October 22, 2005 Roll call

[Kim&Chris]

I just got off the phone with DCL. I swear this is what she told me: the captain still does not know which route he wants to attempt for the 10/22 sailing, and there is a significant chance that he could hold the 10/15 Magic out at sea a few extra days if the waters are too rough to dock.

If that is the case, Disney is not going to put any of us in hotel rooms...we're on our own (this makes me very nervous - what if there aren't any rooms available??).

Is anyone giving any serious though to cancelling?

 

[Tenorsinging]

hey guys!!!! We are really kinda in the same boat as you guys (pardon the pun) and we are leaving 10/29, worrying about the weathah!!!!


I really hope things go well for you all.....safe journey to everyone, and I do hope your cruise can turn out to be truly MAGICal......


Good luck.

Tenor

 

[nbrannan]

How could they not put us up? What are we supposed to sleep in the terminal?

Kim- you flying out of Phila?

 

[DisneyDmbNut]

Your trip insurance would pay for hotel rooms and costs incurred with travel delays

I think that you might go out on time..so far it looks like the storm is starting to pick up speed

*pixie dust*

 

[ThreeSmiths]

I just got off the phone with DCL. I swear this is what she told me: the captain still does not know which route he wants to attempt for the 10/22 sailing, and there is a significant chance that he could hold the 10/15 Magic out at sea a few extra days if the waters are too rough to dock.

Is anyone giving any serious though to cancelling?

Last year we got so much conflicting info from DCL customer service on the phone all the way up to the day before the cruise. Everyone posting on the boards seemed to get a different answer. The real answer is that it is way to early to tell what's going to happen Saturday. So don't put any stock into what you hear on the phone from DCL.

I am not going to cancel, even if it leaves after Saturday. Cruises that were delayed last year offered anyone that decided to sail not only a partial refund of their current cruise fare, but a very nice discount (I believe some people got 40% off) of a future cruise booked within one year. Of course, who knows if they would offer the same this year, but if they do, I'll take them up on it!

 

[Kim&Chris]

How could they not put us up? What are we supposed to sleep in the terminal?

Kim- you flying out of Phila?

Hi, Yes, we're (hopefully) flying out of Philly on Friday morning.

When I asked about the possibility of a delay, the castmember told me (and I quote): "Why should Disney put you up?". I said "because I just paid several thousand dollars for a cruise that may not happen." And her response was "this hurricane is not Disney's fault, so you would need to find lodging on your own".

I'm just a tad angry at Disney right now anyway. They have not updated their weather warning since 5:00 yesterday, when Wilma was still a 2. I wish they'd let us know what they are doing in preparation for a delay/cancellation.

 

[Kim&Chris]

Last year we got so much conflicting info from DCL customer service on the phone all the way up to the day before the cruise. Everyone posting on the boards seemed to get a different answer. The real answer is that it is way to early to tell what's going to happen Saturday. So don't put any stock into what you hear on the phone from DCL.

I am not going to cancel, even if it leaves after Saturday. Cruises that were delayed last year offered anyone that decided to sail not only a partial refund of their current cruise fare, but a very nice discount (I believe some people got 40% off) of a future cruise booked within one year. Of course, who knows if they would offer the same this year, but if they do, I'll take them up on it!

I figured that there were probably alot of different answers floating around. I think the rep I spoke to was just especially crabby and sarcastic.

My DH is putting alot of pressure on me to cancel, so if that's the way we go, I wish all of you the very best of luck. Stay safe and have a great time!

 

[BeanoC]

Kim !! Remember me?? Back from the old CBR days?

Wow, I hate to think of anyone having to cancel this close to the cruise.

We're on the following cruise, on 10/29. I hope all this weather is gone by then!! We were lucky enough to get the Walt suite for this cruise; I don't know if we'd get it again if we have to cancel and rebook! Anyone know if they'll guarantee the same room for a rebooking?

Here's hopin' none of us have to!

 

[Kim&Chris]

Kim !! Remember me?? Back from the old CBR days?

Wow, I hate to think of anyone having to cancel this close to the cruise.

We're on the following cruise, on 10/29. I hope all this weather is gone by then!! We were lucky enough to get the Walt suite for this cruise; I don't know if we'd get it again if we have to cancel and rebook! Anyone know if they'll guarantee the same room for a rebooking?

Here's hopin' none of us have to!

Hi Beano! How are you??!!

If you re-book to a date where the Walt suite is already spoken for, then you're outta luck.

I just don't know what to do at this point. I'm SO bummed because we were going to stay at the BCV on Friday night and go to MNSSHP, both of which I was REALLY looking forward to. I just want to cry.

 

[pdarrah]

Kim & Chris - But if you cancel and the cruise sails as planned, your trip insurance wouldn't cover it would it. Isn't the "cancelation fee" at this point nearly the whole cost of the cruise?

