Hurricane Matthew Closes WDW - Reopens Saturday, October 8th

[KateP85]

Note to self...Reminder why I always rent a car.

Not for nothing but the "fight" for a boxed lunch started at 4pm, well before any severe weather has made any impact to Orlando. Plenty of time to get food and not just sit there helpless, but that's just the state of the general public. Oh wait there is a two hour line for boxed lunches and mayhem, let me get in the middle of it! And yes, I have been through hurricane. Sandy in fact, 10 days without power. You know what I did, I took my family and drove 45 min to where they had plenty of power and food.

Tampa is an hour away and business as usual...Take control, don't be helpless. I could be there and back (or the 1000 placed in between) before you get to through the line for your boxed rations!

Yes but by 4pm, plenty of local places were closed. Our local grocery stores, restaurants, etc were all closed. Thousands of people were trying to drive west towards Tampa, it would not have been an hour long drive.

It's all well and good to say what you would have done had you been here, but you're not here. So maybe have a little compassion for those who are here who are trying their best.

 

[gja360]

Note to self...Reminder why I always rent a car.

Not for nothing but the "fight" for a boxed lunch started at 4pm, well before any severe weather has made any impact to Orlando. Plenty of time to get food and not just sit there helpless, but that's just the state of the general public. Oh wait there is a two hour line for boxed lunches and mayhem, let me get in the middle of it! And yes, I have been through hurricane. Sandy in fact, 10 days without power. You know what I did, I took my family and drove 45 min to where they had plenty of power and food.

Tampa is an hour away and business as usual...Take control, don't be helpless. I could be there and back (or the 1000 placed in between) before you get to through the line for your boxed rations!

From what I read the order was to shelter in place at 5 PM. It's great if you have a car and you know where you are going... but not a lot of visitors to WDW know there way around FL and most would not try it with a Major Hurricane on it's way.

 

[NinaBella]

Tampa is an hour away and business as usual...Take control, don't be helpless. I could be there and back (or the 1000 placed in between) before you get to through the line for your boxed rations!

My FB friend posted a picture from Coronado Springs showing the long line for food. I just want to do a face palm slap because they live in Tampa!!!! They are passholders and love Disney... but... why did they not cancel their reservation and stay home us beyond me.

We are in Tampa and it is normal activities here. My son is still at work. My other son has to be at work at 6AM and me by 7AM (didnt leave work until after 6) Hubby has 4-day military weekend. LOL. It was a full day of school for my younger kids. Schools are closed tomorrow because buses cant operate in winds over 40 mph. Some schools are shelters for those in mobile homes needing to evacuate.

 

[Eoywin]

Anyone else here worried about projectiles coming through the windows in their rooms? I'm really scared about that.

It has crossed my mind We are on the 4th floor of the Ursula building in the LM section of AoA. I don't think there is anything that could fly through the window but that might be wishful thinking.

 

[jms30]

I think safety over tired kids...that is what Disney is working on...

If they cared about safety and not $$$ they would be offering their rooms for free to displaced florida residents, turning their many buildings into shelters, etc. Or they would have closed MK today to discourage folks from traveling to Orlando and allow castmembers time to make their own preparations Instead they chose to keep their resorts full, keep the park open till the last minute, continue accepting new reservations while not making sure sufficient staff were on hand to support the care of small city size number of families.

 

[DisBuckMan]

Very true. Here in CT after Irene and Sandy we lost cell towers for almost a week.

Happens every time here on the Gulf Coast. It's why we still have a landline phone at our house. When all other utilities fail, and I mean ALL others...a landline phone will still work.

Cell service WILL fail in a hurricane...sometimes for days, sometimes for weeks.

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Even underground power distribution systems have vulnerabilities.

• First, the power has to get to the area. The Florida electricity transmission system is mostly above ground. Disney has some generation itself but its only enough to carry 20-25% of their total load.
• Second, while the distribution lines are underground, high water levels could cause outages as things experience very high water levels
• Third, distribution transformers are often at ground level and can be damaged by high water and/or falling debris.

Do people really need extra towels? DVC or not? How many actually refuse to re-use a bath towel more than once? And other supplies like soap, toilet tissue? The units are stocked enough to start with for more than a few days.


They seldom charge for extra towels. Certainly wouldn't do that under these conditions.

Yes, DVC does charge for extra towels since you do not get maid service. If you want more towels they charge you for a package.

 

[gja360]

If they cared about safety and not $$$ they would be offering their rooms for free to displaced florida residents, turning their many buildings into shelters, etc. Or they would have closed MK today to discourage folks from traveling to Orlando and allow castmembers time to make their own preparations Instead they chose to keep their resorts full, keep the park open till the last minute, continue accepting new reservations while not making sure sufficient staff were on hand to support the care of small city size number of families.

And what would you have them do with the thousands of people staying at the hotels already?

 

[KateP85]

Anyone else here worried about projectiles coming through the windows in their rooms? I'm really scared about that.

Try not to worry, most things are tied down. There shouldn't be much flying through the air, but I guess try to stay away from windows as best you can if you're really concerned.

