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

[jsmla]

Perhaps I'm missing some context (I just jumped into this thread in the past few days) but what is the reason for all of these buses and transfers - is it to save on parking or is it to get to the parks earlier than those who are driving somehow? What hotel are you staying at? Thanks - just wanted to understand what benefit it is providing.

I use Lynx when staying offsite even though I have my personal car and free parking with my AP. That way I can have a drink or two in the evenings.

 

[bennifer]

My biggest question is how crowded is it actually? I keep hearing it's not that crowded, it's easy to stay apart from people, but then I see pictures in trip reports from December that look pretty crowded, uncomfortably so for my family. We would be there President's Day week which is often nearly as crowded as the week before Christmas so I'm concerned. As a specific example, one person took a picture just upon arriving in MK with a view up Main Street, and it looked as crowded as any regular day at Disney just with masks. Is that unusual right now or is that about what we should expect if we decide to go?

I was at WDW in Nov and then from 1/6 to 1/13. There are definitely some areas inside the parks where I felt almost uncomfortable. My advice is to avoid MK and HS (especially HS) on the weekend and WS in Epcot on Fri and Sat evenings during a festival. Main St in MK often looks crowded but unless it’s rope drop, 2:00 when people can park hop or the end of the day when everyone is leaving, it’s not bad. There will always be the people who don’t give you the 6ft of space, but I choose to believe that they’ve forgotten and not that they’re jerks. (and it doesn’t happen frequently) There are many walkways that get crowded, IMO, too, like the area between IASW and PP. Another thing to remember is the lines look crazy long and they look like people are just gathered in a lump. The lines are long because everyone is six feet apart. Once you’re in the line, you realize that it’s not as bad as you thought!

Oh, and DS on a weekend is not the best place for people who are worried about social distancing and masks.

 

[Sarahslay]

My biggest question is how crowded is it actually? I keep hearing it's not that crowded, it's easy to stay apart from people, but then I see pictures in trip reports from December that look pretty crowded, uncomfortably so for my family. We would be there President's Day week which is often nearly as crowded as the week before Christmas so I'm concerned. As a specific example, one person took a picture just upon arriving in MK with a view up Main Street, and it looked as crowded as any regular day at Disney just with masks. Is that unusual right now or is that about what we should expect if we decide to go?

I was there Christmas and thanksgiving week, and I highly discourage taking pictures from certain vantage points as a sign of what it’s like in the parks. Are there some crowded areas? Yes. But you are not in that area for long unless you choose to be (I didn’t choose to be) and then it’s perfectly fine. Mainstreet was never crowded for us, even at Christmas it was glorious. However, if you question it at all, don’t go. I wouldn’t want you to be like “they said it wasn’t crowded but look at this!!” And have a miserably uncomfortable trip with your family because what you are comfortable with isn’t what someone else is comfortable with. We are highly cautious at home and felt fine at the parks, I don’t even go in the grocery store anymore because I get uncomfortable, but I will happily go to the parks. We’ve eaten inside at sit down restaurants in the parks but have yet to do that in every day life. If we feel uncomfortable we leave that situation and find something that’s better suited for us. But you may only be comfortable with extremely low crowds like they had at opening and as there are currently, but who’s to say how those crowds will be next month. I’ll be there the weekend before Presidents’ Day for a short trip and have no worries, but that’s just me.

 

[MainMom]

I was until about 2! We did FOP 8 times!!!! Actually, they were letting people get in the FP+ queue after riding, so we got to skip the slight line there was!

That’s awesome! I hope we have similar luck!

 

[disneylover102]

My biggest question is how crowded is it actually? I keep hearing it's not that crowded, it's easy to stay apart from people, but then I see pictures in trip reports from December that look pretty crowded, uncomfortably so for my family. We would be there President's Day week which is often nearly as crowded as the week before Christmas so I'm concerned. As a specific example, one person took a picture just upon arriving in MK with a view up Main Street, and it looked as crowded as any regular day at Disney just with masks. Is that unusual right now or is that about what we should expect if we decide to go?

