Special thread for those evacuated Dibbers seeking a room.

[Br'er Bear]

LATEST UPDATE at 20.40 (15.40 EST) 13th Wednesday.
Expedia/Florida.com.
Hotel room availability seems to be back to normal which is good news for those just seeking a few days, Expedia even has availability at many of the DVC resorts and even DVC using points is showing availability over the next few days at a number of their resorts.

But for those who have longer stays booked or for larger groups might find it difficult to find alternative accommodation over the coming months.

Therefore for those owners like Magnificent in post #13 whose villas have not been affected by the storm and who has availability over the next month might want to follow Magnificent example and add their villa/condo to this thread.

Good luck.

Original Post
For those Dibbers under forced evacuation from south Florida seeking accommodation in Orlando.

Some Dibbers already staying around Disney might be able to suggest where to go or even put a family up for a few nights.

I notice one kind Disney Vacation Club member alkel2730 offering a family a room using her vacation points but offers like this might be lost within the Hurricane Irma thread which has over 742 replies.

Therefore having a thread devoted just to evacuated Dibbers seeking a room might be helpful, general talk about the storm should not be listed and replies should only be to Dibbers posting a request for a room/place to stay, or to those Dibbers already in resorts/hotels and know there's availability or if you've found a website with availability like anna-marie in post #3.

If you're desperate and can't find anywhere then list info such as number of adults, children, infants/babies and special needs in your group, number of nights required, where you're coming from, estimated arrival time and if you're hoping to return after the storm, flight home, has it been delayed, etc and hopefully some helpful Dibber can point you in the right direction.

We were caught up in Matthew last year and had to evacuate from the coast and it took us a long time to find a room, it was just the two of us so not as stressful as those with children and infants.

Good luck and many thanks to the Dibb Administrators.

Copied from post post #11 so to make it more visible.
For any first-timers, I believe in most states if the traffic lights are not working then you'll need to treat each junction as a 4-way stop so please be prepared when approaching all junctions to slow down and stop but also be mindful of those close behind you (tailgating) who might not be able to stop in time and/or don't know this rule.

Pasted from floridadriver/topics/...me=chap11.html
Broken or Inoperative Traffic Signals
If you come upon an intersection with blacked out or inoperative signal lights, treat it as you would an all-way stop. Stop completely at the limit line, the crosswalk, or the entrance to the intersection. Check for hazards and proceed only when it is safe.

[Harry]

Great idea... I would happy put up a evacuee for a few nights...

[Guest]

Hotelcomparisons still appear to have rooms available. It is possible to book an English website from USA have done it several times and just shown a screen shot of the confirmation.




hotelscomparison3/h...businessType=H

[alkel2730]

This is a great idea! I was worried the post would get lost. I can imagine a lot of people stranded at the airport over the weekend.

[Bal]

Originally Posted by anna-marie

Hotelcomparisons still appear to have rooms available. It is possible to book an English website from USA have done it several times and just shown a screen shot of the confirmation.




hotelscomparison3/h...businessType=H

See more...

I've done a few dummy bookings. Pretty sure the booking engines can't keep up. Lots showing as available on some websites, but when you go through to pay it just says "Sorry, that room is no longer available at that rate" etc.

[Guest]

That's a shame when I first posted on the other thread there were 3-4.
What a nightmare.

[Mpet]

We're currently on Anna Maria Island and have been given a mandatory evacuation order. Just looking for somewhere to go now! We were going to Orlando next Wednesday, so we're thinking of heading that way, but there doesn't seem a lot of choice at a reasonable price.

Given it looks beautiful outside it seems really strange!

[Br'er Bear]

Originally Posted by Mpet

We're currently on Anna Maria Island and have been given a mandatory evacuation order. Just looking for somewhere to go now! We were going to Orlando next Wednesday, so we're thinking of heading that way, but there doesn't seem a lot of choice at a reasonable price.

Given it looks beautiful outside it seems really strange!

See more...

Hi and regarding "not a lot of choice at a reasonable price"

Check your travel insurance and look under disruption cover as that should cover you in this event and up to a certain limit. I've pasted below a Sainsbury travel policy as a guide to what to look for.

Good luck and safe journey.

Substitute accommodation
Travel disruption cover can also provide protection if you need to leave your accommodation in the event of:

insolvency of your accommodation provider
fire, flood, earthquake, explosion, hurricane, tsunami, landslide, avalanche, volcanic eruption or storm
an outbreak of food poisoning or infectious disease which means you can no longer stay there
Where you’re unable to recover costs from your accommodation provider, Sainsbury’s travel disruption will cover the cost of alternative accommodation and any transport costs incurred up to the value of £5,000.

You’ll need to pay for accommodation and transport initially and then claim back the cost later, so you may want to ensure you have access to enough cash or credit to allow you to do this.

Unused travel and accommodation
If you find that you’re unable to go on your trip or you need to come home early, travel disruption cover can also offer some comfort and protection.

The cover will apply if you abandon your trip for any of the following reasons: the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) or other similar body prohibits travel or recommends evacuation your airline or accommodation provider becomes insolvent fire, flood, earthquake, explosion, hurricane, tsunami, landslide, avalanche, volcanic eruption, storm or an outbreak of food poisoning or infectious disease means you can’t stay in your accommodation a strike results in your travel from the UK being cancelled the Channel Tunnel or airport, port or airspace which you expected to travel through is closed for 24 hours

Sainsbury’s travel insurance could cover the cost of any unused and irrecoverable; travel and accommodation, airport parking and car hire, kennel or cattery fees and excursions up to the value of £5,000.

You’ll be able to claim for these costs if you’re unable to recover them from your travel or accommodation provider or where alternative arrangements have not been offered.

Enforced stay
The Enforced Stay cover provides additional protection in the event that you are stranded abroad due to any of the following being closed for more than 24 hours:

airspace
airport
port
channel tunnel
Your travel provider may be able to offer alternative travel arrangements. However, if after 24 hours you find you have to make your own arrangements to return home, Sainsbury’s travel disruption will cover the cost of this expense, up to a maximum of £1,000 per person.

Keep your receipts and send these with your claim.

The policy can also offer some comfort by helping cover the cost of additional living expenses such as food, accommodation and phone bills.

You’ll be entitled to receive £100 for every 24 hour period that you’re unable to return home up to a maximum of £1,500. This will be paid out under the policy whether you incur the expenditure or not.

If you do get stuck abroad because the airport or port was closed you may be able to claim any unused travel expenses from your travel provider. You should do this first, before making a claim on your insurance policy.

[DisneyDaffodil]

Excellent advice here. Thankfully we are home safe and sound but yet again, I appreciate the help provided by Dibbers. I hope everyone finds a safe place over the next few days.

[sky13]

I think I read somewhere that expedia.com/Florida is updating hotel room availability in real time or close to it. This is the website that MCO is suggesting to look for room availability. (Apparently it works slightly differently from the regular Expedia website from what I read elsewhere, not sure how accurate this is though)