We are flying out tonight and I am assuming that we're going on some sort of cruise. As far as I'm concerned, a hurricane off the west of FL shouldn't make the water too choppy on the east side of FL. I've gotton the impression that the wind-bands and such "only" spread out maybe 100 miles from the center. That shouldn't be effecting Port Canaveral for docking at 5AM on Saturday unless they are really wrong on the predictions. For that matter, how does someone on the phone lines at DCL know what the captain is thinking?

pdarrah

 

[MelissaE1]

As far as I'm concerned, a hurricane off the west of FL shouldn't make the water too choppy on the east side of FL. I've gotton the impression that the wind-bands and such "only" spread out maybe 100 miles from the center.

Hey pdarrah,
It seems impossible to believe that even 100 miles out could get all that bad, but the fact is hurricane and tropical storm force winds can and do spread for hundreds of miles out from the eye on a storm of this size. We are about 200 miles from New Orleans and we got tropical storm force winds so bad here during Katrina that we could barely walk upright when outside. We walked down to the beach and the water was roiling. We usually have calm, lakelike water in the Sound here, and it was taking out docks and crashing over seawalls. We will have land between us and Wilma though, which will make a big difference and help the surge a lot. Plus it doesn't look like it will be that close anyway.

Kim&Chris... I would hang in there. We'll be going somewhere and having fun, just might be a little different than planned. The most recent models are actually showing taking a drastic turn to the east now and not even hitting the peninsula. Itinerary not guaranteed but a good time is!

 

[JeffKiel]

I must confess that even I (the eternal optimist I might add) am getting a little nervous. NOAA maps from this afternoon have Wilma just off the east coast of Florida (assuming linear speed inbetween sample points, which probably isn't accurate) at 8pm on Saturday...quite a speed up from this morning when it was supposed to be still of the west coast at 2am Sunday IIRC. I must agree with others that it is south of PC which means the port won't get the worst of the storm, and they should be docking while it is a good distance away from the Fl Gulf coast, so I think they should still be able to dock on Sat morning. Will they leave early? I don't know their policy (I too am glad we are going down Friday). Will they not dock for fear that they won't get out Saturday afternoon/evening? Again, don't know their policy.

 

[janohiomom99]

We are leaving Saturday morning flying CO Airlines Cleveland to Orlando. We are a party of 7...3 adults and 4 children ranging in age from 14 yrs to 20 months. This is a first time Disney Cruise for all of us.

I really hope the hurricane does not impact the cruise at all. I am praying it just peters out and is followed by nothing but blue skys and warm weather. The Lord works in mysteryous ways.

I see on the DCL website that they updated the weather page last night at 5PM...so I will be looking for a new posting today at 5PM.

 

[Eric95403]

Here's an idea...why don't they just bring the boat in early (shorten the 7-dayer thats out now). That way they won't have to rush to get the boat ready. Then, we in turn can leave a few hours early for our cruise. Selfish? Sure.

I don't like the idea of the captain leaving the boat out at sea for a couple extra days until the water settles. I think/hope we'll be fine to leave on time. My fingers are crossed.

 

[MelissaE1]

I am praying it just peters out and is followed by nothing but blue skys and warm weather. The Lord works in mysteryous ways.

And therein lies the "silver lining"... usually after a hurricane you have lots of calm, dry, beautiful weather. Perfect for cruising. Hope it blows through fast and leaves that behind for us!

 

[Eric95403]

Still haven't packed....still on hurricane watch, but back from the pumpkin patch. Did anyone see some of the latest projections on CNN? There are several projected paths, some of the most recent...have it spinning into the Yucatan, whipping around then turning around and slamming Cuba (and Grand Cayman). That works for me, as it doesn't come close to the USA. Right now, it's wobbling in the lower caribbean. It has no wind to push it along, so it's using it's own motion to move along (picture a top spinning).

There is going to be a NOOA press conference/announcement here any minute televised live on CNN. I hope it's good news, but right now it's not moving. I guess that is good...delays right now are good. Spinning into the Yucatan is good (not for the people that live there though).

 

[joemuseum]

I think the rep I spoke to was just especially crabby and sarcastic.

Its not what you expect from Disney.

 

[nbrannan]

Kim

what time is you your flight on Friday?

 

[Eric95403]

Okay....they have the NHC on TV now. I think it might be good for us leaving on Saturday. There are 3 scenarios out there...unpredictable storm that has them baffled...One in which we've all seen, a quick moving storm hitting FL Saturday. A scenario that has it slowed way down and still just rounding Cuba on Saturday, and the scenario which I described above...in which it hits Yucatan, spins around and whips toward Cuba. The most likely forecast has it going in the second scenario...sllloooowwwing down and decreasing in strength. That is good for us, as it will be still well into the caribbean on Saturday afternoon. Sunday, 2pm has it being a Cat 1 on the east coast of FL. We...COULD...be well out of the way by then.

Our prayers could be answered......

 

[Skaught]

I was planning on driving over from St. Pete on Saturday morning, but we decided that possible evacuation traffic and weather may be bad, so just this morning I booked a room at the Raddison for $119 on Friday night. Taking into account the free week's parking (I would be paying $70), and it's only costing me an extra $50 + tax. He's hoping that we just get on board and high tail it outa there before the storm hits.

Scott