I’ve been in the Orlando parks since January 2 and I’ve seen a lot of variety. On January 2 when we went to Universal, it was SUPER congested in Hogsmeade, Diagon Alley, and any virtual queue entrance. January 4 and 5 at Universal were much better, especially since virtual queues weren’t being used for the rides we cared about, but it was still a bit congested in the Harry Potter areas. Once we started going to Disney on the 6th, it was noticeably much more safe. We didn’t feel like it was even really congested at first. Since then, there have been a few spots of congestion. This includes ride exits, especially those with lots of people on the ride (Soarin’, Star Tours, Flight of Passage, Everest, Rock n Roller Coaster, etc). Also Galaxy’s Edge definitely has some congestion. And there’s definitely congestion if you leave a park right as it closes (this has been especially problematic at MK and HS, but AK and Epcot haven’t been too bad). Also specific areas in Adventureland and Fantasyland have been congested. Those are the spots I’ve noticed issues, but honestly it feels pretty safe otherwise. Weekends are definitely more crowded. Basically, if you think you will never ever be within 6 feet of someone, you’re sadly mistaken. But any time you are, it’s very brief.

 

[jimim]

Always possible. Though if they really were older kids seems less likely they would be having trouble with masks (every school here requires masks all day).

I do feel bad for CMs as enforcement is such a mess. We definitely saw CMs or guests try to tell other guests to pull up a mask and were treated badly in response, so I wonder if some of them are just getting worn down and aren't up to it any more. It may also be they are "picking their battles" to only enforce when someone is not outdoors and keeping a safe distance from staff or other guests.

I definitely would appreciate if CMs were to say something if my youngest accidentally left his mask down--but others are definitely less receptive. We heard a lot of people on our trip voice the sentiment "if people are so scared they shouldn't come." Very irritating.

and if they don't want to wear a mask properly they shouldn't come

 

[Orion Nebula]

We heard a lot of people on our trip voice the sentiment "if people are so scared they shouldn't come." Very irritating.

That really irritates me. On one had of course we are accepting the risks but we are accepting them because of the safety protocols. I would've never taken the risks if masks, distancing and so on were not being required. People are obnoxious.

 

[MomOTwins]

and if they don't want to wear a mask properly they shouldn't come

That really irritates me. On one had of course we are accepting the risks but we are accepting them because of the safety protocols. I would've never taken the risks if masks, distancing and so on were not being required. People are obnoxious.

Oh totally, I am 100% in agreement. For example, clothing is required at WDW too and you don't see people stripping down till they are nude in the middle of a ride queue or on the monorail, saying "if people are so prudish, they shouldn't come."

I was only conveying that those people do come to WDW and that is their attitude with respect to masks (as they had no hesitation in expressing to me when I'd ask them to pull up/put on their masks), so odds are at some point on your trip you are going to be stuck next to them in a ride queue, ride vehicle, or transportation. And it sucks.

 

[Imaginette]

Question for anyone that is there or just back - was park hopping a challenge? We have AP's, plan is to go to a scheduled park in the AM, and then Park Hop to Epcot (primarily) or another park after 2pm. The blurb from MDE is below, but I would love to know if it was something that is a no-brainer, or a big-pain currently (non-holiday, January visit)

• With the updated Park Hopper experience, Guests must make a Disney Park Pass reservation for the first park they plan to visit AND enter that first park prior to visiting another. At this time, a park reservation is not required after the first park, however, reservation requirements are subject to change.

Thank you!
~ Imaginette ~

 

[scrappinginontario]

Question for anyone that is there or just back - was park hopping a challenge? We have AP's, plan is to go to a scheduled park in the AM, and then Park Hop to Epcot (primarily) or another park after 2pm. The blurb from MDE is below, but I would love to know if it was something that is a no-brainer, or a big-pain currently (non-holiday, January visit)

Thank you!
~ Imaginette ~

Many have reported about PH here and on other threads and I have not heard a single person say that they could not get into any park they wished after 2pm once they have visited their original park.

