To Go or Not To Go

[soniam]

I just left the parks yesterday after spending 5 days. My advice would be to postpone. No social distancing what so ever. Parks are packed. I’ll be surprised if I don’t have covid, even being vaccinated.

I feel the same way. We have been at WDW since Sunday and Universal 4 days before. We have been wearing masks indoors or in crowded outdoor areas, ie queues, even before the indoor masking return. We are fully vaxed. Crowds were more on par with Spring Break or Thanksgiving. No distancing, and CMs were encouraging filling every available space. I expected this. I expected Delta to hit, but it’s a tidal wave and way too fast. It’s hard to evaluate the risk right now. If we weren’t all vaxed, my personal decision would have been to not go. We don’t have any health risks. We still had a good time but skipped some rides due to lines and crowds. We go a lot though.

 

[nickynick]

Thank you everyone for all your perspectives on the current situation and my posted questions. Upon reading all the posts and discussions with wife we are 90% probably postponing (unless a miracle occurs in the next 5 days) our trip again till next year, August. The Universal/WDW was 20 days, so that exponentially increases the exposure time and Florida having a rough time with the virus right now the odds are against us. We still have not told the kids yet we are waiting a few days. We were able to secure a week in Wildwood, NJ ( for my DIS friends it actually what some of the Boardwalk Resort at the WDW is based off of) so hopefully that will lesson the blow. I think I’m going to be most disappointed, like most when I’m in WDW it one of the only times i could tune out work and the BS that goes on in this crazy world. Once again, thank you and I wish you all Good health and happiness.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

We are two fully vaxed, in shape early 40s guys. We are going in October, following my partner's biz trip. If we had underlying conditions or were in less than great health we wouldn't go. Thr mask mandate doesn't bother us as Chicago was super strict...and we got used to it. But everyone needs to make the decision based on their party's age, vax status, overall health, and risk tolerance.

I think the only compelling reason we'd cancel is if WDW ran out of Kungaloosh or the French slushies

 

[luv2cheer92]

For me, the only thing that would stop me from going in Sept/Oct would be the parks closing (yes, I knocked on wood). Nothing else would do it. But, I'm fully vaxxed, young, healthy, have no kids, and I am frequently exposed to Covid and am in very close contact with a whole lot of people on a daily basis at work. It's definitely something that is individualized and everyone needs to weight their own risks.

 

[Imamom2]

We are going in November - healthy and fully vaxxed - and I’m hoping things will get better. We continue to mask and sanitize but I know the lack of social distance will change how we do things. I am watching here for updates and getting more concerned (I may have to stop reading these threads until October). If we were bringing unvaxxed kids I would probably postpone. I’m sure they will have to quarantine when returning from out of state travel once school starts.

 

[Sarahslay]

I have a friend that works for WDW and I'll let you know what she's told me (I know her job has to do with data, but they have friends in other departments so I don't know if this was data in her department or someone elses so what I'm about to say is just from our conversation this morning). The numbers aren't zero, she can't say what the numbers are, but they aren't zero and she does not want me going on my trip at the end of August even though I'm vaccinated and had covid last year. I told her I felt fine going, and I even confided that there is a high chance I came home with it from our trip in June. I didn't get tested because I thought it was a regular cold, but I had to quarantine anyway because of work so it didn't matter, after doing research of new symptoms of vaccinated folks who get the delta variant I'm fairly certain I already got it in the parks on our last trip. She told me that if I must go then I needed to promise her I'd wear a mask in crowds (told her I was going to do that anyway), and she was pretty angry with me for still considering it. BUT, like I said, I've already had covid and been vaccinated and am traveling without my kids so I'm fine.....but I would not be so lax if taking my 10 year old who can't be vaccinated. Chances are that towards the end part of your trip crowds will be lower so that is the good news, but I would still mask up even more than the parks are requiring, we did what they required in June (which is what they are doing right now as far as in lines/attractions/indoors) and I still got sick.

They won't ever release specific numbers, but just know that with the case count in the area it's a good idea to take all precautions when you can't distance, even if you feel silly because no one else is you have a pretty long trip to stay healthy for. I know it's been a tough year+ for everyone, and I won't say don't go, just be super careful and know that there is always a chance of having to cut your trip short due to illness if that were to happen (but I really hope it doesn't)

 

[magik]

We are definitely testing as soon as we return home. I don’t regret going, but I wouldn’t do it again right now either. It’s just too much work if you don’t want to throw caution to the wind.

