Any one going to WDW/Florida this winter?

[dancin Disney style]

Well since my DD works for DCL and has a lot of friends in the parks…yes, we still go. Unfortunately, this past year has been filled with a lot of drama so I have only been down once. Had to cancel two trips since March due to things going on at home. I will be going with DD at some point around end of January for Pixar Day at Sea and some park time.

We also cross border shop every few months.

 

[White Cat]

Got back to Canada a few hours ago. Been in Fl the last month or so. Will go back again before Christmas. Don’t pay too much attention to Canadian news.

 

[MamaLema]

No way

 

[AngelDisney]

Attending a wedding in Orlando then staying in the Disney bubble for 11 days from the week before Christmas. Just hope weather will cooperate, so we can fly there and back uneventfully.

 

[AdamsMum]

I was there in October, U.S. customs was easier than usual. I usually get asked for addresses where I'm staying and other details, but this time, I got the where you going and how long, then my passport back and on my way.
Orlando airport security was a breeze compared to previous years. I've had lengthy waits to get into the security screening in the past, but this time I waited 10 minutes or so.
Spoke to many Canadians and Americans, while sharing tables in quick service restaurants, in ride lines, at the pool and had no issues. I think inside the bubble, people are just happy to be on vacation.

 

[bababear_50]

Heads Up

Air Transat pilots' union issues 72-hour strike notice to Montreal-based airline​

https://www.msn.com/en-ca/news/cana...n&cvid=dc8d0f8f0eb84fbaa787f5ce07d160e5&ei=27

 

[dancin Disney style]

I was there in October, U.S. customs was easier than usual. I usually get asked for addresses where I'm staying and other details, but this time, I got the where you going and how long, then my passport back and on my way.
Orlando airport security was a breeze compared to previous years. I've had lengthy waits to get into the security screening in the past, but this time I waited 10 minutes or so.
Spoke to many Canadians and Americans, while sharing tables in quick service restaurants, in ride lines, at the pool and had no issues. I think inside the bubble, people are just happy to be on vacation.

In August when we were going through US immigration at YYZ we were grilled to the point it got a tad uncomfortable. I’ve never had that experience there. All my weird experiences crossing the board have been at land crossings. The only thing we could think of was that it had something to do with DD’s work situation and the last time she went through she was onboard her ship for over 6 months. So maybe something looked off or was just unfamiliar to this guy. We honestly had no idea what was going on.

I’m general I agree that those in the bubble are good. However, over the last 8ish years we have been on the receiving end of some very unpleasant experiences. You have to be very careful what you say out loud. We now make a point of not getting into any conversations that are anything other than what is immediately going on in front of you…ie: how slow the line is moving. We don’t discuss where we live unless the other people are very clearly Canadian as well.

 

[Dawg74]

We just got back from Disney today and will be going back in January for two weeks. Everything was great and same as always.

 

[AdamsMum]

However, over the last 8ish years we have been on the receiving end of some very unpleasant experiences. You have to be very careful what you say out loud.

I agree about what you say out loud. You have to remember that this is their home and whether the political atmosphere stresses someone or bolsters them, it's not for us to try to influence.
I will say that I've had similar experiences right here at home... in the dog park, in line at the grocery etc. When someone starts sounding political, I change the subject and move on. Whatever your view of our own politics, I've no interest in fighting it out in public or trying to change your mind. (With strangers, that is. I've gone a few rounds with my brother whose politics oppose mine. It's all good though, we're still family.)

 

[samsteele]

I'm flying down and back from Ft. Lauderdale with family for a Celebrity cruise in a few weeks. Straight to the ship and back to the airport. Cruises have replaced my annual WDW trips as better value for me. I do miss my WDW trips and realized while surfing around the Boards there have been so many changes that I truly don't know even half of the practical knowledge I had about the parks 5 years ago. My last WDW trip was mediocre at best so I'm not in a rush to return. Re family and friends' opinions re US travel, I hear the PPs. I have an aunt who hasn't traveled outside Canada for 40+ years. She was deeply upset that I flew to Ft. Lauderdale last spring to catch my transatlantic cruise. She argued I must be able to enjoy the same transatlantic cruise experience from Montreal or the Maritimes and took it as a personal betrayal that I entered the US even for a gateway airport and cruise port. While I have cousins who are living in the US for university, that is considered a different beast as education not pleasure travel. Like many, I patiently listen to those I care about then sometimes need to tune out as I'm at peace with my own choices.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I agree about what you say out loud. You have to remember that this is their home and whether the political atmosphere stresses someone or bolsters them, it's not for us to try to influence.
I will say that I've had similar experiences right here at home... in the dog park, in line at the grocery etc. When someone starts sounding political, I change the subject and move on. Whatever your view of our own politics, I've no interest in fighting it out in public or trying to change your mind. (With strangers, that is. I've gone a few rounds with my brother whose politics oppose mine. It's all good though, we're still family.)

