Who else is waiting until WDW is “back to normal”?

[WDWRookie2009]

We went May/June 2019 and had a blast. We were planning on Disneyland this summer as we like to switch it up but with Disneyland only opening to residents right now we decided we needed our Disney fix so we booked for this June. We are going in with a mindset of it being a more relaxed trip where we stop and enjoy the small things this time around. We have another trip booked for June 2022 to celebrate my sons 21st birthday so we will be back sooner than later. Masks are a bummer but I see why we need them. We have been wearing masks nonstop here in far west Texas but we have dry heat. I know the humidity is going to be a major pain but we will get through it. We all had covid and my youngest ended up hospitalized for MSI-C. He is a 'lifer' asthmatic and I was so worried about his lungs but it was his heart that took a hit! Anyway we NEED this vacation after the year we have had. Pictures will have masks on but I see it as a cool way to remember the years of Covid and how we made it through!

 

[Snowysmom]

We have a trip planned for May 2021. I am not a fan of wearing masks but of course I do here at home and I will at WDW. I don't mind the social distancing aspect. It will be a more relaxed trip as I don't have alot of expectations. We have a Nov 2021 trip planned too. If we feel that the May trip is enough for now with the current restrictions we will reschedule. We plan on a family trip in 2022 anyway so we may just put our vacation dollars towards that one and cancel our Nov trip.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

I hope they do that here!

look into your local staples store they might be laminating them for free-mine is!

 

[Moliphino]

No. We went in October and it was wonderful. As soon as we drove on property it felt like a giant weight had been lifted and I felt happier than I'd been in months. It was SO worth it to go, even with all the restrictions.

 

[revdon64]

It is hard to understand when other people don't think the same way. This is how I feel about people who don't see the big deal about masks (and how some are happily wanting and planning to wear them forever). Wearing a mask is a very big deal to me, it detracts from my quality of life- in such a way that I really don't go anywhere because I don't want to deal with it.

See, I get this completely. I'm just getting over a bout of bronchitis (tested neg for covid) that's close to the worst I've felt in my life. Could be that I'm getting older, and could be rebreathing everything that my body naturally expels but can't because of wearing a mask all the time. Our vacation this year will be somewhere that doesn't compel masks outdoors in the summer heat.

 

[glamdring269]

Wearing a mask doesn't bother me at all. Heck the most annoying thing I find about wearing a mask is being in a place like Disney where masks are required, and everyone knows this to be true, but people will still wear their masks below their nose or down on their chin until someone reminds them to put it back on. That detracts from the experience for me.

Anyway, the decision here isn't about Disney (or Universal) directly. It's weighing it against the alternative. We would likely have our next visit in October but if I have to wear the masks in a park vs. having a nice outdoor/hiking type experience in a place like Asheville/Brevard or similar then I may be more likely to choose the latter this year when weighing all factors. But if the only choice was Disney/Uni or nothing then I certainly wouldn't opt for nothing specifically due to the mask. It would be because of other impacts to the experience. Lack of FP, crazy lines due to no character experiences diluting the crowd, lack of fireworks/shows, etc. The mask is the least of the problem for me.

One thing I definitely don't want to go back to normal? People rubbing up on me in line. 6 feet social distancing has been great. When we go back to 'normal' can we at least try to keep at least a foot from one another? Thanks.

 

[wdw&sonny]

I don’t think there is any possible way that 75% of the US population will be vaccinated by August.

Something like 24% of the population is under 18. I cannot find data on the % under 16.

But doing some very rough math, you’d have to have what, 97% of the eligible population vaccinated in order for 75% of the total population to be vaccinated? There is literally a 0% chance of that happening, ever.

I think there’s going to have to be a vaccine available for kids under 16 in order to reach herd immunity.

Well, I am going with what I have been following on Bloomberg.com.
They estimate 5 months for 75% vaccinated, considering current rate of 2.5M per day and increasing. I think they also consider the under 16 to be lower risk of contracting and spreading.
We shall see. I choose to remain optimistic.

