Hurricane Irma?

[RPAAB]

Bummer. What were the dates?

We were 9/6 - 9/12 and now 11/24 - 11/30. Not when we wanted to go, but maybe not a chance of a hurricane? Disney kept saying to us, if you're going to be in a hurricane, Disney is the best place to be, we make it fun for the kids. They were pushing and pushing for us not to change.

 

[SaintsManiac]

Update, I'm sorry to report that we have also rescheduled our plans to November. The saddest part was Disney was not very accommodating with this at all, with us booking under the free dining, Disney would only allow us to book on free dining days, so we're stuck pay $750+ to move our plans as well as $200+ thanks to SW. So we get to pay an additional $1K to delay our vacation. We can sleep though tonight knowing we aren't putting two children in the way of a Cat 5 hurricane or asking the CMs to take care of us during a hurricane, but shame on you Disney, even splitting the difference with us would have been great and kept us coming back, now...not so much..

Come join us in the November thread and we'll cheer you up!

https://www.disboards.com/threads/official-november-2017-thread.3540826/

 

[SpookyJ]

if i cancel my trip, Disney better be accommodating and give me (and everyone else who cancelled) everything i reserved. it's simply not fair that i busted my butt to get certain dining reservations and FP+ and i can't get them back because i had to reschedule my trip because of a stupid hurricane. it's not like the hurricane is my fault...ugh rant over.

I feel you. It's not their fault either, though. I guess you or I getting the same reservations 2 weeks from now would probably just mean bumping someone else off theirs who was scheduled to arrive then, which isn't fair either. None of it is fair. I would be more than happy to just go in Nov. and not have to pay the difference but it looks like they ARE charging people the difference in rates which is what is sickening to me. I can deal with not having reserved fast passes but I can't afford to pay the difference for flights AND hotel... I'm so sorry I'm just sick over the whole thing.

 

[SpookyJ]

We were 9/6 - 9/12 and now 11/24 - 11/30. Not when we wanted to go, but maybe not a chance of a hurricane? Disney kept saying to us, if you're going to be in a hurricane, Disney is the best place to be, we make it fun for the kids. They were pushing and pushing for us not to change.

That's honestly appalling. The CW I talked to seemed like she didn't even know there WAS a hurricane. I have to wonder if the people answering the phones live halfway across the country..

 

[laurabelle]

We were 9/6 - 9/12 and now 11/24 - 11/30. Not when we wanted to go, but maybe not a chance of a hurricane? Disney kept saying to us, if you're going to be in a hurricane, Disney is the best place to be, we make it fun for the kids. They were pushing and pushing for us not to change.

Wow! I wonder if you spoke with guest services if they could do anything about keeping your old rate. Southwest will only waive the fare difference if it's within 14 days of your original date under the hurricane procedure.

 

[HarperLeigh]

if i cancel my trip, Disney better be accommodating and give me (and everyone else who cancelled) everything i reserved. it's simply not fair that i busted my butt to get certain dining reservations and FP+ and i can't get them back because i had to reschedule my trip because of a stupid hurricane. it's not like the hurricane is my fault...ugh rant over.

If you cancel, your plans are gone. Disney won't (and shouldn't) bump other people who have already reserved FP+ and ADR's to accommodate you choosing to cancel.

 

[randumb0]

Locals are taking this storm very seriously. There are lines at every gas station with people trying to get gas. There is no water to be found. I went to Publix and they were out. They said they were out at all locations. Target and Walmart were out as well. Still some bread left, but canned meats and fruit are low. Fortunately, I stocked up on water last week. I just had a feeling. Now, it's a wait and see. This one makes me a bit nervous. It is so powerful. I've lived through three hurricanes and multiple tropical storms, but none this powerful. Even if it makes landfall in south Florida, because it is so powerful, it may still be packing 100 mph winds when it reaches Central Floridal. I'm hoping the storm will go out to sea and just leave me with a lot of junk food!