 

[HopperFan]

OKAY ................ 2 days of watching all this stuff,
now seeing the prediction is not looking good for my home

I really need to turn off my swirling head a few hours.
Heading to TRIVIA where I am not allowed to use my phone even.

I'll be back ... trying to help distracts all my angst over my home.
Get to your spot, hunker down and try to chill.
Be back later

Yeah, so the restaurant has TVs full of sports .... and one in front of me with the Weather Channel.
So I kept seeing that green swirling...

But hey, we won - 1st Place.

Looks like 3 pm will be the worst for us but won't know anything until probably Sunday or so,
when folks are let back on the island. Surge predictor shows we are sitting on a sliver of high land,
so hoping we get really lucky with surge but wind and rain .............. well it's out of my control.

 

[NGavush]

I hope the house can withstand the WEIGHT of the vehicle!! Holy Moly that's CRAZY!

looks to me like it's on a concrete slab so should be no problem at all. Afaik most homes like that are on slabs bc you can't have basements due to the relatively high water table. But I'm not an expert.

 

[mickey2minnie1]

Stay safe everyone!

 

[twinklinglights]

If they cared about safety and not $$$ they would be offering their rooms for free to displaced florida residents, turning their many buildings into shelters, etc. Or they would have closed MK today to discourage folks from traveling to Orlando and allow castmembers time to make their own preparations Instead they chose to keep their resorts full, keep the park open till the last minute, continue accepting new reservations while not making sure sufficient staff were on hand to support the care of small city size number of families.

people make their own decisions to come to disney not because the park was open until 5...there are no rooms right now how can you give free to displaced residents? also many bigger shelters are open for displaced residents...

 

[Eoywin]

I honestly think Disney is doing the best that they can. This is going to get bad.

 

[DLM1980]

Anyone else here worried about projectiles coming through the windows in their rooms? I'm really scared about that.

I thought about it being a corner room I have two windows

However based on rain direction I'm on the back of the building so if anything it's gonna hit the other side


If it does though happen I have an unused bed so that mattress is going towards the window

 

[gja360]

looks to me like it's on a concrete slab so should be no problem at all. Afaik most homes like that are on slabs bc you can't have basements due to the relatively high water table. But I'm not an expert.

That's what i was thinking...it was to be a concrete slab, or that car won't be too safe in the house.

 

[dburg30]

If they cared about safety and not $$$ they would be offering their rooms for free to displaced florida residents, turning their many buildings into shelters, etc. Or they would have closed MK today to discourage folks from traveling to Orlando and allow castmembers time to make their own preparations Instead they chose to keep their resorts full, keep the park open till the last minute, continue accepting new reservations while not making sure sufficient staff were on hand to support the care of small city size number of families.

What about the people that are already IN those resort rooms? Kick them out so you can have rooms for displaced residents? FLORIDA residents that know hurricanes are a way of life? Like earthquakes in CA... Dont want to deal with them, dont live there.. turn what buildings into shelters? Small world? World of Disney store? They stopped taking reservations either yesterday or the day before.. AND, this isnt a big surprise.. This has been talked about for DAYS now.. Plenty of time for people to make their OWN plans and not rely on others to do it for them!! So, you know there is a good chance you are going to be stuck at a hotel. You've known for a few days... Do you a) rent a car or get a taxi a couple days ago and buy supplies for yourself, or b)wait until a curfew is enacted then freak out and have to stand in line for hours for a sandwich, apple, and small water bottle for $13...

 

[#1hoosierfan]

I was telling Dh about people at Poly and YC getting meet and greets with characters. He said if this was the Titantic the deluxe guests would be the people drinking the champagne while we at the values drown in cargo holds. (We did actually get a flashlight delivered to our room about 30 minutes ago, though)

Before anyone jumps down my throat, this is meant to be a JOKE!

 

[sabrecmc]

Also, you can't just declare your building a shelter. There are all kinds of rules about what structures can be shelters. For reasons that are probably obvious when you step back and think about it.

 

[twinklinglights]

What about the people that are already IN those resort rooms? Kick them out so you can have rooms for displaced residents? FLORIDA residents that know hurricanes are a way of life? Like earthquakes in CA... Dont want to deal with them, dont live there.. turn what buildings into shelters? Small world? World of Disney store? They stopped taking reservations either yesterday or the day before.. AND, this isnt a big surprise.. This has been talked about for DAYS now.. Plenty of time for people to make their OWN plans and not rely on others to do it for them!! So, you know there is a good chance you are going to be stuck at a hotel. You've known for a few days... Do you a) rent a car or get a taxi a couple days ago and buy supplies for yourself, or b)wait until a curfew is enacted then freak out and have to stand in line for hours for a sandwich, apple, and small water bottle for $13...

some people just want to bash Disney .... I agree 13 is too much, but come on this has been on the radar for 2-3 days! Hello? Im not saying Disney is perfect but they are trying to take care of LOTS of people in a storm to be safe and there will always be a rebel