September 11, 2001 - Did Disney Close that Day?

brunette8706

DIS Veteran
Joined
Apr 5, 2004
Messages
4,065
Hi All!

It's been 9 years since that horrible tragedy. I was just wondering if Walt Disney World closed that day? Does anyone know anything specific that day at Disney?

I can't believe it will be 10 years next year. I have no idea where the time goes.

Brunette
 

I have a very eerie story about that. First time I took my mom and son was in 2001. We had our vacation set from 9/5 - 9/10. After talking to so many people, I decided I wanted to add a few days to our trip. I hadn't even HEARD of the DIS yet, so I didn't have all the info on how you could add days, etc. I tried, and tried, and tried to add a few days to our trip. I was just using the Disney website then. Every time I tried, there would be an error, or my computer would freeze up, or something would happen that I couldn't add any days. Finally my mom said "maybe we're SUPPOSED to leave on 9/10." Well, we did and now we know what happened on 9/11.
 
I have a very eerie story about that. First time I took my mom and son was in 2001. We had our vacation set from 9/5 - 9/10. After talking to so many people, I decided I wanted to add a few days to our trip. I hadn't even HEARD of the DIS yet, so I didn't have all the info on how you could add days, etc. I tried, and tried, and tried to add a few days to our trip. I was just using the Disney website then. Every time I tried, there would be an error, or my computer would freeze up, or something would happen that I couldn't add any days. Finally my mom said "maybe we're SUPPOSED to leave on 9/10." Well, we did and now we know what happened on 9/11.

*
Hi joshsmom-

That is eerie. Thanks for posting that. Some things are just meant to "be".
 
Disney parks closed not to show deference or to honor/mourn anybody but rather in case they might have been targeted by more terrorists.
 
From Pjimmeyer's link. Thank you!

When people usually talk about what happened on 9/11, the focus (for obvious reasons) is on New York City, Washington D.C. and that field just outside of Shanksville, PA.

But -- that said -- it's also important to remember what happened immediately after those four planes crashed. That sudden surge of panic that swept across the country. All because people in the U.S. had no idea what was going to happen next.

In several of the books that have since been written about 9/11, it's noted that the Walt Disney Company quickly closed its stateside theme parks that day. Reportedly out of concern that the Disneyland and Walt Disney World resorts might also be on the terrorists' target list.

The Mouse (for very obvious reasons) has never officially commented on what actually happened in Anaheim & Orlando on 9/11. But back in March of 2006, I asked JHM readers to share their stories about what it was like to be at the parks on that day. And quite a few folks came forward with some pretty amazing tales of that time.

WDWCASTMEMBER remembers the day starting out something like this:

I (was) getting trained on 2 major attractions (at the Magic Kingdom) when my manager told both me and my trainer what had just happened in NY. We quickly went to the nearest Cast Member Break Room and I managed to see the second plane hitting the tower "live." The room was packed with all sorts of managers and I remember very vividly the (very surprised) reaction on their faces when the ABC reporter said:

"This just in: (The Walt Disney Company) has just announced that (it) will be closing (its) theme parks worldwide."

And literally less than a minute after the reporter said that, their beepers started going off like crazy and they walked out of the break room.

About 5 - 10 minutes after that incident, they notified cast members of what we were going to do.

First we shut down all the attractions and restaurants and merchandise shops to get the guests out in the street. We were strictly forbidden from telling them what was the real reason why we decided to close the park. Which caused some confusion; and maybe even some irate guests at times. But it avoided (quite effectively) the cause for panic from our guests. They even gave us a simple spiel to tell them in case they had questions.

Michael, a Frontierland cast member who was in the park that morning, confirms this part of WDWCASTMEMBER'S story:

We were told not to tell the guests what had happened unless they asked us. I remember one guest asking me and -- after I told them -- they just stood there blank faced and didn't move for a bit.

