Hurricane Matthew Closes WDW - Reopens Saturday, October 8th

[HopperFan]

What a lovely spot. Praying for the best for you and your community.

I understand how you feel. I live on martha's vineyard and the amount of erosion on the glorious clay cliffs that has occurred even in the 6 years I've been here is heartbreaking. it's still beautiful and nature always finds a way to revive itself but when you remember the glory it was before it is very sad. Hoping your condo survives unscathed (sounds like it very well might) and hopefully whatever is damaged/destroyed will be rebuilt. It will take time but it will happen.

Bless you @HopperFan! Hope all is well for you.

@HopperFan if you believe in karma, know that the good you did here helping others will come back to you.

May that karma be in the form of an intact home after Matthew's visit!

Wishing you luck & wishing you well...

@HopperFan, you and this thread were the DIS at its best!

I've been thinking about your worry and your home throughout all of this. Your home is beautiful; your slice of heaven looks perfect. I hope when you are able to make it home soon and find everything is ok. I hope you'll keep us posted. (Although I know it's none of our business and I kind of feel like a strange stalker for asking. Honestly, I'm not!)

@HopperFan Thanks for keeping everyone and everything on track as much as possible and providing a wealth of information. I hope your house is okay.

I LOVE San Augustine ... it's a beautiful, beautiful city. Been watching Weather Channel today and y'all are getting hit HARD! Praying damage isn't "beyond repair" and no loss of life. Hope you'll post "after" pictures...

HopperFan, I hope your good karma translates into an intact beach home. We own a condo at the beach in OC, MD. I was in it during Hurricane Hermine's visit a month ago. Ironic that I found myself enduring another major hurricane whilst on vacation.

As it is, life will quickly return to many tomorrow. The tourists will tour, the CMs and TMs will try to make everyone happy. I know there are still a lot of things to clean up in the region. Power is out in some communities, roofs lost shingles, trees creamed a few cars. I hope all the tourists take a minute to thank the workers around them and ask how they managed. You do not realize how humanizing it is when a stranger takes time out to care about your life.

Those college student CMs had quite an adventure. The full timers also have an experience they won't soon forget. I think everyone in town could use a good week of sleep after that drama.(Good thing is it looks like Matthew has taken the bluster out of Nicole. Hopefully this is the last big hurricane this year.)

Thank you @HopperFan , you have been amazing keeping this thread so updated. We are not there right now nor have an immediate trip (we were there a month ago) but I was praying for all in the path of the storm and hoping for the best for all.

I am so glad all are safe and Disney fared so well through this. Am I the only one who has kids looking at these wonderful pictures of the characters interacting in the hotel lobbies and asking if they can go to Disney in a hurricane?? LOL! I am not kidding. My kids see the pics and say, "Can we go to Disney when there is a hurricane?". No way to plan that but guessing Disney came out of this smelling like a rose

Sending comfort and support for whatever the next few days may bring to you. I hope your thoughtfulness is returned several times over. Good wishes for future travels in happy circumstance.

Thank you for all the information I've been keeping up.
Please do let us know what happens with your home

It's absolutely gorgeous! Let's hope that ridge saved you from too much damage. My family is very fond of the St. Augustine area. The thought of lost and damaged history makes me sick.

We have plans to do the Greek Festival stuff at St. Augustine; hopefully they can get that going after the flooding. The local news reporter said that it may be days before the water subsides. The water was up to her knees on San Marco Ave., near Bridge of Lions.

hopperfan we hope the best for your family and house !

And for anyone who needs humor....we lost power here in San Antonio for five hours....and there wasn't even a hurricane, winds, thunderstorms etc!

Thanks all for the warm fuzzies! SORRY if I missed anyone above.

I got an email from the management team. While the island is still off limits and being blocked by military guys, there are folks out there. They said they have "first hand" information the complex is in good shape. The boardwalks in place (fairly new so hoping well built) and other than landscape damage nothing obvious. Lucky just had our palm trees trimmed back so hoping they just took it. They had worked so hard for days putting anything that moves inside even on our porch. The drained all 5 pools so that they could take in water ... great because at least 4 have many units by them. They rocked!!!! I then was able to catch a live news report of a plane flying up the coast looking at everything and from high up looks good and even our beach was not badly eroded nor our dunes too bad. I know farther up in St. Augustine beach their buffer is smaller and they may have been hit hard.

