Vero Beach Remains Closed
Disney's
Vero Beach Resort remains closed to allow for a complete assessment of the
impact from Hurricane Frances on the property. As a precautionary measure,
clients or agents with arrivals through Sept. 30, 2004 are being contacted
to either move to a Walt Disney World location, book a future visit, or
cancel their reservation.
INTERCOT Discussion Boards
September
7, 2004
Walt Disney World Resort Returns To
Normal Operations
Walt
Disney World Resort will return to normal operations on Tuesday, September
7, 2004 - with the exception of the Fort Wilderness Dinner Shows, Palm Golf
Course and Fantasmic!. Guests who wish to contact friends and family staying
at the Walt Disney World Resort should call 407-WDW-INFO.
Cancellations for September 7:
Fantasmic! -- Cancelled
Disney's Palm Golf Course -- Remains Closed
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue will reopen Wednesday, Sept. 8
Mickey's Backyard BBQ will resume on Thursday, Sept. 9
Discussion &
Details
September
6, 2004
Orlando International will Open at Noon
Today
Passenger
flight service is scheduled to resume at approximately noon September 6,
2004 at Orlando International Airport, following an area "all clear" from
weather activity associated with Hurricane Frances. Passengers with
scheduled flights should contact their airline for the latest flight
information. In addition, airline ticket counters will not open until 10:00
a.m. Please be advised that some airlines will not resume passenger
operations until Tuesday, September 7, 2004.
INTERCOT Discussion Boards
MCO's Press Release
MCO's Airline Contact Page
Latest News from Disney and Operational Hours for September 6
The
Walt Disney World Resort safely withstood Hurricane Frances and maintained
power throughout the storm. After a visual inspection of the entire
property, only minimal horticultural damage has been found and guest areas
have not been affected by the storm. The Walt Disney World Resort
anticipates returning to normal operations in all areas by Tuesday, Sept. 7.
The following Walt Disney World theme parks and locations will open on
Monday, Sept. 6:
Magic Kingdom Park - 10:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Epcot - 10:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Disney-MGM Studios - Closed
Disney's Animal Kingdom - Closed
Blizzard Beach Water Park - Closed
Typhoon Lagoon Water Park - 10:00 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Disney's Wide World of Sports - Open for Scheduled Events Downtown Disney
Marketplace & West Side - 10 a.m. - 11 p.m.
Pleasure Island - Closed
Walt Disney World Resort hotels - OPEN
Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campground - Closed
Golf Courses & Mini Golf - Closed
INTERCOT Discussion Boards
Disney Cruise Line Update
Given the lengthy, extended duration of the storm, damage assessments which
need to occur, the disruption in air travel and ocean wave conditions
through Sept. 6, Disney Cruise Line has made the following decisions: The
Disney Magic five-day cruise scheduled to depart Monday, Sept. 6 will be
pushed to Tuesday, Sept. 7. This will now be a four-day cruise returning on
Saturday (this cruise was originally a seven-day cut to five-days). The
Disney Wonder three-day cruise (originally a four-day) scheduled to depart
Monday, Sept. 6 in the evening has been cancelled. Guests who were scheduled
to sail on this cruise will be given the opportunity to transfer over to the
Disney Magic.
September
5, 2004
Update 7:00pm - Latest News from Disney
and Operational Hours for Sept. 6
After a visual
inspection of the entire Disney World property, only minor roof damage to a
single backstage structure and minimal horticultural damage was discovered.
Disney will open the following theme parks and other locations on Monday,
September 6:
Magic Kingdom - 9:00 a.m. - 8:30 p.m.
Epcot - 9:00 a.m. - 9:00 p.m.
Typhoon Lagoon - 10 a.m. - 6:00 p.m.
Downtown Disney - 10 a.m. - 11:00 p.m.
Disney's Wide World of Sports Complex - Open for Events
Disney's Animal Kingdom - Closed
Disney-MGM Studios - Closed
Blizzard Beach - Closed
Pleasure Island - Closed
Walt Disney World Resort will return to normal operations in all areas
Tuesday, September 7. Guests who have questions should call 407-WDW-INFO or
407-939-4636.
Update 4:00pm - Statement From Disney World:
"As of this afternoon, all Walt Disney World Guests are well and safely
housed in our resort hotels. All areas of the Walt Disney World Resort are
safely withstanding the storm and continue to have power.
We anticipate opening our theme parks on Monday, Sept. 6, however we will
not open unless it is safe for our Guests and our Cast. We continue to
monitor the storm through information from the National Weather Service and
consultation with emergency preparedness officials."
Frances Moving In "Slow-Motion" Across Florida - Downgraded to Category 1
Hurricane
Frances trudged ashore with 115 mph wind and pelting rain late Saturday,
knocking out power to 2 million people and forcing Floridians to endure a
frightening night amid roaring gales that shredded roofs and uprooted trees.
The storm's slow-motion assault — Frances crawled toward Florida at just 5
mph — came more than a day later than predicted. The western portion of the
hurricane's eye crept over parts of the east-central Florida coast Saturday
night.