One of the most memorable things that happened to us was mid day waiting for the bus at WDW. DD and I were having a very quiet conversation about the, at the time, upcoming election. It had been prompted by someone else’s conversation in the line. There were maybe 6-7 people there, we were at the end of the line and standing back a good 8ft from the woman ahead of us. My DD said something that I barely heard but the other woman heard it and spun around. She went a little nuts on us yelling. Basically she disagreed with what DD had said but was so aggressive and took it so far that we actually walked away and did not get on that bus.

 

[mort1331]

One of the most memorable things that happened to us was mid day waiting for the bus at WDW. DD and I were having a very quiet conversation about the, at the time, upcoming election. It had been prompted by someone else’s conversation in the line. There were maybe 6-7 people there, we were at the end of the line and standing back a good 8ft from the woman ahead of us. My DD said something that I barely heard but the other woman heard it and spun around. She went a little nuts on us yelling. Basically she disagreed with what DD had said but was so aggressive and took it so far that we actually walked away and did not get on that bus.

sign of the times,,,,read everything you said,,,but just laughed at the 6-7...ugg crazy what triggers these days...lol

 

[AdamsMum]

One of the most memorable things that happened to us was mid day waiting for the bus at WDW. DD and I were having a very quiet conversation about the, at the time, upcoming election. It had been prompted by someone else’s conversation in the line. There were maybe 6-7 people there, we were at the end of the line and standing back a good 8ft from the woman ahead of us. My DD said something that I barely heard but the other woman heard it and spun around. She went a little nuts on us yelling. Basically she disagreed with what DD had said but was so aggressive and took it so far that we actually walked away and did not get on that bus.

You did the right thing. Seems people have lost the ability to do that, these days.

 

[musika]

We just went in September. Our hope was to go back this August for little guy's bday, but our last trip the sticker shock REALLY got us. Like, everything was just so.much.money. with the exchange rate.

 

[Reepicheep]

For the 2nd time this year, I'm being a hypocrite and taking a two week vacation at Disney World, while at the same time supporting a boycott of both US products and US vacations (my oldest daughter is currently working at the Epcot Canadian pavilion, and can get us into the parks for free for 13 days starting tomorrow).

I'm currently sitting in the Denver airport, 1/3 of the way through a 7 hour layover. Below is a photo of me and one of my buddies, taken this morning just past US Customs at the Edmonton airport.

 

[Average Joes]

For the 2nd time this year, I'm being a hypocrite and taking a two week vacation at Disney World, while at the same time supporting a boycott of both US products and US vacations (my oldest daughter is currently working at the Epcot Canadian pavilion, and can get us into the parks for free for 13 days starting tomorrow).

I'm currently sitting in the Denver airport, 1/3 of the way through a 7 hour layover. Below is a photo of me and one of my buddies, taken this morning just past US Customs at the Edmonton airport.

Have fun! Most people would do the same with such an opportunity.

 

[Reepicheep]

Have fun! Most people would do the same with such an opportunity.

In addition to free park days, she got us an excellent rate of $205/day including tax at Pop Century, plus food discounts of as much as 50%, although I suspect many of the food discounts will be blocked out over part of the Christmas holiday.

In 2026, the benefits are even better. In addition to 16 free days at Disney World, she can get us 16 free days at Disneyland. Because of the discounts, we will almost certainly do a combined Disneyland/Disney World trip in May or June of 2026, but I'm starting to think that that may be my final trip ever to those parks.

*******

On an unrelated topic... ten years ago, a very nice lady at my church gave me a hand made Mickey Mouse tie (she was the retired wife of a Lutheran Pastor, and sold home made ties as a fundraiser for various Christian charities). For ten years, I hung that tie unworn in my closet, but this past August I decided to wear the tie and a dress shirt at Disney World. Trust me when I say that, when a person wears a dress shirt and Mickey Mouse tie at Disney World when temperatures exceed 100f daily, you receive a lot of comments.

I'm attaching a photo that my daughter took during our August trip earlier this year. I'm wearing the tie now, while typing this email in the Denver airport. I've already received one comment today of "nice tie" by someone who passed by.