Disney on 9/11

[magikindom]

I know Disney did not close for 9/11 but I have heard that they made an anouncement to the guest, does any one know what that was? Tahnks.

[olmec26]

I'm pretty sure that the parks did close around 10 am that day, but I could be wrong on that. I seem to remember that being the first time that the parks had ever closed - the second was for Charlie, the third for Wilma.

[magikindom]

Oh,ok I thought the parks have only closed for Hurricanse

[athenna]

They did close. I remember the last page of People Magazine the following week was showing people leaving the MK on 9/11.

[magikindom]

thanks athenna, I don't know where I heard they closed.

[disneydame2004]

JimHillMedia had some first-person accounts of events on that day: http://jimhillmedia.com/blogs/jim_hi...03/07/767.aspx

[Tinker Bell]

I was at the resort that day, we were supposed to fly home but the airport was closed so we stayed overnight and the resort was packed since they had closed all the parks.

[OneLittleSpark]

they closed the resorts and waived hotel fees according to the book Disney War

[magikindom]

Thank you that website really explains alot.

[GIOny]

they closed the resorts and waived hotel fees according to the book Disney War

Is that true? Did they really waive the hotel fees? Does anyone know this for sure??

[crw]

I was at Beauty and the Beast in Disney-MGM when the evacuation was announced. I've never been more impressed with Disney. They moved everyone VERY efficiently to the turnstiles and handed each person a one-day non-expiring ticket on the way out. Buses were lined up. Once each bus was loaded, a new one pulled up to continue the evacuation. There were security personnel in all the main intersections to keep things moving. Back at Wilderness Lodge, it was obvious that park CM's had been moved to the resorts with LOTS of extras to take care of kids that only understood that their day at the parks had been cancelled. I asked a CM if things had really gone as smoothly as they appeared to me and they confirmed that this very situation is rehearsed. He joked that they probably lost a few seconds as CM's waited for the "this is a drill" part of the message.

As for free hotel rooms -- I certainly didn't participate in THAT.

The rest of the week was bizarre. I don't believe I will ever again be on Splash Mountain or Kali and asked if I'd like to stay on "for another go" because there were NO guests waiting, or ever again see CM's riding the attractions out of sheer boredom. Very eerie.

[AimeeBelle]

We went to WDW about two 1/2 weeks after 9/11. Not that I was in a "happy" mood, but not going would have been admitting the terrorists had won. Flying out of Logan was an experience.

It was so strange being in the parks when they are so close to empty. We walked on all the attractions.

One day we were in EPCOT at the American Adventure when the fife and bugle corps came out. They played the anthems to all the armed services, and sang God Bless America. I can honestly say there were few if any dry eyes if the small crowd that gathered.

[MayBWeRMnt2B]

My parents 25th anniversary was on 9/11. They were supposed to go in the parks that way, but they didn't. However they were celebrating it at our house in Celebration, so they were nearby. The local news had tons of information on it. Supposedly one of the "targets" of that day was part of Disney World.

My parents stayed in FL for a week and went into Disney the day after. It was deserted. They barely waited for anything.

Also, I know from some of my friends that they "rehearse" drills to exit and whatnot once and awhile. Also as for hurricanes or any other disaster lots of park CMs are called to hotels to entertain children. I think that, that is one great thing about disney.