I found some water at a Publix over in Ocoee, but it was all gone before I checked out

 

[stickeymouse]

if i cancel my trip, Disney better be accommodating and give me (and everyone else who cancelled) everything i reserved. it's simply not fair that i busted my butt to get certain dining reservations and FP+ and i can't get them back because i had to reschedule my trip because of a stupid hurricane. it's not like the hurricane is my fault...ugh rant over.

Not gonna happen.

 

[laurabelle]

That's honestly appalling. The CW I talked to seemed like she didn't even know there WAS a hurricane. I have to wonder if the people answering the phones live halfway across the country..

Many of them are and they're just selling rooms...

 

[Rararaleigh]

So I'm sure it's posted somewhere here and I've over looked it because I skimmed the pages. We are scheduled to fly to MCO on sunday and land around 2ish. Ive planned this trip for our family especially my son and his wife and kids as they've had an incredibly hard year ( several miscarriages, health issues, etc). Anyway are most of you still waiting a few days before deciding what to do? I'm a little nervous because I'd hate to move the trip a few days and not be able to get a flight. I just don't don't know what to do and I'm heartbroken for my son and his family. I know we booked in hurricane season but my son is military and this was the only month we had. Also, I know the military tix are non-refundable and ours HAVE to be used by December, however we won't be able to go back until next yr due to son's military engagements. Will disney work with us and possibly extend the expiration if we have to cancel, since this is out of our hands?

Thanks and I'm so sorry if any of this is redundant and already explained.

 

[Southernmiss]

No one knows where its going but you can actually say that up until the moment it hits land. MANY storms have bounced on and off shore and ended up in a different place. One thing they all seem to be agreeing on is that its coming at Florida in some direction. I agree that some could wait a couple of days before deciding to know more about what Orlando will experience.




I do not have a trip planned right now so I don't actually have a dog in the hunt, but for those of you wondering, IF it was me (and I notice a few others that go through these things a lot have said the same thing), I would cancel or try to reschedule, UNLESS this storm weakens immensely or comes into Florida in a way that it will weaken considerably before it gets to Orlando. Also, the wind speed that it may be at Orlando is important but how fast the storm is moving is too. If the storm sits over one spot blowing 50-100 mph winds and dumping rain, you can expect a lot of damage. Also, its not exact in knowing what the wind speeds will be in Orlando. How long its over land, how fast its moving and other things determine that. I am surprised at there being reports of that right now when they don't even know where its coming on land.

I live 81.7 miles from where Katrina made landfall in Waveland, MS. We had a tremendous amount of damage. Were without water for a few days, cell service for a week and power for weeks. The damage was severe. I am not saying that will happen in Orlando, I am saying it can happen. We evacuated before the storm to dh's aunt's home which is 181 miles from Waveland. And we had to drive the 100 miles home, very slowly while trees were cut out of the road ahead of us, all along the way power poles were down and everyone was without power and cell service, some without water. And if those things do happen it could make for a very miserable trip. The storm is scary but the aftermath, even inland can be very uncomfortable to put it mildly.


I say all that to say this; I may not would cancel today and wait until the last possible minute to do so just in case, but if this storm comes in Florida and is going over Orlando, I would cancel. Its not worth the risk. And after living with the whole no power, no water thing. . . yeah, wouldn't want to do that anywhere but home.

I can't like this enough. This storm is a monster. 180 mph winds.

Hurricanes affect so much more area than where the eye rolls over. Each storm is different- different size, different amount of land it covers, different speed it progresses, different time to dissipate.

From today's reports, no way would I head to Disney this or next week.

I've lived through Camille, Elena, Frederick, Georges, Katrina amd,several smaller storms. I live 15 miles inland on the Mississippi Gulf coast. Several counties 100 miles inland were with out power longer than we were after Katrina.

Inland areas often get worse weather due to tornados and rainfall than the coastal areas. Florida is not that wide of a state. At this projection, everyone in Florida should be concerned.

