IKE - The big PLANNING questions...

[Dodie]

OK. I'm officially worried.

We travel to WDW regularly in September and have always been lucky before. I know that it's risky, but this is just crazy. My stomach is literally hurting when I look at the graphic below. We are scheduled to arrive for our first VWL trip as OWNERS on Wednesday morning at 9:00 a.m. I don't care if it rains and blows while we are there. I just want to get there!

Since we just bought DVC in April and this is our first trip as owners, I have some questions about possible scenarios...

?-->If it becomes obvious that this hurricane is going to impact central Florida seriously and Wednesday is the "bad day," our flight would obviously be cancelled. If that happens, what can I do about our DVC reservation and points? If I call MS, I want to know what my options are.

?-->Could I drop a day and come on Thursday (assuming we could get a flight - questionable)? If so, would I eat the points for Wednesday night?

?-->At that late time, if there's anything available, could I book a trip with those same points (i.e., reschedule) for some time in November?

?-->Or - if the trip ends up being impossible - are we just out of luck?

Thanks. I try not to worry, but then I see posts like this one from a regular DIS poster who's a Floridian and my stomach gets in knots again...

While I don't want people to be stressing, please realize that Ike and Hannah are very different. Ike is already much stronger than Hannah. They are saying that Ike could be a Cat 4 when it makes landfall. One model is taking it off into the Atlantic, but the others have it heading right for Florida. It could pass just south of Florida, hit south Florida or even, hit Central Florida.

These storms are huge. Gustave was 1500 miles wide. If a Cat 4 storm were to pass to the south of Florida, Central Florida will feel strong winds and a ton of rain. In fact, we would be on the bad side of the storm. We would be on the side to see the tornadoes and strongest winds. If Ike were to hit south Florida, it would be worse. Even if Ike goes out into the Atlantic, unless it heads out sharply, we will feel it. If it goes into the Atlantic, we will at least be on the good side of the storm. The winds won't be as strong.

Any way you look at it, I really believe we will feel Ike pretty strongly in Central Florida. I am waiting and really watching this one. If they say that Ike will make landfall as a Cat 4 storm anywhere from Ft. Lauderdale north to Daytona and head across the state, I will be leaving the area. This type of storm would still be very strong moving across Central Florida.

I'm not trying to panic anyone, but comparing these storms is just crazy. They do different things and they certainly are different strengths. Remember all the folks on here a few weeks ago saying how Fay was nothing to worry about. Tell that to all those people on the east coast of Florida who lost their homes.

I realize that no one wants to change their vacation plans, but Ike really needs to be watched and respected.

 

[vicki_c]

I really can't answer your questions because we haven't had to cancel. But I just wanted to say that everyone should definitely take Feralpeg's advice seriously.

We lived in coastal central Florida through the 2004 and 2005 hurricane seasons (what a joyous time to move to Florida!) and I would agree that Ike is nothing to be dismissed from the looks of it as of today. Of course, you can't tell until it gets much much closer to landfall what it's really going to do, but it's best to treat it as a serious threat, not a big rainstorm like Fay was in Orlando, anyway (people in Melbourne don't see Fay quite the same way).

 

[JimMIA]

I'll let other better-qualified people answer your technical questions about your ressie, but I have one piece of advice on that subject.

If it turns out that you can't make your flight on Wednesday but are planning on going a day or two later, be SURE to call MS and/or the front desk of your resort. Be aware that when you call a resort, you don't really get the resort; you get the call center. You need to tell them you need to speak to the front desk manager and then tell that person what is going on.

If you just no-show without calling, all of the points for the stay will be forfeited and the ressie will be canceled. So you could arrive a day late, have NO place to stay, AND be out the points. Don't let that happen.

I believe these things are handled on a case-by-case basis and DVC tries to work with owners in situations like this, but hopefully others can give you good info.

As far as the storm, I would take the info in the post you quoted with a generous handful of salt. The news media hypes these things for all they're worth and that gets people overly excited sometimes.

We will be tracking Hurricane Ike on this thread for the next 6-8 days: Hurricane Ike

For accurate info about the storm without all the hype, go to www.nhc.noaa.gov (the National Hurricane Center site) or www.wunderground.com/tropical (Weather Underground's excellent site).

 

[Dodie]

Thanks all. I've not resigned myself to the worst yet, but I do want to be educated about what I can/should do if it happens.

Anyone have MS experience or advice with a similar situation?

 

[disneykid4ever]

I can tell you that I had a situation this past Winter where I was leaving out of Ottawa, Ontario, Canada to go to Disney World. The night before our flight we were notified that the flight was canceled due to heavy fog. This was after MS had already closed. I called and spoke to the Wilderness Lodge Front Desk and told them we would be arriving a day late. They noted it on my reservation and told me to call MS first thing in the morning. I did so and MS worked with me. Basically the points for the one night were put into a holding account which I had to use by a certain date. The rest of my trip went off without a hitch.

 

[CarolA]

I would like to point out...

If a hurricane hits, please try not to come back and post that the CMs didn't say "Welcome Home" didn't smile all the time, etc.. (just kidding but....)

My point is that the hurricane may disturb your vacation. Most of us will then get in our cars or in planes and go home to "no problem" Those CMs who are taking care you are not always as lucky... So remember that while they are there with you they are probably worried about thier homes/families. Be patient and remember the CM is not ANY happier about this then you are!

I am lucky that I live well out of hurricane "danger", but I was on the first plane to South Florida to go work at our hospital after Andrew came ashore. The destruction and issues can be overwhelming.

My father has people that live near him that work at Disney... The year of four storms hitting there, they went to work even though thier homes were flooded.....

 

[kimberh]

I would sure watch and see what is predicted for Central Florida. Having lived through a Cat 4 landfall, there is not any electricity, Water, phones for days or weeks. There are down trees everywhere, it looks like a bomb went off. Almost every roof in Charleston and surrounding areas had damaged. Ike is not a small storm. We are going to start having some of the effects of Hanna tomorrow, if it were Hanna, I would say Go.

I can't answer your points question, but I would not go into the path of a Cat 3 or 4 storm for anything. Then it still depends on what side of the storm the area you are in is on.

I am not trying to scare anyone, there are storms, then there are Storms. We dodge the bullet every few years, just as Florida, I would call the airlines for advice, they will tell you if they are still flying or not. Our Military airbase evacuated all the planes today for Hanna.

 

[Goofy's apprentice]

Sorry, don't have storm advice. But we were in the situation last winter of having our flight cancelled and arriving the next day. We called ahead to the resort and indicated that we were still arriving but one day late. Had we not called they would have cancelled the entire reservation and we would not have had a room. We didn't take the step to call MS to see if they would reinstate the first night points. I just didn't think of it. Nice to hear that it may be a possibility if you call and ask but probably not a guaranteed thing.

Ironically, that particular trip was one that we planned as we had a few points in holding that had to be used up. The night we lost took up almost allt hose points! Oh well, we eventually arrived and had a great vacation!