Here now - little to no COVID precautions

[bchbetha]

So today was our second day. Nothing really changed (masks still about 20%) but the employees were less accommodating. My problem is not really the masks because you know that going in (but still shocking to see so many people without them) although I think it is nuts to bring clearly unvaccinated kids into a theme park with no mask. It is cramming masked and unmasked people together when there really was no reason to do so. There was constant announcements saying guests are encouraged to socially distance when at the same time the employees are telling people to fill in every available space and cramming people people into to every available seat even if lines were short. It is so hypocritical to do that when those announcements are constantly running. I called one of the workers out on it on Ripsaw Falls when she decided to stuff a single rider into our row. The line was only 5 min and it was so unnecessary. She shrugged but she ultimately did move him. My problem with Universal is their complete disregard for precautions - again most of the hand sanitizer machines were empty by noon and not refilled and nobody wipes down anything. It is clear that the mighty dollar is all they care about even if they run constant messages saying how concerned they are for our safety. We were also here last Nov and Feb and we felt completely safe but it is 180 degrees different now.

And, off topic, but almost all the rides stopped/malfunctioned today when we were waiting in line or on them. On FJ, it stopped when we were on our backs and tipped backwards. That was an uncomfortable 5 minutes!

I go back and forth on this.
On one hand, it is frustrating that with the impact of the Delta variant, Universal should be doing more. They weren't hurting for business when they had more restrictions.
On the other hand, you did make a choice to go to FL amusement parks during a pandemic. But, maybe you booked before Delta started it's surge?

I don't get the stress over hand sanitizer though. It's airborne and not really a surface issue. Yes, it would be nice if dispensers were kept stocked but it isn't really necessary with Covid. Now, all the other germs (stomach bugs...) are a different story.

 

[ShadeDK]

I’ve been here the past week - and I really don’t understand these posts at all. I’ve been impressed with the number of people masked in the parks (far more than I expected), the frequent reminders throughout the parks and in queues, the number of people still social distancing and respecting boundaries (whether keeping space or waiting on elevators), and the overall ability to take personal precautions while still enjoying the parks. Most hand sanitizers in queues I’ve found filled. But I also went in with the mindset that I had to take safety into my own hands and not expect Universal to do it for me. Mask requirements and social distancing ended months ago. It’s not perfect but I haven’t felt unsafe. It’s no different than what I’ve experienced in many other places - including Disney. I’ve had numerous trips over the past 18 months and taken each one with the attitude that I was responsible for my own safety no matter what precautions the parks took.

 

[123SA]

Coming on here to complain about the very well-documented mask policy at OU after the fact, is like going to a restaurant with clearly-posted hours of 5pm-8pm, and then posting a complaint that they wouldn't serve you at 8:30.

Agree.

Having been to Disney 8/7 -8/1/ followed by Universal 8/18/ -8/22...these theme parks can't keep you safe. If you are not vaccinated, if you are not comfortable in crowds, do not go.

 

[Deb1993]

So today was our second day. Nothing really changed (masks still about 20%) but the employees were less accommodating. My problem is not really the masks because you know that going in (but still shocking to see so many people without them) although I think it is nuts to bring clearly unvaccinated kids into a theme park with no mask. It is cramming masked and unmasked people together when there really was no reason to do so. There was constant announcements saying guests are encouraged to socially distance when at the same time the employees are telling people to fill in every available space and cramming people people into to every available seat even if lines were short. It is so hypocritical to do that when those announcements are constantly running. I called one of the workers out on it on Ripsaw Falls when she decided to stuff a single rider into our row. The line was only 5 min and it was so unnecessary. She shrugged but she ultimately did move him. My problem with Universal is their complete disregard for precautions - again most of the hand sanitizer machines were empty by noon and not refilled and nobody wipes down anything. It is clear that the mighty dollar is all they care about even if they run constant messages saying how concerned they are for our safety. We were also here last Nov and Feb and we felt completely safe but it is 180 degrees different now.

And, off topic, but almost all the rides stopped/malfunctioned today when we were waiting in line or on them. On FJ, it stopped when we were on our backs and tipped backwards. That was an uncomfortable 5 minutes!

I thought the announcements sounded like Umbridge from Order of the Phoenix!! Am I the only one who thought so?

