Parks will not open on Monday (email to Cast Members)

[The_Insider]

email to cast:

Hurricane Wilma Update 4
Date: 10/23/2005

We are continuing to monitor the progress of Hurricane Wilma as it stays on its path through the Gulf of Mexico and heads toward Florida's Gulf Coast. At this time landfall is anticipated between Fort Myers and Naples Monday morning. In Central Florida, we expect to experience the greatest winds between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. with an average of 40 mph winds and gusts between 60 and 70 mph. As a result of the anticipated weather conditions and the priority to keep our guests and Cast safe, the following decisions have been made:


All four Disney Theme Parks, Typhoon Lagoon, Downtown Disney® and Disney's Wide World of Sports® will not open tomorrow morning.



All Walt Disney World Resorts will remain open, with the exception of Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground which has already been evacuated to Disney's All-Star Resort. The Disney Reservation Center, Disney Cruise Line reservation center, and the Resort Call Center will be open.



Cast Members scheduled to work Monday morning at any of these locations should report to work no later than 7 a.m. and will be expected to remain until the storm passes. All others should monitor their local Cast Hotlines for report time information. Detailed operating hours will be available on the Guest tab of the My Disney TEAM portal.



We hope to open the Magic Kingdom® Park, Epcot®, and Downtown Disney after the storm passes.



Cast Members scheduled to work Monday morning at any of these locations should report to work no later than 7 a.m. and will be expected to remain until the storm passes. All others should monitor their local Cast Hotlines for report time information. Detailed operating hours will be available on the Guest tab of the My Disney TEAM portal.



The Disney University, Mickey's Retreat, Casting, Team Disney and most non-essential offices will be closed. Cast Members should contact their local leader for specific details.


The Walt Disney World Resort will offer childcare services for the children (ages 4 – 12) of working Cast Members Monday, October 24 at the Neverland Club at Disney's Polynesian Resort and the Sand Castle Club at Disney's Beach Club Resort. Space is limited. Cast Members must contact the Disney Reservation Center at 407-WDW-CAST to book reservations. These two locations will be open from 6:30 a.m. until 5:00 p.m. There is no charge to Cast Members and a complimentary meal is included.

The Central Florida YMCA Family Centers at the Walt Disney World Resort will be open as normal and back-up care is available.

 

[safetymom]

MK will be open for resort guests tomorrow. It will be closed to day guests until at least 2-4 PM. The news media is reporting the park is closed but that is not exactly true.

 

[02bBarbie]

Disney is reporting on their website that they are closing so they can only go by the info Disney is issuing.

Why on earth they would be opening the MK to just resort guests is beyond me..the weather is going to be NASTY

What is your source?

 

[disney1990]

From this evening's Orlandosentinel.com

Disney to close
Disney has decided to close all its parks Monday. But they're leaving open the possibility that they will reopen:

Weather permitting, Walt Disney World may reopen one or more theme parks after the storm passes on Monday to entertain the tens of thousands of Guests currently staying in our resort hotels.

Disney is asking its cast members to report to work by 7 a.m. to avoid winds. Read on for more.


Due to the potential of tropical storm force winds associated with Hurricane Wilma, all four Walt Disney World Theme Parks, Typhoon Lagoon, Downtown Disney and Disney’s Wide World of Sports will not open tomorrow morning, Monday, October 24.

We have made this decision in an abundance of caution based on information from the National Weather Service, the National Hurricane Center and local emergency preparedness officials, all of whom currently expect the storm to pass more than 100 miles south of the resort.

All resort hotels will remain open, though Guests staying at Disney’s Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground have been relocated to other hotels on property.

All Cast Members scheduled to work Monday morning at the Magic Kingdom, Epcot, Walt Disney World Resort hotels and the Disney Reservation and Call Centers should report to their work locations no later than 7 a.m. to avoid stronger winds expected later in the morning. All other Cast Members should contact their Cast Hotlines or their leaders for information about their schedule for Monday.

 

[paytonjsplace]

I posted this on another thread, but looking at the various weather sources, it looks like -- as predicted now -- the storm might be through by 4pm with rain ending and winds calming. So, it's feasible that if this storm follows the projected path -- they COULD open MK for resort guests for the late afternoon and tomorrow evening.

 

[safetymom]

Yes that is now the current information.

 

[BluOrchid2]

I can't believe they are planning on closing with only 40 mph winds, gusts around 60-70.