They may not let folks on island until tomorrow and I hope to get more detailed reports. Of course it doesn't mean there aren't broken windows, leaks, etc. But I will continue to keep my fingers crossed that whatever is minor. I would much rather be spending money at businesses downtown to help them get back on their feet. Downtown was so bad, so deep in water. The buildings all look pretty good (don't build them like they did way back when) but of course the water was deep enough that they will all have great losses and costs inside.

I think the festival coming up, especially the Nights of Lights (which is huge and stunning) will be a driving force for them to hunker down and clean up. If you've never been to St. Augustine - wow, what a treat. Historic, fun, great foodie and drink town with so many things for kids and families etc even if you never go to the beach. http://www.floridashistoriccoast.com/nights-lights

Thank you all for the good thoughts, concern and letting me burn nervous energy on this thread. We feel so very lucky, we will for sure pay it forward and spend in the businesses that will need it!!

 

[HopperFan]

I am glad you shared about the embassy. We are hhonors people too and also always looking for new beachfront places to use our points. We love sandestin and it is convenient from Nashville and are going to Marco Island for the 2nd time for Thanksgiving this year. What other places have you tried and loved or hated? We are thinking of trying Puerto Rico and maybe a Key West property soon. Been to any of those?

It looks like it will be beautiful. It's only being started. It is right at the St. Augustine Pier but all beach to it's left is part of Anastasia State Park which is beautiful and miles of white sand great for walks as well. The plus of location is it will be walking distance to some restaurants, and fun little beach kind of places and yet only a few miles to downtown St Augustine and all the great spots.

The hotel design, pools etc look top notch!!! I don't think it will make 2017 as they are still doing land prep. Not sure what hurricane has done to it. But keep your eyes on it, am sure it will be a popular one.

http://news.embassysuites.com/index...-embassy-suites-st-augustine-beach-oceanfront

 

[KateP85]

Thanks all for the warm fuzzies!

I got an email from the management team. While the island is still off limits and being blocked by military guys, there are folks out there. They said they have "first hand" information the complex is in good shape. The boardwalks in place (fairly new so hoping well built) and other than landscape damage nothing obvious. Lucky just had our palm trees trimmed back so hoping they just took it. They had worked so hard for days putting anything that moves inside even on our porch. The drained all 5 pools so that they could take in water ... great because at least 4 have many units by them. They rocked!!!! I then was able to catch a live news report of a plane flying up the coast looking at everything and from high up looks good and even our beach was not badly eroded nor our dunes too bad. I know farther up in St. Augustine beach their buffer is smaller and they may have been hit hard.

They may not let folks on island until tomorrow and I hope to get more detailed reports. Of course it doesn't mean there aren't broken windows, leaks, etc. But I will continue to keep my fingers crossed that whatever is minor. I would much rather be spending money at businesses downtown to help them get back on their feet. Downtown was so bad, so deep in water. The buildings all look pretty good (don't build them like they did way back when) but of course the water was deep enough that they will all have great losses and costs inside.

I think the festival coming up, especially the Nights of Lights (which is huge and stunning) will be a driving force for them to hunker down and clean up. If you've never been to St. Augustine - wow, what a treat. Historic, fun, great foodie and drink town with so many things for kids and families etc even if you never go to the beach. http://www.floridashistoriccoast.com/nights-lights

Thank you all for the good thoughts, concern and letting me burn nervous energy on this thread. We feel so very lucky, we will for sure pass it forward and spend in the businesses that will need it!!

I'm glad things seem to be OK. I have a friend in St. Augustine who is 38 weeks pregnant and have been keeping everything crossed that she has been OK - found out today that they escaped without too much damage too. Best of luck to you and everyone else that's getting cleaned up. We will be there for Night of Lights this year!

 

[KateP85]

I hope everyone who is still there is managing to get their vacation back on track! All the CMs I know are back to normal schedules today, so hopefully things can get back to normal. We've got some lovely weather coming up - Monday is supposed to be beautiful, high 70s to low 80s with very little humidity. I'm debating pulling my little one out of preschool to hit the parks for the day!

