What if I have to cancel due to a hurricane?

[susy]

It's supposedly coming through here next Wed and I'm supposed to leave Friday. Actually hurricanes take a day or two longer (to arrive) and that's what has me worried. When do I cancel? Will Disney work with me on the refund?It's hard to say at five days out-things can change quickly...

 

[susy]

No one's ever had to cancel because of natural disaster?

 

[MickeyTime]

My guess is, if the hurricane does in fact affect your travel plans that Disney would let you reschedule without penalty. I've had them do that in a case of family emergency. We're going over Labor Day too, and I'm not even going to start thinking about making any changes in our plans until next week if it looks like it will be a threat to TX or to FL. It's impossible to make an accurate prediction where it will go this far out, so my philosophy is, "Why worry now?"

I'm not sure where you saw that it's supposed to come through FL on Wed. I've been keeping very close tabs on the NOAA reports and they have no idea what it will do past 5 days out. The official 5 day forecast track shows it will still be east of the Bahamas and Cuba on Wednesday, and they really can't predict beyond that where it will go. Maybe they'll have a better idea in a couple of days where it might go. In any case, IMHO, it's too early to start changing travel plans because of it.

 

[StitchGirl]

With Hurricane Charley, Disney waived the 5-day rule, and let people modify their plans (for a certain window-- like through the 18th or something)

That said, I wouldn't worry about a hurricane. It is extremely rare for a hurricane to hit Orlando head on like Charley did, since it is an inland city-- usually the major concern is for cities within a few miles of the coastline because of the storm surges. The most you will get if there is a hurricane is the remnants, so, a lot of rain. I'm sure there will be no allowance for cancellations because of rain.

Even with Charley, Disney bounced back extremely quickly-- the next day, the only reminders of the hurricane were some uprooted trees! And Charley was a very strong storm!

 

[MickeyTime]

If I read it correctly, I believe she was more worried about the storm hitting her home than WDW, since she lives on the FL coast. I could be wrong, but I think that's what she meant. Living on the TX coast, I know a hurricane hitting here would cause me to change my travel plans, but I really don't worry about getting hit in Orlando by a hurricane.

 

[susy]

That was my mom who had said it would hit Wed. She tends to be a big worrier about these things. She also has four homes to prepare if it does head this way. I was just trying to see if people had luck getting back their deposits or at least being able to resechedule.

 

[MickeyTime]

Sounds like my grandmother! LOL! She always expects the worst, and thinks every hurricane in the Atlantic is destined to hit us.

 

[Mrs. Toaster]

Well, not to be a bearer of potentially news, but my family was due to arrive in Disney on the 14th, the day after Charley hit. The Orlando airport closed for the day, so our flights were delayed until Sunday. Originally Disney said no problem about refunding us for the first night missed, but now we are having a heck of a time getting a refund. I am still fighting them on it! Just an FYI.....

 

[OJoyfulOne]

Normally, with hurricanes usually hitting the coast instead of Orlando and WDW, does orlando ariport usually cancel flights or was Charley an exception?


Joy

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Originally posted by susy
It's supposedly coming through here next Wed and I'm supposed to leave Friday. Actually hurricanes take a day or two longer (to arrive) and that's what has me worried. When do I cancel? Will Disney work with me on the refund?It's hard to say at five days out-things can change quickly...

I hear you loud and clear... I was wondering the same thing. I am suppose to be going for Labor Day weekend...We were just hit by Charley.. and I am so unsure about going at all!! I want to & need to go to get away fro the stress I am dealing with now... but I don't want to go and have to come home to deal with even more... if that makes sence. I need roof repairs, deck repairs, soffit, gutters, garage door, pool cage etc...even auto body repairs... all livable repairs, no leaks thank goodness. Do I want to go away with the chance that someone may be able to get out to me & give me an esitamate or even repair something..so far workers are backed up & no one has even set an appointment to come & look at most of my damage (my insurance adjuster has, Allstate & they were great). If I go away, will I miss their call...if I go away will Francis hit here ...or pass thru Orlando on its way from one coast to another... or hit anywhere in Fl.. I am so confused. My husband and son will be home, my 1 daughter may not be able to get off of work (started job today), so it could end up just being me & my 11year old by ourselves...do I chance it.... I don't trust the weather forcast anymore...not since Charley didn't do what it was 'predicted" to do... ... remember the TV commercial "Calgon take me away"... that is what I feel like now...