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

[CapnJacksGirl]

Sitting at the OKW pool after spending the morning at AK.

Got on the first bus at Peninsular Rd at about 6:45 and we were walking into AK at 7:15. We weren’t the first bus to arrive and people from the parking lots were already entering.

Went straight to Pandora for FoP and pretty much walked straight through. Headed for Safari next then to Asia, where my guys rode EE three times in a row, walking right through, while I watched the character barges on the river. So cute but they were cruising across there!

Dinosaur next with no wait then back to FoP, again pretty much walking straight through the looong queue, then over to the Gorilla Trail before lunch at FlameTree at 11. Dang, that chicken is gooooood. Even better than I remember. DSs had no interest in much else so we went back over to FoP. Rode twice more, still pretty much just walking through the queue. The longest posted wait we experienced was 40 minutes and that was at about 10 am. We were through the queue AND the ride in 42. We have found wait times to be fairly inflated almost across the board at all three parks we have visited so far (Ep, HS, AK).

I had been pretty impressed with mask compliance and distancing on our first two days, but man, that went out the window today. It seemed like people were unnecessarily up on top of each other. Yes, there are pinch points, but people just didn’t seem to be paying attention today anywhere. Africa late morning was insane. People on attractions had to be told repeatedly how to wear a mask. The CM checking us in at Flame Tree had to stop and go tell a family who were all walking and eating ice cream that they couldn’t do that and the guests wanted to argue with him about it. We have had very good luck the first two days so maybe today was an off day and tomorrow will be better. Fingers crossed.

Letting the kids swim for a bit now then off to DS for the Gideon’s cookies I have been drooling over on Instagram for months. If you are there later and hear someone singing the hallelujah chorus, it’s likely me. Look for the tall blonde gal with chocolate all over her face like a toddler That’d be me!

 

[bizeemom4]

Honestly, I couldn't believe how bad the guests were. The hotel was letting everyone sit at the lobby bar without spacing too. What?? I said to my husband apparently you can do whatever you want at the Dolphin. The chairs at the pool were all next to each other, even though it said they were supposed to be 6 feet apart. We just went and sat on the sand part and it was nice there although a little bit of a walk to get wet. haha

I was glad we hadn't spent the week there and it's a shame because I do like the Swan and Dolphin.

This is really upsetting to read. We are headed to the Dolphin for 7 nights (in 2 weeks) for our first trip post-Covid. We are vaccinated but we both work from home and actively avoid every social experience - even grocery shopping. I think being around unmasked people will really be hard for us to handle.

 

[dez1978]

This is really upsetting to read. We are headed there for 7 nights (in 2 weeks) for our first trip post-Covid. We are vaccinated but we both work from home and actively avoid every social experience - even grocery shopping. I think being around unmasked people will really be hard for us to handle.

Please don't take this wrong, bc I am not trying to be mean, but I really don't understand this. Why would you actively avoid everything at home, but plan a trip to Disney? I just feel like if I was so concerned and careful at home, even when it comes to things like grocery shopping, that I wouldn't plan a trip where I'll be in contact with thousands of other people, masks or not.

Please keep in mind my perspective. I have not been able to work from home, we don't have grocery pick up/delivery in my town, and my kids have been in school since August, so that probably changes how I look at things and why I am not at all worried about going.

 

[Kitty & Covs Covs]

I am a park-all-day person and really do not like going back to the hotel (much to the frustration of my daughter through the years when she would have loved a pool break), but these reports make me think a super early morning wake up, RD, and aggressive ride plan for the first few hours followed by a mid-day break and then return at night makes sense these days because of the crowds and wait times. We'll be there March 12-16 when the extended hours make this feasible. Three hours to ride two rides vs. a crowd break might mean a more enjoyable trip overall?

For those who are noting reduced wait times in the evening, what is the earliest time you think we could go back after a break and start experiencing lower than peak ride times?

