Offical Hurricane Frances thread!

[MarcyIn Florida]

Originally posted by pogopossum
congrats monstro,
i just wish i knew where to make res for friday night, pretty sure that we won't need those pc res'.

Can you stay in Tampa or Sarasota or Clearwater on Friday night? It will be a haul to the port, but you are much more likely to be safe. What about staying at WDW?

For those of you flying into Florida, while I know this is often a vacation of a liftime for you, please do keep your families' safety in the forefront.

 

[KANSAS]

where is the magic at this time?

where is it likely to disembark

Key West?
Tampa?

probably not pt caneveral??

 

[allears]

Originally posted by jfs9900
If I was booked on the 09/04 sailing I think I would not be very happy with the way Disney is handling this.

Last week they decided to change the port at CC. The storm has an entire week to change direction. Now as projections become more and more consistent that it will hit the Florida coast Disney has still not confirmed it's plans.

I would have to disagree. The unpredictable nature of hurricanes makes a lot of advanced planning difficult. Even if DCL made a change in plans for docking somewhere else today, that will not mean everyone's plans will be easily changed. Not all flights, curise bound or home bound will not be re-routed, many air ports may be closed. Also a shifit of a realtive few miles in the storms track could cause it to come ashore 100s of miles in either direction of Port Canaveral. And if it shifts north, the port area may not even have bad weather.

It is a total crap shoot and there are a tremendous number of factors that have to be considered and then ultimately it will be up to the captain to decide what is best for his vessle.

I wouldn't want to be a DLC executive now trying to decide what to do, because you're bound to make some people very unhappy.

 

[femmfaerie]

Originally posted by KANSAS
Where is the Magic right now.

where is it likely to disembark

Key West?
Tampa?

probably not pt caneveral??

They are in Cozumel.
I was just told they might possibly dock at Ft Lauderdale about 2 hours ago from a
crew member on board

 

[Zandy595]

Just joining this thread...

Looks like Frances is heading to my area. DH is putting up our shutters as soon as he gets back from filling up the propane tank. The local news had it going straight at Port Canaveral this morning. I haven't seen an update lately.

 

[Lisa loves Pooh]

Hello--Lisa Loves Pooh lives in Brevard County--if you continued past DCL in PC (don't get off of 528) and merge onto A1A--continue South through Cape Canaveral, Cocoa Beach, Patrick Air Force Beach, Satellite Beach, Indian Harbour Beach--you will get to where I live, Indialantic. It is the Melbourne Area and on a good day it takes me 35 minutes to get within a good view of the Magic or Wonder at the port.


The key about the Governor making a statement--is that large corporations like Disney--will be more inclined to allow cancellations. They are still honoring their regular policy, but will review each guest on a case by case basis. If you can successfully cancel your reservation without penalty, it is best to stay home where you are safe. If following the current path--the entire state will be covered with Frances and experiencing all sorts of horrific hurricane/tropical storm wind weather. I know it SUCKS--but there is not much to be done. They will begin our evacuations tomorrow and we have added a 3rd night to our Wilderness Lodge Frances Experience.

Be prepared for flights to be going crazy beginning Friday evening, train service to be cancelled into Florida for the weekend and coastal hotels being unavailable.

As far as DCL--all the cruise lines are waiting until the last possible moment as much as it makes your hair stand on edge as their are a ton of logistics involved in changing ports.

Sounds like the Wonder will be taking that Cari-Gulf-ean cruise after all

Happy cruising!

 

[SNicksed]

Originally posted by pin
My family will be sailing on the 9/2 Wonder tomorrow. We booked through Dreams Unlimited and I got the following email a little before noon today.

Disney has just released information concerning the 3-night sailing of the
Disney Wonder on September 2, 2004. Due to Hurricane Frances, this sailing
will not visit any ports of call. The ship will sail as scheduled on
Thursday, September 2, 2004 and spend the entire time at sea. Disney has
advised that they will give a $300 shipboard credit to each stateroom on
this sailing for this inconvenience.

I think I could deal with this. Eeeeks... I may have to.

 

[KANSAS]

cnbc just reported that hurrican frances is predictred to be the most dangerous and expensive storm in us history
worse than hurrican andrew

I am told by my friends and DCL people, to just be flexible and some cruise will occur, not sure when it will start, or where though?

I just keep thinking to myself, this just does not look good and i should cancell

for those of you, who are scheudled to be on the Septembe 4,2004 cruise

please tell me your thoughst at this moment

 

[rae519]

More nervous as I read and hear more about this storm. Don't want to lose money but would rather be alive!

Just going to sit tight and wait to see what happens. After all, "Acts of God" aren't insurable!

Rae

 

[MBFergie]

If the magic is going out of Ft. Lauderdale I would be more then willing to help out any disers with whatever I could. If you would like to PM me with your email address I will give you my cell phone # or ask me anything you would like to know about hotels, etc. The port here is so convenient to the airport and there are alot of hotels nearby and great restaurants.

 

[rae519]

That is very kind of you, Marie! Take care and God bless you!

