December 2021 trip planning

[NickUK66]

What is Disney’s policy if travel is banned within 8 days of your trip, does anyone know? Normally it’s a cancellation with no refund or changes… but if it’s the result of a travel ban, does that change?? We are due to leave 2nd January for two weeks… I’d like to wait and see if it can go ahead, but I’m fretting about possible border closures.

Basically as you say. in reality they are one of the most flexible companies to deal with - if only they could reduce the wait times on their phones

 

[Thegoatfeeder]

Well we're back and suitably jet lagged, but it's been a brilliant fortnight and it was amazing to be back in that Disney bubble!

If anyone has any specific questions around logistics i'd be happy to answer them, but I suspect others have probably dealt with all queries, and i'm trying to get upto speed with developments here around Covid, so how those will affect things moving forward I honestly don't know.

What I will say is that 'on the ground' in the USA, its as if Covid isn't a thing anymore, people just seem to be over it, which in my mind isn't a good thing, but yeah, social distancing definitely seems to be a thing of the past! Having said that mask wearing at Disney was good I would say, not outdoors as it isn't required (although we continued to mask up even when outside, unless there was no-one about), in doors it is required and for the most part people seemed to be following these guidelines. I can't say the same about Universal, they seem to have dropped all mask requirements, and I didn't see any masks at all, so if you do have concerns about Covid, maybe skip Universal.

The only slight issue we had was whilst we were over there, BJ introduced the pre-departure testing requirement, fortunately, this change was made early enough into our trip that we were able to make plans for it, there is a medical centre run by Advent Health in Lake Buena Vista that have a contract with Disney, and they even provide free shuttles out there and they are offering rapid antigen tests (results in 30 minutes) that are acceptable for travel, its definitely on the price side $170 per test (I think), and there may be cheaper to be found I really don't know, but it was quick and convenient, we were in and out within an hour without an appointment.

I won't go into specifics of our trip here, as I say, if anyone has any questions just let me know. I will finish off by saying that Rise of the Resistance lives up to the hype in every conceivable way, try to avoid any spoilers, YouTube videos don't do it justice and the less you know the better. Whilst the down time (which is still a real issue it seems) is never acceptable, having ridden it twice, I can see why it must have problems from time to time, its unlike any theme park experience I've ever had before!

 

[bavarian princess]

What I will say is that 'on the ground' in the USA, its as if Covid isn't a thing anymore, people just seem to be over it, which in my mind isn't a good thing, but yeah, social distancing definitely seems to be a thing of the past! Having said that mask wearing at Disney was good I would say, not outdoors as it isn't required (although we continued to mask up even when outside, unless there was no-one about), in doors it is required and for the most part people seemed to be following these guidelines. I can't say the same about Universal, they seem to have dropped all mask requirements, and I didn't see any masks at all, so if you do have concerns about Covid, maybe skip Universal.

Welcome back! Happy to hear that you had a great time!! I couldn’t agree more with how you describe it. That’s exactly how I experienced it last week.

 

[mamamia2005]

Very nervous that France has increased travel restrictions. Apparently Israel don't want Brits in either.
With the France travel ban, you are allowed to continue with your holiday. Not sure what would happen if the US borders closed whilst we are there.

Anyways, on the positive side, I've had my nails done this evening, husband has finished work and we've each had negative tests all week, so on that score it looks promising!

 

[Plague]

Not sure what would happen if the US borders closed whilst we are there.

Nothing.
They'd do that to stop more Omigod coming in and you will already be there. No point in trying to chuck you out at that stage.

Omi is already widely available in the US but from what @Thegoatfeeder says it hasn't yet taken off in Orlando/Florida. If UK experience is anything to go by they are going to be in for a nasty surprise quite soon, though the milder climate may moderate it somewhat.

 

[zavandor]

I'm on the plane waiting for it to leave for London.
It has been wonderful to go back to Florida after more than 2 years, however it hasn't been stress free. The requirement for a pre flight test is what really made me very anxious. Had I been positive I had no idea how I could spend weeks in Orlando waiting to become negative, and that even before ranking about possible health consequences (I have done 3 shots, so need for hospitalizations would have been unlikely). I'm starting a new job on the 3rd of January, it would have been a big issue.
I did my test at the Medical Concierge recommended by the Royal Pacific Hotel front desk. It's 5 minutes from the hotel with Uber and costs $95. The certificate has been accepted in Verifly. I posted phone number and address in another post, I don't have it at hand right now.

I agree with the PP, Disney is good at enforcing the rule about indoor masks, while at Universal or Sea World it is free for all. I'd say 5% of guests wear masks indoor (and almost no one outdoor).

 

[architect1337]

I'm in Orlando now. Mask wearing is only a thing at Disney while indoors. Rest of Florida is mask free. Gorgeous weather too for December. Cheapest Covid Rapid-antigen testing I've found so far is, unusually, at MCO Terminal A - $65 per person. Even if you are not flying from here, you can drive here, park, get the test and get the results (for those travelling from Tampa for example). The rest seem to be from $95 upwards with a few dodgy ones at shopping malls (I emailed them and asked for a sample of the lab report to ensure they met the airlines requirements, and surprise, no response).

