Here Now & Just Back - A Place To Share Your Recent Experiences

[jmedrew]

I know how you feel, from reading the posts here it seems people love the masks. I am not anti mask at all, but feel so much happier not wearing it. I think 95% of the people outside had masks off, maybe more it seemed. In the queues it was not enforced at all and wearing was like 80%. On the attractions and inside it was from what i witnessed 100% compliance. At the hotel - Boardwalk 100% compliance inside, and outside the lobby no one wearing masks. People following the rules for the most part but the mask police luckily waning.
I think most people are ready to be done with the masks

Agree...but I am anti mask...lol. Can’t wait for when it’s totally gone because right now, the on and off is pretty counterproductive. I’ve never touched my face so much in one day. Again, my opinion.
It’s just so great to see people again. Also, since I am not a normal mask wearer, I am just not used to wearing it at all. And I’d love to see the cast members faces again. So to be gone with it would be fabulous.
Also, next step, the plexiglass on Frozen needs to GO. Wow, is that bad. I’ve done it 3 times with no plexiglass and my last visit we got front row so I didn't know how bad it really makes it. My sister is the biggest Frozen fan and she was so disappointed in the ride but we think it all had to do with the cloudy plexiglass in front of our faces.

But Epcot was gorgeous last night. The weather yesterday was amazing!! We also got parks switched last minute as our party had been separated on the reservations and at two separate parks. So it was a great day! AK today!!

eta-wow, I haven’t posted in a long time. My signature is so old!!!!!!!

 

[hulagirl87]

According to TP the wait time for Frozen yesterday only got up to about 50 minutes posted (and around 3:00 it was posted around 45 minutes long), with an observed average wait time around 45 minutes. I think maybe your friend should have had a bit more water yesterday lol. Also, if the posted opening time for AK is 8 then if you aren't there by at least 7:20 you will be waiting a while to get on FOP. They open it up around 7:15 and everyone heads to FOP, If we get to AK any later than 7:20-7:30 we go and ride other stuff and come back to FOP later in the day. Usually if we are in super early it's a walk on, and by the time we leave it's already an hour+ to ride, usually snaking all the way to Africa past Creature Comforts.

I'm not sure why my friend would have lied about wait times, but ok, I'll tell her to keep hydrated. She said the line went all the way past China.

And if a park opens at 8, I'm not sure how many people would know to have to get there so early to line up for the actual ride you want to go on. She expected there to be a rope drop that she would have to wait at, and was surprised that there wasn't.

She said that it looks like a lot of people left Animal Kingdom around lunchtime yesterday and wait times got a lot better in the afternoon and into the evening.

 

[scrappinginontario]

I'm not sure why my friend would have lied about wait times, but ok, I'll tell her to keep hydrated. She said the line went all the way past China.

And if a park opens at 8, I'm not sure how many people would know to have to get there so early to line up for the actual ride you want to go on. She expected there to be a rope drop that she would have to wait at, and was surprised that there wasn't.

She said that it looks like a lot of people left Animal Kingdom around lunchtime yesterday and wait times got a lot better in the afternoon and into the evening.

All parks are opening 45 minutes prior to their posted park opening time so if 8:00 is the posted park opening for AK today then guests would have been allowed to enter at 7:15. Traditionally (but not guaranteed) Flight of Passage, Na'vi River Journey and Expedition Everest are the AK rides that open at 7:15.

I would recommend your friend (or you) possibly check this thread to help them with other rope drops for the balance of their trip:

Everything Rope Drop

The first post in that thread lists a number of tips that will help them with the current rope drop process.

Hope this helps!

 

[Sarahslay]

I'm not sure why my friend would have lied about wait times, but ok, I'll tell her to keep hydrated. She said the line went all the way past China.

And if a park opens at 8, I'm not sure how many people would know to have to get there so early to line up for the actual ride you want to go on. She expected there to be a rope drop that she would have to wait at, and was surprised that there wasn't.

She said that it looks like a lot of people left Animal Kingdom around lunchtime yesterday and wait times got a lot better in the afternoon and into the evening.

The line regularly goes all the way to China, they do still have social distancing in lines. Every trip I have been on that line snakes back to China, it doesn't matter if it's 30 minutes or an hour it goes back that far, what makes the difference is how fast that line moves. Now that they have the plexi glass (which I hate) that long line isn't as bad, it moves because they load every row, but back before then it was horrific. I have been to the parks 5 times since reopening (including 3 kinda major holiday times), that's just the way it is. With FOP at opening, if you aren't there before 7:30 to get on FOP you might as well go right something else because you will be standing in line for a very long time. People just know, I don't know what to tell you. If we don't get there in time, and the line is already long, we just wait till later in the day, it always gets better later which is why I always scratch my head at the people who are willing to waste 2 hours of their day first thing when they can just wait 30 minutes later in the day. Of course with all those people in line for that you can pretty much ride everything else as almost walk ons, then go back to FOP after you finish the rest of the park since everyone else was busy standing in line for FOP.