 

[DLgal]

We were supposed to go to UOR the same days as you. We cancelled and my friend flew here instead (southern CA) and we did Universal Hollywood. Masks required indoors everywhere per LA county mandate and the park was a GHOST TOWN. We walked onto literally every ride. We'll do the Orlando trip once covid settles down a bit. I knew we would not be able to relax and enjoy ourselves there. My husband came down with Covid (he's vaccinated) exactly 10 days before we were supposed to travel and he got it at an outdoor party where people were unmasked. That was enough for me to nope right out of flying to Orlando to go to a theme park where most people would not be masked.

Your post validates my decision entirely, so thank you.

 

[Julie Amber]

I thought the announcements sounded like Umbridge from Order of the Phoenix!! Am I the only one who thought so?

TOTALLY!! I thought that the whole time. And the way she says "Encourage" is just weird. It's like she's emphasizing the wrong part of the word and the wrong part of the sentence. lol.

 

[Deb1993]

TOTALLY!! I thought that the whole time. And the way she says "Encourage" is just weird. It's like she's emphasizing the wrong part of the word and the wrong part of the sentence. lol.

I thought it was on purpose to sound like Umbridge. DD and I thought it was very clever and they should have intermingled it with what she says in Phoenix with Decree #31 - boys and girls are not permitted within 8 inches of each other.

 

[pjhootch]

Yes- I am here now- and it is difficult to tell there is still a pandemic going on. True what everyone says- that going to a Florida theme park with Covid and the Delta variant spreading like crazy is only for folks who are willing to take a risk and to mitigate our own risk. The employees cannot possibly accommodate social distancing the way things are.

On the other hand, I am a bit surprised by the number of young children here with parents that don’t seem to be even trying to keep them safe. We are all vaccinated grown ups in our group and are very careful to mask up inside or even outside if we get caught in a crowd or a line. It isn’t my responsibility to keep the little ones safe, but I am very cognizant I could potentially carry and pass on the virus to an unvaccinated child. I sure don’t want that.

I think the last couple of days I have seen about 25% masking inside in most places. Universal does have pretty good ventilation in a lot of “inside” areas.

So overall, what we are encountering here is about what I expected. If you are thinking about coming and are not vaccinated for any reason, be aware you cannot keep your distance from others and there will. lot of unmasked folks around you not being careful.

The nice thing is that the crowds are low and lines are short. Even without the express pass all the rides are manageable multiple times. Express pass makes everything basically walk on most times. Employees have been pleasant, lines for food are doable. There are many people being trained by other employees all over the park as they gear up for Halloween nights.

 

[soniam]

I thought it was on purpose to sound like Umbridge. DD and I thought it was very clever and they should have intermingled it with what she says in Phoenix with Decree #31 - boys and girls are not permitted within 8 inches of each other.

I was hoping to hear "or the consequences may be ... severe", but no dice

 

[leahgoogle]

TOTALLY!! I thought that the whole time. And the way she says "Encourage" is just weird. It's like she's emphasizing the wrong part of the word and the wrong part of the sentence. lol.

I'm going to scour current Universal vlogs to try and hear it. We just got done watching Order of the Phoenix for the millionth time...lol.

 

[mousefan73]

Welcome to the USA- Where in certain parts Covid restrictions are all gone. We just got home to Germany after a week in Orlando- WDW and Universal and it was an adjustment for us. At times a bit scary. But we knew the risks and Mitigated as best we could personally. At this point you can’t count on others or institutions to do that for you

My advice to those where Covid is a concern you have to protect yourself. And the only way to do that is to wear N 95 masks that fit correctly and avoid any indoor or super crowded outdoor dining. We did this and took a Covid home test yesterday and today and so far so good.

The only difference between WDW and Universal is that WDW requires masks indoors. . We observed about a 95% compliance on that. When no CMs we’re around of course they were a few that pulled masks down.
I did notice off properties at stores and malls there were quite a few I would say about 50 to 60% wearing masks. Do you also see a diversity in the quality of masks. I can’t comment more on that without breaking golden rules here. But we chose to wear in N95s.

