Hurricane Matthew Closes WDW - Reopens Saturday, October 8th

[maxiesmom]

Disney did have to provide affordable food in some way b/c it's a safety issue. People who are scared and hungry do stupid things. If they did no boxes, and 75% of the hotel guests (as a rough non-prepared # looking at those lines) had no food for over 24 hours, what do you think they would do? Stay in their room starving? Not likely. Start causing issues? - likely, whether that would be leaving rooms, roaming grounds, trying to get into restaurants, calling customer service nonstop, etc. I'm betting after the prices and quality of those boxes, there are still some people with no food today and that should never have happened. If you are going to have paying guests, you have to provide their needs and explain when and where you can't WAY in advance. Food and water are safety needs, not just shelter.

If you are on a Disney trip and have no money set aside for food (and we all eat on vacation) or don't have enough extra to buy $13 meals, then that is on you. As I said, this disaster was no surprise. There was days of notice. Anyone could have gone to the store and gotten cheaper groceries if they needed to. Disney does not owe people food.

 

[bluezee]

It takes a tremendous amount of effort to box up 30,000+ lunches in a short time period. If you have ever partaken in an effort like that you understand the absolutely exhausting, frenzied pace at which the work is done. Kudos to Disney for pulling that off.

 

[ChipnDale79]

Keep in mind too that they had to charge enough to keep people from buying 30 when they only needed 5. And we all know people will hoard, as that picture with the person with case upon case upon case of water proves.

I thought i read somewhere that there was a one per person limit. Could be wrong though.

 

[HopperFan]

POLY video

https://twitter.com/Melissa_Furst/status/784372437412671488



The Poly is selling breakfast boxes for $10 ($8 after AP discount). Comes with pastry, yogurt, fruit and OJ. Cast members working so hard

 

[NanaDisney]

Keep in mind too that they had to charge enough to keep people from buying 30 when they only needed 5. And we all know people will hoard, as that picture with the person with case upon case upon case of water proves.

Great point!

 

[Pawpsicle]

Food court open at POFQ! (Despite what voicemail said..) no regular menu, but we got this breakfast box for $4.50.

 

[AngiTN]

Call Disney??? Umm... one of the things they aren't doing well if you aren't there... Phones! I tried yesterday to call. First "all circuits were busy" Then my expected hold time was 90 minutes (I had to drop so I don't know how long it would have been) I do expect my room to be there. (And calling won't really help as they will say "sure". Trust me I flew into a lot of hurricane areas in a prior life for work, the "reservation people" have no idea what the "front desk" people are doing! If you have to do this you need to call the front desk directly which is hard to do at Disney. And then my room is a DVC room and they aren't even picking up the phone until Saturday)

Since I don't land until 8 PM I expect that the actual winds etc... will be gone. My bigger concern is Saturday morning getting to my father's where there may be trees down etc... So far he's doing well.

I guess I will just risk the curfew violation especially since it's not in Osceola County so...

We are checking on today at Boardwalk. I paid for the room already. I didn't cancel it, Disney didn't cancel it. So I have a room for tonight that is paid for and I'll be I a room tonight. I do realize folks are changing their stays but that isn't my issue. Their need for a room doesn't trump mine and it's up to Disney to figure out where everyone goes. Other folks here said they were told they couldn't extend their stay so I'm guessing Disney is considering arrivals as the place the displaced guests

 

[Sleepy425]

Good! What time did CC's close? Are any of the restaurants open today?

Timiman says they are trying to open for ten. It's getting brighter out but the winds are still looking pretty strong.

 

[robinb]

Food court open at POFQ! (Despite what voicemail said..) no regular menu, but we got this breakfast box for $4.50.

Thanks for the update! Just curious, what are they selling for people who don't eat meat?

 

[book_junkie]

I agree that Disney doesn't need to provide discounts for this sort of thing. Their "weather rate" I paid for the next 2 nights is far more than I paid for my previous 6 nights (discounted through TA) but I'm okay with that. Happy to have a room and not have to move. There was a woman next to me at concierge upset that she had to pay for her room for the next 2 nights...don't understand why anyone would think they could stay for free?!?

I've heard that for every incident, and not just at Disney. When they got that huge snow on the east coast in 2014(?) I was in San Diego at a conference and people were stuck for days. And livid that they had to pay for rooms for extra nights. It seems any time there's a storm/natural issue, then it should be free because it wasn't part of the vacation plan.

