DAY 15 THURSDAY
Awake and up at 07.00 this morning.
The plan for today was to be Seaworld but, after last nights shock news that the airport will be closed from midnight tonight - I think it best we make our way to the TCD office in LBV to see what their recommendations are for the next few days.
I am not sure about the cost of the hotel room at AKL but I'm guessing three nights will not be cheap! I wonder if our insurance will cover this - probably not - I think this is where the "Act of God" get-out clause comes into play! I really just need to know if and how we can get home.
We set off in "Happy" down the Osceola Parkway towards Lake Buena Vista.
As we pull up at the Travel City Direct offices it is immediately apparent that we are not the only worried family! There are about seven other groups milling around waiting to see what the latest news is. The staff are very sympathetic and as helpful as they can be under the circumstances. They have no news as yet and tell us to phone them at 3.00pm to find out more. Some of the people are having a right go at the staff which is a bit unfair really - they can't give any information at the moment so it's not their fault. I suppose that everyone is a bit stressed and worried but there is no point being rude! The guy behind the desk gives us a free phone card so that we can call home and let everyone know the situation. The only advice that they can give is to book into the hotel we are in for at least another three nights. We've already done this and I enquire as to the possibility of catching a flight to New York and then home. The answer is no - not only are there thousands of others trying to do the same but the cost would be in excess of £2000.00 each person! Oh well - looks like we'll have to ride the storm out after all.
We decide to have some breakfast before heading back to the AKL so we call into the Golden Corral on the 192. Then Publix to stock up with a few essentials for the coming day and head home to sit and wait for some news.
We swim in the AKL pool and watch TV - keeping abreast of the latest weather reports regarding hurricane Francis. We swim some more and watch some more TV. The refillable mugs take a real bashing today! (Good job it's free!)
It seems to take forever to get to 3.00 pm and we phone TCD at 3.00 on the dot. The rep tells us that the flight delay of 72 hours is confirmed and to phone back on Monday to find out where we stand! I enquire about the hotel booking and I am told that TCD will be contacting AKL to confirm the booking of extra days for us.
I worry about this sort of thing so I go straight down to the reception desk to confirm our provisional booking of three extra nights. "Yes Sir - that's fine" says the receptionist "Travel City Direct have contacted us and they will be picking up the cost of the extension of your stay with us"........ Well - this is the best news I've had all day! Now that's what I call customer service! They definitely have my vote for next year (If we survive Francis!).
Feeling a bit better about the situation - we drive over to pick up DS1 & DGF and bring them back to AKL for dinner at Boma.
Funny - but I can't remember much of what we ate - but I do remember the desserts! Especially those little pineapple cheesecakes with the white chocolate bases. We did have a great meal and it was nice to be together after the shock of the last 24 hours.
DW phones home to break the news that we won't be back on Friday - DMIL has been tracking Francis on UK TV and tells us that it's just been upgraded to a Category 5 (the maximum rating). We reassure her that we are all going to be OK and tell her about the tunnels in AKL if the worst comes. We also tell her that DS1 & DGF will be staying with us if it gets bad.
I then have the unenviable task of phoning work to break the news. I don't think they believe me (as if I'm going to make this up!) and haven't even heard of hurricane Francis! Oh well - nothing I can do.
When we get back to our room there is a note under the door from Disney management telling us what is happening in the hotel and also informing of park hours tomorrow. It appears that all the parks will be closing late afternoon tomorrow. All Disney parks will shut at 3.00pm and Universal and Busch are likely to follow suit.
We agree that we should make the most of the time left before we are confined to our hotel and arrange to pick up DS1 & DGF tomorrow morning and go to Seaworld. Hopefully it will take our minds off what is to come!
I drop DS1 & DGF back at their hotel and then pick up the refillable mugs for a bedtime drink.
Shamu, Clyde and the rest of the gang tomorrow - looking forward to it.
Night all -
I dream of a big wind - must have been something I ate at Boma....