 

[Ted and Holly]

I can't believe they are planning on closing with only 40 mph winds, gusts around 60-70.

Hehe, only.

 

[TSR6]

From the sounds of it, Disney Quest is going to try and open early, to give the guests a place to go. That is assuming the storm passes fast enough, and there isn't damage.

Definately call first though!!!! I wouldn't want anyone to show up and say "I read on DIS that you'd open early"

 

[Jacky]

I can't believe it. I just spent 6 nights at OKW and now have moved to the Nick hotel- the first time in years I am off property--- and now the parks may only be open for resort guests in the late afternoon?? Well, can I say-- NEVER AGAIN. I will not leave property again. LOL

The NICK hotel thing is OK- but I won't stay here again. :-(

Jacky

 

[peter11435]

I can't believe they are planning on closing with only 40 mph winds, gusts around 60-70.

Its also called potential tornadoes. MK and Epcot will be reopening to resort guests only after the storm passes after 3-4.

 

[znjmom]

Our local station just showed, across the bottom of the screen, that all Disney parks would be closed Monday. Seaworld and Discovery Cove are still planning to be open.

 

[Pigsty333]

This is the email they sent out to travel agents. The reason for closing is not so much the winds, it is just the tornadoes that are forming. We have had a few touch down already so they are better safe than sorry.

Florida-Based Disney Destinations Hurricane Update

Sunday, Oct. 23, 2005



Walt Disney World Resort

Due to the potential of tropical storm force winds associated with Hurricane Wilma, all four Walt Disney World Theme Parks, Disney's Typhoon Lagoon Water Park, the Downtown Disney area and Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex will not open tomorrow morning, Monday, Oct. 24, 2005.

Weather permitting, the Walt Disney World Resort may reopen one or more Theme Parks after the storm passes on Monday to entertain the tens of thousands of Guests currently staying in our resort hotels.

We have made this decision with an abundance of caution based on information from the National Weather Service, the National Hurricane Center and local emergency preparedness officials, all of whom currently expect the storm to pass more than 100 miles south of the resort.

All resort hotels will remain open, though Guests staying at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground have been relocated to other hotels on property.

The Walt Disney World Resort has an extensive hurricane preparedness plan and is prepared for a realm of possible impacts that this type of weather could have on our property.

As a reminder, a temporary cancellation and "No Show" policy has been adopted for Travel Agents who have booked reservations through Walt Disney World or the Walt Disney Travel Company.

"No Show" penalties will be waived for any Guest arrivals between Friday, Oct. 21, and Monday, Oct. 24, 2005.

 

[NorgeKathrine]

I can't believe they are planning on closing with only 40 mph winds, gusts around 60-70.

45 miles an hour is the limit by which police, fire, and ambulance crews are no longer allowed to be out on the roads in a storm. Even if you called and were dying of a heart attack or whatever... they cannot go out to save you.

I think Disney is doing the right thing.

 

[firemanx]

guys just remember this is a hurican and no one has any idea what it will do. It was suppose to arrive in FL on saturday, and now not till moday it sat on mexico for 2.5 days and it could do the same to us.

 

[makinorlando]

I can't believe they are planning on closing with only 40 mph winds, gusts around 60-70.

Not to mention the tornado threats.

 

[diddldonna]

I am from the uk and watching the hurricane on Fox news, i am hoping everyone will be okay. I have a Friend at disney right now and the updates on this site are helping me alot.

We are due to arrive in 3 and a half weeks, i hope we don't get any hurricanes then.

Donna

 

[cara76]

We are about 45 mins North of Disney, it's really rainy and windy out. It's yucky! There are tornado warnings popping up which is normal and Wilma is about to make landfall right around Naples. If I can stay awake, I'll post some more as they update.

 

[Uncleromulus]

Everyone seems to be in the "better safe than sorry" mode. Which given the current state of weather forecasting, is about all they can do.

 

[edingerc]

Think about this. You are at WDW and it's raining. It's too windy to use an umbrella, so what do you do? You slip into the closest gift shop and pick up a poncho. THAT'S why Disney is closing. Ponchos worn in wind are known as sails!

There's a set of small islands off the coast of Portugal called The Azores. They have strong winds that cross the island. Since they have high cliffs, they have fences to save people from falling off the islands. Ponchos are illegal.

Imagine a 5-year old in a 40 mile an hour wind, wearing this on a Disney property.