Hurricane Irma?

[Mrscompgeek]

Just spent over an hour on hold to speak to a CM who had no clue about the policy and said I can't do anything about it until they announce a warning. Not sure who the person talked to who said WDW was already allowing people to change as this is not the case. Have to call southwest next.

Edit: not the case according to the person I spoke to, didn't mean to sound snarky if I did. Just working and scatterbrained and stressed.

Yes, I've found the same, our agent tried and I also called to ask and the Hurricane policy is NOT in effect yet.

 

[Disneylvr]

I'm really curious why they are telling you its in effect? My agent called this morning and they arent letting anyone change yet without a fee, I called after I read all these and they told me the same thing, no hurricane warning in effect yet so they cant let you change without the fee. . . The hurricane policy is not in effect is what we've been told.
We're set to arrive at Fort Wilderness sunday with a camper. I really hope they either put the policy in effect soon or the storm passes because a camper is not where I want to be in a hurricane.

I was told the same thing by my agent this morning after he called Walt Disney World Travel Company. The hurricane policy is not in effect.

 

[HarperLeigh]

Hurricanes are huge weather systems. From all gathered data the best central Florida can hope for at this point is a wet, sloppy mess and some unkown effect on park schedules -even if Irma turns sharply north and misses the FL coast. The meteorologists now are not just guessing in the dark. They have studied other weather factors and current systems, have live data from within the storm, and consulted lots of historical parallels to inform their insights. The science on this thing is real.

Having said that, I just hate it for everyone weighing whether to go on with trips this week. I've been at that point of decision before and it is no fun whatsoever when your long-planned vacation is at stake. In fact, as I recall it was a special kind of heartache. I'm hoping for safe and happy outcomes for everyone.

I wish I could like this more than once.

 

[Tonyz]

I was told the same thing by my agent this morning after he called Walt Disney World Travel Company. The hurricane policy is not in effect.

I wouldn't expect it to be in effect yet actually. Give it a couple days.

 

[Jasten]

I was told the same thing by my agent this morning after he called Walt Disney World Travel Company. The hurricane policy is not in effect.

That is so annoying. The warnings only ever go into effect a day or two out from when it will strike (so maybe Friday if lucky). I wish they wouldn't encourage people to ride out a storm on their property.

 

[HarperLeigh]

I'm really curious why they are telling you its in effect? My agent called this morning and they arent letting anyone change yet without a fee, I called after I read all these and they told me the same thing, no hurricane warning in effect yet so they cant let you change without the fee. . . The hurricane policy is not in effect is what we've been told.
We're set to arrive at Fort Wilderness sunday with a camper. I really hope they either put the policy in effect soon or the storm passes because a camper is not where I want to be in a hurricane.

If Irma goes right up the middle of FL, FW will be evacuated. It may be evacuated even if Orlando is expected to get a glancing blow. The timing will be uncertain, but on Saturday would be a good bet.

 

[vettegirl]

I don't know whey they told me this. It could be that my husband is active duty air force?? I swear the lady this morning told me this info.

 

[Mrscompgeek]

That is so annoying. The warnings only ever go into effect a day or two out from when it will strike (so maybe Friday if lucky). I wish they wouldn't encourage people to ride out a storm on their property.

I agree! You would think it would be easier on Disney to not have as many people get stuck on property if it does hit them.

 

[shaqfor3]

Currently in Puerto Rico, waiting for Irma to pass real close to us tomorrow.

I would recommend people to wait at least 2 more days. Every year, there is 1 or 2 storms/hurricanes that come real close to PR to the point where they suspend work, classes everything. like 80% of those times, nothing happens, as the storms usually go further north and miss us out completely. Many of them just move completely north and die without doing much damage

Examples:

Hurricane Luis in 1995 - this one was a beast, and it was the strongest hurricane that I remember of to almost hit us. Well it was until Irma.

Hurricane Dean 1989 - this one was the first one I remember (i was 8). Went to sleep expecting the biggest storm I had ever seen, but woke up to a Sunny Day.

I am really hoping that history repeat itself and that this is the fate Irma ends up: Minimal damage, no casualties.

But just in case, I will attempt to scare Irma off the same way Jungle Cruise Skippers scare the hippos.

 

[Mrscompgeek]

If Irma goes right up the middle of FL, FW will be evacuated. It may be evacuated even if Orlando is expected to get a glancing blow. The timing will be uncertain, but on Saturday would be a good bet.

Yeah, I dont plan to try it if it looks like its going to hit. I will take the $200 fee to switch my dates if need be. We leave friday to go part way so if the warning isnt issued til Friday we probably will just have to eat the fee and cancel earlier unfortunately. We dont go to disney very often and we are only going for 5 days so missing a whole day or more in the parks while you ride it out would really bite into our trip. Its worth the $200 for us to be able to go another time when we can be out every day.

