So, I haven't seen any thread like this yet, so if its already out there, I apologize...I was wondering what kind of crazy things have happened to people at WDW, like being there during a hurricane (like my story below) or anything else memorable. Sorry my story is kinda long, but it was a crazy day!
In Sept 04 my DH, mother-in-law, brother and his girlfriend drove from MI to WDW for a 6 night stay at SS. It happened to be the same time hurricane Frances was rolling through Florida...actually it was due to cross over Orlando just at the same time we were due to arrive in Orlando...so, as we entered FL, the traffic disappeared, other than the occasional car we saw heading the opposite way. There was damage and downed trees everywhere the closer we got to WDW property. Once on property, there wasn't a car in site...no buses, no people, nothing. We even called SS a few hours away just to let them know we were still coming and to make sure someone was there! They told us the worst of the storm was due to come thru at 11am...which of course was about when we thought we'd be there. So, we finally arrive at SS and there was no one in the lobby...no cast members, no guests, nothing. We waited for only a minute or so before a cast member came out from the back room and checked us in. He said there was a mandatory curfew (I think he said curfew) and that everything was closed and that we needed to get to our room NOW. We did and luckily we had brought some food with us for our drive cause nothing was open. We would have had no food all day! Since we drove all night, we were tired, so we took a nap once getting to the room. Suddenly, we were all woken up quite violently to the sound of the fire alarm. A very, very LOUD fire alarm! We all jumped up, threw our shoes on and ran out of the room. Everyone else was heading out to the front of the building as well. Firetrucks and cops showed up. We waited about 15-20 minutes before they let us back in saying it was a false alarm. 5 minutes after getting back to our room (of course we were UP by then, theres no going back to sleep after being woken up like THAT!) the alarm went off again! We all ran back outside and again the firefighters checked it out and determined that it was the strong winds knocking a firealarm against the wall causing it to go off! It was CRAZY! I have the funniest picture of my group waiting outside to be cleared to go back in. When rushing out of your hotel room during a fire alarm, what would you be sure to grab on your way out the door? In the pic, you see my DH has his wallet in his hands, my brother has a flashlight, his gf has a can of pop and my mother-in-law has a cigarette...oh yeah, and I had the camera :ROFLOL:!!! Priorities It ended up being a great trip with the parks all cleared out and all to ourselves thanks to Hurricane Frances!!
In Sept 04 my DH, mother-in-law, brother and his girlfriend drove from MI to WDW for a 6 night stay at SS. It happened to be the same time hurricane Frances was rolling through Florida...actually it was due to cross over Orlando just at the same time we were due to arrive in Orlando...so, as we entered FL, the traffic disappeared, other than the occasional car we saw heading the opposite way. There was damage and downed trees everywhere the closer we got to WDW property. Once on property, there wasn't a car in site...no buses, no people, nothing. We even called SS a few hours away just to let them know we were still coming and to make sure someone was there! They told us the worst of the storm was due to come thru at 11am...which of course was about when we thought we'd be there. So, we finally arrive at SS and there was no one in the lobby...no cast members, no guests, nothing. We waited for only a minute or so before a cast member came out from the back room and checked us in. He said there was a mandatory curfew (I think he said curfew) and that everything was closed and that we needed to get to our room NOW. We did and luckily we had brought some food with us for our drive cause nothing was open. We would have had no food all day! Since we drove all night, we were tired, so we took a nap once getting to the room. Suddenly, we were all woken up quite violently to the sound of the fire alarm. A very, very LOUD fire alarm! We all jumped up, threw our shoes on and ran out of the room. Everyone else was heading out to the front of the building as well. Firetrucks and cops showed up. We waited about 15-20 minutes before they let us back in saying it was a false alarm. 5 minutes after getting back to our room (of course we were UP by then, theres no going back to sleep after being woken up like THAT!) the alarm went off again! We all ran back outside and again the firefighters checked it out and determined that it was the strong winds knocking a firealarm against the wall causing it to go off! It was CRAZY! I have the funniest picture of my group waiting outside to be cleared to go back in. When rushing out of your hotel room during a fire alarm, what would you be sure to grab on your way out the door? In the pic, you see my DH has his wallet in his hands, my brother has a flashlight, his gf has a can of pop and my mother-in-law has a cigarette...oh yeah, and I had the camera :ROFLOL:!!! Priorities It ended up being a great trip with the parks all cleared out and all to ourselves thanks to Hurricane Frances!!