(By the way), the announcement that was made (in the theme parks that morning) ... did NOT mention anything about what had happened or why the parks were closing. It simply stated that " ... Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Magic Kingdom is now closed. Please follow the direction of the nearest Cast Member."

Continuing with WDWCASTMEMBER's account of that morning:

Once the guests were forced to the streets of the park because all the rides were closed, all the cast members were instructed to hold hands and basically form a human wall and gently (without touching any one) walk towards the hub of the park and eventually towards Main Street. That way we could basically force the guests out of the park. Disney Security obviously followed each human wall and made sure no one got past it.

That "human wall procedure" was done at all 4 parks, by the way. And guests were given complimentary tickets at the turnstiles as they left the park.

Mind you, Kelly had a somewhat different take on what happened at the Magic Kingdom that morning. But -- then again -- she wasn't a cast member. But just a typical tourist trying to enjoy a day at that theme park with her family.

On 9/11, I was eating breakfast at Tony's with my family (and 6 months pregnant to boot). We were sitting in the front where all of the windows were, and I noticed many CMs in business attire with headsets walking throughout the park. It was the last full day of our (WDW) vacation. We had originally planned to fly (out) that day, but I (had) talked my husband into (staying) another day.

Our waiter was a young man from the midwest, and his accent was thick (At least to this New Yawker). All of the staff were talking and he came over to us and said what I thought was "The trade centers IN Washington were hit with planes." We were confused, finished our meal and went to take our daughter on Dumbo and the Carousel. I tried to call my Dad back home, since he always has FOX news on. And when (my cell) kept saying "All circuits were busy," I knew something was up.

My Aunt works at MGM as Security. So I knew that WDW was considered a prime terrorist target. So I said to my husband, Matt: "We need to get out of the Magic Kingdom. This could be hit next."

We tried to get over to MGM to my aunt (I figured she would know the whole story). But on the bus ride over, just as we got to MGM, the bus driver told us about the Towers, Washington and the possiblity of PA. She explained (that we) were going back to the TTC and (that we should all) take the appropriate route to our hotels/cars and evacuate. I have never heard a WDW bus so quiet. I was close to tears.

Neal G. -- who was over at Disney's Animal Kingdom that morning -- now shares his experience:

My wife and I were at WDW on September 11, 2001.

We were actually having breakfast at the Rainforest Cafe at the Animal Kingdom when the planes crashed, but had no idea anything happened. After breakfast we went into the park and after about 2 1/2 hours decided to leave (it's about 11:30 a.m. now). Until I read your article today I never knew that an announcement had been made. We never heard it.

It didn't seem like an unusual amount of people were leaving (Animal Kingdom). But at the next stop, Blizzard Beach we noticed hundreds of people leaving. I asked someone that got on the bus what was going on, and he informed us about what had happened in New York. We were in absolute shock. We went back to the Yacht Club where we were staying and just watched TV in disbelief.

At one point a gunship flew overhead so closely that my wife could clearly see someone manning one of the machine guns (It looked like the plane flew in from MGM Studios and then went right out over EPCOT).

The resorts tried to do everything they could that night. They kept the pools open until midnight and they had characters roaming all around the Boardwalk area. The cast members were doing the best they could to help and try to keep (a) calm atmosphere. People were walking around not really knowing what to do. I commented to my wife that [here] we were at one [of] the happiest places on earth, yet it was a strange, sad and terrible feeling.

The next day (Wednesday) we went to National Car Rental desk at the WDW Dolphin to try and rent a car since we had flown out of Logan (Yes, we are from the Boston area. And boy did we get looks from people when we told them, and comments like "Oh, you are from Boston") and knew the likelihood of our Saturday flight getting out was remote. National was a mob scene, and they could not get us a car until Friday.

We then went to the Magic Kingdom, where security tables had been set up overnight. It was at these tables that they had set up to check bags before you entered any of the Parks where it finally really hit you. Especially since they were not there the day before.