 

[bizeemom4]

Please don't take this wrong, bc I am not trying to be mean, but I really don't understand this. Why would you actively avoid everything at home, but plan a trip to Disney? I just feel like if I was so concerned and careful at home, even when it comes to things like grocery shopping, that I wouldn't plan a trip where I'll be in contact with thousands of other people, masks or not.

Please keep in mind my perspective. I have not been able to work from home, we don't have grocery pick up/delivery in my town, and my kids have been in school since August, so that probably changes how I look at things and why I am not at all worried about going.

Valid question - we are just coming up on the end of the 2 weeks after the second vaccine. We feel that with proper safety measures like wearing KN95s at the park and avoiding dining inside, we should be safe to travel. Up to this point, we have not been out because we were not vaccinated and at higher risk.

 

[seashell7290]

Currently staying at Pop and back for a midday break from Hollywood Studios. Wanted to do a quick update for morning opening. Left our room around 7:15 to get in line for the skyliner. There were about 20-30 groups ahead. By 7:30, we were boarded to Carribean Beach. Waited 15 mins to board to HS. Was in line for screening just before 8. They didn’t let in until 8:15ish. Did notice there were two friendship boats that made it to opening. They didn’t have to enter a line behind those already in line for screeners for some reason. Walked on slinky and MF. Getting there early is for sure key.

 

[Gearbm95]

Valid question - we are just coming up on the end of the 2 weeks after the second vaccine. We feel that with proper safety measures like wearing KN95s at the park and avoiding dining inside, we should be safe to travel. Up to this point, we have not been out because we were not vaccinated and at higher risk.

If crowds are going to make you feel uncomfortable, unsafe, or upset then, for your own sake, cancel the trip and rebook for 2022.This spring/summer is going to be wild at WDW, and if Ratatouille opens soon it’ll be even worse.

 

[Mango7100]

Valid question - we are just coming up on the end of the 2 weeks after the second vaccine. We feel that with proper safety measures like wearing KN95s at the park and avoiding dining inside, we should be safe to travel. Up to this point, we have not been out because we were not vaccinated and at higher risk.

I understand. We are considering a trip in spring because my high risk husband got his first vaccine and will be 3+ weeks out after his second. We have barely done anything for a year other than send our child to school. He does work onsite at his job, but he is usually alone in his office and they are very strict with protocols. We need to do something after this year, and his vaccine status gives us the chance. However, we may just do a resort stay and only 1 park day at Epcot.

 

[Chris Ehlers]

Sitting at the OKW pool after spending the morning at AK.

Got on the first bus at Peninsular Rd at about 6:45 and we were walking into AK at 7:15. We weren’t the first bus to arrive and people from the parking lots were already entering.

Went straight to Pandora for FoP and pretty much walked straight through. Headed for Safari next then to Asia, where my guys rode EE three times in a row, walking right through, while I watched the character barges on the river. So cute but they were cruising across there!

Dinosaur next with no wait then back to FoP, again pretty much walking straight through the looong queue, then over to the Gorilla Trail before lunch at FlameTree at 11. Dang, that chicken is gooooood. Even better than I remember. DSs had no interest in much else so we went back over to FoP. Rode twice more, still pretty much just walking through the queue. The longest posted wait we experienced was 40 minutes and that was at about 10 am. We were through the queue AND the ride in 42. We have found wait times to be fairly inflated almost across the board at all three parks we have visited so far (Ep, HS, AK).

I had been pretty impressed with mask compliance and distancing on our first two days, but man, that went out the window today. It seemed like people were unnecessarily up on top of each other. Yes, there are pinch points, but people just didn’t seem to be paying attention today anywhere. Africa late morning was insane. People on attractions had to be told repeatedly how to wear a mask. The CM checking us in at Flame Tree had to stop and go tell a family who were all walking and eating ice cream that they couldn’t do that and the guests wanted to argue with him about it. We have had very good luck the first two days so maybe today was an off day and tomorrow will be better. Fingers crossed.

