The expected northwest track of Irma occurred much later than expected and brought the eye straight through central Florida including a direct hit on Disney World by the eastern half of the eye wall. Reports from around Orange County (the county that Disney World is in) are that damage from Irma exceeds that of Hurricane Charley, which caused widespread devastation. We live north of Disney World and received the same part of the storm shortly after it moved through Disney. We can tell you the wind and rain was unlike anything we’ve ever seen. There were dozens of tornado warnings with some confirmed tornados moving through the area.
We had the opportunity this morning to speak with Lee Cockerell, former Executive Vice President of Disney World and resident of Central Florida. According to Mr. Cockerell, there are no reports out of Disney World of any significant damage. This isn’t a surprise, according to Cockerell. “We are very well prepared for these types of events. We run drills several times a year so everyone knows exactly what to do.”
The preparation for a hurricane begins in May when grounds crews focus on removing any branches or other items that could cause damage during a hurricane. Prior to storm arrival cast members know exactly what needs to be tied down or brought inside. The real magic happens during and right after the hurricane passes.
During a hurricane such as Irma, approximately 5,000 cast members will stay on property. In addition to hotel staff, cast members on stand by for clean-up spend the night in the parks. Cots are set up in the Magic Kingdom tunnels and other buildings around property, and board games and the like are on hand while cast members wait for the storm to pass. As soon as is safe, those cast members descend upon the parks to clean up and get set for the reopening the following day. If we haven’t said it recently, THANK YOU amazing cast members. Your commitment to excellence is inspiring and we love you.
Disney World was hit by the worst part of the storm and received over 9 inches of rainfall. Amazingly, Disney World never lost power. This is largely because all power lines on property are below ground and Disney World generates roughly 30% of their own power. While not yet official, folks we spoke to early this morning said there is no reason to believe Disney World won’t be back to normal operations Tuesday, September 12.
There are many reports out of Disney World that the resorts were a great place to be for the duration of the storm. Restaurants were open and most if not all services were available. For example, Boma at Animal Kingdom lodge was open and serving guests at a reduced rate of $20 per person. Disney World is very well prepared to host guests during a hurricane and the Disney Resort became the world’s most awesome shelter for many Florida residents fleeing mandatory evacuation zones. Mr. Cockerell commented, “The building requirements for us were so strict, there probably isn’t a safer place to be during a hurricane than Disney World.”
Disney has announced that its Fort Wilderness Resort and Campground will reopen next week.
Various fake news web sites have been posting that the resort is permanently closed.
The resort closed last Saturday due to Hurricane Irma, and suffered considerable damage to the landscape along with uprooted trees.
Guests with existing reservations are being relocated to other accommodations within Walt Disney World Resort hotels.
Along with the continued closure of the resort, both Hoop-de-Doo Musical Revue and Mickey’s Backyard BBQ will be unavailable.
When we stayed at paradise pier we were allowed to enter DCA from the Grand Californian. Can you no longer do that.Just wrapped up a successful day 1 here at Disneyland. It was more or less a half day. Took the train up from San Diego this morning and checked in paradise pier around lunch and made it to DL about 1.
So far, I like the Max pass. For being at the park 6-7 hours we were able to secure 6 FP's. they were all for the major attractions too. At WDW I don't think we've ever had any real success after having our 3 FP's.
Really had a good time and felt like we did most of the park. Only thing we didn't do was pirates. Space and Haunted mansion are down until Saturday so we'll be back.
We have a full day at DCA tomorrow, looking forward to that. Definitely doing max pass again.
Only complaints...and it doesn't really bother me but the max pass includes photo pass, but I only saw one or two photographers out today. Maybe we just weren't paying good enough attention. Those guys are around ever corner at WDW. The other "complaint" is the walk from paradise pier. Looking on the map, we're basically in the park, at least right across the street. But to get in the park you have to walk out of the back of the hotel then a couple of blocks then thru all of downtown Disney. I bet my room is 150 yards away from the Mickey fun wheel, but if I wanted to go to it I bet it's a mile walk. Just caught me off guard.
Chill mode now, just ordered Thai food to the room and it should be here in time for World of Color, which we have a great view of.
How'd you do. The link doesn't work anymore, so I'm guessing that it's over.FBG Dis Friends..I need another favor....I have another design (actually 3 of them) up in a tee-shirt contest for WDW Radio. You came in hard and pushed me through last time and I appreciate it.
If you wouldn't mind voting for either 1, 2 or 3 I would be most appreciative.
