What did Disney announce on Sept 11th? Was it over the entire park? What did they say?
-
Welcome to the WDWMAGIC.COM Forums!
Please take a look around, and feel free to sign up and join the community.
SEPT 11th
- Thread starter orlandoparks
- Start date
sillyspook13
Well-Known Member
They announced a vague "due to unforseen circumstances, Disney's (insert park here) is being closed...." over the park intercoms. Nothing was mentioned about the events.
General Grizz
New Member
That was probably one of the only events (besides sickness) that would take away the magic...
I got sick at the MK last December...it was horrible - I looked at Cinderella Castle, and I wasn't really...thinking it was magical. I am sure glad that changed by President's Day Weekend!
Disney Magic is just something that can't go away...
I hope the 11 of September ordeal didn't totally take away the magic permanetley for those who were there...it'd be pretty depressing...
I got sick at the MK last December...it was horrible - I looked at Cinderella Castle, and I wasn't really...thinking it was magical. I am sure glad that changed by President's Day Weekend!
Disney Magic is just something that can't go away...
I hope the 11 of September ordeal didn't totally take away the magic permanetley for those who were there...it'd be pretty depressing...
Disney4648
New Member
Im my opinion.....the magic is still at DisneyWorld....
Pioneer Hall
Well-Known Member
The only place I would have wanted to be on 9/11 was WDW. Being in a resort with the friendliest CM's in the world, and everyone caring would have been so reassuring. I really hope that those events did not truly destroy the Disney experience for those people.
DISNEY TALKER
New Member
For those of us there..the MAGIC left that day. It was a huge dose of reality and it took some of us a bit to get it back. Though we finished our vacations there..there was little or no magic left....Most of us are ok now, but unless you were there that day, you really cannot understand how it felt.
Some people in the parks knew..Many were on cell phones and you could not begin to get near a pay phone. People were upset, kids were screaming as they had to leave the parks and did not know why. CMs were great at crowd management on the way out, no panic, no rushing, parks were evacuated in an orderly manner, and even the parking lot empited out well.
Some people in the parks knew..Many were on cell phones and you could not begin to get near a pay phone. People were upset, kids were screaming as they had to leave the parks and did not know why. CMs were great at crowd management on the way out, no panic, no rushing, parks were evacuated in an orderly manner, and even the parking lot empited out well.
raven
Well-Known Member
I too was there that day but was at MGM. I was on Rock -N--Rollercoaster when the announcement was made but didn't hear it. We were told by a CM as soon as we got off.
Although it was sad to leave the park, I quickly understood the reasons Disney closed that day. As we were leaving, people were crying and on their cell phones and all were very confused. Disney closed the parks out of respect for it's guests and CM's. To think that if we would have stayed in the parks that day with everyone crying and weeping would've ruined the magic even more for everyone. So I am glad that they chose to close to let the people weep elsewhere and not in the "happy places".
The parks opened the next day and everything was fine, back to normal as far as Disney standards go.
Although it was sad to leave the park, I quickly understood the reasons Disney closed that day. As we were leaving, people were crying and on their cell phones and all were very confused. Disney closed the parks out of respect for it's guests and CM's. To think that if we would have stayed in the parks that day with everyone crying and weeping would've ruined the magic even more for everyone. So I am glad that they chose to close to let the people weep elsewhere and not in the "happy places".
The parks opened the next day and everything was fine, back to normal as far as Disney standards go.
CmdrTostada
Member
I know exactly what your talking about with WDW being the only place you would have wanted to be. We had our vacation scheduled to start on September 13th. When we got there since my parents went up on the 12th they told us that Disney was paying for the guest who had to check out of a disney resort during the no flying time, if they had to fly. But while we were there that Friday we went to MGM and the cm's said there was maybe 200 people in the park, there was also a tropical storm that day though. Then all the other parks were half as crowded as thay usually are. But I never really felt scared or anything bad while I was there.
Invero
Well-Known Member
I remember that day quite well... I was at the Contemporary that day. I have to say, I have never seen a park exit go so smoothly... especially one done at the spur of the moment, such as that. Coming from a cast member perspective, it was great to see everyone coming together, and working so well under the circumstances. It was a tragic day for everyone, but my hats go off to those CMs that pulled everything together to make it work.
It was a strange week after that day... the next day, we were open for business (with the addition of bag checks)... that Friday, there was a tropical storm... downpours all day long... heavy winds... monorails were shut down for most of the morning due to a tree falling near the beam... Didn't really matter though... there were no guests who wanted to venture out that day.
It was a strange week after that day... the next day, we were open for business (with the addition of bag checks)... that Friday, there was a tropical storm... downpours all day long... heavy winds... monorails were shut down for most of the morning due to a tree falling near the beam... Didn't really matter though... there were no guests who wanted to venture out that day.