 

[Disneylvr]

I wouldn't expect it to be in effect yet actually. Give it a couple days.

Someone earlier in this thread reported that is was in effect. We were just correcting that.

 

[JDSski]

This is what the CM on the phone at 6:30 this morning told me.

Just got off the phone with them (45 minute hold, off at 10:45). CM just told me since there is no NHC warning declared on the mainland, I'm stuck and suggested I wait for a warning to be declared and call back. I told them a mod on the DIS boards said her position was incorrect and she got testy. So my points are now in holding for 2017 use year. Now to see what I can do about the MNSSHP ticket I had for Sunday. A bummer but there are worse things.....

 

[HopperFan]

I'm really curious why they are telling you its in effect? My agent called this morning and they arent letting anyone change yet without a fee, I called after I read all these and they told me the same thing, no hurricane warning in effect yet so they cant let you change without the fee. . . The hurricane policy is not in effect is what we've been told.
We're set to arrive at Fort Wilderness sunday with a camper. I really hope they either put the policy in effect soon or the storm passes because a camper is not where I want to be in a hurricane.

I agree, it's probably too early for it to be in effect ... the winds are changing hourly. This thing can change very quickly and until it is closer to the US we just don't know. Everything is preparedness.

Last year the campground was evacuated. ALL campers/RVs had to be moved to the Magic Kingdom Parking lot. All guests were provided rooms at the resorts, I think most at values. It is something to consider ..... because of your camper. They don't want any damage to occur to campground from campers moving about ............. so they put them where if they move they won't damage Disney property. You won't be able to stay in it.

 

[Disneylvr]

I agree! You would think it would be easier on Disney to not have as many people get stuck on property if it does hit them.

I don't plan on being a problem for Disney. I will stay in my room with supplies and not require housekeeping or food from Disney, IF I decide to come. I won't make that decision until Wednesday or Thursday. No matter what, Disney will have to have CM's staying onsite.

 

[kbelz78]

I'm really curious why they are telling you its in effect? My agent called this morning and they arent letting anyone change yet without a fee, I called after I read all these and they told me the same thing, no hurricane warning in effect yet so they cant let you change without the fee. . . The hurricane policy is not in effect is what we've been told.
We're set to arrive at Fort Wilderness sunday with a camper. I really hope they either put the policy in effect soon or the storm passes because a camper is not where I want to be in a hurricane.

I haven't called the number, but did chat with a CM on My Disney Experience. They would not verify that the policy is in effect and told me to call the DRC to speak to someone. Have my dad working on that now. What they did tell me in chat is that if your reservation is 30 days or less, there is a $50 per resort package rescheduling fee. We have 2 rooms/packages scheduled. I'm not made of $$ and work hard for what I do have, but it $100 seems reasonable to me to get out of the path of this storm.

It's go time for us to decide. We were to fly out/arrive at 1p on Thursday 9/7.

Scatterbrained, stressed, with little sleep here too....not enough caffeine to get me through the day today.

 

[SpookyJ]

I wouldn't expect it to be in effect yet actually. Give it a couple days.

I can only give it one day before I have to choose to go or eat the entire cost of my trip and not be able to go again. It would be nice if they would take those folks into account, its not like I want to come burden Orlando would Iove to just reschedule at this point...

 

[minniegirl19]

11am advisory another increase in winds. 180 mph now.

 

[Felix Tartaglia]

I just cancelled my reservation at the Poly with guest services. They told me that i would NOT be charged any cancellation fees. Full refund. I was on the phone for 1.5 hours. We were scheduled to fly out tomorrow and return on 9/13.

 

[Mrscompgeek]

I agree, it's probably too early for it to be in effect ... the winds are changing hourly. This thing can change very quickly and until it is closer to the US we just don't know. Everything is preparedness.

Last year the campground was evacuated. ALL campers/RVs had to be moved to the Magic Kingdom Parking lot. All guests were provided rooms at the resorts, I think most at values. It is something to consider ..... because of your camper. They don't want any damage to occur to campground from campers moving about ............. so they put them where if they move they won't damage Disney property. You won't be able to stay in it.

Yeah, My travel agent said they would move us if we went ahead and it got bad, but we wont take the change of damage to our camper if it looks bad. We will move our dates to another time.

 

[yulilin3]

That is so annoying. The warnings only ever go into effect a day or two out from when it will strike (so maybe Friday if lucky). I wish they wouldn't encourage people to ride out a storm on their property.

I agree! You would think it would be easier on Disney to not have as many people get stuck on property if it does hit them.

There is a reason the warnings go up only 2 days in advance and that is because the storm's path can change, no need to give out a warning ahead of time if there's a possibility of it switching direction
Disney wants you to come, to stay on property and go to the parks. They will not close parks unless forced to by official curfews or mandatory evacuations.