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
Awake and up at 07.00 this morning.
The plan for today was to be Seaworld but, after last nights shock news that the airport will be closed from midnight tonight - I think it best we make our way to the TCD office in LBV to see what their recommendations are for the next few days.
I am not sure about the cost of the hotel room at AKL but I'm guessing three nights will not be cheap! I wonder if our insurance will cover this - probably not - I think this is where the "Act of God" get-out clause comes into play! I really just need to know if and how we can get home.
We set off in "Happy" down the Osceola Parkway towards Lake Buena Vista.
As we pull up at the Travel City Direct offices it is immediately apparent that we are not the only worried family! There are about seven other groups milling around waiting to see what the latest news is. The staff are very sympathetic and as helpful as they can be under the circumstances. They have no news as yet and tell us to phone them at 3.00pm to find out more. Some of the people are having a right go at the staff which is a bit unfair really - they can't give any information at the moment so it's not their fault. I suppose that everyone is a bit stressed and worried but there is no point being rude! The guy behind the desk gives us a free phone card so that we can call home and let everyone know the situation. The only advice that they can give is to book into the hotel we are in for at least another three nights. We've already done this and I enquire as to the possibility of catching a flight to New York and then home. The answer is no - not only are there thousands of others trying to do the same but the cost would be in excess of £2000.00 each person! Oh well - looks like we'll have to ride the storm out after all.
We decide to have some breakfast before heading back to the AKL so we call into the Golden Corral on the 192. Then Publix to stock up with a few essentials for the coming day and head home to sit and wait for some news.
We swim in the AKL pool and watch TV - keeping abreast of the latest weather reports regarding hurricane Francis. We swim some more and watch some more TV. The refillable mugs take a real bashing today! (Good job it's free!)
It seems to take forever to get to 3.00 pm and we phone TCD at 3.00 on the dot. The rep tells us that the flight delay of 72 hours is confirmed and to phone back on Monday to find out where we stand! I enquire about the hotel booking and I am told that TCD will be contacting AKL to confirm the booking of extra days for us.
I worry about this sort of thing so I go straight down to the reception desk to confirm our provisional booking of three extra nights. "Yes Sir - that's fine" says the receptionist "Travel City Direct have contacted us and they will be picking up the cost of the extension of your stay with us"........ Well - this is the best news I've had all day! Now that's what I call customer service! They definitely have my vote for next year (If we survive Francis!).
Feeling a bit better about the situation - we drive over to pick up DS1 & DGF and bring them back to AKL for dinner at Boma.
Funny - but I can't remember much of what we ate - but I do remember the desserts! Especially those little pineapple cheesecakes with the white chocolate bases. We did have a great meal and it was nice to be together after the shock of the last 24 hours.
DW phones home to break the news that we won't be back on Friday - DMIL has been tracking Francis on UK TV and tells us that it's just been upgraded to a Category 5 (the maximum rating). We reassure her that we are all going to be OK and tell her about the tunnels in AKL if the worst comes. We also tell her that DS1 & DGF will be staying with us if it gets bad.
I then have the unenviable task of phoning work to break the news. I don't think they believe me (as if I'm going to make this up!) and haven't even heard of hurricane Francis! Oh well - nothing I can do.
When we get back to our room there is a note under the door from Disney management telling us what is happening in the hotel and also informing of park hours tomorrow. It appears that all the parks will be closing late afternoon tomorrow. All Disney parks will shut at 3.00pm and Universal and Busch are likely to follow suit.
We agree that we should make the most of the time left before we are confined to our hotel and arrange to pick up DS1 & DGF tomorrow morning and go to Seaworld. Hopefully it will take our minds off what is to come!
I drop DS1 & DGF back at their hotel and then pick up the refillable mugs for a bedtime drink.
Shamu, Clyde and the rest of the gang tomorrow - looking forward to it.
Night all -
I dream of a big wind - must have been something I ate at Boma....
ZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZZzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzzz
