Crazy? Last minute WDW trip

[dancin Disney style]

So I'm currently off work for at least the next week...maybe more. My DD currently has a cold (got tested and not Covid) so she has a couple days off but then her vacation time starts Wednesday for 8 days. We both had trips booked for this week for Punta Cana but cancelled before Christmas due to the uncertainty at that time. Sort of regretting that now. Anyway, we've got a lot of free time and are both dying to just be on WDW property.....we don't even care if we go to the parks. We just want the atmosphere, food and some shopping.

Here's the part I need some help with. Am I crazy...can we do this last minute...as in fly on Wednesday? Can someone walk me through the rules for travel to the USA right now? We went to Mexico in October so I'm up on ArriveCan, test to come home and vaxx requirements. Where can I find the info I need to get in the USA right now?

OMG....my head is swirling. Help!

 

[dancin Disney style]

Are you still exempt from the test upon arrival back to Canada when you came from the USA?

 

[wdwmom3]

If you are flying to the US you need an antigen test the day before travel. When coming back to Canada you need to be tested 72 hours before you return. My understanding is they are randomly selected people to do a test once arriving in Canada.

 

[pigletto]

I will let others talk you through the rules but no.. not crazy. If you are comfortable with the risks and restrictions then I say go for it! I would if I could.

 

[dancin Disney style]

I will let others talk you through the rules but no.. not crazy. If you are comfortable with the risks and restrictions then I say go for it! I would if I could.

Trying to put this together has given me a In just a few hours we have booked ourselves some travel PCR's (same day results) for tomorrow.....I know not required but I need to know that we don't currently have 'it'. We also did this to go to Mexico. I need to know that I'm not going to be guaranteed a positive on my return test.

I really shouldn't say we...it's all DD. She wants this badly. She has booked the appt for tomorrow, has figured out how to get the rapid tests for the day before travel, found a hotel and flights. She has also booked the PCR to fly home. All I've done is reserve a car.

I'm nervous about doing it. Mainly because there are a lot of hoops to do this. Although, it seems to be somewhat ironed out already. DD has agreed that she understands that nothing will be booked prior to getting those negative tests tomorrow night. She has also agreed to allowing me my germophob OCD and not to roll her eyes or dismiss my concerns/protocols. She is fully aware that we might not be going to any parks....probably not.

 

[lpearl]

The good news is the park reservations this week look to have a lot of availability.
Theme Park Reservation Availability (go.com)

 

[bababear_50]

Hope all the planning goes well and you deserve this. Have an awesome trip!
Hugs
Mel

 

[Pumpkin1172]

Once you get through all the and logistics of your trip, enjoy!!!!!! Life is short. This trip may become one of the greatest and best trips you had and will create many memories. It could be full of amazing or cr@ppy ones that will have you laughing in years to come.

I hope you get it all sorted quickly, and have an AMAZING time!!!!!

Edited to add. We are limiting our park time only 1 Disney ( Hollywood studios) and 1 Universal day and the Daytona 500 race. Other than that, we are touring around Tampa/Clear Water , as well as Cape Canaveral and West Palm Beach. We are going to enjoy a bit of everything. I am soooooooooooo looking forward to stepping off that plane in Orlando and step outside those airport doors and feel that humid warm winds!!!!

 

[tgropp]

Three words…. Go For It !!!

 

[musika]

I used to work for an airline and my favourite part of flying standby was just picking up and going wherever on short notice! The only part that would worry me right now is what happens if either of you test positive and can't fly home? If you have a backup plan you can live with I say go for it and have fun.

 

[dancin Disney style]

OMG....you guys are a bad influence encouraging such craziness. I love it! We went for the tests this morning....and now we wait. Results will come by 10pm. In the mean time flight prices have doubled and I don't have the heart to tell DD. I did just find a package with air and hotel that looks do be a better deal.

 

[hdrolfe]

I wish I was going
I am second guessing my cancelled March break, though the flights we had booked wouldn't be direct any more so it is probably a good idea. But I would totally go if I could.
Enjoy!!!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I wish I was going
I am second guessing my cancelled March break, though the flights we had booked wouldn't be direct any more so it is probably a good idea. But I would totally go if I could.
Enjoy!!!

I should be on day 3 of 10 in Punta Cana right now. I’d be sipping cocktails at the private rooftop bar while my butler gets the golf cart ready to drive us to dinner. Instead I’m painting my living room for something to do, washing my hands just to watch the bubbles count down on my Apple Watch and browning ground beef.

