So we were at Boardwalk, checked in Wednesday and had a weird but somewhat pleasant experience. First off I'm A DVC member, however I wasn't able to get a room anywhere for this trip - we were booking in July for October. However we got a great deal on Expedia for air and a 1 bedroom villa. So off we go, clearly knowing a storm was coming, but hoping for the best. First off was the unpleasant staff while checking in, while I am usually greeted with Welcome Home, the cast members were very sullen and even muttered the words oh you booked this on Expedia, when I asked was there a problem, I wasn't given an answer just a smirk, I of course went into my normal banter, I know I'm so excited to be here food and wine must be amazing that's why you are so booked. We have a pretty good day Wednesday, aside from mass confusion getting our tickets and in line for our Chew taping, we watched it in the pouring rain, they tried to be helpful by handing out towels and ponchos but only after we were completely soaked. Trust me we were prepared and already had ponchos. I know this was not a Disney related problem, but more on the side of communication between the chew and the Disney staff. Had a lovely dinner back at flying fish and the waitress gave us the best information. She said don't worry your in a safe place and worst comes to worst, they will probably have you all go in convention center for activites and food. Every time we asked staff we were given the Disney smile and everything is open and it's all magical- great for keeping hysteria down. By Thursday morning we knew our Friday night flight was cancelled and rescheduled to Saturday. I tried getting through to DVC only to have all circuits are busy, inquired at the front desk about extending stay and was given 3 different responses, first was again, oh you booked through Expedia with an eye roll, then we were told from a person behind closed doors room rate would be the Florida resident rate, a little over $490. They offered us a room $50 cheaper if we moved to other side of resort and we kind of figured it wasn't worth it to move for that, said to them isn't it easier if we stayed where we were, they wouldn't have to clean 2 rooms, they agreed if we can't get out who could get in. We said book it, I then asked for the total and person at the desk, started to look at screen quizzically, hushed conversations with lead person at desk and came back and said it's $710! So I said wait a minute the woman from the back who I was on phone with said she would do her best and give us a Florida resident rate. I again said can you get someone on the line I'm a DVC member and I can't get through to them , I have points can't I use them and they said we can't. Finally they come back and say ok we will honor the $490 but you have to take it now. We knew we were kind of trapped, but also knew we were safe and said ok. Thursday morning we inquire about flashlights and moving furniture and we were told , no everything is fine have a great day. However we started to hear from everyone except Disney employees that they would probably close early Thursday. We figured let's get out and enjoy the day. We head to magic kingdom, and started to have a nice day joking that the sun was coming out in spurts, at 1130 we get the alert our Saturday flight is cancelled. So back on the phones trying to get a new flight and another room. Agin on the phone for over an hour, we got on mine train ride line and it was a great distraction lol, finally got through to reservations, we could not get through to DVC, and were told hold on, got put in hold for half hour only to be told someone would call us back! We went about our day noticing park crowds getting lighter. So around 1 we thought let's get some souvenir shopping done down main street, then head back to Epcot to get some food in and food and wine festival and then take back entrance to resort. While we were in Christmas store we inquired at checkout and we got a oh yeah park is closing at 5. So we get to Epcot and by this time turnstiles we're already wrapped up, didn't even swipe in. We started to walk to the back have a few snacks - which was a problem because machines started going down and then when we did get food it was cold. Anyway we stocked up on wine and I had the good sense to stop in at the boulangerie in France and got whatever I could carry, couple of nice salads, cheese plate, baguettes, brioche etc. got back to boardwalk, asked about extension for Saturday night, went through the same conversation as the first time, but got room for Saturday, then headed down to store and very calmly was able to buy peanut butter, pancake mix, waffles, eggs, bacon, milk, water, only thing they were out of was bread. All I can say is I'm glad we didn't wait to eat at somewhere on boardwalk, because there were two options, flying fish and trattoria buffets, which I heard were three choices of pasta no protein, salad etc. I get it pasta is easy to make and for large crowds. I think because boardwalk restaurants are outside it was a good call, but hard to manage if you weren't prepared like us. We had a nice evening on the top verandah watching staff take in all the garbage cans, chairs etc and tie everything down. Enjoyed dinner in our room with wine and soaked our feet in the jacuzzi. They had characters in the lobby for the kids, with coloring and games and at no point did it seem overcrowded. Woke up Friday morning , thank goodness it wasn't that bad, same activites and relative calm all around, but very hard to get firm information out of anyone. Housekeeping staff came by with lots of supplies, detergent for wash, towels etc. Enjoyed quite time, and we stood online that night around 630 for dinner at Espn which reopened and it moved quick and had a great dinner. Soooo my take away from this is, I think that Disney should have used the texting function to let guests know about the early closing and not rely on cast members who were honestly trying to do their jobs in the park, serving people, getting them on rides, we had 5 messages on our room phone but we weren't there because we were told to go out and enjoy the parks. I think if more people knew they could have gotten better food options to go in the parks they were in and bring them back. The resorts took care of the kids, however I'm still trying to get to the root of the extended room rates and the constant oooh you booked through Expedia. One last comment, the only thing I couldn't find were coconut patties, I searched all over magic kingdom and Epcot and even the airport and couldn't get them??? Is Disney retiring them? Best information was at airport store, member said they may have been delayed because of hurricane. But then wouldn't they have run out of other Disney snacks? Glad that everyone was safe, this is an streamer situation and I have been through a lot of those illnesses, living in New York for 9/11. I don't care how prepared you are there are always kinks and for the most part Disney did a great job!