 

[Aimeedyan]

The line regularly goes all the way to China, they do still have social distancing in lines. Every trip I have been on that line snakes back to China, it doesn't matter if it's 30 minutes or an hour it goes back that far, what makes the difference is how fast that line moves. Now that they have the plexi glass (which I hate) that long line isn't as bad, it moves because they load every row, but back before then it was horrific. I have been to the parks 5 times since reopening (including 3 kinda major holiday times), that's just the way it is.

Yup. Frozen line is ALWAYS to China - even with a less than 30 minute wait. It's just how the line is distanced. It's never been anywhere close to a 3 hour wait (I can't think of a single ride that has been that long since the limited capacity was put into place, come to think of it, even the big headliners like FOP...).

Now standing in the full sun sure makes it feel like 3 hours

 

[Sarahslay]

Yup. Frozen line is ALWAYS to China - even with a less than 30 minute wait. It's just how the line is distanced. It's never been anywhere close to a 3 hour wait (I can't think of a single ride that has been that long since the limited capacity was put into place, come to think of it, even the big headliners like FOP...).

Now standing in the full sun sure makes it feel like 3 hours

When I'm hangry and in full view of the F&G stall in China it can feel like 100 hours. Thankfully my kids hate the ride with the plexiglass so I don't have to worry about riding it this trip. I think the longest line I've seen in all my trips this year was 2 hours, and that was FOP Thanksgiving week for a bit after park open, followed closely by 7DMT & Splash at 80 minutes on 2 of our trips (we didn't wait in those lines, we came back later to much shorter lines).

 

[Tess]

According to TP the wait time for Frozen yesterday only got up to about 50 minutes posted (and around 3:00 it was posted around 45 minutes long), with an observed average wait time around 45 minutes. I think maybe your friend should have had a bit more water yesterday lol. Also, if the posted opening time for AK is 8 then if you aren't there by at least 7:20 you will be waiting a while to get on FOP. They open it up around 7:15 and everyone heads to FOP, If we get to AK any later than 7:20-7:30 we go and ride other stuff and come back to FOP later in the day. Usually if we are in super early it's a walk on, and by the time we leave it's already an hour+ to ride, usually snaking all the way to Africa past Creature Comforts.

I'm not sure why my friend would have lied about wait times, but ok, I'll tell her to keep hydrated. She said the line went all the way past China.

And if a park opens at 8, I'm not sure how many people would know to have to get there so early to line up for the actual ride you want to go on. She expected there to be a rope drop that she would have to wait at, and was surprised that there wasn't.

She said that it looks like a lot of people left Animal Kingdom around lunchtime yesterday and wait times got a lot better in the afternoon and into the evening.

In defense of your friend, who happens to be in the park and not simply viewing the sometimes accurate and sometimes inaccurate wait times on an app; she may well have seen the infamous "End of Line" sign carrier and that sign may well have indicated a different wait time than those published.

I know from firsthand experience on our recent visit (5/6-14/21) that the End of the Line sign carrier times were often off by 10, 15 or 30 minutes versus our actual wait time and the wait times in the apps neither of which generally agree.

The Frozen line often wended its way throughout China--think switchbacks in the center court area of the temple, around and through the quiet garden area, then back onto world showcase toward the drawbridge area of the showcase. It was long!

I'm sure your friend had no intention to deceive nor do I think she needed water. More likely a difference between apps and live person carrying a sign.

 

[wonderchica]

Been here since Saturday night. Having a great trip! Been going to rope drop, afternoon break, then back for dinner to close. I think our longest wait has been for Test Track- 40 minutes, posted 70. By FAR our longest. We did all the headliners at HS, MK, and Epcot. I’d say average we’ve waited for headliners has been 10-25 minutes, plus one walk-on at rope drop. Lots of walk-on rides in the morning and last hour. Tour with a strategy and all has been well. Took buses to parks and got there at unofficial opening every day but Epcot- we were on the 2nd bus and got there a few minutes after open.

 

[preemiemama]

Can anyone tell me if the refillable mugs are available at resorts and the current price?

 

[Aimeedyan]

Can anyone tell me if the refillable mugs are available at resorts and the current price?

Yes, they are. They're $19.99.

 

[preemiemama]

Yes, they are. They're $19.99.

Thank you! Trying to decide if it's worthwhile to us this trip. We usually have it with the dining plan...

 

[stephnerninnie1984]

I'm not sure why my friend would have lied about wait times, but ok, I'll tell her to keep hydrated. She said the line went all the way past China.

And if a park opens at 8, I'm not sure how many people would know to have to get there so early to line up for the actual ride you want to go on. She expected there to be a rope drop that she would have to wait at, and was surprised that there wasn't.

She said that it looks like a lot of people left Animal Kingdom around lunchtime yesterday and wait times got a lot better in the afternoon and into the evening.

Yeah last time I rode Frozen (May 11), the line went all the way into China, like switchbacks through the gardens. Posted wait time of 45, took us 25.

 

[scrappinginontario]

These are challenging times for many people and each person has their own comfort level. Please stop the discussion re: masks unless it is to specifically share when people were/were not wearing masks. Please do not discuss your own personal comfort level as that is not important to this thread. Keep it to facts, not opinions re: masks and Covid.

Please stay on topic. Any further discussion re: masks other than to share specific examples of what you encountered will be removed and possibly warning points awarded.

This thread has been beneficial to many and we want to keep it active but it can only remain active if it remains on topic of sharing actual experiences, not opinions and comfort levels.

 

[npatellye]

Yeah last time I rode Frozen (May 11), the line went all the way into China, like switchbacks through the gardens. Posted wait time of 45, took us 25.

Agreed. The line moves much faster than it seems based on wait times posted. My neighbor was at Epcot yesterday and sent a photo of the line snaking through China and waited in it with her kids anyway. She said the end of line wait time listed around 1 pm was 45 minutes but the CM told her it would be 30 or less. It took them 20 minutes. We had a similar experience over Thanksgiving with posted wait time of 60 minutes and actual wait time of 25ish minutes. Last week, we got there early (before the listed opening time) and walked right on.

 

[zackiedawg]

Glad to hear the lines look worse than they may actually be. Though the one disappointment for me as a photographer is having lines from rides, even the next country over, winding through all the beautiful theming of World Showcase that I like to photograph! Hard to get nice scenic shots of China with the Frozen line wound all throughout the gardens! For probably that reason alone, I hope they can narrow the social distancing in the lines to compact them into their own queues again. Still have a bit over a month before I'll be there, so things may change by then...if not, I'll cope...it's nice to be back either way.

 

[maui2k5]

Agreed. The line moves much faster than it seems based on wait times posted. My neighbor was at Epcot yesterday and sent a photo of the line snaking through China and waited in it with her kids anyway. She said the end of line wait time listed around 1 pm was 45 minutes but the CM told her it would be 30 or less. It took them 20 minutes. We had a similar experience over Thanksgiving with posted wait time of 60 minutes and actual wait time of 25ish minutes. Last week, we got there early (before the listed opening time) and walked right on.

Are they still having people stand 6ft apart at Frozen outside (or any other extended queues)?

 

[kat_lh]

Here now. Landed late last night and stayed at the Hyatt in MCO - fabulous btw.

definitely no distancing on MDE. The coach is pretty full and no requests made to stay apart or anything like that.

the video being shown has not been updated and specifically mentions temp checks and 6ft apart.

 

[SEAGULL59]

Here now. Landed late last night and stayed at the Hyatt in MCO - fabulous btw.

definitely no distancing on MDE. The coach is pretty full and no requests made to stay apart or anything like that.

the video being shown has not been updated and specifically mentions temp checks and 6ft apart.

We are also staying at the Hyatt on our arrival night (Monday). What time did you get to the MDE line? Was it long? We are trying to decide what time to head there on Tuesday am.

 

[starryagain]

Easy kid friendly morning at MK.

Left Beach Club 7:50 on bus (no wait). Through the gates by 8:10.

Space mountain at 8:15. Posted 15, actual 20-25.

Walk on speedway (posted 0)

Walk on Buzz (posted 10)

Teacups 5 minutes (posted 5)

Walk on Dumbo (posted 5)

Goofy 5 minutes (posted 10)

Little mermaid 5 minutes (posted 5)

Got a snack

All by 10:15. Nothing glamorous but an easy two hours without getting up at 5am and dealing with rope drop stuff.

 

[Dispro1]

Glad to hear the lines look worse than they may actually be. Though the one disappointment for me as a photographer is having lines from rides, even the next country over, winding through all the beautiful theming of World Showcase that I like to photograph! Hard to get nice scenic shots of China with the Frozen line wound all throughout the gardens! For probably that reason alone, I hope they can narrow the social distancing in the lines to compact them into their own queues again. Still have a bit over a month before I'll be there, so things may change by then...if not, I'll cope...it's nice to be back either way.

I'm not a photographer, but I was thinking about how the long lines would mess up the WS too! I'm guessing that won't get much better until Disney brings back some version of FP+ so that some people will be moved from the standby to the FP queue.

For those who are there now or just back, have you noticed any changes in the capacity allowed inside shops at the parks? I'm just wondering if there are still lines to get inside and if so, how long? I'll be curious to see how much the park crowds pick up by the time we get there Friday afternoon. Seems like a lot of people are going this weekend!