 

[glamdring269]

Well, I am going with what I have been following on Bloomberg.com.
They estimate 5 months for 75% vaccinated, considering current rate of 2.5M per day and increasing. I think they also consider the under 16 to be lower risk of contracting and spreading.
We shall see. I choose to remain optimistic.

Let's say they're correct, and I'm with you in terms of the optimism. If 5 months from now we still have 25% that are not vaccinated then I'm guessing 75% is as about as high as we're going to get (which really doesn't surprise me given the politics of this thing). So what does that actually mean in regards to going back to 'normal'? Can we safely mass gather without masks if 1 out of 4 people are unvaccinated? This is the type of open question I still kind of have in my mind regarding the return to normal we keep hearing about.

 

[KrazeeK120]

Well, I am going with what I have been following on Bloomberg.com.
They estimate 5 months for 75% vaccinated, considering current rate of 2.5M per day and increasing. I think they also consider the under 16 to be lower risk of contracting and spreading.
We shall see. I choose to remain optimistic.

I just think you’re going to have a tough time getting 97-ish% of eligible people vaccinated by August, which is what would have to happen in order for 75% of the overall population to be vaccinated since kids can’t get it (and it’s not looking like they’ll be able to get it for several more months at minimum). In fact, I don’t think it’s reasonable at all. I’m not being pessimistic, just realistic.

 

[revdon64]

I just think you’re going to have a tough time getting 97-ish% of eligible people vaccinated by August, which is what would have to happen in order for 75% of the overall population to be vaccinated since kids can’t get it (and it’s not looking like they’ll be able to get it for several more months at minimum). In fact, I don’t think it’s reasonable at all. I’m not being pessimistic, just realistic.

You also need to include those who've had covid and developed antibodies in those totals. Yes, I know the science is still unsure on how long that's effective etc, but it's the same with vaccines and variants. In my regular work setting i'd estimate that about half the people have had at least one vaccine and another 1/4 have already had covid. Totaling the two, 75% doesn't seem so impossible in my opinion.

 

[Fabinva]

We are skipping this year and going early March 2022. We hope that the fireworks and parades are back along with other "magic" touches we missed during our last trip in Nov 2020. We don't mind wearing the masks if the weather is not too hot. Our Nov trip was fun but it felt like we walked A LOT more as the lines are extra long due to social distancing. We also felt rushed in stores, merchandise was limited (to us) and missed seeing the parks at night because they closed so early.

 

[chalee94]

Let's say they're correct, and I'm with you in terms of the optimism. If 5 months from now we still have 25% that are not vaccinated then I'm guessing 75% is as about as high as we're going to get (which really doesn't surprise me given the politics of this thing). So what does that actually mean in regards to going back to 'normal'? Can we safely mass gather without masks if 1 out of 4 people are unvaccinated? This is the type of open question I still kind of have in my mind regarding the return to normal we keep hearing about.

Without getting too much into the "politics" of the thing, I would expect the 25% unvaccinated will be 99% likely to be happy to gather without masks.

If they prefer to risk getting COVID the "natural" way, then that's their choice and they shouldn't have the numbers to overwhelm the hospitals.

So IMO, let's get things rolling by late-summer if not earlier...

 

[chalee94]

Can you please expand on that? Re: "If I'm paying full price, I expect full experience, 'nuf said. "

I'm not that same poster but I agree with the folks who want fireworks, parades, and shows to be open before I go back to spending money in the parks.

I visited twice in the Fall 2020 since I have use it or lose it timeshare points. I tried some new restaurants, mostly offsite but also some at Disney Springs and new resorts like Riviera (the mosaics were nice). Enjoyed the nice weather compared to home, but skipped the parks.