This is where I’m at too. I don’t regret going (yet). I mostly had a good time, but the rule follower in me got really annoyed every time I saw people purposefully *not* complying with masking rules, and that was often. But had I realized how crowded it would be and how hard to socially distance and how poor masking compliance on the buses would be, especially when packed full, I would have postponed. The only day we had where you could easily walk from place to place without being near other people was the first two hours of our Animal Kingdom day. We hit Asia at rope drop and then visited Dinoland. Between 8 am and 10 am in those parts of the park it was perfect…very low crowds, short lines for rides. Magic Kingdom at rope drop maybe the first hour of the day was low crowds in the circus part of Fantasyland, but everywhere else felt crowded in walkways right away even if lines didn’t get too long (other than 7 Dwarfs) until an hour or two into the day. Epcot and Studios both just felt crowded even just walking around immediately at park open.

When this trip was originally planned, masking everywhere was in effect, capacity was significantly lower, and physical distancing was in effect. I didn’t really realize how unsafe it would feel (to me) with those things *not* in place anymore until I got here and experienced it. I am fully vaccinated and I planned to mask up indoors regardless of masking requirements, so I thought it wouldn’t be a big deal. I have never gotten sick after a WDW trip before and I’ve traveled twice in the past with people who tested positive for flu immediately on returning home without getting it myself, but I’ll be shocked if I don’t end up sick after this trip (whether COVID or a cold or something else). There were so many runny noses and so much coughing. I even saw people who were wearing masks, take their masks down to cough or sneeze and not even cover their mouth and nose with their arm after pulling their masks off. Why??? One person I was stuck near in an attraction had a very red, clearly runny nose and kept wiping it on their shirt and pulling their shirt up over their mouth to cough into it. If I’d had an easy way to exit that attraction, I would have. I guess at least they were coughing into their shirt?

 

[ChinaDenver]

Thank you everyone for all your perspectives on the current situation and my posted questions. Upon reading all the posts and discussions with wife we are 90% probably postponing (unless a miracle occurs in the next 5 days) our trip again till next year, August. The Universal/WDW was 20 days, so that exponentially increases the exposure time and Florida having a rough time with the virus right now the odds are against us. We still have not told the kids yet we are waiting a few days. We were able to secure a week in Wildwood, NJ ( for my DIS friends it actually what some of the Boardwalk Resort at the WDW is based off of) so hopefully that will lesson the blow. I think I’m going to be most disappointed, like most when I’m in WDW it one of the only times i could tune out work and the BS that goes on in this crazy world. Once again, thank you and I wish you all Good health and happiness.

The numbers are seasonal. Everyone and their mother is here in Florida on vacation. As such, numbers rise. However, deaths are at a low point and haven't been this low since March 2020. I would be more concerned about the incredibly heat and humidity right now.

 

[cakebaker]

. I don’t regret going (yet).

I should’ve said yet....My grandson has suddenly developed symptoms of nausea, sounds like he has a cold or sinus infection with a low grade fever. He did accidentally take in a lot of water swimming last night so it may be that, but he ticks a lot of boxes for covid as well. So plans have ground to a halt. No HS tonight to see the fireworks for sure. Unlike a lot of people, we don’t go to the parks sick.


We tried to get him tested locally, but it’s impossible to get in anywhere. The one place we found was a drive through with an over 4 hr wait in the car, no guarantee we’d get the test if we were in line waiting when they close. The line was many miles long. Seriously, how do locals put up with this? If we were home, we could drive less than 10 minutes from home and have 0 wait to be tested, same day, 15 minute results. No wonder numbers are sky high here. We are worried sick, but nothing we can do until morning when we can leave and get him home. So I may regret it after all.



And this was with being as careful as we knew how. No indoor dining, avoided crowded areas, skipped rides with long indoor queues. He wore a mask anytime he was out of the room.

 

[TinkerBelle_325]

The requirement is only for non union employees, most of whom are office, backstage or management. Most employees that guests encounter in the parks & resorts are union members so this mandate does not apply to them. Disney will have discussions with the unions re: those employees. Don’t want anyone having a false sense that every employee they encounter is vaccinated. The Dis News post: (you can click the link even tho it says loading)

https://www.wdwinfo.com/news-storie...ers-to-get-fully-vaccinated-against-covid-19/

The Orlando Sentinal spoke to the head of one of the largest WDW unions and he said they support all union members being vaccinated. The discussions are to work out logistics. And Disney is meeting with pretty much all of its labour unions this week to discuss the new vaccination mandate. Many of the unions were the strictest about health and safety when WDW was originally reopening. So, while we don’t have firm confirmation that unions have accepted the vaccination mandate as an employment requirement, it will very likely it will apply to ALL Disney employees.

https://blogmickey.com/2021/07/disney-union-we-think-the-best-line-of-defense-is-to-be-vaccinated/

 

[harleyquinn]

I should’ve said yet....My grandson has suddenly developed symptoms of nausea, sounds like he has a cold or sinus infection with a low grade fever. He did accidentally take in a lot of water swimming last night so it may be that, but he ticks a lot of boxes for covid as well. So plans have ground to a halt. No HS tonight to see the fireworks for sure. Unlike a lot of people, we don’t go to the parks sick.


