Hurricane Matthew Closes WDW - Reopens Saturday, October 8th

[HopperFan]

DRIVERS - good sites to check for travel and road incidents

Florida - https://fl511.com/

Georgia - http://www.511ga.org/

South Carolina - http://www.511sc.org/

 

[csgsu]

DRIVERS - good sites to check for travel and road incidents

Florida - https://fl511.com/

Georgia - http://www.511ga.org/

South Carolina - http://www.511sc.org/

Thanks I got the Fl 511 app for my phone so hopefully it will tell me how roads are

 

[HopperFan]

I haven't had time to read the whole thread. Here in Disney now MNSSHP has been cancel for tomorrow and from what I understand everyone was given a refund.

As of right now Disney has not been very accommodating with regards if we have to stay an extra day. Surprisingly universal has been the opposite. We just wanted to have a back up plan in case we do get hit.

It is a holiday weekend, a very popular weekend and last weekend for MSEP.

Disney is moving ALL from the campground, cabins and campers, those in Poly Bungalows and Saratoga Treehouses in to hotel rooms. Also many S. FL probably booked rooms as Disney is their go to place during storms for many.

I doubt they have a room to spare.

 

[ErinsMommy]

As of right now Disney has not been very accommodating with regards if we have to stay an extra day.

I'm assuming they have a mass amount of people coming earlier than expected and also guests that are coming as scheduled, i'm sure if they have the room they'll be as accommodating as they can.

 

[Irish_Mike]

As of right now Disney has not been very accommodating with regards if we have to stay an extra day. Surprisingly universal has been the opposite. We just wanted to have a back up plan in case we do get hit.

I would strongly urge you to begin looking at other hotels near Disney immediately. If they already aren't, most hotels in the vicinity will be at, or near, full occupancy.

 

[ellie05]

It is a holiday weekend, a very popular weekend and last weekend for MSEP.

Disney is moving ALL from the campground, cabins and campers, those in Poly Bungalows and Saratoga Treehouses in to hotel rooms. Also many S. FL probably booked rooms as Disney is their go to place during storms for many.

I doubt they have a room to spare.

I'm assuming they have a mass amount of people coming earlier than expected and also guests that are coming as scheduled, i'm sure if they have the room they'll be as accommodating as they can.

That is great for the people at fort wilderness still bad costumer service for the people here at a hotel room. It is not like we have an option if the hurricane hits. As they will have many cancellations. From someone that has worked at a hotel industry when we has emergencies I would NEVER tell my guest sorry you are own your own. You can try to spin it any way you want still bad costumer service.

 

[andyman8]

It is a holiday weekend, a very popular weekend and last weekend for MSEP.

Disney is moving ALL from the campground, cabins and campers, those in Poly Bungalows and Saratoga Treehouses in to hotel rooms. Also many S. FL probably booked rooms as Disney is their go to place during storms for many.

I doubt they have a room to spare.

It's interesting though. I've talked to quite a bit of friends and family down there today, and it seems very few are actually evacuating. Mind you, none of them live on barrier islands. But people who I know to usually get out of there ASAP when the word "hurricane" is mentioned are actually riding it out. I assume that has a lot to do with the side of the storm they're on and the fact that they're still not expecting this to actually make landfall in SoFlo. Also worth noting that local officials are really encouraging people to not leave their county and instead seek shelter inland at a friend or family member's home. This is obviously to avoid a traffic jam on the Turnpike or I-95.

Anyways, not necessarily saying that people aren't leaving (this isn't a scientific study by any means) or going to WDW, but I just find people's reactions peculiar this go around. I also bet a lot of people are extending stays because of the fear of flight cancellations.

 

[meaganmusing]

We've decided to cancel and hope we can reschedule for the Christmas party in December. We have very sad kids in this house. And a sad mama too. Everyone heading down - please stay safe! We were totally okay with riding it out until the turn even further west today. It's a nasty storm!

 

[NicoleLarson]

I'm trying to cancel my room at CSR for Thursday and Friday night. Been on hold FOREVER! I live an hour west so I'm not paying to be closer to this storm. Just FYI they just closed all government buildings for Friday. Like I said I'm an hour from Orlando and just got told I'm off on Friday.

 

[Irish_Mike]

It's interesting though. I've talked to quite a bit of friends and family down there today, and it seems very few are actually evacuating. Mind you, none of them live on barrier islands. But people who I know to usually get out of there ASAP when the word "hurricane" is mentioned are actually riding it out. I assume that has a lot to do with the side of the storm they're on and the fact that they're still not expecting this to actually make landfall in SoFlo. Also worth noting that local officials are really encouraging people to not leave their county and instead seek shelter inland at a friend or family member's home. This is obviously to avoid a traffic jam on the Turnpike or I-95.

From what I've gleaned from the news reports, a lot of the evacuations are from the eastern coastline, primarily in the Central Florida area. They're looking at upwards of 7-9 feet of storm surge in some places, according to WESH.

South Florida isn't as big a concern with this storm. Yes they're get some rain and wind, and the coast will see some surge, but they're not getting the brunt of the impact this go around.

 

[ErinsMommy]

That is great for the people at fort wilderness still bad costumer service for the people here at a hotel room. It is not like we have an option if the hurricane hits. As they will have many cancellations. From someone that has worked at a hotel industry when we has emergencies I would NEVER tell my guest sorry you are own your own. You can try to spin it any way you want still bad costumer service.

is your departure flight already canceled?