Figaro
New Member
We flew in from NY and were one of the last planes to land at MCO. As soon as we got off the plane we saw CNN on and watched the towers fall. I was shaking but trying to stay calm for my 2 year old who was running around and playing. It was so scary realizing we were on a plane when it happened.
As soon as we got to the AKL, we met my parents in the lobby and I lost it, started crying hysterically. (I am not the type of person to get emotional, especially in public) They told us the parks were closed which made us realize we were at one of the "perfect" spots for a terrorist to make a statement.
When we got to our room, we tried calling home which was impossible. My husband is a cop, alot of my relatives are NYPD and NYFD, plus we wanted to let everyone know we were ok. I remember dialing the cell phone on the balcony and watching how peaceful the animals were...it was so surreal.
My husband start to panic b/c he couldn't get through on the resort phone - his brother worked for Cantor Fitzgerald for years, but he forgot that he quit a few months before. (All my BIL friends were killed.)
Watching the bomb sniffing dogs at work was depressing. Everytime someone asked where we were from and we said New York, we got "ooh" and a really uncomfortable silence afterwards. Insensitive people talking about things we didn't need to hear right then. And like Tyler said, the parks were empty. We just wanted to go home.
As much as I like the AKL, I don't think we'll ever stay there again, atleast not for a really long time. Too many bad memories.
I've been to WDW atleast once a year since it opened and this was the first year I was really reluctant to plan another trip. But we decided to go ahead and make reservations for September 2002. I'm not looking forward to it as much as I used to.
As soon as we got to the AKL, we met my parents in the lobby and I lost it, started crying hysterically. (I am not the type of person to get emotional, especially in public) They told us the parks were closed which made us realize we were at one of the "perfect" spots for a terrorist to make a statement.
When we got to our room, we tried calling home which was impossible. My husband is a cop, alot of my relatives are NYPD and NYFD, plus we wanted to let everyone know we were ok. I remember dialing the cell phone on the balcony and watching how peaceful the animals were...it was so surreal.
My husband start to panic b/c he couldn't get through on the resort phone - his brother worked for Cantor Fitzgerald for years, but he forgot that he quit a few months before. (All my BIL friends were killed.)
Watching the bomb sniffing dogs at work was depressing. Everytime someone asked where we were from and we said New York, we got "ooh" and a really uncomfortable silence afterwards. Insensitive people talking about things we didn't need to hear right then. And like Tyler said, the parks were empty. We just wanted to go home.
As much as I like the AKL, I don't think we'll ever stay there again, atleast not for a really long time. Too many bad memories.
I've been to WDW atleast once a year since it opened and this was the first year I was really reluctant to plan another trip. But we decided to go ahead and make reservations for September 2002. I'm not looking forward to it as much as I used to.
Disney4648
New Member
Who decied to evacuate the parks? Eisner, Pressler?
MajinBuu
New Member
Of all the weird and confusing days...
First i hear a plane crashes while waiting for classes to start and i think its at the airport down the street. I didnt know about the attacks until the third class and the teacher saying shool is canceld and overhearing that there was a bomb threat, and still didnt know the specifics... all i knew on the way home was that a plane crashed in Pennsylvania(SP?). Id say there were about 30 prank bomb threats here. When i got to my friends house and found out that WTC was attacked as was the pentagon.. i still didnt know the extent of the damage. until i turned on the news and saw plane flying into 1 and 2 WTC and seeing it all... I was impressed with WDW being the first to close the parks...
Most of the parks in orlando were the first to close as i understand... I wanted to be with family the rest of that day and my friend wanted to catch a movie :brick: DOH!!!
First i hear a plane crashes while waiting for classes to start and i think its at the airport down the street. I didnt know about the attacks until the third class and the teacher saying shool is canceld and overhearing that there was a bomb threat, and still didnt know the specifics... all i knew on the way home was that a plane crashed in Pennsylvania(SP?). Id say there were about 30 prank bomb threats here. When i got to my friends house and found out that WTC was attacked as was the pentagon.. i still didnt know the extent of the damage. until i turned on the news and saw plane flying into 1 and 2 WTC and seeing it all... I was impressed with WDW being the first to close the parks...
Most of the parks in orlando were the first to close as i understand... I wanted to be with family the rest of that day and my friend wanted to catch a movie :brick: DOH!!!
Don L Duck
New Member
I know this is probably not a nice thing to say but some of you are thinking it.But why did they wait 2 1/2 hours after to close the park's? Was it because they wanted to make as much as possible for the day as far as admission ticket's?If not did they issue refund's for that day? Just Curious
Don L Duck
New Member
You know your probably right but we'll never know for sure.Just hate to think that Disney put the buck first. Know what I mean:veryconfu
Don L Duck
New Member
I would go insane. Don't think I could handle that:hammer: