Has anyone actually preferred Disney World during Covid/masking?

[MeridaAnn]

I have only visited one day during the COVID procedures using a comp ticket I had and I went during the week before Halloween when they were allowing costumes during the day since they cancelled the Not So Scary parties. That was such a cool option to have and I loved getting pictures in my full Merida cosplay inside Magic Kingdom (I've never done the holiday parties). So that element, at least, was a really great "bonus".

 

[LetsDoDisney!]

Maybe try northern New England — here in Maine (as well as New Hampshire and Vermont) all we have is space. And trees

I was thinking the same thing! In central Maine we got lots o’ space! Can’t wait to go south next month though!

 

[1GoldenSun]

I'm a FL resident who usually has an AP, and in 2019 we decided to take a break from Disney and get Universal APs instead. We really enjoyed the change of pace, loved the Universal parks, and I was happy to say that our break gave us the chance to actually miss Disney, and we were looking forward to buying Disney APs again in the spring of 2020 when our Universal passes expired. Then Covid.

We went back in 2020 anyway, with the FL resident 4-day tickets, and again for a day last month and three days next month with another FL resident 4-day ticket. That expense is killing me, but I LOVE the parks right now. I've never much cared for the shows once I saw them once or twice, the parades would be ok to see ONCE if they didn't block your path all the time, and while I enjoy seeing the fireworks as I go about my regular Disney business, I've never once stood in the hub to watch them. And although I enjoy seeing the characters from afar, I would rarely get in a line to meet one, unless I just want my kids' photo with them. Plus, I have to wear a mask at work, have gotten used to it, and it no longer bothers me at all. I almost prefer the fact that I don't have to worry too much about sunscreen, between the mask and my sunglasses. I love the fact that none of the rides have overwhelmingly long lines (which I think is absolutely due to not just diminished crowds but the fact that no one has fastpass) and you can pretty much do anything you want in a day, without the concern of getting a fastpass. I love that people aren't crammed in lines. While I enjoyed pre-shows, I've seen them all enough to enjoy the rides without them if it means no crowding.

So except for the huge and overwhelming fact that my family can't currently purchase APs, I WOULD prefer it. But not being able to get an AP negates all the good things, because, well, I can't go!

I do miss being able to take photos without masks, and one or two restaurants. I don't mind mobile ordering; I think it makes it easier to find a seat in the restaurant because they're not letting seat-holders in.

 

[MrsPrice]

We have gone twice since Covid. It has been wonderful! Love that the lines are actually moving much faster since there are no fast passes available. Also prefer people not breathing on my neck in line. LOL. Maybe w have just hit the right dates but the crowd levels have been perfect when we have gone.

The only thing we absolutely MISS are the firework shows. They make such a huge difference in your visit IMO.

 

[Disneylvr1971]

We have actually preferred it now. We are DVC and have been to Disney many times. Last year we went in June, Sept, Oct and Dec and honestly it was the best times we had. Thought I would miss FP, but like others have mentioned, the lines continually move and it seems you can get so much more done without running around. We don't do ADR's so that really didn't impact us along with parades and fireworks and shows. I actually prefer the cavalcades now and actually stop and watch them. Masks are tolerable as long as you change them out during the day. Will feel a little better about covid since we will be receiving our vaccines before we leave. Have another trip in 63 days and can't wait. Good luck with whatever decision you make.

 

[TTA Rider Matt]

My family was there the week after reopening, and while we missed out on Stormalong Bay (we stayed at BCV), and some of the dining options, every time we talk about Disney we say to each other “It’ll never be like July 2020 again”. We got on Flight of Passage twice in under an hour, the longest wait we had the whole time we were there was an hour for Rise because it broke down (shocker), and our next longest wait was 45 minutes for MMRR. Prefer it to normal times? I don’t think I’ll go that far, but for frequent visitors, it was a nice treat to be in empty parks for 10 days.

 

[bennifer]

I’ve gone twice since they reopened and I have 3 more trips this year booked! I love it. I hate people getting into my personal space, so the social distancing is wonderful. I also love the hand sanitizer stations all around the place. I’m not a germaphobe, but my hands always felt so dirty every time I washed them on previous trips. The masks don’t bother me, I always have spares and I think there are plenty of opportunities to take a break from them (relaxation stations, restaurants). Of course, my trips were with a friend, not with my family. DH and DS may have plenty to complain about in June!

 

[Blondie58]

It may sound crazy, but I'm wondering if there are any of you who actually preferred it in some way. Do any of the changes actually make it more enjoyable? Do you prefer everyone wearing masks and the extra care with cleaning? Do you like the lower density of people?

I'm considering a trip this summer and wondering if it's better to go for it now. I'm suspecting the "rebound" travel in 2022 is going to be insane.

I would perfer a return to the way things were with fastpasses The lower crowds may be nice but the prices would have to dramatically increase to keep the crowds lower, in my opinion. Masks = just over them and can't wait to not wear all tghe time.

 

[LiteBrite]

There are things that I love about WDW now and things that are bummers, but I think the balance is tipping slightly towards preferring the current situation.

I loooooove the social distancing. I would be thrilled if no one ever told me to "fill in all the available space" again in my life. I've always had trouble handling too many people being too close to me, so social distancing is a joy to me.

I'm a big fan of the Skyliner, and having our gondola to ourselves every time makes it even better.

Even though they are starting to fill the rides more, and not leave rows between people, at least we always get our row to ourselves, and we're never crammed into a row with strangers.

I have really enjoyed doing WDW without FPs (although I also miss them a tiny bit). I'm a planner by nature, but it's a different kind of fun to just wing it all day every day, and the lines work so much better without FP.

Mobile ordering is fine, we used it all the time before Covid, but I do kind of miss the "I know the secret" feeling of walking past all the people waiting in line to order while I strolled in at my leisure to pick up my mobile order. It also takes much more planning and strategy to mobile order now since everybody has to do it.

Seeing the characters in the cavalcades and random spots throughout the day is fun! We see them much more now than before, when they were mostly hidden indoors somewhere that required waiting in line to see them.

Sometimes I miss the parking lot trams, but it's not a big deal.

I do miss the freedom to resort hop without needing an ADR or a mobile order to be let in.

I miss the shows, and I wish more restaurants would open (both table service and quick service).

Wearing a mask is a pain, but you get used to it. My husband and I have both been vaccinated now, but we hadn't been when we were at WDW, so I felt much safer because of the extremely high level of mask compliance there.

 

[KittyKitty]

I have been to WDW about 30 times. I went this last Nov/Dec. 2020, and March 2021. Before Covid, there was no slow times at Disney World. You had to mentally prepare for the crowds. With Covid there is noticeable lower crowds. Lines are long, but move quickly.
Masks are a small ask for me. But do wish everything was open. I missed my TTA, Monster's Laugh floor, the shows.
Next trip is Oct/Nov this year.

 

[PaladinButters]

Cons - Having no FP+, no fireworks/shows, limited options for resorts and dining, HM bypassing the stretching room.
Pros - Not being jammed into transportation like a bunch of sardines (AWESOME). Biergarten not buffet style/ had own table /finally got to try for this reason. Cavalcades just rolling down the street replacing the wait for the parade for an hour for a good spot thing. Didn't have to hear anybody narrate the stretching room.

Overall - we remarked to each other multiple times how we are going to miss it when things are 'back to normal' just based on transportation alone. Apparently, I am willing to pay full price for less as long as there is room on the bus!

 

[bakerworld]

Really enjoy the extra space in the restaurants and bars. In November '20 I loved the lower park crowds and didn't mind standing in line as the longest line we stood in (FOP) were 20 minutes. We just returned from our March '21 trip and the crowds are much larger. Originally we planned not to do the parks due to the larger crowds. We decided on a one day ticket and picked Epcot for the Flower and Garden. I do not think we rode on a single ride - we just walked around. Enjoy the cavalcades and hope the parades become passé.

Dislike wearing the masks - can't wait for that requirement to go away. The food situation is irritating - lack of choice and mobile ordering - so we generally don't eat in the parks or at the hotel. I am looking forward to the QS open with walk up capability.

 

[ars0525]

I like it. I live down here so I don't notice the heat/humidity as much as visitors. The mask wearing doesn't bother me.

Have enjoyed the lower crowds. Love the space markers in line so people aren't down my back. The hand sanitizers after rides...why wasn't that a thing before Covid? No FP I think is great as lines keep moving along. Not staring at phones or on the WDW app (I only use it for food ordering) constantly rearranging stuff. A more relaxed pace touring style. The cavalcades & pop up things are fun (I never have been so close to princesses before). I don't even mind the walking from the parking lots. I am just happy to be able to go back.

Bonus for mask wearing: no more surprise mouthful of bubbles when kids are shooting off bubble guns in crowds!

 

[DisneyMountainWoman]

I really hope the cavalcades stay, it is nice having random ones and not having to wait a long time to see a parade.

 

[KaSe]

I've never been a huge fan of the parades. Waiting on the sidewalk for an hour or trying to maneuver around people who are waiting or trying to get somewhere around the parade were all a frustration. So, I do wish the character cavalcades would continue. I love the idea of a float full of characters randomly coming down the street periodically through the day. That seems more magical than an actual parade, honestly.

 

[dd316]

We went in October and frankly, I hated it. The long walk thru the parking lots because there are no trams. The fight to secure dining reservations under reduced capacity. The limited menus, designed to use as little kitchen staff as possible in order to maintain safe distancing. The reduced park hours. Nothing open once the sun set except a very crowded Disney Springs or equally crowded pools. The long lines because there are no FPs. The plexiglass dividers on rides that interfere with a good view of the attraction. No entertainment. The constant reminders via overhead speakers to mask up properly and maintain safe spacing between parties.

It was definitely my most unhappy visit to my happy place.

Your whole experience confirms every fear I have about going back right now. As much as I'm dying to go back, I'm more than happy to wait it out.

 

[OppR2nist]

We just came back from our trip in the middle of February, and I have to say, we had a wonderful time. There were some things that we missed. No parades, no fireworks, etc. There were other things that made the experience truly magical. The biggest was the Cavalcades/Flotillas. Sure, they're smaller, and you really have no ide when they'll show up, but they're frequent enough that you really couldn't miss them if you tried, and when one happens, it's a really wonderful surprise that it shocked me I was so excited about. Characters that I didn't really care all that much about were suddenly the only thing I wanted to see. It's one thing I hope they keep when they go back to something resembling normal.

 

[RangerPooh]

We've had three trips since Covid- July 2020, Oct 2020, and March 2021, and they were all nice. Masks don't bother our family too much. The lower crowds and not feeling crammed on the bus was nice. I miss FP, but like that I do not have to plan every aspect of my day around them. The most challenging part was no park hopping our first two trips as we felt that something was missing. Last week was fantastic being able to PH!

 

[hbg1]

Nice to see a lot of folks chiming in that they're having a good time on their trips.
Our last trip was Feb/March 2020 and it's looking like we're going back in September.
Aside from maybe a day at HS to see Mickey and Minnie RR, no parks this go round. We've done them enough times and I don't need to go on the same rides over and over at this point in my life.
Looking forward to actually relaxing at the resort and hanging at the pool. I would like to get some reservations for some dinners, but if it doesn't pan out I'm fine with it. I've ordered takeout for a year, I think a few more times won't be an issue for us.

 

[AJA55]

People not on top of each other. And how the lines were done.