Letting the kids swim for a bit now then off to DS for the Gideon’s cookies I have been drooling over on Instagram for months. If you are there later and hear someone singing the hallelujah chorus, it’s likely me. Look for the tall blonde gal with chocolate all over her face like a toddler That’d be me!

how were they seating you on FOP? when we were these last month there was no empty Banshees between groups.

 

[Thomasboys]

I am a park-all-day person and really do not like going back to the hotel (much to the frustration of my daughter through the years when she would have loved a pool break), but these reports make me think a super early morning wake up, RD, and aggressive ride plan for the first few hours followed by a mid-day break and then return at night makes sense these days because of the crowds and wait times. We'll be there March 12-16 when the extended hours make this feasible. Three hours to ride two rides vs. a crowd break might mean a more enjoyable trip overall?

For those who are noting reduced wait times in the evening, what is the earliest time you think we could go back after a break and start experiencing lower than peak ride times?

I tracked wait times today for some of our favorite rides and interestingly, the lowest times for FOP, SDMT, TOT, RNRC, and FOP were all at 2:30p today, with the exception of FOP who had a 15 m wait at 4:40p. It makes me wonder if mid-afternoon is the new RD.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

Day 3 is in the books for me and I am settled back in my hotel for the day after grabbing some dinner to take back to the room from Chicken Salad Chick (Yummy! and their portions are so big this will be dinner or lunch for at least 3 meals!)

So, this morning I had a Hollywood Studios Park Reservation. I watched the countdown clock, did all the "right" things, and as I hit "Join" right as it clicked to 7 AM, but MDE glitched and rebooted. I initially planned to just keep my plans and head to HS anyway...but after checking availability, decided to try for a boarding group tomorrow.

I spent about 15 minutes rescheduling what dining I could (as well as changing what I was going to wear). Then I headed to Trattoria al Forno for a breakfast reservation where I had a nice, leisurely breakfast of the steak and eggs. I had an 8:30 reservation and the restaurant was fairly empty when I arrived and when I left their were a few families waiting to be seated. (SO if you need a last minute breakfast reservation try earlier than later). Also: they were seating outside and as I walked out, every single outside table has folks sitting at it.

I walked to the International Gateway and they were filtering everyone arriving (either walking or by Skyliner) into the que normally used for the Friendship Boats. They let about 10 families in to "prime" the tap stile scanners and I was the first person held back until around 10:05. (The Temperature Check folks were explaining about the "priming the scanners" thing)

I walked towards France and leisurely strolled through world showcase, stopping to take photos of all the topiaries for Flower and Garden. I stopped at Frozen with, of course, several other families. They opened Frozen at 10:35 AM and we basically walked on...and then most of us walked on again. While some families headed back for a 3rd time, I headed on to Mexico and into the pyramid to ride Three Caballeros.

I exited the pyramid at 11:09 AM

I walked up and around to The Sea, did Nemo ( a walk on) and explored the aquariums. I did not go into The Land or Journey into Imagination. The Land was crowded(ish) (stroller parking was filling up) but I didn't walk in to see wait times. and Figment was showing a 5 minute wait (walk on).

I walked back around into the World Showcase through Mexico again, stopped for another round of Frozen (again, a walk-on) and wandered in and out of shops. I chatted with the photographer that was stationed in Italy...and waited as the Princesses in the horse drawn carriage went by (Sleeping Beauty, Jasmin, Belle, and Snow White)

Had some ice cream from La Glace and then attended the Beauty and Beast Sing A Long (I had NO clue of the storyline - wasn't a fan). Then I walked across the bridge and over into the UK. Said hello to Alice who was greeting folks in the Garden while a lady played the piano in the gazebo.

I wandered in and out of the shops, took more topiary photos, and then was waiting for the Friendship boat back to the Boardwalk by 1:45.

Rather than hop to another park, I elected to come back to the hotel to get some rest (and get some chicken salad instead of a bigger/heavier meal on property.

