Hurricane Matthew Closes WDW - Reopens Saturday, October 8th

[HopperFan]

Gregory Michael ‏@GregoryMichael 1h1 hour agoDisney's Boardwalk
A very empty Boardwalk @ Disney World... The calm before the storm? #HurricaneMatthew

 

[tinkerone]

The Mickey Wiki ‏@TheMickeyWiki 6m6 minutes ago
Pop Century earlier tonight #MatthewWDW

HOLY CRAP!

 

[Disneymom1126]

Completely agree with you, was just sticking the comment to respond to post.

Just a few:
- Epcot Managers were told yesterday that they would be closing early Thursday, completely closed Friday
- Today MK employees were told to report at night even though MNSSHP was cancelled
- Apparently communications knew the plan this morning but wasn't telling anyone
- Slowly different departments were finding out and posting, probably because someone leaked to them
And on and on ..

If they had chosen safety and communication first, then preparedness wouldn't be as big an issue because you would have given everyone time to plan for themselves and get ready. Instead they have created a chaos and that breeds anxiety and fear ........... and negative press, which I'm kinda getting tired of.

Certainly not in relation to poor communication with CMs, but I do wonder if to some extent they needed guests to be in the parks instead of resorts during the day today so CMs could handle preparations at the resorts with less interruptions (e.g. Preparing for mass food box distribution, helping move things indoors/secure them, address guests with travel concerns, etc.). Maybe not, but just a thought I had...lots of otherwise unoccupied people at the resorts could have made it difficult to get some of these things accomplished!

EDITED TO ADD- the pics posted of people looking for food, etc - can you imagine if everyone at every resort was trying to eat at their resort all day cause parks/Disney springs was closed before 5!! Spreading that out for much of the day was probably also a good idea!

 

[HopperFan]

I believe this is CBR - YIKES!

Scott R. Smith ‏@ScottRSmithPR 40m40 minutes ago
We have sandbags blocking our room and ready for the night. #HurricaneMatthew #DisneyWorld

 

[AngiTN]

We've been here all day. I guess I'm seeing things very differently. They did a good job at Epcot to let us know the plans for closing. Told us when we got there at 11:00 this morning

Looks like the 11:00 pm update tonight is taking Matthew further away from land and they are backing of predictions for Orlando.

Most interesting thing for us will be checking in to BWI tomorrow. Should be interesting

 

[Elsaalltheway]

I agree with Hoper. The powers that be could have notified the cast members much earlier, resorts could have relayed some news to the people staying much earlier, but above all else the cast members that you are working with face to face are just following instructions. They have volunteered to be there with you and for you, not to take your abuse. They are in the same situation as you but they also have the added pressure of their own home that they don't know what is happening. Give them a smile and say thank you once in a while. It mighthelp them to know they made the right decision on staying for YOU.

 

[Elsaalltheway]

Ok, I have a question, why do the people who have a hallway and their doors don't open to the elements, why do they need to stay in their room. I can see staying indoors?

 

[twinklinglights]

You know not everyone understands hurricanes, how they work, where they go ......... and not long ago it was off the coast of South America. For the novice they don't realize the HUGENESS of this. And as a guest at Disney, I think people assume that Disney will keep them abreast of what is going on or if they need to do something ...... and when the information you keep getting is business as usual ............ they believe.

NOW I've been in so many kinds of storms even if I am sure there is no chance, my room has drinks, case of water, lunch meat, rolls, breakfast food, snacks .......... I take it home I bring so much. Not everyone thinks like that and are happy to just buy their food at parks etc.But I never want to be caught in a hunker situation empty handed. I had to escape a hurricane on a barrier island and hunker for days. With minimal food. Lesson learned. Keeping folks fed keeps them happy.

I think most ON here are planners and researchers and knew to expect it. We are a SLIVER of the people that go to Disney. Even if they did research a Disney trip doesn't mean they researched hurricanes. AND if they did on here, guess what, most the time the response is "Orlando is inland, middle of state, they never get hurricanes" so why would they think it would happen now.

I do not live south where hurricanes occur BUT I have common sense on what to do regardless of a website or not. Also I am not a "pot stirrer" I just choose to disagree. We all have our own opinions and just because we don't have thousands of posts doesn't make my opinions less. Do I think Disney does everything right No Way...but come on we are all technology equipped nowadays and can get information. Over out

 

[NanaDisney]

Mission to Mouse‏@Mission_toMouse
#polynesianresort asking guests to remain in their rooms #Wdw #disneyworld #hurricanematthew

This is likely because of the curfew that all of Orange County/Orlando is under from 10pm tonight until 7am Saturday

 

[book_junkie]

We've been here all day. I guess I'm seeing things very differently. They did a good job at Epcot to let us know the plans for closing. Told us when we got there at 11:00 this morning

Looks like the 11:00 pm update tonight is taking Matthew further away from land and they are backing of predictions for Orlando.