We tried to get him tested locally, but it’s impossible to get in anywhere. The one place we found was a drive through with an over 4 hr wait in the car, no guarantee we’d get the test if we were in line waiting when they close. The line was many miles long. Seriously, how do locals put up with this? If we were home, we could drive less than 10 minutes from home and have 0 wait to be tested, same day, 15 minute results. No wonder numbers are sky high here. We are worried sick, but nothing we can do until morning when we can leave and get him home. So I may regret it after all.



And this was with being as careful as we knew how. No indoor dining, avoided crowded areas, skipped rides with long indoor queues. He wore a mask anytime he was out of the room.

I’m so sorry for going through all this. This is a super important post for everyone to read, IMO. I hope it’s nothing, and he recovers super fast.

I love your “unlike a lot of people, we won’t go to the parks sick.” Hear, hear!

 

[bsmcneil]

I should’ve said yet....My grandson has suddenly developed symptoms of nausea, sounds like he has a cold or sinus infection with a low grade fever. He did accidentally take in a lot of water swimming last night so it may be that, but he ticks a lot of boxes for covid as well. So plans have ground to a halt. No HS tonight to see the fireworks for sure. Unlike a lot of people, we don’t go to the parks sick.


We tried to get him tested locally, but it’s impossible to get in anywhere. The one place we found was a drive through with an over 4 hr wait in the car, no guarantee we’d get the test if we were in line waiting when they close. The line was many miles long. Seriously, how do locals put up with this? If we were home, we could drive less than 10 minutes from home and have 0 wait to be tested, same day, 15 minute results. No wonder numbers are sky high here. We are worried sick, but nothing we can do until morning when we can leave and get him home. So I may regret it after all.



And this was with being as careful as we knew how. No indoor dining, avoided crowded areas, skipped rides with long indoor queues. He wore a mask anytime he was out of the room.

I'm so sorry to hear this (having read and liked your posts for weeks now, it's been easy to live vicariously and hope for all the best for this trip!). I hope he feels better soon and the rest of your family are okay,

ETA: for anyone who might know - is there any possibility of bringing back things like temp checks (my youngest goes to daycare and we still do that each day? I only ask because it might be helpful to hold back some of the folks showing up sick (and yes I recognize all of the caveats to that).

 

[Princess Merida]

I should’ve said yet....My grandson has suddenly developed symptoms of nausea, sounds like he has a cold or sinus infection with a low grade fever. He did accidentally take in a lot of water swimming last night so it may be that, but he ticks a lot of boxes for covid as well. So plans have ground to a halt. No HS tonight to see the fireworks for sure. Unlike a lot of people, we don’t go to the parks sick.


We tried to get him tested locally, but it’s impossible to get in anywhere. The one place we found was a drive through with an over 4 hr wait in the car, no guarantee we’d get the test if we were in line waiting when they close. The line was many miles long. Seriously, how do locals put up with this? If we were home, we could drive less than 10 minutes from home and have 0 wait to be tested, same day, 15 minute results. No wonder numbers are sky high here. We are worried sick, but nothing we can do until morning when we can leave and get him home. So I may regret it after all.



And this was with being as careful as we knew how. No indoor dining, avoided crowded areas, skipped rides with long indoor queues. He wore a mask anytime he was out of the room.

Oh no! I hope your grandson recovers quickly from whatever it may be. I definitely think with what’s going on in the area Disney may need to reopen its onsite testing. Ugh I just want there to be an end in sight.

 

[cakebaker]

I'm so sorry to hear this (having read and liked your posts for weeks now, it's been easy to live vicariously and hope for all the best for this trip!). I hope he feels better soon and the rest of your family are okay,

Thank you. I’m hoping this is just one of those kid things that passes quickly. He seems to be feeling much better right now. Fever is down and he ate a little with no issues.

We’re all vaccinated so I’m not concerned about the rest of us. It’s not the end to the trip we wanted, but as long as he’s ok, what we missed is insignificant.