Some notes: Mask compliance was probably about 98% at Epcot. A couple of noses, a couple of folks walking while drinking. But not many...and I didn't see a single adult taking photos without masks though I did see a couple of littles pulling masks down for photos with their parents encouragement...but then they slipped them back up right away.

I'm sure Epcot will get busier with Flower and Garden beginning on Wednesday. But it was nice and quiet today. AND as I was leaving there were more folks heading in as it was almost time to hop.

 

[Kitty & Covs Covs]

I tracked wait times today for some of our favorite rides and interestingly, the lowest times for FOP, SDMT, TOT, RNRC, and FOP were all at 2:30p today, with the exception of FOP who had a 15 m wait at 4:40p. It makes me wonder if mid-afternoon is the new RD.

Ha! Well, there goes that strategy (maybe!). Everything is so unpredictable right now...a whole newwww worrlldddd.

 

[Thomasboys]

Ha! Well, there goes that strategy (maybe!). Everything is so unpredictable right now...a whole newwww worrlldddd.

I know! I'll be watching this thread like a hawk the next 2 weeks. We will be there 3/19.

 

[TexanInTheMidwest]

how were they seating you on FOP? when we were these last month there was no empty Banshees between groups.

I did Flight of Passage yesterday and they are filling every single spot.

 

[dez1978]

Valid question - we are just coming up on the end of the 2 weeks after the second vaccine. We feel that with proper safety measures like wearing KN95s at the park and avoiding dining inside, we should be safe to travel. Up to this point, we have not been out because we were not vaccinated and at higher risk.

Oh goodness. I have to wear those KN95 masks at work. There is no way I could stand wearing those in the heat.

 

[md1982]

Feb. 23-Tuesday-Hollywood Studios

Travel companion and I up and ready to get Boarding Group at 7:00. He tried on WiFi, I tried on Verizon LTE. He got Boarding Group 10! At the bus stop at 7:40. After the third AK bus came in a row, a manager or something in a yellow vest came and talked to the third bus driver and changed it to Studios!!! Off the bus at 8:00 and only about 10 groups deep for temp checks. Started letting people in right at 8:15. Walked briskly to Slinky.

Slinky-Walk On
Toy Story Mania-Walk On

Wanted to get in ToT next but the line was already 65 minutes! Before park opening! Had been watching trends and know this ride stays right around 60 all day so decided to come back later when most other things were longer too. And our Rise time was already called at 8:40-9:40

Rock-n-Rollercoaster-Walk On
Lightning McQueen-Got in next show after about a 5 min wait.
Rise of the Resistance-in line 9:30 off the ride at 10:00

Wish our time was a little later to get in another ride or two with short lines but can’t complain. Explored Galaxy’s Edge a bit abs tried Blue Milk for the first time...with rum! Not a huge coconut fan but I actually quite enjoyed it! Then walked over and got a table at 10:45 for lunch at Baseline Taphouse. Friend stayed at table I got in line for 11:00 opening. Line got long and was glad I was there early. Charcuterie board and pretzel were delicious! Loved this!!!

Decided with our bellies full time to bite the bullet and get in line for ToT.

ToT- 60 min wait-posted 65 but jumped up to 80 shortly after we got in line. Longest line of the trip. But I love this attraction so it was worth it!

Caught a cavalcade looked in shops.

Star Tours-20 min wait-35 posted.
***-25 min wait
Muppets-20 min wait
Millennium Falcon-25 min wait. Were assigned engineers but asked if we could wait to be pilots. They gave us our own pod right away.
Toy Story Mania-Walk On
Runaway Railroad-30 min wait, wish we had done this twice! I loved it!!!

Hurried over to close the night with another ride on Rock-n-Rollercoaster. Definitely did a bit too much criss crossing the park chasing lines. And we wanted to see Frozen but seemed you had to be there 30 min early and then 30 min show so didn’t want to spend that much time on it. So that was part of our criss crossing checking on that. Mask compliance was excellent. Short wait for the bus back to Coronado. Quick dip in the pool then food and drinks at Dahlia lounge out in the rooftop! My favorite day of the trip!

