We have reservations for Friday thru Monday and have decided we are definitely NOT going.
The following is me just getting things off my chest feel free to skip to the next post if you like:
I understand the business and financial side of Disney not making changes or refunding anything until there is a Hurricane Warning for the ORLANDO area issued from the NHC. There are A TON of different situations with guest reservations. The storm might be hitting at the very beginning of a long stay for some, it could be in the middle for some, or (like in my situation) it could be at the end of an extended weekend trip. Each person can weigh their comfort level and make decisions accordingly.
My thinking was, we could probably enjoy Saturday for the most part. Sunday would be dicey as to how much fun we would have given the increased winds and rain. We have tickets to MNSSHP on Sunday evening. We could do with rain, but the high winds and rain would make it miserable, even at the MK. However, our biggest fear would be Monday. I expect that airlines will be grounded on Monday as the storm rolls through, only to resume Tuesday. Now they have to try to not only honor the original scheduled flights, but also get everyone else who was supposed to fly out on Monday worked in as well. (I know this happens with every major weather event world wide. It's nothing new.) But now, I am forced to find and pay for lodging for as many days as it would take to get a flight back home.
Since we have APs, it is a little easier for us to reschedule than others. I just wish that I could call in now (before a warning may be issued) and re-book a room for January without penalty. I would be taking a few less people out of the mix of stressful times.
If they don't issue a warning, I'm only out a room deposit and the MNSSHP tickets. Most likely financially cheaper than going and having to stay longer due to delays. Now, my child missing school would be another thing.
Why aren't you able to re-book a room for Jan without penalty? I thought that you could modify a room only package without penalty right up to check in. That has been my experience. I was supposed to check in yesterday. I called Monday night and rescheduled. It took a long time but it all worked out in the end.
My understanding is that if you had a trip planned for 9/6 to 9/13 (just for an example) at the GF you could reschedule that reservation for anytime outside of the five day cancellation window (for a room only package) and then cancel that reservation without penalty. So, you need to reschedule for anytime after 9/12. You don't need to find a room for a week, just find something for one night. Then you can cancel that reservation and get a refund for the night that you have already paid. Only change your reservation to a room that costs equal to or less than what you have already paid (because otherwise you would have to pay the difference for a night in a more expensive room...it would be refunded but I wouldn't do that) then change the reservation, and cancel the new reservation. I never cancel immediately after rescheduling but I'm sure that you can. I've canceled a couple of hours later. In the past, when I wasn't sure if this would work, I changed a reservation for the Poly at $700 a night to a room at Pop Century for around $150. I was refunded immediately for the $550 difference and then later I canceled the room at Pop and was refunded the other $150.