 

[goofyintoronto]

What attitude? I was at the same park at the same time. I do find it hard to imagine that some one in the same park at the same time couldn't hear what we heard. It was well communicated to us. I am not saying the other person is incorrect and also said this is a good example of 2 people on the same place at the same time and come back with opposite experiences

So you think the poster was lying for the sake of arguing? If they didnt hear it, they didnt hear it. It is possible. I dont think someone would lie about that.

warning: idiots are taking their family out around the grounds

But what do I expect , just saw on wftv a couple at the coast walking their dog in a stroller!

Wow!! Walking their dog in a stroller in that weather? I cant say im surprised though!! Lol.

 

[HopperFan]

9 am this morning

Orlando Intl Airport
‏@MCO
A tranquil MCO atrium this morning. Commercial flight ops still halted for today. #HurricaneMatthew

 

[dburg30]

Food court open at POFQ! (Despite what voicemail said..) no regular menu, but we got this breakfast box for $4.50.

Yea, so I have a feeling people will be able to get adjustments if they ask on last nights dinner. I really think they priced them that way to get thru the night without totally running out of food..

 

[wdhinn89]

We got an apple and m&m's but no sandwich. I will be getting my $13 back.

Why did you not look in your box when your purchased? That would have been the first thing I would do.

 

[book_junkie]

We are checking on today at Boardwalk. I paid for the room already. I didn't cancel it, Disney didn't cancel it. So I have a room for tonight that is paid for and I'll be I a room tonight. I do realize folks are changing their stays but that isn't my issue. Their need for a room doesn't trump mine and it's up to Disney to figure out where everyone goes. Other folks here said they were told they couldn't extend their stay so I'm guessing Disney is considering arrivals as the place the displaced guests

Not my meaning- safety is. I have a 35 lb Wheaton, and live right outside the MK. I'm at home, sheltering with another Wheaton and two party Yorkers 3.5 lbs and 4.2 lbs) I'm having to try and time it properly to let them out between rain and wind gusts. If there is no transportation from the Swan to the Boardwalk, how are you going to get you and your stuff there? It's a good 10 minute walk without stuff in good weather.

 

[2DisPrincesses]

Why did you not look in your box when your purchased? That would have been the first thing I would do.

Guess you're smarter than I am. We had dinner for last night and boxed things we bought for today. Didn't go through everything then.

 

[gwynne]

Why did you not look in your box when your purchased? That would have been the first thing I would do.

I would say in ordinary circumstances, you might be right. When a guest is thinking about a lot of things related to severe weather situation, they may not immediately think about doing that. I get why they may not have inspected the box.

 

[maxiesmom]

For what it is worth, watch Denis Phillips for weather. He is over in Tampa on ABC Action News, but he is THE MAN when it comes to weather forecasting.

 

[Halloweenqueen]

I think this storm was a no win situation for Disney. Hurricanes are unpredictable. Disney was at the mercy of the experts, who didn't quite have it right. Going into this week most resorts were at capacity before the storm approached. They had to rehome Fort Wilderness, Treehouse guests, etc. They needed rooms. Then you had guests who had cancelled flights. They needed rooms. Then you had a bunch of locals who evacuated and wanted rooms.

Resorts are jammed. The storm has been talked about for days. Whatever happened to personal responsibility? The hurricane could have been horrible. Who would ever depend on a boxed lunch for their family in the first place? How could anyone complain about long waits on the phone, etc? CMs have families and homes as well.

Funny thing...Disney didn't have to waive anything! These guests booked during hurricane season. Tell me one business that people would be so demanding?

Now comes they real gouging...from the first world problem guests demanding for freebies. I hope Disney keeps a naughty list of these complainers so when they really have something to complain about it falls on deaf ears.

 

[jo-jo]

I may be asking for the moon because I'm lucky if I know how to find the on button on my laptop......But could disney have given everyone a"FP" for one box lunch for free? scan, give a box, scan give a box....or if they could 6 in room 2357....scan , 6 boxes. Anything else you are own your own. Even with drinks, people do drink tap water. If I was there, for sure I'd be filling up every cup or mug with tap water if I couldn't buy any soda/juice. yes, disney does not owe you a free meal, but I think it would have looked much better.