Rae

 

[Miss Jasmine]

Lisa, I live in North Melbourne. You are still going to WDW? I have reservations but I am scared to go there as predictions show the hurricane hitting Orlando. What to do.

 

[CaribGirl]

Most post are for Magic on Sept 4, but has anyone heard for the Wonder Sept 5 departure? This will be after the storm, and either we'll be evacuated and not able to get to PC. I also live in Brevard and is waiting a little more. Don't know whether to go south and hopefully Disney will dock in Ft. Lauderdale, and hoping that Frances does not head more west, or sit tight, or head north. No matter where we go, it will be chaos. And certainly don't want a hit in South Brevard as they are predicting, b/c that is right at us!!!!

Turn baby turn!

 

[ohiominnie]

Originally posted by pogopossum
we went on four day cruise in may of 1999, and seven day cruise in aug of 2000. anyone who cruised before fall of 1999 has pictures of the magic facing the opposite direction than they dock now at cc, that is a result of hurricane damage and the work that had to be done in order to get back in to cc. we have pictures of the ship facing both front and back.

They still sometimes pull in frontward. I asked about this on our last cruise and was told it was up to the discretion of the captain, but usually now they decide to take the time in the morning to back in so in case they need a quick get-away it's a lot easier to do that. You'll notice that for special cruises they still pull in forward for the photo-op (DVC members cruise, AP cruise, etc)

I, too, for a long time, believed that it was the hurricane damage that caused this.

 

[mrsltg]

for those of you, who are scheudled to be on the Septembe 4,2004 cruise

KANSAS- while I am not on the 9/4 cruise (I'm on the 9/11), I would be seriously considering cancelling. There is not a whole lot in Florida that would tempt me to head into this storm. I am almost completely sure that Disney will let people reschedule. While I understand that they have NEVER cancelled a cruise due to weather, I have to think that the option is becoming very tempting to them right now. It would disappoint me terribly to have to skip my cruise, but I'd rather be sad than dead or hurt.

Again for you Florida folks... you're in my prayers. Please let us know if you need anything. I just can't believe what a beast this system is.

Erin

 

[belleandthebeast]

Just got off the phone with DCL about the 9/5 Wonder. No changes as of yet. DCL suggested continually checking back over the next 2-days. We are flying out Friday morning so we should be okay as far as air.

Good luck and God bless to all sailing this weekend.

 

[WisconsinDisneyGirl]

ohiominnie-

We are booked on the Sept. 5. I have no idea what I am going to do. I had plan B- but that won't work now. Plan C -- also not working out. Now I am working on plan "D"isney! I figure if they don't have the cruise I would just go to WDW for the entire vacation. Who knows at this point if that will work out???

My stress level is up and down. I am sure you are all feeling that. So, my Atkins diet is down the drain as of yesterday! I drak a few wines and just made some cookies! I have fallen off the wagon, hit my head and ran over! For all of you in FL- thank you for all the great information. Be safe and God Bless. I wish I could give you some of my cookies.

 

[cjsmith]

As far as staying at Walt Disney is concerned, if you want something book it very, very quickly. I was on with them this morning as they told me that most of the rooms are already booked. They're crazy getting calls from locals needing a place to stay as well as those who are coming in early.

 

[cjsmith]

Originally posted by jfs9900
If I was booked on the 09/04 sailing I think I would not be very happy with the way Disney is handling this.

Last week they decided to change the port at CC. The storm has an entire week to change direction. Now as projections become more and more consistent that it will hit the Florida coast Disney has still not confirmed it's plans.

If they announce now that they will dock at Tampa - it would give everyone lots of time to prepare. Book hotel rooms, rearrange transportation etc. etc. If they make the announcement now and stick to it - even if the storm changes course everyone has a lot of advantaged notice.

I have to differ with you on this one. Disney and all the other cruise lines, hotels, etc. are handling the situation very well. It is very hard at this point in time to know exactly what is going to happen with the hurricane. Charley changed it's path at the last moment and ended up hitting down here in Florida rather than Tampa. Who knows exactly where this huge storm is going to end up. If DCL made their decision today and changed the port to Tampa and then the storm never touched Florida at all, boy would people be screaming.
Those of us who live in Florida and have homes and our lives down here would love nothing more than knowing exactly when and where this hurricane is going to slam into the US. Remember, those executives at Disney Cruise more than likely live in Florida themselves and have a lot more at stake and angering a few people who are coming to cruise for the week.
Everyone is going to have to sit tight and wait this one out, whether you have a cruise planned or not. Just hope for the best, be as prepared as possible, and be ready to go with the flow as there's nothing else that you can do.

 

[CM_Mom]

Somehow I really doubt they will cancel any sailings.

Cruisecritic shows that Disney Magic and Disney Wonder with a crew of 950 each. The ship is certaiinly safer at sea than in port and they will have the crew on board so why not have guests as well?

The only real problem the ship will have is being sure to find a port where it's safe to dock for long enough to get the current guests off the ship, and get the new guests and supplies on the ship.

All of you in Florida and those of you with vacations on the line are in my prayers.

Turn Baby Turn.