(Let me know if the link doesn't work for some reason)
You can no longer do that. To use the GCH entrance to DCA you have to show a GCH room key. This policy changed when they moved a big security gate from the east end of Downtown Disney (right by the part entrance plaza) to the west end (by the Disneyland Hotel and movie theater).When we stayed at paradise pier we were allowed to enter DCA from the Grand Californian. Can you no longer do that.
Don't know yet. The host is actually in Shanghai Disney right now so I guess we will know when he comes back.How'd you do. The link doesn't work anymore, so I'm guessing that it's over.
I need good notes from F&W GB....3.5 more weeks!!!AAABatteries said:Just got my picture with Chewbacca![]()
Star Wars![]()
Thoughts on Universal Studios for boys at 6 and 4? Debating a 3 night trip in the Spring and maybe letting the youngest go back to Hollywood now old enough to do Jedi training. Need to check heights to see if worth it or wait another year.I need good notes from F&W GB....3.5 more weeks!!!
lol sorta SFWAAABatteries said:My Star Wars Galatic boner still in all its full glory - it's been 10 hours, may be time to seek out a medical professional or a princess.
Was that the fireworks light show at the end of the night. Yea that was amazing. I had tears coming down my eyes.AAABatteries said:Ok - the Star Wars Galatic Spectacular is ####### AWESOME. Totally badass if you are a Star Wars fan. I had no idea it was going to be that great. I was mesmerized. I may be overstating it but I think it may be my favorite thing in any of the parks now. We were supposed to go watch Fantasmic later in the week and I already told my wife I'm going to go watch this again instead.
Yea. This thing. Still brings back joy spasmsSaw the Star Wars Tribute with the fireworks at Hollywood studios. It's corny but I literally had tears of joy pouring down my face while watching it. It was amazing.
Agree completely. Awesome show.AAABatteries said:Ok - the Star Wars Galatic Spectacular is ####### AWESOME. Totally badass if you are a Star Wars fan. I had no idea it was going to be that great. I was mesmerized. I may be overstating it but I think it may be my favorite thing in any of the parks now. We were supposed to go watch Fantasmic later in the week and I already told my wife I'm going to go watch this again instead.
Yeah, I hate to say it but that's the first thing to pop in my mind as well.AcerFC said:I really dont want to know how many gators are in there. The fact that the parents wernt there when the guard had him leaves me shuked
Yep - still can't get over how good it was. Me and my FIL were bothWas that the fireworks light show at the end of the night. Yea that was amazing. I had tears coming down my eyes.
- just so cool for an adult of my age (43) who grew up loving Star Wars. I had my 6 yo daughter on shoulders so I didn't have any hands free to wipe away the tears. Luckily it was dark.Yep - still can't get over how good it was. Me and my FIL were both- just so cool for an adult of my age (43) who grew up loving Star Wars.
my nerd parts started to tingle during the AT-At scene when they had the 3 of them shown across the whole building, bright blue background and laser beams shooting out over the crowd.Yep - still can't get over how good it was. Me and my FIL were both- just so cool for an adult of my age (43) who grew up loving Star Wars.
Aww man. My son got gypped. He had to fight a female Inquisitor. He wanted to fight Kylo or Vader.my nerd parts started to tingle during the AT-At scene when they had the 3 of them shown across the whole building, bright blue background and laser beams shooting out over the crowd.
on a related note: Jedi Academy at the Studios just got retooled a little and now you fight either Vader or Kylo Ren (as opposed to the 7th sister chick). Storyline also changed slightly from what I understand. Have not seen it fully yet.
yea, I think thats why they did it...i get they were trying to inject a female villain in there but kids want to fight the main bad ###...not some girl wanna be.Aww man. My son got gypped. He had to fight a female Inquisitor. He wanted to fight Kylo or Vader.
I can see that. I was ok with it but I definitely can see today's parents #####ing about it.yea, I think thats why they did it...i get they were trying to inject a female villain in there but kids want to fight the main bad ###...not some girl wanna be.
Knowing the general WDW guest public, I would assume they got a fair amount of guests demanding refunds and free swag b/c lil' johnny's vacation was ruined b/c he wasn't in the Vader group.
Been talking about stuff like this offline recently after going to a couple of U2 concerts where they played a 30-year-old album from start to finish, performing versions faithful to the originals, and other attendees and I have shared what an emotional experience it was seeing a "soundtrack of my life" album performed like that.Yep - still can't get over how good it was. Me and my FIL were both- just so cool for an adult of my age (43) who grew up loving Star Wars.
Yeah, we discussed pro's and cons the whole way home, here areour thoughts....@jb1020 Thank you so much for your detailed DLR review. Glad you had a good time.
