Covid-safe OUTDOOR only plan?

[WTG770]

Given the current strain of covid on the rise and the lack of masks at UO indoors, we are wondering if it's possible to do enough things outdoors only to make it worth visiting. We're getting preferred annual passes, so it's okay if we are only in the parks some early hours or part of a day...but what all can we definitely do outdoors only that will fill "safe" to us. We don't want to be indoors with unmasked people at this time, but we really want to meet up with teenage cousins at the parks.

Forgot to mention food...are there restaurants that are outdoor only?

 

[dez1978]

I’m not super familiar with the parks but was there a couple weeks ago. It seems to me that most of the rides have indoor queues for at least a portion of the ride

 

[BamaGuy44]

There will be very little you can do where you will remain completely outdoors. Most (all?) of the outdoor rides have at least part of their queues inside. There are a few smaller shows that are outside. If you're scared to be indoors with people, I doubt there will be much to do that will feel safe, unfortunately.

 

[PrincessWithABlaster]

These are the rides I’d have been comfortable with when I had unvaxxed kids. They’re not all completely outdoors but close.
Storm Force Acceleration
Dr. Doom
Bilge Rat Barges
Jurassic River Adventure (for the most part - there is an indoor section on the ride but it’s fairly short - definitely less than 15 mins of exposure)
Pteranodon Flyers (if you have young kids)
You could watch the shows in both HP areas
Flight of the Hippogriff
The Seuss Train (for the most part - it’s covered but not enclosed other than a tunnel)
Rip Ride Rocket (covered outdoors)
Kang and Kodos
The Animal Show is outside and if it’s not full you could sit away from others
One Fish Two
(I haven’t ridden a couple of the rides like Velocicoaster so there could be some others.)

Since you mentioned teenagers, I would say no, it’s not worth it. Many of these are kids rides. I’m also a Potter fan so I wouldn’t go with those rides taken out of the mix.

 

[BorderTenny]

Frankly, if you're still this paranoid about covid, either stay home or go somewhere that you're not interacting with thousands of people.

 

[GinnyBear's_mom]

There are plenty of kiosk type places where you can eat outside but most likely you'll be standing or finding a place to sit on the ground. I think Thunder Falls is a restaurant with more outdoor tables than most places and it is generally empty for the first hour after it opens for lunch. There are more restaurants with outdoor seating at City Walk compared to the parks.

If your group likes Harry Potter, buy some interactive wands. My kids spent hours this summer at the many interactive wand spots (all outdoors) in both of the parks. There are also lots of outdoor shows to see in Diagon Alley and Hogsmeade and outdoor shopping kiosks. There's also the evening castle show.

 

[AJA]

No I would postpone right now in your situation. There is no way you would find enough to do while staying outside (even if you chose not to ride a single ride or attraction you will all have to visit the restrooms in close quarters inside several times). The restrooms are some of the closest quarters and it is impossible not to use them.

You are setting yourself up for a disappointment.

Universal is not going anywhere. Wait a few more months and see if you are comfortable then.

 

[PezRuth]

Given this post and your other post, I would postpone. Our family takes Covid very seriously. We have a trip scheduled at the end of February. We are still planning on going. The adults are boostered. The kids (5 and 11) are vaccinated. We will wear masks indoors or really crowded settings.

 

[Pooh's World]

Given the current strain of covid on the rise and the lack of masks at UO indoors, we are wondering if it's possible to do enough things outdoors only to make it worth visiting. We're getting preferred annual passes, so it's okay if we are only in the parks some early hours or part of a day...but what all can we definitely do outdoors only that will fill "safe" to us. We don't want to be indoors with unmasked people at this time, but we really want to meet up with teenage cousins at the parks.

Forgot to mention food...are there restaurants that are outdoor only?

That's just hygiene theater. The safest is to just not go at all if you are really concerned about that.

As long as you are vaccinated, then you should be fine. It's crowded at the airports at the security gates, inside and outside, so either just go or just don't go at all.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Pretty sure your teenage cousins will want to do rides and other indoorsy things while in the parks. They may feel obligated not to if you meet up.

