Hurricane Irma?

[Hootiss]

I'm hoping for landfall in North Korea.

Best post of the day lol

 

[AngiTN]

I'd have to look for them. Problem is even if I have them, that means I just have a bunch of money on gift cards and I would have to wait to next year to use them. I don't think I can return them to the store.

This is true and is a risk that goes with using gift cards (which most buy at a discount) to pay for the trip. You trade the discount and take the gamble that you will make the trip.

 

[ulcards99]

I'd have to look for them. Problem is even if I have them, that means I just have a bunch of money on gift cards and I would have to wait to next year to use them. I don't think I can return them to the store.

I've done the same - bought some from Sam's. I consolidated my gift cards and was planning to pay off our room today. Thankfully, we have another trip booked in November that I'll just use them for, but we had Caribbean Beach booked with the gift card offer, so really wanted to still go. We are supposed to arrive Saturday, but I'm just not sure....

 

[spartankid34]

No, there are not systems in place that would keep Irma stationary like Harvey. It will move up the coast, as has been shown numerous times. Where is not known but it will move.


Reservations paid with gift cards are refunded to the gift cards it was paid with. So you'll need to have saved them. If you didn't you'll need to speak to someone to work out another arrangement, hopefully. Normally, there isn't another arrangement but this is a unique situation so maybe they'll work something out for you.


Totally normal. It will update eventually.


Not if MCO is closed.

So if my flight is cancelled, and I have no room, and no transportation to the airport, Disney is going to kick me to the curb? Just trying to understand. Not getting any answers from calling...too long of a wait right now.

 

[GOOFY D]

No, there are not systems in place that would keep Irma stationary like Harvey. It will move up the coast, as has been shown numerous times. Where is not known but it will move.

Too early to tell that. It all depends on the fronts and steering currents and whether they stay in place or break down. Hopefully, whereever this hits, it continues to move swiftly. However, no one can make that statement definitively right now. Current projections do not show a stall over Orlando.

 

[Jasten]

Some of us are speaking from experience with similar storms.

No two storms are the same and anyone that points to previous near misses are just making people complacent for the future one that does. That being said, the closer it gets the better the data. Thats why some of us are agonizing but waiting for more info!

 

[AngiTN]

So if my flight is cancelled, and I have no room, and no transportation to the airport, Disney is going to kick me to the curb? Just trying to understand. Not getting any answers from calling...too long of a wait right now.

No, I don't believe anyone suggested that. Disney placed everyone in a room during Matthew last year.
You had asked if ME would transport you to MCO. I answered that if MCO was closed no, they would not do that.

 

[tsme]

We're not canceling. We leave tomorrow, driving. My DH's company pays for some kind of special weather forecast info (don't know what it's called) & it's predicting (as of this am) Irma to turn east & go up to SC, but of course that could change by tonight. We are very aware of the power of hurricanes. We live in south LA & lived thru many. But we're still going. I honestly think that even if it does go straight up inland, it will have reduced greatly by the time it reaches Orlando. It's like a hurricane that hits us, by the time it arrives in North LA, it's not as bad, it's manageable. Just my opinion. But hey, I'm good with people canceling. You have to do what's right for your family. Plus, maybe it'll be less crowded, just kidding.

 

[HarperLeigh]

Sorry, but I can only guess that with that statement, you have never been through a major hurricane. What do you consider "close?" This is not a small wind event. It is wind/rain/surge/tornadoes, etc. Power could be out for several days depending on the track and damage incurred. I see a lot of people suggesting that people should not worry because the eye may only skirt the coast of Florida. The eye is not the entire storm and paths have error margins. This is no small storm. It is a significant decision for someone to make to bring their families into an area that could be significantly affected.

To be fair, WDW does not have to worry about storm surge. Obviously, the coasts and outlying barrier islands do, though.

 

[spartankid34]

No, I don't believe anyone suggested that. Disney placed everyone in a room during Matthew last year.
You had asked if ME would transport you to MCO. I answered that if MCO was closed no, they would not do that.

Going off of another answer I received earlier stating I'd be on my own. No harm meant.

 

[ITALIANNYC]

We need Disney Humor

Do you think kali river rapids will be extra rapid cause I always find that ride tame

 

[AngiTN]

Too early to tell that. It all depends on the fronts and steering currents and whether they stay in place or break down. Hopefully, whereever this hits, it continues to move swiftly. However, no one can make that statement definitively right now. Current projections do not show a stall over Orlando.

It's too early to tell a lot of things but for it to stall like Harvey? No, it's not too early to know that it's not going to do that. They knew Harvey was going to stall well before it did. This is why SC is preparing now.