Of the six Disney Parks in the USA, DCA is my favorite. I do miss all the great food options at Epcot World Showcase and the WDW Resorts, but now that the kid has outgrown (for now) character dining, we make a different brand of fun with corn dogs and Dole Whips.
I'm sure I'll be back in Orlando after Toy Story Land and Star Wars Land open at DHS, but for now I dig DLR.
Not doing pirates was a regret, but there were so many Disney things we had never experienced we put it way down on the list....Mr. Toad, Snow White, Indiana Jones, Finding Nemo (which my wife had a mini panic attack on), Rodger Rabbit, Matterhorn...How do you do everything at Disney except Pirates? That's the best ride by far!!
You haven't lived until you've gotten hammered at DCA, then go right to Pirates for some drunken singalong.
That's too bad. Pirates at DL is way better than at MK. And during fireworks/Fantasmic, it's basically walk on. No line.Not doing pirates was a regret, but there were so many Disney things we had never experienced we put it way down on the list....Mr. Toad, Snow White, Indiana Jones, Finding Nemo (which my wife had a mini panic attack on), Rodger Rabbit, Matterhorn...
They had both Kylo Ren and Vader out there at the same time training with two different groups.on a related note: Jedi Academy at the Studios just got retooled a little and now you fight either Vader or Kylo Ren (as opposed to the 7th sister chick). Storyline also changed slightly from what I understand. Have not seen it fully yet.
hmmmm.....I'm gonna fight you on this one. Indy IMO is one of the best rides there, from an excitement, themeing, and overall attraction layout. It blows its kid sister—AK's Dinosaur—out of the water.7D ride at MK and the Indiana Jones at DL are a wash to me.
I highly recommend Disneyland in October. There's several overlays you don't get in Orlando: the Nightmare Before Christmas Haunted Mansion, Ghost Galaxy Space Mountain (according to a cast member who seemed confident, the trains run faster for Ghost Galaxy than regular Space Mountain), characters in Halloween costumes, the new Cars Land overlay with the Cars in costume (yes, Mater is dressed up as a vampire), and in general the parks aren't as crowded as summer or Christmas.nice write up @jb1020 glad you had a blast GB.
put me in the camp that likes DLR better than WDW for all the reasons you listed—nostalgia, the weather, some great old rides and their different ones (Indy, Cars, etc.), everything is so close. Unfortunately, because of location and logistics, I have not been there in years.
But head to head as whole vacation, it's tough to beat the sheer size and variety of WDW.
hmmmm.....I'm gonna fight you on this one. Indy IMO is one of the best rides there, from an excitement, themeing, and overall attraction layout. It blows its kid sister—AK's Dinosaur—out of the water.
I gotta find a way of getting there to see the JS Haunted Mansion....it sounds awesome. Glad you got a chance to experience it.
But wait, it gets better /BillyMays - staying at Carribean Beach during the refurbishment we get a $75 per night refund per room - I'm sitting on $1,200 in Disney gift cards.
So, I tell my FIL - anything $5+ we hit with a snack credit and everything else we use the gift cardI prefer Indy over 7D...7D is just too fast of a ride fun but not worth the wait to me. I guess I meant that those were 2 "anchor" type attractions that was unique to each park. Though getting on Indy I had flashbacks from the Dino ride and got a little nervous.nice write up @jb1020 glad you had a blast GB.
put me in the camp that likes DLR better than WDW for all the reasons you listed—nostalgia, the weather, some great old rides and their different ones (Indy, Cars, etc.), everything is so close. Unfortunately, because of location and logistics, I have not been there in years.
But head to head as whole vacation, it's tough to beat the sheer size and variety of WDW.
hmmmm.....I'm gonna fight you on this one. Indy IMO is one of the best rides there, from an excitement, themeing, and overall attraction layout. It blows its kid sister—AK's Dinosaur—out of the water.
I gotta find a way of getting there to see the JS Haunted Mansion....it sounds awesome. Glad you got a chance to experience it.
"Why does it have to be snakes?!"jb1020 said:I prefer Indy over 7D...7D is just too fast of a ride fun but not worth the wait to me. I guess I meant that those were 2 "anchor" type attractions that was unique to each park. Though getting on Indy I had flashbacks from the Dino ride and got a little nervous.
My daughter did have a little freak out on Indy. She's terrified of snakes. She was on the side of the big cobra...She cried at the mention of even watching Indy when we got home.
Yes @glvsav37 a guy like you that appreciates all the little details needs to get on the Haunted Mansion there during Halloween.
I had a small chuckle when we walked into the Hyperion Theater to catch the Frozen play.