Orlando News Sources on
the Hurricane
INTERCOT Discussion Boards
The Orlando Sentinal
Florida Division Of Emergency Management
National News Sources
on the Hurricane
National Hurricane Center
The Weather Channel's Weather.com
FEMA Federal Emergency Management Agency
September
4, 2004
Update 5:00pm - Parks Now To Close On
Sunday
Because
of the slow moving and unpredictable nature of hurricane Frances, Walt
Disney World Theme Parks and Water Parks will now be closed Sunday,
Sept. 5, 2004. Additional schedule announcements will be made as
updated information becomes available.
Discussion & Details
Update 12:00pm - Parks Likely To Re-Open on Sunday
The Walt
Disney World Theme Parks, Water Parks, Recreation Areas, the Boardwalk and
Downtown Disney will not operate on Saturday, September 4 based upon
forecasts from the National Weather Service and information from emergency
preparedness officials.
For guests with priority seating for Character Dining in a resort location,
meal service will be provided, but characters will not appear.
We anticipate resuming limited operations sometime on Sunday, September 5
after the storm has passed. Updated information will be distributed as soon
as it is available.
Discussion & Details
September
3, 2004
Update 6:00pm - Parks Will Close On
Saturday
Based
on updated information from the National Weather Service and consultation
with emergency preparedness officials, Walt Disney World theme parks and
water parks will be closed Saturday, Sept. 4, 2004. Additional schedule
announcements will be made as updated information becomes available. Guests
who have questions should call (407) WDW-INFO or (407) 939-4636
The Fort
Wilderness Campground is being evacuated in anticipation of Hurricane
Frances. Those campers who wished to remain in town are being housed at
several of the resorts, most at Port Orleans.
In Orlando
area news, A number of shelters in Central Florida have stopped accepting
new evacuees because they are full. Counties are ordering mandatory curfews
throughout Central Florida as they try to protect hundreds of thousands of
homes vacated by evacuees.
Orlando International Airport (MCO) will be closed until 12 p.m. on Monday,
September 6. Most flights into and out of Orlando with a scheduled
departure/arrival time before 12 p.m. on Monday are canceled.
Discussion & Details
Update 11:40am - Official Ticket Center
Closing
Due to Hurricane Frances
Official Ticket Center's office will close at 3:00 p.m. today (9/3), and
will remain closed on Saturday, September 4th, and Sunday, September 5th.
They will re-open on Monday, September 6th at 8:00 a.m., weather permitting.
If there are any changes, we will let you know as soon as possible.
Update 11:20am - Revised Disney Cruise
Line Schedules
Disney Cruise Line
continues to monitor Hurricane Frances very closely. At this time, it is
probable that the storm will impact air travel into the Central Florida area
through Sunday. Given this information, the schedules for the Disney Magic
and Disney Wonder are being modified.
The Disney Magic scheduled to depart Saturday, Sept. 4 will now sail on
Monday, Sept. 6 on a five-night voyage from Port Canaveral at 7 p.m.
The Disney Wonder sailing scheduled to begin on Sunday, Sept. 5 will now
sail on Monday, Sept. 6 on a three-night voyage from Port Canaveral at 6
p.m.
Discussion & Details
Update 10:00am - Frances Now Category 3,
Operational Hours, Etc.
NOAA has announced this
morning that Hurricane Frances, still making a run for the Florida coast,
has been downgraded from a Category 4 to a strong Category 3, with sustained
winds down to 120 mph from 145. Some forecasters do not believe that the
eyewall will survive the next cycle, which combined with two high-pressure
ridges between Frances and Florida could further weaken the storm
overnight. However, forecasters also warn that this change could be the
normal fluctuations that are characteristics of stronger storms.
At this time hurricane
preparations are well underway in Orlando. Remember that the airport will
close at noon today and area attractions are running on an abbreviated
schedule (see the story below for full details).
INTERCOT will be
monitoring the situation throughout the day and will be posting updates as
they become available.
Discussion & Details
September
2, 2004
Update 10:00pm - Operational Hours, Etc.
Walt Disney World theme
and water parks will operate on an abbreviated schedule on Friday and
officials announced they expect to be closed on Saturday. The resort stopped
taking reservations earlier today. On Friday, Magic Kingdom will be open
from 9 a.m. to 8 p.m., Epcot from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., MGM Studios from 9 a.m.
to 6 p.m. and Animal Kingdom from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Blizzard Beach and
Typhoon Lagoon will remain open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Downtown Disney will be open from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Pleasure Island will be
closed Friday night and Cirque du Soleil will hold its 6 p.m. show only.
All Walt Disney World Resort hotels will remain open throughout the
storm. Guests staying at Disney's Fort Wilderness Resort & Campgroundwill be
relocated to other hotels on property.
SeaWorld Orlando said
today it will close Friday at 3 p.m. and remain closed Saturday because of
Hurricane Frances. The theme park will evaluate conditions on Sunday.
