9/11/01 On A Disney Cruise or in Disney World

With the 10th anniversary of 9/11/01 just a few days away, I was wondering if anybody on here was actually on a cruise or in Disney World/Land during the tragic events of 9/11 and wanted to find out what life was like on a cruise ship or a Disney Theme Park that day.

Were you even aware of the events? Did the captain or the park make an announcement? Could you watch it unfold on the ship's TVs? Did the cruise line make it easier to reach family members?

Thanks for posting.

When we were on the Keys To The Kingdom tour, they told us that on 911 the parks were evacuated within 2 or 3 hours. They opened every exit (even employee's) and used every bus and van they had. Everyone had to stay in the resorts. Overnight they hung every piece of red, white & blue decoration they had. The next morning things went back to normal.

I wasn't there on 9/11/01 but I sailed on the Magic two weeks later.

Getting through airports was tedious. We had to show ID at every step in the process. the TSA hadn't been formed so the existing security was still unclear on what they were supposed to be doing in respect to the hightened security. The terrorist Richard Reid hadn't yet tried to light his shoe bomb so we didn't have to take our shoes off at least.

There was national Guard at all of the airports. In Oakland, they were armed with M16s with the 10 rd. mags. In DFW, the Guardsman had 30 rd. mags. I mentioned this to a Guardsman and she told me "It's a Texas thing."

On the ship, they announced that all of the water tight doors below deck 3 would be closed at all times so if you wanted to travel the length of the ship below the weatherdeck, you had to go up and down. Apparently it was more troublesome for the crew because we saw lots of crew on deck 3 doing the up and down thing.

4 boat Coast Guard escort with .50 cal M2s mounted and uncovered.

At the senior officer question time, the Captain nearly begged us to sail again and invite friends to book. Apparently they were being hit with lots of cancellations as people were afraid of vacationing in large groups or flying.

I normally just lurk, but felt compelled to respond to your request. I took my very first cruise on the Disney Magic during 9/11. The Magic was doing a special run that week in which we did a 4 day cruise (Nassau, Freeport, Castaway Cay). We were having a beautiful, restful cruise until the tragedy occured. The morning of 9/11 we had docked at Castaway Cay. The weather was somewhat dismal in my opinion. It was raining and overcast. I decided to sleep in a bit to wait for the weather to clear. Most cruisers were already at the beach. I was sleeping soundly when my mother woke me telling me a plane had crashed into the World Trade Center. I sat there dazed watching the news when the second plane crashed into the second tower. Then of course the tragedy at the Pentagon and the Pennsylvania crash occurred.

At that time no annoucements were made. We decided to go ahead and get off the ship and go to the beach. Although I was upset we still made the best of it. Most people did not know about the events until they returned that afternoon. Many people were crying watching the news in the lounge. The evening show did go on, but it was a real quiet on board that evening.

Disney did a great job handling everything. As the airports were closed, Disney quickly made arrangements that evening for transportation, lodging and food at the resorts.

Upon returning, all I can recall is that we traveled as quickly as possible back to the port. We had a storm that evening and we rocked and rolled all the way back at top speed. I literally rolled out of the bed. I recall seeing helicopters and lights a we got close to the port. Upon departing the ship, there so many police, military personnel, and dogs on site.

I was working at Disneyland (in California) at the time. Because of the time change, Disneyland had not yet opened for the day. (I believe we were scheduled to open at 10:00am). The decision was made before 8:00am not to open that day. There was still quite a few cast members in park, i.e. those finishing graveyard shifts, maintenance, custodial, front gate, security, etc, and most of us just sat around in break rooms for a while watching the TVs. A few of us were asked to call our fellow cast members who had not yet come in to work to tell them not to come in, but many had already called in to check.

For a brief period, everyone was asked to evacuate from the larger buildings. There were false news reports of hijacked planes still in the air and heading towards Southern California. We were allowed back in about 45 minutes later. Cast were allowed to head home right away, but many hung around for a short while glued to the TVs. The park stationed some cast members out front to inform guests we would not be opening, and also sent a few of the characters over to the hotels. I believe the hotels also showed some Disney Films during the day to the guests who were stranded there.