The next 2 days were tough to get through, even being at the parks. It was such a subdued, almost surreal atmosphere.

Mind you, Ian G. (Who was over visiting Epcot with his brother that morning) had a somewhat different take on what happened on 9/11:

I was actually in EPCOT on 9/11. To be more specific, I was on Spaceship Earth - the ride devoted to the rapid change in communication and how we can instantly connect with each other. Well, it's true, I guess!

As we exited the ride (It must have been around 11, but I forget) a mass of people were calmly all going in the direction of the exit. We didn't think anything of it until we saw the tip board in Future World and saw that all the rides were closed. I figured for that to happen there either needed to be a power outage, a hurricane or a bomb. A cast member casually walked up to us and honestly told us that "2 planes had crashed into a building in New York and the Pentagon."

And that was it. We just left the park. It was such a strange thing to think about. Surely (that cast member who talked with us) was exaggerating!

Exiting the park was calm and orderly. People still seemed to be in a good mood. No one was crying or panicking or anything like that. If anything, I think everyone was anxious to go back to their rooms and turn on the news.

On the monorail back to the Poly, people (including me) were talking, nearly joking actually, about (how) the president (must have been) killed. We figured (that was what it) must have been. Otherwise why the fuss? There was no way anyone could have imagined what was really occuring.

At one point on the ride back to our hotel, I actually blurted out that "I bet there's like a huge hole in the building with smoke coming out...whoa!" And people literally chuckled because it was just so unfathomable that it could really be that way.

I gotta say that WDW handled it really well. It was so calm there that it was hard to assume the worst had happened. It wasn't until we were back at the Poly & turned on the news that the sense of panic and fear really hit.

WDW was by far the best place to be that day, the cast members were great.

That's a WDW vacation I'll never forget.

Mind you, in spite of the three hour time difference, things were just as surreal out at the Disneyland Resort. Whether you experienced that day from outside of the theme parks ...

(On the morning of 9/11, both Disneyland & Disney's California Adventure were) already closed when I drove out to the Anaheim Convention Center for a computer conference ([Which was] also postponed). There were a couple of cast members at the gates to answer questions. But most people responded to being told that (the theme parks were closed for the day) with "Oh, sure."

Or on the inside of a Disney hotel ...

I was staying at the Grand Californian the night of Sept. 10, 2001, and I can tell you the message the hotel sent to our voicemail the next morning *did* say the parks would be closed "due to the events that occurred in New York and Washington, DC this morning." I'd overslept (probably because Downtown Disney, which was just outside my window, was unusually quiet), and the voicemail had me frantic, wondering what had happened. I called the front desk and was told "They're bombing New York and Washington DC!" The hotel offered discounted rates to departing guests stranded in Southern California, but those of us who could pack up headed for home. At the time it seemed that the Disney theme parks might be the next target, since they have such a high profile. As I was checking out, I had the daylights scared out of me by a costumed Rafiki character who came up behind me and patted my shoulder -- probably not the cuddliest character to have roaming the halls during a tense morning!

Or backstage at the park ...

(Back in the Fall of 2001), I ... (had) ... a Backstage role (at Disneyland). I was fortunate enough to live close enough to the Resort to ride my bicycle to work each day (there are showers and locker rooms in the building I worked in).

Believe it or not, I rode my bicycle through the gate right before the first plane hit (I had no idea what was happening at the time). I showered and dressed for what I thought would be a normal day. When I got to my office, I went through the break room and found EVERYONE in the building watching the TV. Again, not knowing what was going on, I asked why people were not working. Someone in the room told me what had happened. I too, sat and watched the TV.

Soon after that, we received word that the Parks would not be opened at all that day and that we all would need to start calling Cast Members who were not already at work to stay home.

