Hurricane Matthew Closes WDW - Reopens Saturday, October 8th

[Tiggerette]

Friends at Port Orleans confirmed delivery of flashlight, extra towels and irregular mousekeeping Friday. (Perhaps none on Friday, wasn't clear to me during our conversation.)

EDIT: When reporting curfews, could y'all specify which county the curfew applies? Coastal and inland communities may have different requirements. thanks!!

 

[Farro]

I'm just kind of shocked how many people waited until the very last minute. Eh but what do I know. I'm a worst case planner so if there is a credible warning or threat about something I tend to plan. Had we been in Orlando this week I may have gone to a park this morning and if I did I would have been grabbing a few grab and go options on my way back to the resort. I can't believe people saw oh it'll be open to midnight and didn't realize that meant it'll be slammed until midnight.

I'm like you, I would have raided the resort stores two days ago! But that's me, I like to be super prepared.

$12.99 is absurd. I understand they have to make sure there is enough for everyone, and I would be wiling to bet if it were free, guests would be taking way more than their fair share... Who knows, lessons will be learned for next time is all we can really say at this point.

 

[TLSnell1981]

Looks like it depends on where people are at the moment. I have some friends local who are getting bands of rain and wind and others that are only seeing slight wind.

Now Miami on the other hand is getting slammed right now. My family in Boca already left for higher ground and the Boca beach area was told to evacuate. Just because it isn't bad now doesn't mean it won't be bad in a few hours as the bands move further north.

Also for those who have never experienced a hurricane where it makes landfall really means jack. There is no "good" side of a hurricane. There is the bad side and the worse side. Although the winds may only be tropical storm level winds in the WDW area they will be consistent winds. Even when it is just a thunderstorm that causes the winds they come and go with in an mere hour or two. This hurricane is being shown to show high winds for several hours somewhere around 12-24. Don't mistake the calm before the storm for it not happening. I'm not trying to scare anyone I'm just trying to tell you that it may seem like it is all for nothing now but things can and probably will get worse as the night progresses.

The calm before...so surreal.

 

[flatlandcycle]

I sincerely hope the parks are back in operation Saturday, because I can't afford to lose more days of pay.

You have to hope that someone with more than thimble full of gray matter is running the curfew show.

 

[wilkeliza]

I'm like you, I would have raided the resort stores two days ago! But that's me, I like to be super prepared.

$12.99 is absurd. I understand they have to make sure there is enough for everyone, and I would be wiling to be if it were free, guest would be taking way more than their fair share... Who knows, lessons will be learned for next time is all we can really say at this point.

That or Disney will be issuing a ton of credits and refunds when this thing has passed and they can think clearly.

 

[DisAuntie]

Yes. The aftermath of a storm this powerful and huge is going to be unreal. I know Disney is phenomenal at cleaning up and getting back to normal, but I'm not sure they've dealt with anything quite like this. When I think of all the trees that are likely to be down all over that property, and damage to signs, fences, and other structures that cannot handle the brunt of a storm like Matthew, I get a sad vision of a Disney World like none of us has ever seen. All those RVs and campers at Fort Wilderness? I know the people have been evacuated, but that campground is bound to be quite a mess with downed trees and limbs all over those RVs and campers. It has to be understood that even with less powerful storms, it can take WEEKS to get an area even close to back to normal. Disney may be able to keep power going and be pretty self-sufficient for a few days, but areas outside of Disney will not be so fortunate. And eventually, just like everyone else, Disney will need food and supplies replenished to sustain its guests. If the areas surrounding Disney are hit with catastrophic damage, that could be an issue.
Not trying to be an alarmist, and certainly there will be help provided to all who need it down there, but I think it's a bit naive t expect to roll up into WDW on Saturday or even Sunday (or maybe even after that) and find things running smoothly. I could be wrong, and I hope I am. I think the people there will be safe, but I wouldn't expect to be riding 7DMT and watching Hoop Dee Doo on Saturday or Sunday, if you know what I mean.

Fort Wilderness is empty. RV's have all been moved to the Magic Kingdom parking lot.

