What happened this day in Disney Parks history-Sept. 11, 2001........

WDWmazprty

WDWmazprty

Well-Known Member
Original Poster
http://thisdayindisneyhistory.homestead.com/Sep11.html


Following the morning terrorist attacks on The Pentagon, New York City's World Trade Center, and in the air over Pennsylvania, The Walt Disney World Resort in Florida, and The Disneyland Resort in California, close without incident.

All the resort hotels remain open and provide accommodations to guests who are unable to leave. Phone charges are suspended so that guests can reach family. (The closures marks only the second time Disneyland has locked its gates in its 56-year history due to a national tragedy. The first time followed the assassination of President John F. Kennedy in November 1963.)

At Disney World, Cast Members in all 4 parks are instructed to hold hands and form a human wall and gently (without touching guests) walk towards the hub of each park and eventually towards the exit. This calmly forces all guests out of the park. Security follows each human wall to make sure no one gets past.

At Disneyland Resort, food and beverage stations remain open at no charge for guests who are on property. AMC Theaters at Downtown Disney show free Disney films for stranded Resort guests. (Due to the time difference, the California theme parks have been able to close before any guest can enter.)

The Disney Stores close as well for the day as do Disney's Broadway shows in New York and on the road.

Michael Eisner releases a statement to Cast Members explaining the Disney closings. He ends his note with these words:
"Finally let me say our company around the world will continue to operate in this sometimes violent world in which we live, offering products that reach to the higher and more positive side of the human equation."
 
W

wiigirl

Well-Known Member
I remember that.
75.gif
 
SteveAZee

SteveAZee

Premium Member
We were at WDW less than two weeks after the attack. It had been planned long before... debating going or canceling. We had to wait for flights to be re-opened as well. Ultimately we decided to go... partly in defiance of the terrorist attack, partly because our kids (under 10) had been told for a while that we were going. We arrived on the 22nd. It was strange and eerie... but there were crowds and people trying to enjoy themselves. Some internal struggles for us adults... anger, sadness, fear, but also fun to watch the kids, mostly unaware of world events, just enjoying themselves.
 
durangojim

durangojim

Well-Known Member
My wife and I flew home to DTW from MCO on 9/10/01 from the trip that I proposed to her on. When we got home that night we called our families asking if they would meet us for dinner, the next day 9/11. We still went through with the dinner and announced the good news but it was bittersweet. I also remember looking up at the sky that afternoon thinking that I was the first time I my life that I could ever remember seeing the sky without contrails or aircraft of any kind. Hard to believe it’s been 20 years.
 

Register on WDWMAGIC. This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.

Back
Top Bottom