Several members of my staff were taken to the scheduling area to begin calling several hundred Cast Members. In the middle of that, the decision was made that we needed to do something for the Guests who were staying in on-site hotels (preferably Characters). Some folks were called back (I.E. Performers, technicians, drivers, etc.) to come in after all.

All was going OK (People were getting their jobs done; no one was freaking out), until about 8:50 a.m. At that point, an emergency call went out over the Park radios to evacuate every building in both Parks.

You see, there was a report that came in that airplanes were headed for the Resort at 9:00 a.m. too. I vividly remember RUNNING through the building with my boss searching every room, opening every door, and yelling to get OUT of the building NOW (Park Security was tied up in other locations and many officers were not yet at work).

At 8:59, my boss and I ran out of the building, satisfied that we were the last to leave. We joined the others in the pre-designated evacuation area to wait. And wait. And wait ...

I thought the clock was standing still ...

9:05 ...

9:10 ...

9:15 ...

Someone thought they heard a jet, but no one could see one ...

9:30 ...

Still waiting for the all-clear ...

At about 9:45 we were finally let back into the building to keep making calls.

Shortly after that, all of the management folks were called into a meeting at Lincoln Theatre to be briefed on what was going on.

My boss and I along with another manager went to the meeting. At that meeting, we were giving information verifying that the Parks would remain closed for the day. Everyone was briefed about Characters and Guests at the hotels. We were given additional security information that I should really not go into.

The meeting was very emotional. It may have been the first time for many of those people to realize that this was serious. This was not a drill or a test.

After the meeting, we joined other Cast Members at the Inn Between (I.E. he Cast Cafeteria behind Main Street U.S.A.) for lunch. Other managers were actually doing the cooking and serving. Mickey paid for lunch.

I remember walking back to my office down Main Street U.S.A. It was the middle of the day. Main Street was completely empty. The BGM (I.E. Background music) had been turned off. It was by far the strangest sight I remember seeing.

One more thing I remember: When I got back to my office, I had no sooner sat down than we got another emergency call to come to the warehouse immediately. At the same time, the fire alarm started to go off. It seems that a forklift driver -- trying to get a pallet of something that was needed -- hit and sheared off a fire sprinkler. The warehouse was flooded. The fire department was able to get the water off, and we spent the next couple of hours cleaning up.

At the end of that, my boss sent us home to be with our families. I climbed on my bike and rode out the gate for the last time (Personal vehicles were no longer allowed Backstage after that).

As to what it was like to work at the Disney theme parks immediately after 9/11, I'll let an old Jungle Cruise captain have the final word:

I was there at the MK on Sept 11, 2001. I was a CP working as a Jungle Cruise Skipper, and had gone into the park early with friends to "play" before our afternoon shifts. Imagine our disbelief and horror as we watched this all unfold with a handful of other CMs on the small TV in the Main Street breakroom. The rest of the day was a bit of a blur. A very painful day, but the folks in costume were able to pull it together and go assist the evac with those trademark Disney smiles.

The next morning I returned to work, we discovered a major problem. Our fun-loving, wise-cracking spiel usually included the downed airplane just before the hippos. The usual line goes: "It's plane to see how I landed this job. I took a crash course!"

Obviously, any airplane crash jokes were now completely inappropriate. Some skippers tried to distract their crews (in this area of the attraction) with other jokes. Others -- such as myself -- had a brief moment of silence. Suffice to say, none of us will ever view that show scene the same way again.

In the days that followed, during and after all commercial airline had been grounded, an occassional jet would streak across the sky over the Magic Kingdom. Everything, everyone would stop and watch that airplane silhouette (as they held their) breath.

The hardest part of it all was staying so darn happy. Everyone - CMs and Guests- felt dead inside. Yet it was the CMs who had to work 8+ hour shifts "making the magic" to distract everyone from the heavy shadow of the 9/11 attacks. And then the cut-hours and layoffs that followed... You could not imagine a quieter, more depressed breakroom.