 

[dawne98]

best summary - no good side - a bad side and and worse side!

Us in FL do call one side of the hurricane "the dirty side"
The strongest winds and the highest storm surge are on a hurricane's right side — the "dirty side" — as viewed from above. That's because winds in a hurricane rotate counterclockwise, so the strength of the storm on the "dirty side" is the hurricane's wind speed plus its forward velocity
That's why everyone hopes the hurricane's goes out more to the east
we don't want it to go west the more land it's going to hit!

 

[2DisPrincesses]

For $13, it should have had enough food for the next 24 hours. There should have been the 2 sandwiches, a bag of nuts, an apple, a banana, a clementine, a bag of carrots, 2 boxes of cereal, pretzels, popcorn, cookies, a power bar, a juice box, and 3 bottles of water. That should have been in a BOX (not a crappy container) for $13. They have the supplies and still would have made money and they could have called it a "Matthew care package"

The Polynesian started selling the boxes @ 4pm and by 5pm, the breakfast boxes were gone. Said they would have some later but we grabbed alternatives instead, didn't want to wait in line again.

 

[Tink2Day]

Yes. The aftermath of a storm this powerful and huge is going to be unreal. I know Disney is phenomenal at cleaning up and getting back to normal, but I'm not sure they've dealt with anything quite like this. When I think of all the trees that are likely to be down all over that property, and damage to signs, fences, and other structures that cannot handle the brunt of a storm like Matthew, I get a sad vision of a Disney World like none of us has ever seen. All those RVs and campers at Fort Wilderness? I know the people have been evacuated, but that campground is bound to be quite a mess with downed trees and limbs all over those RVs and campers. It has to be understood that even with less powerful storms, it can take WEEKS to get an area even close to back to normal. Disney may be able to keep power going and be pretty self-sufficient for a few days, but areas outside of Disney will not be so fortunate. And eventually, just like everyone else, Disney will need food and supplies replenished to sustain its guests. If the areas surrounding Disney are hit with catastrophic damage, that could be an issue.
Not trying to be an alarmist, and certainly there will be help provided to all who need it down there, but I think it's a bit naive t expect to roll up into WDW on Saturday or even Sunday (or maybe even after that) and find things running smoothly. I could be wrong, and I hope I am. I think the people there will be safe, but I wouldn't expect to be riding 7DMT and watching Hoop Dee Doo on Saturday or Sunday, if you know what I mean.

Bob Iger spoke at a government seminar attended by my relative many years ago. He said that in the last hurricane the vegetation was destroyed, no serious structural damage but repairs were completed and the vegetation was all replaced by the following morning when the parks opened. Disney has resources the common man, like all of us, can only dream of. My thoughts and prayers are with anyone in danger from this massive storm. Stay safe everyone. Bless you!

 

[GottaGetToDisney!]

Current situation: holed up in Riverside, but happy to be safe here.

 

[mdb78]

Looks like it depends on where people are at the moment. I have some friends local who are getting bands of rain and wind and others that are only seeing slight wind.

Now Miami on the other hand is getting slammed right now. My family in Boca already left for higher ground and the Boca beach area was told to evacuate. Just because it isn't bad now doesn't mean it won't be bad in a few hours as the bands move further north.

Also for those who have never experienced a hurricane where it makes landfall really means jack. There is no "good" side of a hurricane. There is the bad side and the worse side. Although the winds may only be tropical storm level winds in the WDW area they will be consistent winds. Even when it is just a thunderstorm that causes the winds they come and go with in an mere hour or two. This hurricane is being shown to show high winds for several hours somewhere around 12-24. Don't mistake the calm before the storm for it not happening. I'm not trying to scare anyone I'm just trying to tell you that it may seem like it is all for nothing now but things can and probably will get worse as the night progresses.

It really does depend what part you are in. I'm in Miami, and the part I'm in did not get slammed. We had rain on and off and gusts of wind on and off. I'm sure the coastal part of Miami had it worse than us though. I just turned on the news and the wind threat for Miami dade county has decreased and broward county has been downgraded to tropical storm warning from hurricane warning.