Universal Orlando including Islands of Adventure, Universal Studios and
CityWalk will also close Friday at 3 p.m. and remain closed Saturday because
of Hurricane Frances. The theme park will evaluate conditions on Sunday.
Update 3:15pm - Priority Seatings
Cancelled
There will be
no Priority Seating bookings for Walt Disney World Theme Park restaurants on
September 4 & 5. In addition; there will be no reservations accepted at any
Walt Disney World resort restaurants beginning with dinner on Friday,
September 3 through Sunday September 5.
Discussion & Details
Update 2:25pm - Fantasmic Cancelled
All Fantasmic!
shows at MGM Studios have been cancelled for September 3-6.
URGENT Hurricane Frances Update - 12:43pm
Orlando International
Airport (MCO) has just released the following statement informing us that
the airport will CEASE ALL PASSENGER FLIGHTS AT NOON, FRIDAY SEPTEMBER
3RD. MCO also asks that all travelers be aware that:
-
Domestic
passengers holding reservations for flights prior to noon on Friday,
September 3 2004, need to arrive 3 hours prior to their departure.
-
For further
information on flight schedules up that time, please contact the airline
directly.
-
The Hyatt
Hotel at Orlando International Airport is booked and sold out.
If you have
any questions about your reservations or your flight, contact your travel
agent, hotel or airline. Contact information will follow this post.
Disney
Specific Updates:
Due to Hurricane Frances, a temporary cancellation and "No Show" policy has
been adopted for travel agents who have booked reservations through Walt
Disney World or the Walt Disney Travel Company (agents that have booked
through another tour operator should contact that company for its specific
cancellation policy).
"No Show" penalties will be waived for any Guest arrivals between Wednesday,
Sept. 1 and Monday, Sept. 6, 2004.
Additionally
Disney has announced the following closings:
-
The Tom
Joyner Family Reunion 2004 events scheduled for September 3-6 have been
cancelled.
-
The
Hoop-Dee-Doo Musical Revue 9:30PM show on Friday, September 3, has been
cancelled. All Hoop-Dee-Doo shows scheduled for Saturday, September 4,
have been cancelled.
-
All Spirit
of Aloha Polynesian Luau performances have been cancelled for Friday &
Saturday, September 3 & 4.
-
The Disney
Dining Experience scheduled for Friday night, September 3, at the
California Grill has been cancelled.
Please stay
tuned for further closing information. As soon as we find out, we will let
you know. Keep an eye on the boards and this space for breaking news.
Discussion & Details
MCO's Press Release
MCO's Airline Contact Page
WDW Resort Contact Information
Information on WDW's No Show Cancellation
Weather.com Tropical Update
Hurricane Frances Update
The
Weather Channel has just confirmed a 6PM Friday closing for Orlando
International Airport.
Kennedy Space Center has
already closed. Governor Jeb Bush has already declared a state of emergency
for the state of Florida.
Discussion & Details
MCO's Airline Contact Page
September
1, 2004
Hurricane Update
Real
Radio 104.1 (WTKS) in Orlando is reporting that the Orlando International
Airport will be closing Friday night (9/3) at 5 p.m. in an effort to
avoid stranding travelers. At this point it is not clear whether this means
all incoming and outgoing traffic, what flights have been cancelled or how
this will affect air travel over the next twenty-four hours.
Orlando
International Airport (MCO), however, has not yet confirmed the closure. At
this time their statement remains, "Orlando International Airport will
remain open; however, flight operations will be determined by each
individual airline, under the guidance of the FAA. Therefore, before
arriving at the airport, please contact your airline directly to obtain
information about specific flights."
Additionally,
Gov. Bush is asking that people not travel to the state until the storm has
passed.
INTERCOT will follow this news and report further details as they become
available.
Discussion & Details
MCO's Airline Contact Page
Central Florida on Hurricane Alert
Still reeling
from the devastating effects of Charley, Florida is bracing what looks like
another hit from a strong hurricane. If the tracking models hold, Frances
could hit the Florida coast Saturday. Florida residents and communities are
working feverishly preparing for what seems to be the inevitable.
An Orlando airport insider states, "Keep a close watch because right now it
appears Saturday is going be a bear around here. You can figure on there
being NO outgoing flights beginning about 4 to 6 hours before the expected
arrival of the storm in the area, and incoming flights will likely be either
cancelled or diverted starting about 8 hours before.
"Following the storm, figure on a MINIMUM of 24 hours (more likely 36)
before the first flights start arriving. After Charley there was a ton of
debris on the runways, taxiways and ramps that had to be cleared before they
could allow any traffic."
Stay tuned to INTERCOT for breaking developments. As always, if you have
plans to visit Orlando or any central or eastern Florida community this
weekend, check the news early and often to stay informed. When in doubt,
call your travel agent, airline or hotel for further clarification on what
you need to be prepared for. Above all, we need to keep our fingers crossed
for our Floridian friends still cleaning up after Charley.
Discussion & Details
Weather.com Tropical Update