We opened as normal the next day, but it was sort of surreal. Both parks were empty, and it was hard to have a smile on your face, for both the cast and the guests. I think the only people visiting for the most part were those from out of town who were already staying in local hotels. The main gate staff started checking bags of guests entering on Sept 12th, which continues to this day (although the checks are now done by the Security department). Things started normalizing slowly starting the next week, when it was apparent were visiting the parks as an escape from what had just happened.

I was at a conference in Orlando and was staying at Old Key West. My plans called for me to visit the parks on September 12th but the parks were closed, if I recall correctly. First time that had ever happened at WDW (parks closing for the entire day), Downtown Disney was also closed up till they figured it all out. So I recall everyone just wandering around the hotel in a state of shock.

The other interesting artifact was that Disney was letting guests stay longer at their resorts AT NO COST (so un-Disney like) since most folks had no way to travel back and arriving guests were not, well, arriving since planes were all grounded. I had a rental car and was able to drive home (1,100 miles) on the 13th and return the car there at no extra charge (thanks, Hertz).

CB

This is very after the fact, but I thought I'd add to the thread anyway.

My husband and I and our adult son were on a 3-day park/4-day cruise with Disney in Florida. We'd already done the 3 days on land, and the 4 cruise days were scheduled to end Wednesday 9/12.

As a previous poster said, we were at Castaway Cay on the 11th, and heard about the attacks from another passenger, as we were about to leave the ship for the beach. We immediately went back to our cabin, and saw the second plane hit the tower.

Later, we did go to the beach, and it was surreal - a gorgeous day, but so, so quiet.

I remember that at dinner, the dining staff was very solicitous, and someone came around to each table, asking whether we were OK, or needed anything. I remember that at the time, we weren't sure whether the port would be open for us to return on Wednesday (it was).

I remember that all wifi/email access was free, then, so that people could contact family and work and whoever else, to arrange for returning home, if possible.

I remember that anyone who had not arranged their own transportation home from the pier were bussed to Orlando (whether the original travel arrangements had been made through Disney or not), and we were checked into WDW resorts for as long as it took for flights to resume (which turned out to be Saturday).

(I'm not sure whether this is true, but I remember someone telling me, either at the time, or later on, that other cruise lines found hotel rooms for their stranded passengers, for one night, and then the passengers had to make their own subsequent arrangements.)

We were given free access to the parks for the time we were stranded there. We had to pay for food and things, but the lodging was covered. On the Friday evening, there was a complementary dinner buffet for all of the stranded guests.

The parks were so empty - because of course, new guests couldn't fly in. There were no lines for any ride, and I remember that everyone, guests and WDW staff alike, were all polite and considerate of each other.

Disney arranged our flight home, which as I said, happened on Saturday. It was a very, very quiet flight, and all the passengers thanked the crew as we exited the plane.

I have only good things to say about Disney and their customer service. Whatever the reason for their decisions regarding what to do with their parks and cruises, I thought they made a remarkable effort to accommodate their guests during a time of great stress and uncertainty.

Wow!! I love your story! Thanks so much for sharing it. :)

Sent from my iPod touch using Forums

I hadn't even thought of the day from the Disney experience factor. Thanks one and all for sharing your remembrances. We were ALL affected, no matter what we were doing on that day in history. Whether vacationing, at home caring for a sick school age child, at work, traveling for business, giving birth or burying a loved one.....we each had very distinct remembrances of that so so tragic day.

We were at WDW, staying at Old Key West, and watched the events unfold on TV. Tried to go to the parks, but they closed them down for the day. We were going on a cruise at the end of the week and were to fly to Ft Lauderdale and weren't sure if they would allow flights to continue and we thought we might have to rent a car.

:confused:

In 2001 We did a Disney Cruise over the New Year's Holiday. I am not positive but I think it was the Disney Magic. We had been on a waiting list to get a room, but after 911 so many people cancelled that we not only got a room but were upgraded several times before sailing.