 

[Lehuaann]

Looks better then our Caribbean beach boxed lunches, I would rather the m&m's lol - also the Food Court has been a mad house with over hour and half waits!!! I also waited over hour and half to confirm my room extension since flight was cancelled and can get out till Sunday!!!

Be Safe all!

Aww, I'd give you my m&ms if I could

It's hard for the resorts that don't have multiple cafes/restaurants choices.

Capt Cook's line appeared long, but only 1/2 hr or so long. Guests also had Ohana, Kona, and the Sushi counter.

 

[Sammie]

I'm like you, I would have raided the resort stores two days ago! But that's me, I like to be super prepared.

$12.99 is absurd. I understand they have to make sure there is enough for everyone, and I would be wiling to bet if it were free, guests would be taking way more than their fair share... Who knows, lessons will be learned for next time is all we can really say at this point.

Oh believe me you are correct. During Charley, many grabbed 10 boxes or more and ran. It was like looting, CM were pushed down, guests were pushed down. So in a way I can see making them this expensive. It cuts down on the mob mentality.

 

[Tuffcookie]

I doubt it. Where would the animal urinate/deficate? If the rain and winds are that strong, you could not bring the pet outside. I am sure Disney does not want animals having accidents in their hotel rooms.

If you were at Fort Wilderness, in the pet section, there must be some place that would allow the guest and their pet. No way would I leave my pet alone ina motor home under these conditions! These are unusual circumstances. Rules are made to be broken. Put papers down in the bathroom!

 

[wilkeliza]

The calm before...so surreal.

The calm before a hurricane can be creepy. I still remember the first one after we moved out to the country. I had never experienced so little noise in my entire life. No birds, no animals, not even stray dogs were making noise. This was about 90 ish miles off the coast. Can't remember that storms name and there wasn't too much damage by us but it was still so weird to me.

 

[Sammie]

Anyone at a resort with an outside door, roll a towel very tight and wedge against the bottom of your door to prevent rain blowing into your room.

 

[Sammie]

If you were at Fort Wilderness, in the pet section, there must be some place that would allow the guest and their pet. No way would I leave my pet alone ina motor home under these conditions! These are unusual circumstances. Rules are made to be broken. Put papers down in the bathroom!

Pets were taken to the Best Friends Pet Care.

 

[ebradley23]

I'm about to rant on a non-WDW tangent after seeing this. Please skip if you don't care, but I can't post this on other social media for fear of it being read by the person I'm fuming about.

My 70 YO MIL and her 80+ YO husband live in Jensen Beach (it's near St Lucie) in a condo. Not only have they decided to stay put even though he has family on the W Coast. But, they didn't even have the storm shutters put on the windows. The maintenance guy made it to their condo at 9 pm last night and told them they didn't really need them, because the other buildings will block most of the wind. He was probably tired and ready to get home, and they bought his story to avoid paying the extra $$ for the service call. They haven't lived in FL long, and this is their first hurricane. They just aren't taking it seriously. They lost power around 6:30 while she was on the phone with my husband. He asked if she had a backup battery for her phone, and she said she would just go to her car to charge her phone if it didn't come back on. I just texted her to tell her she wouldn't get power for close to a week more than likely, and she said she would go to her gym to shower. Her level of naïveté is astounding and completely frustrating.

Thanks for letting me get this off my chest. Everyone at WDW stay safe and just remember this is a story you will be telling your family for years. That was my outlook when I was sleeping on a cot in my company's ops center for 9 days during Ike.

 

[JennyWren]

If you were at Fort Wilderness, in the pet section, there must be some place that would allow the guest and their pet. No way would I leave my pet alone ina motor home under these conditions! These are unusual circumstances. Rules are made to be broken. Put papers down in the bathroom!

I would say that most likely the pets would be boarded at the kennel by the TTC...or in case of overflow perhaps they have facilities that could be used in the AK???

 

[Mhahnster]

Heard on news that poly was evacuated as well as fort wilderness.