Most interesting thing for us will be checking in to BWI tomorrow. Should be interesting

Where are you now? If the resorts are under lockdown, are you moving at the extreme end?

 

[gja360]

Are you in Orlando? Because that's not what our local Orlando news is saying right now

WFTV is saying max winds in Orlando will be around 60 MPH. They said that downtown Orlando was going to be spared the hurricane force winds..

 

[DLM1980]

Communication sucks at WDW. If it wasn't for this place I wouldn't have heard most of the information. I was at frozen or the character spot when I read the parks closing at five. I never once heard any announcement over a PA system.

I know at the MK they have the DAC that controls all audio of all rides etc. does Epcot have anything like that cause if so it didn't work. I'm expecting announcements like this to "interrupt the show" of any ride I might be on

Luckily I forced our leave of Epcot early to go park the car at Disney springs garage and hopped the bus back to the resort

I'm also thankful for this board cause after breakfast I went to Walmart and picked up a few lunchables for us both so I saved money and had a better selection of food than what Disney was offering for 12.99

the fact that the phone doesn't actually ring to alert you of a message is disconcerting. You just have to constantly look at the phone for the new mail light to blink and even then connecting to the voicemail system can be iffy if too many of us are trying to use it at once

Anywho. I'm now going off to bed. Catch you all in the morning. Good night!

 

[Irish_Mike]

This is likely because of the curfew that all of Orange County/Orlando is under from 10pm tonight until 7am Saturday

Disney just doesn't want anyone outside, taking photos, going near the water, etc. And unlike the other deluxes, the rooms aren't all contained to one building - a bit easier to control who's in and out.

 

[wilkeliza]

Ok, I have a question, why do the people who have a hallway and their doors don't open to the elements, why do they need to stay in their room. I can see staying indoors?

They don't have too. They just need to stay in the building the are in. So at places like the suites at Art of Animation you could go stretch your legs get ice and buy sofa from the vending machine if there is anything left but not go to the front desk and quick service area.

At some of the deluxes guest will be able to move about the resort as long as it is fully encased so those staying at the main buildings of Contemporary or Grand Floridian or everyone at Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom. As of now there are no winds or rain but there could be and quickly and that is why they want people inside.

 

[CAS239]

Ok, I have a question, why do the people who have a hallway and their doors don't open to the elements, why do they need to stay in their room. I can see staying indoors?

You're not forced to stay in your room but they would rather you there. Keep everyone separated and safe in their room, making sure they don't have huge groups just hanging out in the lobby where there's likely a lot of windows/glass doors in case something does break, and in case power does happen to go out then you don't have people that might be tempted to steal something or go where they shouldn't

 

[book_junkie]

Ok, I have a question, why do the people who have a hallway and their doors don't open to the elements, why do they need to stay in their room. I can see staying indoors?

Putting on the manager hat:
What building are you in?
Are there windows, plate glass, exposed areas you may not know about?
How many people are in your building?
If they have to evacuate, how are they going to account for your party if you're not there in the room?
If the power goes out, as it probably still will, they probably don't want crowds trying stairs in the dark then suing.
Is it a mandatory sign due to the hurricane for Disney Legal? (Curfew is actually until Saturday morning not 9 pm)

 

[HopperFan]

Earlier tonight ............... really needed to offer FP+ for box lunches.

Graham Cullen ‏@FNP_Cullen 4h4 hours ago
With #HurricaneMatthew bearing down, this is what a 3-hour+ wait for food looks like at #Disney resort right now.

0 retweets1 like

 

[HopperFan]

Resort Activities for tomorrow at Contemporary, maybe similar at others. Check your resort for activities.

ace ‏@Jace736 5h5 hours ago
Activity schedule at #Disney #contemporary #resort due to #hurricanematthew #livefromdisney http://ift.tt/2d71vKG

 

[Elsaalltheway]

They don't have too. They just need to stay in the building the are in. So at places like the suites at Art of Animation you could go stretch your legs get ice and buy sofa from the vending machine if there is anything left but not go to the front desk and quick service area.

At some of the deluxes guest will be able to move about the resort as long as it is fully encased so those staying at the main buildings of Contemporary or Grand Floridian or everyone at Wilderness Lodge and Animal Kingdom. As of now there are no winds or rain but there could be and quickly and that is why they want people inside.

I thought the pic from the Poly said to stay in your room from nine till further notice?

 

[HopperFan]

All Around Orlando ‏@AllAroundORL 7h7 hours ago


Some images from Disney's Polynesian Resort as they prepare for impact felt from #HurricaneMatthew today.