 

[brockash]

Please don't take this wrong, bc I am not trying to be mean, but I really don't understand this. Why would you actively avoid everything at home, but plan a trip to Disney? I just feel like if I was so concerned and careful at home, even when it comes to things like grocery shopping, that I wouldn't plan a trip where I'll be in contact with thousands of other people, masks or not.

Please keep in mind my perspective. I have not been able to work from home, we don't have grocery pick up/delivery in my town, and my kids have been in school since August, so that probably changes how I look at things and why I am not at all worried about going.

And on top of that vaccinated? Again, please don't take this the wrong way...just very confused.

 

[bizeemom4]

I understand. We are considering a trip in spring because my high risk husband got his first vaccine and will be 3+ weeks out after his second. We have barely done anything for a year other than send our child to school. He does work onsite at his job, but he is usually alone in his office and they are very strict with protocols. We need to do something after this year, and his vaccine status gives us the chance. However, we may just do a resort stay and only 1 park day at Epcot.

Wishing you great success with your trip. We have a few resort only days planned and several at Epcot where we can find some space. Hopefully, we will both have an experience that is safe.

 

[Raven01]

MK today, March 1 (Monday)

9 am park open. First At the AKL Jambo stop at 725 am. MK bus at 745, Held at temp check to 815 and at the park entrance until about 830. I did not think they were doing that so I was surprised.

Entered and went to SDMT. It was not yet running. It started up within 3-4 minutes and there was maybe a 3-4 minute wait once through the queue.

At that point, I had lots of thoughts but nothing close by was open! Peter Pan, Small World, Haunted Mansion were all closed. We went to BTMM. 5 minute wait. Once off, the plan was Splash, but it was not open (and possibly broken down). It was now 9 am. We crossed back to Small World, which was just open. 10ish Minute wait. Peter Pan was then backed up, so we went to the Carousel (20 minute, and the kid picked it so I had no choice ). We did Ariel (walk on), Dumbo (10), Speedway (10), and Buzz (30). After a stop for lunch, everything was so crowded we hit the Aladdin carpets (10) and left about 2 pm.

The headliners posted times were 40-60 minutes. Buzz was posted 40, TP had 17, so the 30 was in the middle. Haunted Mansion must have had a cleaning cycle because the line was back to like Country Bears - I quit looking for the end - but was posted 25.

Crowd wise, it’s okay. I’ve seen it worse. It felt More like a normal trip, tbh. I generally felt fine, but it’s busy in bottlenecks. If you are picturing yourself in a six foot bubble, don’t come. I had some folks who did not understand the six feet line thing that made me uncomfortable, and I’m COVID Easy going.

Rope Drop and a later return seem to be the way to go To minimize crowds and lines.

Hope this helps!

 

[emmabelle]

This is really upsetting to read. We are headed to the Dolphin for 7 nights (in 2 weeks) for our first trip post-Covid. We are vaccinated but we both work from home and actively avoid every social experience - even grocery shopping. I think being around unmasked people will really be hard for us to handle.

It was just so weird after staying the first 6 nights at BCV and how much better mask compliance was there.

What was also so annoying at the Swolphin was in order to get food at the pool you had to have a pool chair that had it’s own QR code strapped to it. Well there wasn’t one empty chair at 1:30pm on Saturday at any of the three pools. We tried to order from the bartender but he said it would take way too long like an hour. I think he was kind of overwhelmed making drinks so ordering food wasn’t in his game plan. So we were already by the Swan’s quiet pool so we went into Java and ordered sandwiches. They were actually quite good. Lol

But just because it was busy there last Saturday doesn’t mean it will still be crazy when you go! Just don’t wait until 1:30pm to try and find pool chairs or bar food.