What happens if snow delays your arrival in Orlando?

[C.Ann]

Due to my DD's impending surgery it's looking more and more like we'll have to cancel our early December trip and go with Jan., Feb., or the 1st week of March instead..

Considering we live in upstate NY, there is always the very real possibility that during any one of those time frames we could get slammed with a major storm that would cancel/delay flights for anywhere from a few hours to a day or more..

What happens with all of our reservations if there's a storm?

Do we lose out on the car rental?

How about the hotel reservation?

And if this WERE to happen - what should I do?

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Trying to plan this trip (and re-plan and re-plan) is really getting to be a major headache.. I'm about ready to throw in the towel and just buy a package!!!

Any advice on how to plan a trip when you don't even know when the weather and circumstances are going to ALLOW you to go??

This is "fun" right??????? LOL

 

[BonnieA]

There was a great blizzard in Baltimore that January. My brother in law and I were stuck there overnight and didn't get to WDW until a day later. My other brother in law arrived at MCO very late and the car rental place was closed so he couldn't pick up the car or the house we rented until morning (he spent the night on a bench at MCO). When Dollar car opened in the morning he had no trouble picking up the car with our reservation. I had called the rental agency concerning the house and it was held for us. Of course I had to pay the full weeks rental even though we missed the first night but I wasn't worried about that. It all worked out in the end.

 

[Lewisc]

Airport rental locations are supposed to be open 24 hours, I just checked Dollars website.

C.Ann bring all the phone number, not just the 800 numbers but the actual Orlando numbers. Better yet program them in your cell phone. Disney (and most hotel chains) will work with you if you get in late. Just don't rent points, rent a vacation home or anything else that might cause problems.
Don't book the last flight of the day and decide how flexible you can be if there are cancelled flights. Can you make a stop? Connection? Fly into Tampa? If necessary can you split up your family?

Your biggest problem might be getting from your home to your local airport. If a storm is coming you might even see if you can fly down the night before.

 

[TinkHappy]

I too am very worried as well. We are going in Feb (Pres. week). I remember last winter when they closed the BDL for 2-3 days. I am thinking that we might drive. I don't know. According to the Farmers Almanac (it was right on last year)...we are going to have another rough winter. We'll see

So much for global warming

 

[TinkHappy]

BTW (sorry I forgot to mention it) I do hope your DD's surgery goes well.

 

[DMRick]

Due to my DD's impending surgery it's looking more and more like we'll have to cancel our early December trip

Now don't give up yet..these kids of ours are faster healers than us. Of course if she likes the bouncy rides, it prob will be better to rearrange dates..you'll know soon.

Because your flight is a direct flight, and our airport seldom closes for long because of snow (and if the plane gets there, it will fly back out just to leave the area asap..the problem is more if the plane can't get here), you prob won't miss much of your vacation. If it does happen, and you call Disney, they are usually very good about not charging for your first night. However, since you'll prob get there very early the next morning..you might just want to tell them when you call, if you will want your room first thing..and in that case, you do pay the first night. If they charge you for the first night..you can often get that credited once you are home with an email to guest services.

The car is more problematic, since they seldom will rent it to you for the one week price and let you turn it in one day sooner without charging more. Calling the Orlando airport usually will get them to help you out..and if they do charge more (at least with National), if you call after the fact to the national number, they generally will credit you.

It's been close for us, but whew! we've gone out each time. Almost didn't come home once..but that's better than not leaving (although we didn't get home when we thought we would, and the place where we leave the car, charged an extra day for a couple of hours). I do find that the kids get a snow day, but we still fly!

 

[C.Ann]

Originally posted by DMRick
Now don't give up yet..these kids of ours are faster healers than us. Of course if she likes the bouncy rides, it prob will be better to rearrange dates..you'll know soon.

Because your flight is a direct flight, and our airport seldom closes for long because of snow (and if the plane gets there, it will fly back out just to leave the area asap..the problem is more if the plane can't get here), you prob won't miss much of your vacation. If it does happen, and you call Disney, they are usually very good about not charging for your first night. However, since you'll prob get there very early the next morning..you might just want to tell them when you call, if you will want your room first thing..and in that case, you do pay the first night. If they charge you for the first night..you can often get that credited once you are home with an email to guest services.

The car is more problematic, since they seldom will rent it to you for the one week price and let you turn it in one day sooner without charging more. Calling the Orlando airport usually will get them to help you out..and if they do charge more (at least with National), if you call after the fact to the national number, they generally will credit you.

It's been close for us, but whew! we've gone out each time. Almost didn't come home once..but that's better than not leaving (although we didn't get home when we thought we would, and the place where we leave the car, charged an extra day for a couple of hours). I do find that the kids get a snow day, but we still fly!

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Okay - you're from "my neck of the woods" so you know exactly what I'm talking about - LOL...

So....the issue with rescheduling the trip isn't so much about whether my DD will be well enough, but all the time she has recently missed from work (while this medical problem was developing) and all the time she'll miss after the surgery.. I just don't see how she could get the time off - and of course she won't be working the OT she would normally be working to save extra spending money for the trip (and boy does she like to SPEND !! Big time MM addict!!).. If we put it off till after Dec., she automatically - on Jan. 1st - is able to use whatever she wishes of her 5 weeks paid vacation and probably will have been able to work some OT from late Oct. or early Nov. up to when we actually decide to go.. Still - I'm not cancelling anything or trying to get a refund on the MVMCP until more like mid-November just in case one of us wins like a MILLION DOLLAR lottery - LOL..

Now - as for the hotel - we're staying off-site (unless I throw in the towel and buy a pacakage out of sheer FRUSTRATION) so I'm not sure how understanding those folks would be.. I'm thinking if I called, they might hold the room, but of course we would have to pay the extra..

As for the car, if I called, would they be sure to have a car for us when we finally DID arrive? And would they have to stick to the original price and then just add on a day or whatever?

I've got to say those over-priced packages are looking better and better with each passing minute.. LOL

 

[DMRick]

but all the time she has recently missed from work

Soo..if she's just as happy to forego the bouncy rides..maybe you can go while she is still on disablitly..and not have to miss work? Just because you can't work, doesn't mean you can't relax!

Off-site hotels are prob easier to "erase" a night than the Dis hotels. Most of them will hold until 6 before you have to pay..so you could cancel and tell them just the one night...or pay for the night..just be sure ot let them know. I'm not sure a package through Dis is best..since their ressie's packages include the whole of the whole..and it's harder to dismiss one night without rebooking.
Chances are good, there will still be a car for you..as long as you call.

But again...it would have to be a really bad storm for you to not get out within hours in our area...we deal well with snow..and the plane doesn't have to worry about setting down in DC or somewhere where the airport might be closed, since it's direct (you did take the direct route, right?).

 

[hercamore]

Cmon CAnn, don't give up all all your hard work and buy a package.

Jeez, in January you can waltz into Orlando without a res. and find a hotel room anywhere for cheap.

Low crowds mean low car rental rates and high availability.

I live in MN and know of all the pittfalls of winter vacations.

We went last January and had a blast. Yes, the plane was delayed coming out of Mpls, but I had anticipated that and pricelined us a room near the airport for $27. I figured if we didn't make the resrvation, we weren't out much.

If you are that worried, stay at the Orlnado airport or airport area the first night and rent the car for your weekly time period the day AFTER you arrive. Local airport hotels have shuttles and they are also close, nice, and realtively cheap.

There are TONS of hotels available in Jan. As previously mentioned, don't put money out beforehand other than a cc for first night.

holding. You can usually cancel by 6 p.m. wo charge for most hotels.

You'll lose money on a package if you prepay.