It's not a happy memory, but you were looking for a first hand account. I honestly can't recall a PA announcement (in the theme park on 9/11). I was not in costume yet. So I was probably gone by that point to be home with my fellow CPs who were all from NY and NJ.

Portions of today's story were originally posted on JHM as part of two features that ran on March 8th & 10th of 2006. Again, I want to offer my thanks to all those readers who came forward to share their memories about what it was like to be on property back on 9/11.​
 
I had a conference in Orlando the first week of October, 2001, three weeks after the September 11 attacks. Two things about that trip were fairly notable:

1. My flight to Orlando was not direct. I first flew into LaGuardia airport in NYC (before catching a flight from there to Orlando). The pilot got on the intercom as we were approaching NYC and told us the flight plan they were assigned would take us directly over the ground zero site, which would be visible outside the left windows. Sure enough, ground zero only three weeks after the attacks was clearly visible, some residual smoke/dust still swirling up and away from the site. There were a few cranes on site trying to dig/sift through the rubble. I was surprised that they were flying any planes so close to the site, given what had happened.

2. When I arrived in Orlando, I collected my checked luggage and proceeded to the car rental counter. Things looked really strange -- long stretches of counter with rental company employees poised near computer terminals, but no customers standing in front of the counters. Instead I saw people sitting on the floor in little groups. Some couples, a lot of families. I wondered what was going on as I stepped up to the counter.

The rental agent asked my name and then told me what was going on. In the three days immediately following 9/11, no airplanes were flying anywhere in the U.S.. That left thousands of people stranded in Orlando when their Disney/Universal/whatever vacations ended, with no flights home. What many people did was get one-way car rentals out of Orlando to whereever their homes were. With so many people taking rental cars one way out of Orlando, there was a severe shortage of rental cars actually IN Orlando three weeks later.

Those people sitting on the floor all around the rental counters were waiting for cars to become available so they could begin their Orlando vacations! There were no chairs or benches in that part of the airport because who needs to sit down when you're just going to pick up a rental car and go?

Then the rental agent tells me that because I am a member of their frequent renter/VIP program, that there was no need to worry because a car was due to be returned within the next 15 minutes and it would go to me. In other words, I wouldn't have to wait around on the floor of the airport for hours. I would get the next car before all those folks who had been waiting for who knows how long.

I was immediately uncomfortable with that, and told the rental agent I could wait. My conference didn't start until the following morning. These other people are having their vacations shortened every hour they waited and that little kids would have a lot harder time waiting around than an adult with a couple of books to read while he waits.

The agent then got a strange look on her face and asked me if it was ONLY me in my 'party.' When I confirmed that yes, it was just me, she asked if a small pickup truck would be alright. I shrugged and said sure, why not? It was the only vehicle they had available at that moment, and it wasn't usable for the families sitting around waiting for a rental car anyway. So they re-figured my rental contract and handed me the keys.

Given the circumstances, I wasn't about to complain. But this "rental" vehicle clearly wasn't really a rental vehicle. It had 80-something thousand miles on it. It was obviously a mechanic's truck, and smelled horribly of cigarette smoke. It had just been converted to renter use due to the unusual circumstances of the previous few weeks. But at least I had a vehicle.

David
 
Thanks for sharing - it made me cry as well. I will never forget where I was on 9/11.

*
You're welcome harpinjean!

It certainly is sad to read all about the incidents that happened during September 11, 2001. What a somber day indeed.

God Bless America.

Brunette
 
Yes it did close . We were there. I call it the day the magic disappeared.