 

[Tom Cottone]

We were 9/6 - 9/12 and now 11/24 - 11/30. Not when we wanted to go, but maybe not a chance of a hurricane? Disney kept saying to us, if you're going to be in a hurricane, Disney is the best place to be, we make it fun for the kids. They were pushing and pushing for us not to change.

You are NOW going during the PRIME Thanksgiving time. Disney is not going to give you bargain basement hurricane rates during prime holiday time

 

[TheRustyScupper]

I have to wonder if the people answering the phones live halfway across the country

Many ressie people work from home, and you do not know where they are.

 

[aleh021]

JetBlue just updated flight information for Saturday & Sunday

https://www2.jetblue.com/JetblueAlerts/WeatherUpdate.aspx?intcmp=global_travelalert

 

[hamilkm]

Well I made the leap and am leaving tomorrow morning to fly to Disneyland instead of WDW. I converted my DVC points to collection points and am staying at Paradise Pier. I also had some air miles I had been saving for an aulani trip about 4 years from now that I used for our plane ticket. WDW refunded us for our dessert party and both of our MNSSHP. Garden Grocer moved my order to my December trip and I'm going to use my southwest credit from my cancelled flight to book flights for our February trip. We are AP holders so now we are out tickets at DL but that's about it. I can't believe the crazy plan I dreamed up at 4 am worked. Good luck to everyone else!

 

[MommaBerd]

So what day would it be safe to be at Disney? Tuesday? My husband was all for going on Friday, but now I think he just wants us to be safe... I am trying to wait till tomorrow to start to worry, but if we can add a few days on the end of our trip and cancel the beginning of our trip, maybe I wouldn't worry too much...

This is what our back-up plan is. We were scheduled for 9/12-9/18 at BC with a magical deal. They were sold out for 9/17-9/20, but Disney had availability, so I reserved it this morning. We are very fortunate and blessed both to have flexible schedules and the resources to absorb the costs of changing our dates. However, it still depends on the extent of impact and damage across FL. My MIL lives in Daytona Beach and was/is supposed to come watch our kids for my & DH's trip. My prayer right now is for her safety and property.

I am truly sad for those of you who have worked, saved, planned and dreamed about your trips only to have Irma potentially ruin it.

 

[Klayfish]

Hello - long time lurker, first time poster... Hubby and I are scheduled to fly on on the 15th from Boston. I know this is after the brunt of the storm, but do you all forsee any issues? Would you reschedule if you were us?

From this vantage point, it's almost impossible to say. The track of the storm is still somewhat unclear. WDW may get pounded...or it may just be a somewhat rainy and windy day. From all the models, I think it's safe to say there's going to be damage somewhere, but if there will be issues at WDW is unknown. And if there is, it's not necessarily how bad WDW itself gets hit, it's how their CMs are. If the CMs can't get to work for any variety of reasons, it'll have a major effect even if the parks are unscathed.

 

[MommaBerd]

Wow! I wonder if you spoke with guest services if they could do anything about keeping your old rate. Southwest will only waive the fare difference if it's within 14 days of your original date under the hurricane procedure.

I guess I missed that detail...

 

[HopperFan]

That's honestly appalling. The CW I talked to seemed like she didn't even know there WAS a hurricane. I have to wonder if the people answering the phones live halfway across the country..

They might. Many work from home. Many work for call centers not at Disney. Many have never been anywhere near Disney. They work off scripts. There are some to take the personal time to learn more but bet most are just going through the motions.

 

[Vintage princess]

I had the same experience last night. The CM said nothing was available and she searched for several different dates (some for only one night.) While she was searching I searched too and I found lots of rooms online. Finally she called guest services and was able to modify my reservations to one of the rooms that I found online. There seems to be no issue with finding a room for a new reservation but nothing available when you try to modify. So, you may want to see if you can get guest services to help.

Should I just call and ask for guest services?