 

[HopperFan]

I'm glad things seem to be OK. I have a friend in St. Augustine who is 38 weeks pregnant and have been keeping everything crossed that she has been OK - found out today that they escaped without too much damage too. Best of luck to you and everyone else that's getting cleaned up. We will be there for Night of Lights this year!

It's so beautiful and peaceful feeling. While nothing like Osborne Lights, at least I know I will be able to stand and see thousands at once and scratch that itch!

 

[teCh0010]

Flew into MLB this morning. Other than a few traffic lights being out it is business as usual.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

@HopperFan so happy to hear that you have gotten some positive news!

You've sold me on a side trip to St Augustine the next time I'm in Florida! It sounds like my kind of town

We have several historical & quaint towns here in Southern Ontario that I've been known to waste a while exploring, nice to know I can add St Augustine to my next vacation and experience the same...

 

[HopperFan]

@HopperFan so happy to hear that you have gotten some positive news!

You've sold me on a side trip to St Augustine the next time I'm in Florida! It sounds like my kind of town

We have several historical & quaint towns here in Southern Ontario that I've been known to waste a while exploring, nice to know I can add St Augustine to my next vacation and experience the same...

I had been going there a few times since a kid. One year .... about 14 years ago we were heading to Ft Lauderdale after having just driven to/from Nebraska. I said let's stop halfway, what about St. Augustine, cool town. DH says "it's Florida, just another Florida town". We stopped two days. ENTIRE family especially DH fell in love. He can't believe something like that is there. So old and yet so cool. Lots of arts, cultural, history, music, seafood, festivals, academic (Flagler College right in historic district). Has become a huge foodie town, a fairly new distillery in an old electric plant that makes excellent spirits and has a cool story behind it. I could go on and on about it! We decided over a decade ago we would buy a place there and we have. I have been so many times and barely scratched the surface of all the things to do. It is a city with a soul. Condos on the beach, hotels in town and probably around a 100 bed and breakfast.

Takes me less than 2 hours door to door to Disney, just 45 minutes south of Downtown Jacksonville.

http://www.oldcity.com/

http://www.floridashistoriccoast.com/

https://www.visitstaugustine.com/

 

[hiroMYhero]

Now that WDW operations are back to normal and regular Theme Park planning resumes, moving the thread to TP Community where discussion can continue.

 

[HopperFan]

Just in case there ends up a photo thread of Characters at the resorts making magic ............... at least many will be here ......

MattyDM ‏@MattyEland Oct 7
Goofy is in the arcade. Also all games are free.

 

[missnic]

FYI to anyone attempting to drive to/From Orlando today or tomorrow.. I just drove home to Jacksonville from orlando. I4 and i95 are both clear. However, i95 beginning at the GA state line is closed.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

@HopperFan so happy to hear that you have gotten some positive news!

You've sold me on a side trip to St Augustine the next time I'm in Florida! It sounds like my kind of town

We have several historical & quaint towns here in Southern Ontario that I've been known to waste a while exploring, nice to know I can add St Augustine to my next vacation and experience the same...

You won't regret it. Make sure the Castillo is on your list of things to check out. I'm a sucker for historical forts. Another cool side trip in the winter is a drive over to Blue Springs State park to check out the manatees staying warm in the spring. There's hundreds of them in crystal clear water easily observable along a walkway.

There's lots of amazing side trips in Florida that get overshadowed by the Mouse. I love the bubble, but it's good sometimes to get out and see something new. This January I'm taking a couple days from DW to head over to Sarasota to check out the Ringling mansion and circus museum.

 

[SureAsLiz]

Just spent a few hours at Magic. It really doesn't feel all that crowded to me. Mk Monorails are down, so transportation is boats and busses and lines are long

FOF went as scheduled, but it was the rain version so no pinocchio float, and the stilt guys were on the ground. The tiana/frozen part of the princess float wasn't spinning.

In the rest of the park, the mickey wreaths are back up, along with some of the garland, but none of the pumpkins are up.

Overall, business is back to normal outside of transportation

 

[Accident]

Does FoF have a rain version? I thought there was only 1 rain parade which is unscripted and just the main street vehicles with some characters inside and the characters that have rain coats with other performers in rain coats gonig around to a rain themed song (can't remember the song right now).