I can also say that while the Harry Potter areas are outdoors, if you are concerned about crowds that will not matter. They are jam packed clusters of humanity.

PrincessWithaBlaster's list of outdoor rides is a good one.

Lots of City Walk restaurants have outdoor seating. Could you plan to meet for lunch or dinner after the parks?

 

[WTG770]

We've been all over the place with this trip. I was thinking that we'd go ahead with the room because we're passing through the area and it's a customary stop for our family each trip (2x/year.) Was thinking that we could do the first hour and last hour of each day b/c we'll have passes...the cousins will be at the end of their 4 day trip, so they'd be fine with doing whatever we wanted to do...

But... the increasing covid news and the fact that my stepfather (nearby) just said they've detected omicron in the orlando hotels' wastewater just sealed the deal for us. We look forward to scheduling a different trip when it feels safer! I guess the article didn't say hotels, but it mentions tourists...

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/omicron-dominant-wastewater-samples-florida-county-81793644

 

[jkh36619]

We've been all over the place with this trip. I was thinking that we'd go ahead with the room because we're passing through the area and it's a customary stop for our family each trip (2x/year.) Was thinking that we could do the first hour and last hour of each day b/c we'll have passes...the cousins will be at the end of their 4 day trip, so they'd be fine with doing whatever we wanted to do...

But... the increasing covid news and the fact that my stepfather (nearby) just said they've detected omicron in the orlando hotels' wastewater just sealed the deal for us. We look forward to scheduling a different trip when it feels safer! I guess the article didn't say hotels, but it mentions tourists...

https://abcnews.go.com/Health/wireStory/omicron-dominant-wastewater-samples-florida-county-81793644

You're an AP holder and go twice a year? You should know the layout quite well.

 

[WTG770]

You're an AP holder and go twice a year? You should know the layout quite well.

We go through Orlando 2x a year to see family. We are buying AP for Christmas. Have not been in decades. Thanks for all the info! Looking forward to fun when we can have it!

 

[jkh36619]

We go through Orlando 2x a year to see family. We are buying AP for Christmas. Have not been in decades. Thanks for all the info! Looking forward to fun when we can have it!

ah, ok. That makes more sense.

 

[Kristin0713]

If you are concerned about covid, my suggestion is to postpone. Most people are not wearing masks although there were some that did. It’s kind of impossible to be outside all of the time unless you just stick to a few rides. If I were worried about covid, I would have been a panicked mess the past few days.

 

[Sun_soakin]

We were planning to go after our spring break Disney cruise, but just realized they aren’t requiring masking indoors so we’re canceling our Universal add-on. Super bummed since my family is huge potter fans and the youngest have only done universal in CA (no diagon alley, hogwarts exp, etc). It sucks but we just wouldn’t be comfortable there

 

[Pooh's World]

We were planning to go after our spring break Disney cruise, but just realized they aren’t requiring masking indoors so we’re canceling our Universal add-on. Super bummed since my family is huge potter fans and the youngest have only done universal in CA (no diagon alley, hogwarts exp, etc). It sucks but we just wouldn’t be comfortable there

Cruise seems more dangerous than anything at Universal.
For some reason cruise ships have always been most susceptible to sickness even before COVID.

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

We postponed our trip that was supposed to be happening now. I sat the kids down and told them the way things look if we go we have to be comfortable with the fact that it is likely we will get COVID. (Yes, we are all vaxxed and eligible members of family are boosted but I don’t think it matters much with Omicron). No one was enthused by that prospect so we postponed.

 

[Sun_soakin]

Cruise seems more dangerous than anything at Universal.
For some reason cruise ships have always been most susceptible to sickness even before COVID.

Normally I’d completely agree. But, vaccines are required for everyone 5 +, everyone is tested at port, and masks are required indoors

 

[theSurlyMermaid]

Normally I’d completely agree. But, vaccines are required for everyone 5 +, everyone is tested at port, and masks are required indoors

And isn’t the capacity for the Disney cruises greatly reduced? Meanwhile, bodies are packed into the parks like sardines, particularly in the Potter areas at Universal, as already noted.