 

[MamaLema]

I hope everything works out for you. I know a few people who tested negative on a rapid test and then did a PCR test and tested positive. I’m glad you’re doing a PCR test for more peace of mind.

 

[dancin Disney style]

WE ARE GOING Both tested came back negative so we quickly booked a flight….which had doubled in price. There seems to be something that comes over me when Disney is in the equation. I literally lose all control of my wallet.
Now I’m even more stressed…I’m a micro planner and there is no time to plan. Planning is half the fun. I don’t even know what clothes we are going to need. I’ll probably be awake most of the night…this is exactly the stuff that will refuse to allow my brain to turn off.

 

[XoxoAmy]

You should totally take this trip! I can't guide you on the CA/US travel issues, but if you are ok with those, DO IT! I just did a last minute 3 day trip with DD12 and DD8 (we live in New England). Everyone in our family had covid right before Christmas, and when we were fully recovered I decided to surprise them with a last minute girls trip (Jan 7-9). We did all the things, hit all 4 parks, walked 22,000 each day, 3 days in a row and had the best time! It was really amazing. Go for it!!

ETA - I just saw that you're going! Yay! I hear you on the planning, it is half (may 65%) of the fun for me too! Sign up for restaurant reservation alerts at mouse dining. We actually got a same day 7:45pm dinner res at Space 220 during our trip. It gave me tons of reservations that I didn't think we would get. I also red several blogs about Genie+ while we were traveling and I highly recommend it, esp. if you are trying to maximize time on a short trip. Have fun!!

 

[dancin Disney style]

I hope everything works out for you. I know a few people who tested negative on a rapid test and then did a PCR test and tested positive. I’m glad you’re doing a PCR test for more peace of mind.

LOL…I work in healthcare so we get tested regularly. I’ve probably had 70 or so PCR’s. Rapids…I couldn’t even count. Around Christmas they started testing everyone daily with rapids again. I think it’s made me even more paranoid. I’ve been off work now for over a week which was why I went for the travel test too.

 

[dancin Disney style]

You should totally take this trip! I can't guide you on the CA/US travel issues, but if you are ok with those, DO IT! I just did a last minute 3 day trip with DD12 and DD8 (we live in New England). Everyone in our family had covid right before Christmas, and when we were fully recovered I decided to surprise them with a last minute girls trip (Jan 7-9). We did all the things, hit all 4 parks, walked 22,000 each day, 3 days in a row and had the best time! It was really amazing. Go for it!!

ETA - I just saw that you're going! Yay! I hear you on the planning, it is half (may 65%) of the fun for me too! Sign up for restaurant reservation alerts at mouse dining. We actually got a same day 7:45pm dinner res at Space 220 during our trip. It gave me tons of reservations that I didn't think we would get. I also red several blogs about Genie+ while we were traveling and I highly recommend it, esp. if you are trying to maximize time on a short trip. Have fun!!

I’m kicking myself for not keeping up with Genie and a few other things. We always went to WDW 2-3 times a year but our last trip was Dec 2019. We have both been so sad about not be able to go that I just didn’t want to know about what we were missing.
There won’t be any indoor dining for us and that’s okay there aren’t really too many places that we love enough to worry about. The only place that we never miss is Earl of Sandwich.

 

[XoxoAmy]

I’m kicking myself for not keeping up with Genie and a few other things. We always went to WDW 2-3 times a year but our last trip was Dec 2019. We have both been so sad about not be able to go that I just didn’t want to know about what we were missing.
There won’t be any indoor dining for us and that’s okay there aren’t really too many places that we love enough to worry about. The only place that we never miss is Earl of Sandwich.

I hear you on the outdoor dining, smart plan. For Genie+, I love the detailed summaries on Disney Tourist Blog. I think they have the most detailed and helpful summaries for Genie+ generally, plus a 1 day itinerary using it at each park. I was in the same boat (felt very unprepared) and I read a bunch of the articles on the plane and even in the car from the airport to WDW, and we were good! Enjoy!!

 

[igrsod]

Honestly, you don't need Genie+. We went in December... very busy and had a great time without Genie+. We just did what we did, waited in lines if we wanted to and didn't stress. We were happy just to be at WDW.
Eating outdoors was easier than I thought it was going to be. Have a great time. Can't wait to hear how it goes. We are already scheduled to go back for March Break. It's ridiculous really.