 

[Surgie2]

For anyone who has cancelled their southwest flight what exactly happens to travel funds.

I cancelled with Southwest in June for a trip that was supposed to happen in August. The amount paid for my ticket went into my SW account to be used for future travel (365 days from the day I booked the ticket, not from the trip date). If I cannot travel by April 2 (date reservation was originally booked), then SW will extend the credit for 6 months minus $100 deduction. Regardless, if the new ticket I book costs more than the money sitting in my account, I need to pay the difference.

If SW is currently offering to cancel and travel within 14 days, that is targeted to people like you who might choose to rebook their trip the week after next. That means there will be no penalty and the money paid won't go back into your account - it will just be applied to your new reservation.

So worst case, if you cannot fly within 14 days, the money paid for your tickets will go back into your SW account as i described in the first paragraph. This is much more lenient than other airlines which charge a $200 change fee for an ordinary cancellation of the traveler's choice (not hurricane related).

To be sure, call SW.

 

[AngiTN]

Going off of another answer I received earlier stating I'd be on my own. No harm meant.

I missed that, but whoever said Disney would not house you was incorrect. Disney housed everyone that asked at least, during Matthew. Maybe there were some that didn't ask and it may not have been in some's budget but they didn't just kick guests out. If your personal budget can't handle additional days then that is something to consider. Disney isn't going to house guests at no cost. But they did work with guests best they could to find a solution.

 

[Kenzie_nicole19]

So i know this may sound crazy but as someone who put a lot of time into planning this vacation i can't help but worry! We only visit Disney every so many years and our grandma is going with us this time and probably will be her last, we are scheduled to arrive 9/20 and are leaving 9/27. With the hurricane hitting likely this Sunday/Monday coming up (making it only like 8-9 days out from our trip) there should be no issues with our trip we have planned for 9/20-9/27 right? I know there is no for sure way of telling but i was hoping people who have been in these type of weather conditions before would be able to answer how the aftermath usually plays from strong hurricanes like this?

 

[spartankid34]

I missed that, but whoever said Disney would not house you was incorrect. Disney housed everyone that asked at least, during Matthew. Maybe there were some that didn't ask and it may not have been in some's budget but they didn't just kick guests out. If your personal budget can't handle additional days then that is something to consider. Disney isn't going to house guests at no cost. But they did work with guests best they could to find a solution.

Thank you!

 

[ktlm]

To be fair, the boxes were Thursday night. By Friday afternoon/evening Disney Springs was open and so many people went there. Lines for the restaurants open were hours long. We went to Maya Grill at CSR and had a minimal wait.

At YC- they sold boxes for Thursday night, Friday lunch, and Friday dinner. There were long lines each time. By Friday lunch- I think the grill at BC CS was also open, but the line was huge. There were definitely boxes still being sold Friday evening at YC with long lines. A lot of people did go to Disney Springs once it opened at 5:00 p.m., but the box lines were still long at the resort. We went to Disney Springs after dinner at Yachtsman just for something to do. A lot, but not all of the stores were open. Disney Quest was free that night. They had no snack or drink areas open and some other things were closed, but there were a lot of games available.

 

[BigMac3001]

Since the board is ballooning, I figured I'll give you all my plan as of now again.

We originally were flying in to MCO on the afternoon of the 10th and staying until the 14th at Pop. After examining all the info, and after Southwest put out a no fee move policy, I moved our flight up to Saturday morning and booked another night at Pop. This gets me in before landfall and any potential closures. It also gives me options.

Right now, models are tracking in a way to says we may have trouble Sunday night/Monday morning and then all clear. If those models change for the worse, we don't get on the plane.

Everyone has to make their own call, but this makes most sense to me based on my situation and the data available.

 

[Tom Cottone]

With all the posts about refunds and that Disney will refund you the way you originally paid, does this mean that those who paid with their Disney Vacation Account get refunded there? Then get an additional 5% since they discontinued it? Interesting thought

 

[GOOFY D]

It's too early to tell a lot of things but for it to stall like Harvey? No, it's not too early to know that it's not going to do that. They knew Harvey was going to stall well before it did. This is why SC is preparing now.

Unless you can 100% accurately predict the steering currents and fronts 5-7 days from now, it is too early. I have been through hurricanes during my lifetime that were expected to stall and they sped up and been through those that were expected to move through at a decent pace that have either stalled or "looped" back over us. There are no certainties with a hurricane, only educated guesses. Those estimates get better the closer the storm gets to landfall.