We were staying off site in a rented house. We were on our way to Mk when we heard a plane had hit one of the towers. We thought it was a small plane and never dreamed the it was a commercial airliner or the magnitude of what we had heard. We entered the park and headed to Tomorrowland. My daughter and son-in-law wanted to ride Space Mountain so DH and I sat on a bench near the exit with our GS. We were sitting right near one of the CMtunnel entrances. We took notice the amount of Cms that were entering the tunnel. I had a pager that got news on it and I took it out and read the news. World Trade Center towers hit, Pentagon hit, Plane in Pennsylvania. We were a country under attack. All planes were being grounded and 7 more planes were unaccounted for. My eyes immediately went to the sky. I knew we could be a major target. The military knew it too. Jet planes were flying over us continually. Cms were coming out of the tunnel with shocked looks in there eyes. One of them came over to us and told us to head over to Town hall that due to world circumstances, the park would be closing. We immediately headed over there and were given tickets to come back another day. The Main Street band was playing as we were leaving. It reminded me of how they say it was on the Titanic. As we were heading out they made the general announcement about the park closing. We got on the boat to the transportation center before most of the crowds.I knew we knew so much more than most of those people in the park. they were smiling and laughing as they were leaving. We never said a word to each other. I just knew I was glad to have my family together. We got back to our house and turned on the news. We watched it all day. We headed to a restaurant for dinner and it was empty. Traffic was so light it was eerie. The next day we went back. We had to have our bags inspected for the first time. Barricades were up in front of the entrance. The World was changed forever.
 
The agent then got a strange look on her face and asked me if it was ONLY me in my 'party.' When I confirmed that yes, it was just me, she asked if a small pickup truck would be alright. I shrugged and said sure, why not? It was the only vehicle they had available at that moment, and it wasn't usable for the families sitting around waiting for a rental car anyway. So they re-figured my rental contract and handed me the keys.

Given the circumstances, I wasn't about to complain. But this "rental" vehicle clearly wasn't really a rental vehicle. It had 80-something thousand miles on it. It was obviously a mechanic's truck, and smelled horribly of cigarette smoke. It had just been converted to renter use due to the unusual circumstances of the previous few weeks. But at least I had a vehicle.

David
:littleangel: You are a good man, David. :thumbsup2
 
I had a conference in Orlando the first week of October, 2001, three weeks after the September 11 attacks. Two things about that trip were fairly notable:

1. My flight to Orlando was not direct. I first flew into LaGuardia airport in NYC (before catching a flight from there to Orlando). The pilot got on the intercom as we were approaching NYC and told us the flight plan they were assigned would take us directly over the ground zero site, which would be visible outside the left windows. Sure enough, ground zero only three weeks after the attacks was clearly visible, some residual smoke/dust still swirling up and away from the site. There were a few cranes on site trying to dig/sift through the rubble. I was surprised that they were flying any planes so close to the site, given what had happened.

2. When I arrived in Orlando, I collected my checked luggage and proceeded to the car rental counter. Things looked really strange -- long stretches of counter with rental company employees poised near computer terminals, but no customers standing in front of the counters. Instead I saw people sitting on the floor in little groups. Some couples, a lot of families. I wondered what was going on as I stepped up to the counter.

The rental agent asked my name and then told me what was going on. In the three days immediately following 9/11, no airplanes were flying anywhere in the U.S.. That left thousands of people stranded in Orlando when their Disney/Universal/whatever vacations ended, with no flights home. What many people did was get one-way car rentals out of Orlando to whereever their homes were. With so many people taking rental cars one way out of Orlando, there was a severe shortage of rental cars actually IN Orlando three weeks later.

Those people sitting on the floor all around the rental counters were waiting for cars to become available so they could begin their Orlando vacations! There were no chairs or benches in that part of the airport because who needs to sit down when you're just going to pick up a rental car and go?

Then the rental agent tells me that because I am a member of their frequent renter/VIP program, that there was no need to worry because a car was due to be returned within the next 15 minutes and it would go to me. In other words, I wouldn't have to wait around on the floor of the airport for hours. I would get the next car before all those folks who had been waiting for who knows how long.

I was immediately uncomfortable with that, and told the rental agent I could wait. My conference didn't start until the following morning. These other people are having their vacations shortened every hour they waited and that little kids would have a lot harder time waiting around than an adult with a couple of books to read while he waits.