 

[ellie05]

I would strongly urge you to begin looking at other hotels near Disney immediately. If they already aren't, most hotels in the vicinity will be at, or near, full occupancy.

We have a room at universal tomorrow but if it hits us we won't be able to drive there.

 

[HopperFan]

That is great for the people at fort wilderness still bad costumer service for the people here at a hotel room. It is not like we have an option . As they will have many cancellations.

Not bad customer service. They can't let you stay in a room if they don't have one available. I am sure if they had a cancellation they would but sounds like they don't yet. Not sure what night you are trying to add but I am sure since this storm was starting to be a problem this weekend, many went ahead and put rooms on hold - even taking those cancellations. It may be guests will release more by time you need it but I probably wouldn't take that chance and have a plan.

It's interesting though. I've talked to quite a bit of friends and family down there today, and it seems very few are actually evacuating. Mind you, none of them live on barrier islands. But people who I know to usually get out of there ASAP when the word "hurricane" is mentioned are actually riding it out. I assume that has a lot to do with the side of the storm they're on and the fact that they're still not expecting this to actually make landfall in SoFlo. Also worth noting that local officials are really encouraging people to not leave their county and instead seek shelter inland at a friend or family member's home. This is obviously to avoid a traffic jam on the Turnpike or I-95.

Anyways, not necessarily saying that people aren't leaving (this isn't a scientific study by any means) or going to WDW, but I just find people's reactions peculiar this go around. I also bet a lot of people are extending stays because of the fear of flight cancellations.

I think it depends on where you are. My folks are in Deerfield area beach and they booked hotel further in at Sawgrass. Most the barrier islands are being evacuated over a long stretch of east coast from S FL all the way to Georgia, not just owners but vacation folks too who have no where to go. Our place is on barrier, mandatory by 6 am. I would have been there but decided to not go south as this thing turned north. Most can't get too far with the gas situation so if I were down there I would be heading to Disney and I would have booked it early.

 

[Irish_Mike]

We have a room at universal tomorrow but if it hits us we won't be able to drive there.

The storm isn't slated to really start impacting the Orlando area until later in the afternoon. I would suggest packing tonight and leaving Disney property before noon if you can, just because I expect traffic and the hotels to be quite hectic.

 

[ErinsMommy]

We have a room at universal tomorrow but if it hits us we won't be able to drive there.

I would wake up early and get going while you can - especially if the hotel @ Universal can accommodate.

 

[AngiTN]

Not bad customer service. They can't let you stay in a room if they don't have one available. I am sure if they had a cancellation they would but sounds like they don't yet. Not sure what night you are trying to add but I am sure since this storm was starting to be a problem this weekend, many went ahead and put rooms on hold - even taking those cancellations. It may be guests will release more by time you need it but I probably wouldn't take that chance and have a plan.

That's what I was thinking. I know it sucks. But it would equally suck if someone had a room reserved and arrived to find out they let you have their room, by letting you extend your stay. I'm not sure what else they can do. The reservation booked months ago (for instance) shouldn't be the one out of luck any more than you should get their room. I think the problem here is compounded by the fact that they were already pretty dang full even before Matthew showed up. One would hope that maybe the cancellations countered the folks that had to stay but I guess not

 

[RachelEllen]

We just had to cancel. We were in Gainesville, driving from atlanta and had a large suite booked. Figured we could have a nice morning tomarrow, wait out storm, and enjoy Sunday onward.

Long story short, rest of family, driving down tomarrow, decided to cancel. We tried to book a smaller room, and there wasn't a single place on property they could put us.

So now we are headed back to atlanta

 

[HopperFan]

We have a room at universal tomorrow but if it hits us we won't be able to drive there.

The storm isn't slated to really start impacting the Orlando area until later in the afternoon. I would suggest packing tonight and leaving Disney property before noon if you can, just because I expect traffic and the hotels to be quite hectic.

I would wake up early and get going while you can - especially if the hotel @ Universal can accommodate.

AGREE. Head to Universal as soon as you can and get inside the hotel. I would probably even avoid I-4 all together, likely to be crazy parking lot. Go to Disney Springs on past on Hotel Plaza Blvd, turn left on 535, turn right on Palm Parkway, it will run along I-4 and turn in to Turkey Lake. Stay on it. As you approach Universal look for right turn on Hollywood Way right at Calypso Bay and you will be right at hotels. We go this way all the time and it's very fast. And you pass a Walmart if you want to pick up anything.

 

[MermaidMommy]

It is a holiday weekend, a very popular weekend and last weekend for MSEP.

Disney is moving ALL from the campground, cabins and campers, those in Poly Bungalows and Saratoga Treehouses in to hotel rooms. Also many S. FL probably booked rooms as Disney is their go to place during storms for many.

I doubt they have a room to spare.

I read on another website that they're also holding back rooms because WDW might have to house passengers from two of the Disney cruise ships. The website said that they're not taking not taking any new reservations at all to leave rooms available for those who have to move.

 

[MakiraMarlena]

If there are no rooms, then there are no rooms. I've also seen complaints that they were "charging too much" for rooms. But to say that those evacuated from Fort Wilderness and the waterside places, and possibly from the cruise ships, taking up rooms so there aren't more rooms for current guests to extend into is "bad customer service?" That might depend on which customer you are.

If you're going to Universal tomorrow, then go in the AM and get into the hotel. The big hit won't be until Thursday evening/Friday morning. You can then stay in the room over Friday (assuming nothing will be open Friday).