 

[Imaginette]

... I have not heard a single person say that they could not get into any park they wished after 2pm once they have visited their original park.

Yay! Great news indeed!

 

[Akck]

My biggest question is how crowded is it actually? I keep hearing it's not that crowded, it's easy to stay apart from people, but then I see pictures in trip reports from December that look pretty crowded, uncomfortably so for my family. We would be there President's Day week which is often nearly as crowded as the week before Christmas so I'm concerned. As a specific example, one person took a picture just upon arriving in MK with a view up Main Street, and it looked as crowded as any regular day at Disney just with masks. Is that unusual right now or is that about what we should expect if we decide to go?

One thing to remember about photos, they are 2D, not 3D. There is little depth perception and you can’t tell if people are 2’ apart or 10’ apart. Yes, there are bottleneck areas, but that’s why you wear a mask and contact time is very short. The only thing that irritated me was when groups stopped in a bottleneck area, causing you and others to walk around them, getting even closer together.

 

[LalaLane]

For early morning Magic Kingdom, I saw for a little bit that it was not always a guarantee that you could get into the contemporary with a reservation but everything I’ve read since December seems OK, has anybody been turned away for having a quick service order or actual reservation around rope drop times at Contemporary?

 

[Aimeedyan]

For early morning Magic Kingdom, I saw for a little bit that it was not always a guarantee that you could get into the contemporary with a reservation but everything I’ve read since December seems OK, has anybody been turned away for having a quick service order or actual reservation around rope drop times at Contemporary?

Never had a problem, or heard anyone with a problem. We did (again) just as recently as 2 days ago.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

For early morning Magic Kingdom, I saw for a little bit that it was not always a guarantee that you could get into the contemporary with a reservation but everything I’ve read since December seems OK, has anybody been turned away for having a quick service order or actual reservation around rope drop times at Contemporary?

I saw something on The DIS Instagram stories where someone had placed a mobile order at Art of Animation but was turned away at the gate and refused entry to pick up their order. They said eventually, it was refunded. I don't know if they wrote it up as an article or posted anywhere here. I would hate to count on it and then get turned away - but each resort operates differently....

 

[Naomeri]

I saw something on The DIS Instagram stories where someone had placed a mobile order at Art of Animation but was turned away at the gate and refused entry to pick up their order. They said eventually, it was refunded. I don't know if they wrote it up as an article or posted anywhere here. I would hate to count on it and then get turned away - but each resort operates differently....

They did write it up:
https://www.wdwinfo.com/walt-disney...ut-mobile-order-at-disney-resort-restaurants/

 

[LalaLane]

Never had a problem, or heard anyone with a problem. We did (again) just as recently as 2 days ago.

Did you have a Res or just quick serve?

 

[LalaLane]

I saw something on The DIS Instagram stories where someone had placed a mobile order at Art of Animation but was turned away at the gate and refused entry to pick up their order. They said eventually, it was refunded. I don't know if they wrote it up as an article or posted anywhere here. I would hate to count on it and then get turned away - but each resort operates differently....

I thought so and I’ve read reports in this thread I remember when people had to really convince the guard hardcore. I don’t mind ordering AND paying/eating (I know some cancel the order)

 

[scrappinginontario]

And my thoughts (nothing to support this) is that they may be more strict is that some may place a mobile order at AoA to ride the Skyliner and avoid paying $25 to park at DHS or Epcot. I can understand them being cautious.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Did you have a Res or just quick serve?

On Wednesday it was mobile order, but we eat at The Wave (and Chef Mickey's before they added back characters...) often too. I've even parked and ran into their gift shop before without issues, but YMMV on that.