There was intense security at boarding time with bomb sniffing dogs, etc. I initially assumed it was because there were fears the ship could be targeted over New Year. After we sailed though I discovered at the bon voyage party what the real reason for the security was. President Jimmy Carter and his whole family (20+ people) were on the cruise. It was so cool. I ran into him everywhere on board. I even got a picture with him.

I do have a non Disney 911 cruise story. Friends of mine were on a Carnival cruise. 911 happened a few days before docking. The captain then got on the PA system the day before docking and announced: "You have a problem and I have a problem. Your problem is that when we dock tomorrow, many of you will be stranded because there are no flights in America. You also may not find lodging very easily because so many people are already stranded in Florida right now. I also have a problem. After I drop you off, I must take this ship back out for another cruise. Unfortunately with no planes flying, most of our passengers had to cancel because they cannot get to Florida. Here is our solution. For those of you who are interested, we at Carnival would like to offer you a second cruise, starting tomorrow at a greatly reduced price, same itinerary for another week. At least that way you will have lodging and we will have some passangers." My friends decided to take Carnival up on the offer and they redid the cruise all over for the next week.

Correction. We were on the Disney Wonder in the post above.

The bomb sniffing dogs and 2 security checks (one to enter the terminal, one to enter the gangway to the ship) started with 9/11. We cruised the following week and security was everywhere.

We were at Typhoon Lagoon on 9/11 and having a lovely time when there was an announcement saying something like "due to today's events, we will be closing the park." We had no idea what the events were until we got to the car and turned on the radio. We headed back to our room at Coronado Springs and stayed there for the rest of the day.

I cannot tell you how impressed we were with Disney's desire to provide service to the completely overwhelmed resorts. Imagine trying to serve dinner to every guest at only the resorts. So many people everywhere. Employees were pulled from all locations to the resorts to help get guests food and whatever else they needed.

We were positive that our Keys to the Kingdom tour the next day would be cancelled because who would let people behind the scenes on 9/12? Disney ran the normal tour and did so with a smile.

Every day that week, we met more people who Disney accommodated because of the attacks. Folks who were supposed to be on Disney ships but who were rerouted to the resorts. People who couldn't get home. There was a nursing convention at Coronado Springs and Disney was helping the nurses to rent cars and drive home together.

I will always remember the way that Disney rallied during that week. Just an amazing thing to see.

When ppl ask where I was on 9/11 I can't help but think of the Disney Magic as I think back to how that moment shifted my life forever as the post above read we weren't in port castaway cay that long and it was overcast with spots of showers time to

Time i was 14 and getting ready to go on an excursion with the teen group then I turned on the tv and I thought it was a movie or trailer for something new and then I realized that it was in fact real being from the tri state area I could see the skyline of nyc as a kid from nj and thinking of how they were gone. So as I was saying great cruise up until this point after that the screens all over the ship were cnn Fox News so on so forth well we tried to enjoy the rest of the trip however knew what we were facing lucky for us we lived in Florida actually my mom at the time was a cast member so the word was that guest who couldn't fly due to grounding all flights had to be put up in the Disney resorts which was nice because I got to see some of the friends I made on board again before they went home but from there I wound up joining afjrotc and eventually enlisting in the United States Marine Corps serving six honorable years before being injured in line of duty and being med retired but I'll always remember the trip and even in the worst of times the Disney company did such a wonderful job taking care of it's guest and now that I finally have my own family can't wait to bring my daughter on the Disney Magic

Myself and three friends were staying in Orlando and were at WDW on 9/11. We'd queued for the Winnie The Pooh ride for about an hour and just as we got to the front of the line they announced that the park was closing. No explanation at that point but people were saying maybe something had happened to the President as he was in Florida that day. Disney did a great job of evacuating everyone from the site. We got a bus to one of the Disney hotels and from there we eventually got a taxi back to our hotel. It wasn't until we got back that we started to understand the atrocities that were happening. We watched events unfold on the tv for most of the day. Everything was closed the following day but on the 13th we went back to the MK. There were only a couple of hundred people there that day and it rained like mad but we enjoyed every minute. We were due to fly back to the UK on the 15th IIRC and after hours queuing to see if our flights were going ahead we were lucky to get home on schedule.