 

[Mango7100]

I should’ve said yet....My grandson has suddenly developed symptoms of nausea, sounds like he has a cold or sinus infection with a low grade fever. He did accidentally take in a lot of water swimming last night so it may be that, but he ticks a lot of boxes for covid as well. So plans have ground to a halt. No HS tonight to see the fireworks for sure. Unlike a lot of people, we don’t go to the parks sick.


We tried to get him tested locally, but it’s impossible to get in anywhere. The one place we found was a drive through with an over 4 hr wait in the car, no guarantee we’d get the test if we were in line waiting when they close. The line was many miles long. Seriously, how do locals put up with this? If we were home, we could drive less than 10 minutes from home and have 0 wait to be tested, same day, 15 minute results. No wonder numbers are sky high here. We are worried sick, but nothing we can do until morning when we can leave and get him home. So I may regret it after all.



And this was with being as careful as we knew how. No indoor dining, avoided crowded areas, skipped rides with long indoor queues. He wore a mask anytime he was out of the room.

Hope he feels better! When were you supposed to leave? My dad ran into a problem traveling as well 3 weeks ago. He woke up with a sore throat and wanted to get tested even though he is vaccinated just to be sure before they continued with their trip. Every place he called either didn’t have any tests or didn’t have any appointments. A pharmacist at a place that was supposed to test tried to talk him out of it, saying it wasn’t necessary since he’s vaccinated. He was able to get one 50 miles away 5 hours later.

 

[lovethattink]

Just a friendly reminder to follow DIS guidelines about Covid posts.

 

[lovethattink]

@cakebaker I hope he feels better soon!

 

[cakebaker]

When were you supposed to leave?

We had added another day to our trip in order to see the show at HS tonight, so we were leaving sometime tomorrow. The plan was to go to Disney Springs in the morning and start the drive home from there. I’ve seen this child be sick one day and perfectly fine the next, but unless that happens, and I don’t think it will, DS is out and we leave early in the morning.

It’s a long 17 hr drive that we usually do straight through, but if he’s not feeling well, we’ll take 2 days to get home. Just have to see how he is in the AM.

 

[soniam]

I should’ve said yet....My grandson has suddenly developed symptoms of nausea, sounds like he has a cold or sinus infection with a low grade fever. He did accidentally take in a lot of water swimming last night so it may be that, but he ticks a lot of boxes for covid as well. So plans have ground to a halt. No HS tonight to see the fireworks for sure. Unlike a lot of people, we don’t go to the parks sick.


We tried to get him tested locally, but it’s impossible to get in anywhere. The one place we found was a drive through with an over 4 hr wait in the car, no guarantee we’d get the test if we were in line waiting when they close. The line was many miles long. Seriously, how do locals put up with this? If we were home, we could drive less than 10 minutes from home and have 0 wait to be tested, same day, 15 minute results. No wonder numbers are sky high here. We are worried sick, but nothing we can do until morning when we can leave and get him home. So I may regret it after all.



And this was with being as careful as we knew how. No indoor dining, avoided crowded areas, skipped rides with long indoor queues. He wore a mask anytime he was out of the room.

Oh no! I hope he’s OK. So sorry this happened.

My husband has something. We are driving home to Texas, because our flight tonight got canceled. We couldn’t find anything on any airline out of MCO for the whole day. He started getting stuffy and sneezing this morning at MK before we knew about our flight. So, it probably turned out for the best. Changing plans for the week to not come into contact with people until we figure out if it’s Covid or not and if my son and I get sick.

 

[Mle8308]

It would be foolish to believe that there have been no covid cases associated with WDW. We’re in the same situation as you. We have a 3 generation trip, 5 adults all vaccinated, 3 kids under 12. We were supposed to go last year. We don’t go until October 31 for 6 nights. I almost changed it again a couple months ago but decided not to. I’ll admit I’m concerned about this delta variant and the kids. I left the decision up to our son and daughter-in-law and they said they’re good with going so we’re doing it. I’m hoping for lower crowds the first week of November but not sure what to really expect with the 50th celebration having started. I just read today that all Disney employees will be required to be vaccinated in the next 60 days. That’s a good start along with the mandatory masks indoors again. I think along with Disney’s precautions and our own that we will be ok. This isn’t the trip I had hoped for but we’re not getting any younger so we’re going to make the most of it.

It is only non union, management employees, and new hires who will have to be vaccinated. Most of the employees (Cast Members) you come into contact with at WDW are union and are not required currently to be vaccinated.