take you to 192 and the 27 or the Champions Gate area of I4. That was the only route not showing as "red" a couple of hours ago.

If you're heading up towards Orlando, taking either Palm Parkway or Vineland Ave/Westwood (Both are off SR 535, by the Hotel Plaza Bvld entrance) will connect you to Turkey Lake Road, which'll run parallel to I4 up north past Universal. You can take Sand Lake Road from there onto I4, or continuing using back roads if you have a GPS.

There is also the backroads into Walt Disney World if you are heading to a resort there - either Reams Road at the North, Winter Garden Vineland Road to Buena Vista Drive from the east, and Sherbert Road over by DAK.

 

[LivingforDisney]

Our sat morning flight was also cancelled. Thinking it's proactive to give the airport time to assess damage. Now trying to decide if we drive down and get a few days of our vacation or scrap it and try for next year.

I would be staying as far away as possible from Florida and the coast until this thing is over. I don't think they need more people arriving at this time. It sound like bedlam as it is.