 

[DLM1980]

Does FoF have a rain version? I thought there was only 1 rain parade which is unscripted and just the main street vehicles with some characters inside and the characters that have rain coats with other performers in rain coats gonig around to a rain themed song (can't remember the song right now).

"Rain rain go away come back some other day". ??????

 

[A Mickeyfan]

Hahahaha... I'm laughing because I got a box of Publix fried chicken on Thursday night before the storm. One of my local friends told me Publix has the best bakery and produce around. She was right. That chicken is crispy and juicy. Reminds me of Dayton's fried chicken back home in Maryland.

Also glad we stocked up our kitchen before the storm. Even got wine. I only venture outside to see what the weather's like. Inside I am "fat and happy", as they say.

I hope all the Disney resort guests are making the best of it. Lines may be long but you all got to survive a major hurricane together. (Everyone in Orlando is breathing a huge sigh of relief. Remember Matthew was the worst hurricane this region has ever faced. If it hadn't taken that midnight jog east at the very last moment, today's stories would have been very tragic. As it is northern Florida, Georgia and South Carolina are getting hit hard.)

Publix has best fried chicken, best subs & best bakery

 

[SureAsLiz]

Does FoF have a rain version? I thought there was only 1 rain parade which is unscripted and just the main street vehicles with some characters inside and the characters that have rain coats with other performers in rain coats gonig around to a rain themed song (can't remember the song right now).

The rain version I mentioned is for when it is either about to rain, or has just rained. Stilts are on the ground, Ulf isn't out, the pinocchio float isn't out and the characterscreen walk behind the hot air balloon

 

[Accident]

The rain version I mentioned is for when it is either about to rain, or has just rained. Stilts are on the ground, Ulf isn't out, the pinocchio float isn't out and the characterscreen walk behind the hot air balloon

thanks, never caught FoF like that.. was actually going to head over there for the parade today and then I saw the forecast for when it would be the hottest and decided it's an evening in the parks day.

"Rain rain go away come back some other day". ??????

actually it's a few songs these days.. found a fairly recent youtube of it..

 

[burberryplaid]

Thanks all for the warm fuzzies! SORRY if I missed anyone above.

I got an email from the management team. While the island is still off limits and being blocked by military guys, there are folks out there. They said they have "first hand" information the complex is in good shape. The boardwalks in place (fairly new so hoping well built) and other than landscape damage nothing obvious. Lucky just had our palm trees trimmed back so hoping they just took it. They had worked so hard for days putting anything that moves inside even on our porch. The drained all 5 pools so that they could take in water ... great because at least 4 have many units by them. They rocked!!!! I then was able to catch a live news report of a plane flying up the coast looking at everything and from high up looks good and even our beach was not badly eroded nor our dunes too bad. I know farther up in St. Augustine beach their buffer is smaller and they may have been hit hard.

They may not let folks on island until tomorrow and I hope to get more detailed reports. Of course it doesn't mean there aren't broken windows, leaks, etc. But I will continue to keep my fingers crossed that whatever is minor. I would much rather be spending money at businesses downtown to help them get back on their feet. Downtown was so bad, so deep in water. The buildings all look pretty good (don't build them like they did way back when) but of course the water was deep enough that they will all have great losses and costs inside.

I think the festival coming up, especially the Nights of Lights (which is huge and stunning) will be a driving force for them to hunker down and clean up. If you've never been to St. Augustine - wow, what a treat. Historic, fun, great foodie and drink town with so many things for kids and families etc even if you never go to the beach. http://www.floridashistoriccoast.com/nights-lights

Thank you all for the good thoughts, concern and letting me burn nervous energy on this thread. We feel so very lucky, we will for sure pay it forward and spend in the businesses that will need it!!

Hoping all the best for you & your family & everyone affected by Matthew!!

 

[HopperFan]

Hey thought all would like to know some folks may have gotten their "$12.99" worth. I would buy this no issues. Looks like even lettuce on the side for the sandwich. Way to go POLY!

Melissa ‏@Melissa_Furst 20 hours ago Florida, USA
The $12.99 lunch box that the Poly sold last night. Much better than some of the pics I've seen from other resorts. Bottled water included.