Hurricane Matthew

[AEfx]

Neither UOR nor WDW did an effective job notifying on-property guests of what this storm entails. If you sell the fantasy of "come stay in the bubble," you need to be upfront when reality comes crashing through the dome. Waiting until 3:00 PM to admit that (stuff) is about to get serious isn't assisting the guests, many of whom have no conception of what a Cat 4 storm is.

Not creating needless panic among its guests was a smart move. It would have created a much more threatening scenario had they panicked even more people and they started to flee property to...where? Get stuck on the roads and be in much more danger? Get stuck at the airport for a couple of days? People are safest where they are.

 

[R W B]

So I see that Best Friends Pet Care is closing at 6 this evening, does that mean they have 'evacuated' all animals on property and the building will be empty or does that mean you can't go visit your pet there after 6? If they are having guests come get their animals, where are they suppose to go since animals aren't allowed in Disney Resorts?

 

[21stamps]

The hotel letter that was circulated online this morning was (borderline?) disingenuous.

Neither UOR nor WDW did an effective job notifying on-property guests of what this storm entails. If you sell the fantasy of "come stay in the bubble," you need to be upfront when reality comes crashing through the dome. Waiting until 3:00 PM to admit that (stuff) is about to get serious isn't assisting the guests, many of whom have no conception of what a Cat 4 storm is.

This is ridiculous.

 

[JohnD]

Imagine the TSMM line!

All closed. (Snaps fingers): https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/calendars/2016-10-07/

 

[EvilQueen-T]

Just called and they said they are planning to operate the parties on both Thursday and Friday nights...don't see that happening with legoland and sea world closing early thurs and staying that way until sat. They are either issuing refunds if wanted or waiting until cancellation of event and possibly offering vouchers for another night...

I saw it posted on FB that they've cancelled the parties for both nights and the parks closed today at 5 and won't open tomorrow at all.

 

[AEfx]

Wow.

I know. Is there reall a need for some folks to be such asshats in the middle of this?

 

[PhotoDave219]

Cases like this, you listen to the locals. When they start getting nervous, pay attention.

 

[JohnD]

I saw it posted on FB that they've cancelled the parties for both nights and the parks closed today at 5 and won't open tomorrow at all.

That's a given for parks closing at 5pm tonight and closed all day tomorrow.

 

[AEfx]

And God bless those CM's.

Is that the same one who sent the storm to begin with?

 

[MOXOMUMD]

Worse than Bonnie, Charley, and Andrew? Get lost.

Got Lost......now what.

 

[mousehockey37]

So in a case like this of 5 PM shutdowns due to dangerous weather, do they kick everyone out at 5 PM or is it a normal close? Attractions shut down lines at 5 and let those lined up ride? Main Street open for shopping for a while? Or is it, 5 PM, get out of the line, leave the park?

I would have to imagine with the urgency of State of Emergencies in Florida and Orlando that it's probably "It is 5pm, due to the impending weather, the park is now closed. Please find your way to the exit." and all shops and such are closing as well.

They want their CM's out and safe, they want the guests back to their resorts and accounted for. They probably need to get some more storm prep done as well, so I would doubt that people are going to be able to hang around.

 

[LAKid53]

Wow.

In agreement. Harsh was the word I'm thinking of.

I'm going to give tourists from the mid-Atlantic a break. Florida hasn't had a storm make landfall in 11 years. Every year we'd hear that we're due, there's going to be so many major storms, etc. And then nothing. Even Floridians...and not just those who moved to the state since 2005...got complacent. Hence the governor going doomsday to get people's attention.

I went on the DVC member cruise last August, the peak of hurricane season. I didn't purchase trip insurance. I'd become one of those complacent residents. And I've lived in this state 50 years.

 

[TP2000]

Is that the same one who sent the storm to begin with?

Different department.

 

[LAKid53]

Got Lost......now what.

View attachment 167441

You won Post of the Day, lol.

 

[Jeffxz]

So I see that Best Friends Pet Care is closing at 6 this evening, does that mean they have 'evacuated' all animals on property and the building will be empty or does that mean you can't go visit your pet there after 6? If they are having guests come get their animals, where are they suppose to go since animals aren't allowed in Disney Resorts?

From Best Friends Pet Care Facebook:

"Best Friends Pet Care is taking the necessary steps to ensure the safety of our pet guests and all team members. Based on the most recent forecasts for Hurricane Matthew, Best Friends Pet Care at the Walt Disney World Resort will be closing at 6:00 p.m. today.
Please rest assured that as usual we are staffed 24/7 and the pets will be cared for and kept comfy and safe.
Should you have any concerns or questions, please feel free to call the center at 407-209-3126 or email us at dis@bestfriends.net."

 

[Roses77]

Cases like this, you listen to the locals. When they start getting nervous, pay attention.

Exactly. In the northern states if we are worried about "some snow" a Blizzard.. you should be too. If I'm in the south and the locals are headed to their shelters during a thunderstorm, I'm following suit. I've been in Orlando for at least 2 hurricanes (in the early 00's) and us northerners took our queues from the locals. We made it out safe and dry.

 

[TalkingHead]

Not creating needless panic among its guests was a smart move. It would have created a much more threatening scenario had they panicked even more people and they started to flee property to...where? Get stuck on the roads and be in much more danger? Get stuck at the airport for a couple of days? People are safest where they are.

There's a difference between creating "needless panic" and distributing information that sounds like it was sanitized by state media.

If it turns out to be a catastrophic storm (especially if it turns west at all), there will be a lot of Monday-morning quarterbacking. Not sure what the plan should have been, but it feels like WDW and UOR might have handled it more effectively.

 

[21stamps]

Got Lost......now what.

View attachment 167441

I actually just chuckled at this.

 

[JohnD]

I had to post this for posterity. Very rare to see this. Everything closed.

 

[LAKid53]

The only full time beach I have now is at a lake lol

Is that Destin? I have never been there. It's funny because I think I'm the only one in my current city who hasn't. Every time I tell someone that I'm from SoFla they say- "Oh I have a condo in Destin!" ...and then will proceed to ask me if I know of 'such and such place'... And every time I'm like ummm..ok...that's super far away from SoFla so no, unfortunately I never hung out or played golf in Destin.lol

Nope, Panama City.

 

[TalkingHead]

This is ridiculous.

Very incisive. Did you even read the notice circulated among hotel guests this morning?