I believe wearing masks is beneficial but I'm not going to the parks in any kind of heat or potential rain in a mask. For people who don't mind wearing masks all day and mostly love the rides, it's a great opportunity...but I'm not in that group.

I'm planning to go back in the Fall of 2021, but if Disney is still skimping on their offerings, I'll try some new offsite restaurants in Orlando and skip the parks again.

 

[glamdring269]

Without getting too much into the "politics" of the thing, I would expect the 25% unvaccinated will be 99% likely to be happy to gather without masks.

If they prefer to risk getting COVID the "natural" way, then that's their choice and they shouldn't have the numbers to overwhelm the hospitals.

So IMO, let's get things rolling by late-summer if not earlier...

But this kind of puts aside the fact that a vaccinated person in a room full of unvaccinated people is not 100% immune. I hear what you saying but this isn’t the kind of thing that makes you 100% invulnerable just because you get the vaccine.

One other thing I’m a bit concerned about. Have they come off the potential need for a yearly shot or booster? Or is that still tbd? Because if that’s going to be a thing then we’re talking about an entirely different situation.

 

[jlwhitney]

But this kind of puts aside the fact that a vaccinated person in a room full of unvaccinated people is not 100% immune. I hear what you saying but this isn’t the kind of thing that makes you 100% invulnerable just because you get the vaccine.

One other thing I’m a bit concerned about. Have they come off the potential need for a yearly shot or booster? Or is that still tbd? Because if that’s going to be a thing then we’re talking about an entirely different situation.

Bottom line is we have to get back to personal responsibility and risk tolerance. People need to decide what risk level they are okay with. Life is Risky nothing is 100%.

 

[glamdring269]

Bottom line is we have to get back to personal responsibility and risk tolerance. People need to decide what risk level they are okay with. Life is Risky nothing is 100%.

You're right. Nothing is 100% safe but that doesn't mean you don't take precautions in life when possible. You don't have to just roll the dice to walk into the parks. If Disney can require masks, if airlines and states can require proof of negative tests and potentially proof of vaccination for entry, then Disney could also do these things.

BTW to add some personal perspective here. It's not like I sit in my house afraid. I've been to Vegas a couple of times during the pandemic, as well as a couple of other casino spots, and have been on multiple other plane trips to other locations within the US.

 

[jlwhitney]

You're right. Nothing is 100% safe but that doesn't mean you don't take precautions in life when possible. You don't have to just roll the dice to walk into the parks. If Disney can require masks, if airlines and states can require proof of negative tests and potentially proof of vaccination for entry, then Disney could also do these things.

You roll the dice every time you get in a car, or pretty much do anything that has a chance of negative outcome.

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

We pushed back our trip to next year. But I fully support all the things Disney is doing to keep Covid spread down, I just do not trust the rest the FL.... and I do not want to travel outside my state till my whole family is vaccinated, we are doing two camping trips in our state this summer instead of the Disney trip we wanted to do. So what will slow us down the most is getting my 4 year old vaccinated. They are starting to test on young children so I am hopefully by the time my son turns 5 next year, he will be able to get the vaccine. But if next year they still want us to wear mask I am fine with that. What I really want them to bring back is fireworks and all the entertainment. I really love them and they make it more then just going to my local park.

 

[glamdring269]

You roll the dice every time you get in a car, or pretty much do anything that has a chance of negative outcome.

I also have airbags in the front, side, seat, etc. Body structure continues to improve in order to reduce crash impact. Oh and there's that seatbelt thing.

 

[jlwhitney]

I also have airbags in the front, side, seat, etc. Body structure continues to improve in order to reduce crash impact. Oh and there's that seatbelt thing.

Sure, but still rolling the dice you won't end up in an accident and either be killed or have life long impacts. Not everyone chooses to live in fear of covid and having to show proof of negative tests, wear masks, proof of vaccination isn't gonna be around for long , it will all fade but there will still be a risk you go into a crowded place and you might get sick.