For one or two people, the extra money may not be an issue, but for a family, it can add up.

Couple things closed at Disney - Magic Kingdom railroad isn't running and the car park trams are not running - so a bit crazy getting back to your car.

 

[mamamia2005]

Had our tests with Qured this morning - all negative!!

Just waiting to do online check in now with Virgin, lunch and then we'll be setting off for the airport.

The process with Qured was very easy, we had a different advisor for each appointment. My advisor came onto the appointment right on time, and for the other two, they were both early. They said our fit to fly certificates would arrive within 2 hours after the photo was uploaded, but they all arrived after about 10 minutes.

 

[architect1337]

Had our tests with Qured this morning - all negative!!

Yes, definitely cheaper to book with a UK company before you travel, and bring the test with you. Did that over the summer when we travelled to Jamaica. I thought the US would have cheaper options, but it appears not to be the case.

 

[mamamia2005]

Yes, definitely cheaper to book with a UK company before you travel, and bring the test with you. Did that over the summer when we travelled to Jamaica. I thought the US would have cheaper options, but it appears not to be the case.

These were our fit to fly tests.
I do have tests with us for 2 days before travelling home and our day 2 pcr's, as we'll drop them in the postbox near the car park.

 

[NickUK66]

Positive news we’re all negative! Strange thing is we don’t fully understand that we’ll be in Orlando tomorrow night. Strange days and what a week!

 

[mamamia2005]

We arrived!
Check in at LHR was very easy as I had uploaded our documents onto the virgin flyready. Although DD is under 18, they didn't ask to see her proof of negative test.
I asked at check in if we were allowed to keep our tests for 2 days before flying home and day 2 pcr in our hand luggage and was told that's fine.
Flight was fine. Kids meal for lunch was sausage, mash and cabbage with gravy, wafer choc bar, bag of mini gingerbread cookies and a flapjack. Adult choices were chicken pasta thai green curry. With that we had crackers and butter and a pot of salted caramel and choc ganache.
For tea, adult and children was the same - a cheese salad roll with mustard in it and a mini scone with clotted cream and jam.
We did get offered drinks a few times and also a tropical flavoured ice lolly.
Everyone seemed to be adhering to the mask requirement. We were reminded when we boarded when the captain spoke to us, but the crew certainly didn't seem to be pushing it. I only witnessed one crew member asking a lady if she could put a mask on - the lady was dealing with her baby, and I think the crew member had already walked past her a couple of times so perfectly sensible and reasonable approach.
We landed at 4.30, was at the gate at 4.40 and had breezed through immigration by around 4.55. The officer didn't ask about tests either before we arrived or for DD for while we are here ( as expected)
Our cases didn't take long at all either.
We are staying our first 4 nights off site in lake buena vista. From landing to hotel took an hour and a half, and that was with waiting 10 mins for our car service to pick us up as it was busy on arrival at the airport! Amazing!

It's amazing to be back, and we still can't quite believe we are here!

 

[scottishgirl1]

Three negative tests done this afternoon, verifly done and check in done, this might actually happen tomorrow!!

 

[Garyjames220]

Can someone tell me what tests you need to do before, out there and return

we are 2 adults fully vaccinnated and twins are one years old

i haven’t got a clue what you are currently meant to be doing

 

[Plague]

Can someone tell me what tests you need to do before, out there and return

When are you going? (From other posts it looks like May.)
If it's after, say, mid-January don't bother thinking about it cos' it's gonna change ... at least once, because the situation and various rules are changing every week or two at present.

It's 5 days to Christmas and we don't know what will be the rules for that yet

 

[Garyjames220]

When are you going? (From other posts it looks like May.)
If it's after, say, mid-January don't bother thinking about it cos' it's gonna change ... at least once, because the situation and various rules are changing every week or two at present.

It's 5 days to Christmas and we don't know what will be the rules for that yet

Yeah it’s May

i was just wondering how many tests you need to take now though as things stand. I fully expect it to change though

 

[pmcpmc]

Can someone tell me what tests you need to do before, out there and return

we are 2 adults fully vaccinnated and twins are one years old

i haven’t got a clue what you are currently meant to be doing

stay safe

 

[Plague]

Yeah it’s May

i was just wondering how many tests you need to take now though as things stand. I fully expect it to change though

It's during winter that all these bugs proliferate because people, indoors, cold, windows shut, 'socialising'.
By May it will all be going away (until it kicks off again around November), so it'll be very different from now.
Seriously - don't even think about it. Plan your park passes and dining reservations

 

[Garyjames220]

It's during winter that all these bugs proliferate because people, indoors, cold, windows shut, 'socialising'.
By May it will all be going away (until it kicks off again around November), so it'll be very different from now.
Seriously - don't even think about it. Plan your park passes and dining reservations

I really hope your right. My worry is if the border closes it takes ages to open again

 

[Plague]

My worry is if the border closes it takes ages to open again

Yes, that would be a pain.
Hopefully the lack of logic in closing them at this point and the grief they'd get from the airlines, etc, for doing so will avoid that.