hogie1
Leave no one behind...
- Joined
- Aug 8, 2001
- Messages
- 234
We went to WDW the day after Hurricane Charley went thru Florida last month. There were 3 couples that went and we had been planning it for about a year, so it was WDW or bust! Although we had been checking all of Fri day & evening, we got a late phone call from Jet Blue at 830pm that our Sat 630am flight had been cancelled, and they couldn't get us out till Tues. We then cancelled the 1st half of out Jet Blue flights, and after 4 hrs of surfing the net & calling all airlines we were able to get seats on Song for 840am on Sat (4 of us traveled together, 2 made arrangements on their own & on another flight to Ft Lauderdale and I won't go there on that issue). After arriving at Boston Logan Airport very early, we soon found out that our flight was pushed back to 1040am. So we camped out for a while. Around 720am the ticket people at the gate called us up. They told us that they were awaiting word about the flight being pushed back another 2 hours, and the good chance of Orlando Intl Airport staying closed due to damage. They told us that they could put us on a flight to Tampa leaving in 10 mins and that its only about a 90 min drive if we rented a car. We all said a unanimous "YES!!!"
Well we arrived in Tampa around 11am and rented a van for our transportation. Due to the hurricane and what was supposed to happen, all of the traffic was heading back towards Tampa, and we had clear sailing all the way to WDW!!!!! We got to the hotel in 1 hr & 10 mins, not to shabby......
Ok, here's the good stuff. We all were staying at the Swan Resort & Hotel for 7 nites and we all had the Silver DreamMaker Package. The Swan had been redone in the rooms since our last visit and it was great, especially the new beds, very comfy. After dropping off our rental van, we got back to the hotel and changed to head out for our PS at Teppanyaki. The other 2 finally made it 1/2 hour before dinner time (They choosed poorly....). The parks were open but the crowds were light. Not a lot of visible damage, as we were told the hurricane had passed thru around midnite and crews got to work right away. We saw a few downed trees and broken light poles, but nothing major. Got to Teppanaki at 610pm and had a wonderful dinner. I had the steak & lobster w/ a shrimp appatizer, it was excellent plus it's kinda like a dinner show too. Had "sake" for the 1st time, not my cup of tea, but as a professional drinker I finished it all
. We were then told that MK was staying open till 11pm, so we walked to the monorail and got there about 800pm. How awesome could it get, there was hardly anybody there!!!! We went on ride after ride, I think we did Space MT about 5 times in a row. We rode on Buzz Lightyear, Teacups, Haunted Mansion (spooky cause of no line and very empty doom buggies), Splash MT, it was unbelieveable with hardly any lines!! The best part was riding Thunder MT and staying on the ride when it was over to go again, no one was there. And then when the ride was outside, the fireworks Wishes was going off, it couldn't get any cooler than that!! After a long day, it really turned out to be great, the Disney Magic was definately there.
Well we arrived in Tampa around 11am and rented a van for our transportation. Due to the hurricane and what was supposed to happen, all of the traffic was heading back towards Tampa, and we had clear sailing all the way to WDW!!!!! We got to the hotel in 1 hr & 10 mins, not to shabby......
Ok, here's the good stuff. We all were staying at the Swan Resort & Hotel for 7 nites and we all had the Silver DreamMaker Package. The Swan had been redone in the rooms since our last visit and it was great, especially the new beds, very comfy. After dropping off our rental van, we got back to the hotel and changed to head out for our PS at Teppanyaki. The other 2 finally made it 1/2 hour before dinner time (They choosed poorly....). The parks were open but the crowds were light. Not a lot of visible damage, as we were told the hurricane had passed thru around midnite and crews got to work right away. We saw a few downed trees and broken light poles, but nothing major. Got to Teppanaki at 610pm and had a wonderful dinner. I had the steak & lobster w/ a shrimp appatizer, it was excellent plus it's kinda like a dinner show too. Had "sake" for the 1st time, not my cup of tea, but as a professional drinker I finished it all
. We were then told that MK was staying open till 11pm, so we walked to the monorail and got there about 800pm. How awesome could it get, there was hardly anybody there!!!! We went on ride after ride, I think we did Space MT about 5 times in a row. We rode on Buzz Lightyear, Teacups, Haunted Mansion (spooky cause of no line and very empty doom buggies), Splash MT, it was unbelieveable with hardly any lines!! The best part was riding Thunder MT and staying on the ride when it was over to go again, no one was there. And then when the ride was outside, the fireworks Wishes was going off, it couldn't get any cooler than that!! After a long day, it really turned out to be great, the Disney Magic was definately there.