The agent then got a strange look on her face and asked me if it was ONLY me in my 'party.' When I confirmed that yes, it was just me, she asked if a small pickup truck would be alright. I shrugged and said sure, why not? It was the only vehicle they had available at that moment, and it wasn't usable for the families sitting around waiting for a rental car anyway. So they re-figured my rental contract and handed me the keys.

Given the circumstances, I wasn't about to complain. But this "rental" vehicle clearly wasn't really a rental vehicle. It had 80-something thousand miles on it. It was obviously a mechanic's truck, and smelled horribly of cigarette smoke. It had just been converted to renter use due to the unusual circumstances of the previous few weeks. But at least I had a vehicle.

David

*
David-

You are a good man! You have much character and honor based on your thoughts above.

I wish more people were like you.

Take Care.
Brunette
 
I was in NY on 9/11. My dad and I both worked in midtown, so I was at his office most of the day waiting for Penn Station to open back up so we could get on a train back home to NJ.

I was in his conference room watching the coverage on the TV, but the TV was up against the big picture window, so I was watching the news coverage and the real thing at the same time, which was surreal. But I do remember reading on the news crawl then that WDW and DL had been closed.
 
I was working R n R Coaster that morning (had picked up a shift in my old location) and was on my first break when the first plane hit. For some reason the tv had been turned to one of the morning shows (where usually the Disney channel was playing) and watched until I went back. From then whoever was on break would pass new info along. The 2nd tower was hit and the first fell all while I was working. When I was sent to lunch is when the announcement came we were closing (and as mentioned the TV mentioned it before we "knew") but we then proceeded to empty the building and started the human wall towards sunset where we then meet up with tower then merchandise etc until we joined on Hollywood with all other locations until we were dismissed to our locations where they asked for volunteers to help at the resorts and told to call the hotline about tomorrow's shifts. I joined a few others at Yacht n Beach where we helped pass out cookies and told people their dining options for the night. The next morning I woke up and called the hotline and told business was normal- headed to the TTC where I then spent my first day solo driving a monorail (had passed training on the 9th)
 
My best friend and disney travel buddy was there on Sept. 11. Not only were they closed, but they pretty much had everyone on lockdown for a couple days.
He said that the people who complained got refunds and passes for other times, but he never did and received nothing but that was fine by him.
But he did spend a couple days of the trip sitting inside his room at a value resort and not allowed to go anywhere...no transportation.

Still, a day trapped in a Disney resort would have been better than were I was....2 blocks from the Pentagon where I lived at the time.
 
I wasn't at Disney..still in High School. My senior year. I was doing an internship with the City Attorney where I'm from. I remember sitting in home room watching the news on the tv and then seeing the second plane hit the second tower. Me and another girl in my class, also doing an internship in local government, were debating actually going to our internships because we didn't want to go to a government building..In retrospect I'm suprised that our school actually let us go. I spent the rest of the day sitting in a conference room with all the government officials in our town watching NBC.

Another story I have is where my husband's friend was on 9/11. He is from India and Muslim. He was doing an internship at a Federal Building in Kentucky. Not knowing what was going on he was walking around the halls and security asked him to please leave the building. Well my husband's friend smarted off to the security officer, with some profanity, and they detained him. They kept him for a couple of days and then ended up letting him out with community service.
 
(By the way), the announcement that was made (in the theme parks that morning) ... did NOT mention anything about what had happened or why the parks were closing. It simply stated that " ... Due to circumstances beyond our control, the Magic Kingdom is now closed. Please follow the direction of the nearest Cast Member."

it was followed by CODE (either a number or color) I want to say Code 4, what I remember is the CM I was trying to buy a coke from well her eyes bulged out, she wouldn't sell me the coke after the announcement. She said I had to proceed to Main Street.
 













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