On our flight back to Germany we observed many frustrated passengers in their homemade or cloth masks that were told they cannot board with those. ( The airline did hand out surgical mass so they were able to board) Either a surgical mask or N95. I know France is also like this. So it’s a bit OT but anyone planning a trip overseas you better check what type of masks are allowed As most countries have much tighter restrictions overalls than the US.

 

[EveDallas]

We arrived today and we are shocked at the lack of COVID precautions here. It is as Universal is trying hard to pretend that there is no pandemic going on - and this is in COVID central FL! The only things they seem to be doing is most (but not all) employees are wearing masks and there are signs up saying we encourage you to wear masks and wash your hands frequently. Also, there are announcements saying the same thing but adding social distancing. And then they go and fill all the rides vehicles/rows/compartments to capacity. The lines have no plastic dividers and everyone is crammed together with no social distancing. And on top of that, at least 80% of the people are NOT wearing masks. Velocicoaster was the worst - we were all crammed together, great majority not masked, with no fans or air flow. And then single riders, most unmasked, are added.

By the time we hit Howarts Express, I was totally fed up. They were filling the compartments to capacity (8), and our row had a group of 5 unmasked people (with kids). So I went up to the worker allocating the rows, and asked to be in a different row. She said sure and put us in our own row/compartment. From then on I asked to wait or move if we were placed with unmasked people. All the workers were accommodating but you had to ask.

Oh and I forgot to mention that all the hand sanitizer machines placed in and around the rides/shops were almost always empty. Luckily I keep a small bottle of sanitizer in my pocket. We also never saw anyone wiping anything down at all. The 3D glasses were just out in trays with everyone just grabbing them.

The crowds are not terrible but heavier than expected. City walk is a zoo. And again, at least 80% are not wearing masks. Anyway, we are very disappointed that Universal is doing so little on precautions. I am glad we are only here for a short visit. We are doing our best (double masks, etc), but it is hard to believe that Universal is not a petri dish for COVID.

Did you do any research before you went? None of this should have been a surprise if you did. At some point, people have to decide for themselves what risk they are willing to take. Covid isn't going anywhere. Personally, I can't wait to get there (8 more days!)

 

[J'aime Paris]

Did you do any research before you went? None of this should have been a surprise if you did. At some point, people have to decide for themselves what risk they are willing to take. Covid isn't going anywhere. Personally, I can't wait to get there (8 more days!)

Have a super trip EveDallas!!

 

[EveDallas]

Have a super trip EveDallas!!

Thank you!

 

[tony67]

people have to decide for themselves what risk they are willing to take.

Yeah - what happened to personal responsibility?

I'm sure if there were numerous cases at Disney or Universal we would hear about it - the news loves stories like that.

You need to assume if you are going that most people wont be wearing masks unless required to do so.
If you wont be comfortable dont go and then give everyone else attitude - its not going to help anything.
When you enter the parks you know the risks and your risk level - for many folks maybe they should wait a year.

Also go to the CDC website and look at the data tracker and review the numbers for yourself - how many cases per 100K in Florida.

That said of course I am concerned - I'd be a fool to not be.

What is the current efficiency of the vaccine?
What are the risks of taking an Uber?
Do the mask do anything at all?
Does Plexiglass stop airflow and actually help spread covid?

Anyway - I am probably treading towards things that will get yet another locked thread on this topic.

 

[mousefan73]

Yeah - what happened to personal responsibility?

I'm sure if there were numerous cases at Disney or Universal we would hear about it - the news loves stories like that.

You need to assume if you are going that most people wont be wearing masks unless required to do so.
If you wont be comfortable dont go and then give everyone else attitude - its not going to help anything.
When you enter the parks you know the risks and your risk level - for many folks maybe they should wait a year.

Also go to the CDC website and look at the data tracker and review the numbers for yourself - how many cases per 100K in Florida.

That said of course I am concerned - I'd be a fool to not be.

What is the current efficiency of the vaccine?
What are the risks of taking an Uber?
Do the mask do anything at all?
Does Plexiglass stop airflow and actually help spread covid?

Anyway - I am probably treading towards things that will get yet another locked thread on this topic.

In the thread that got locked many Disers here reported they got Covid while on vacation in Orlando. And those trips included the theme parks. There’s really nothing for the media to jump on concerning cases at WDW Because simply the whole state is a hot spot. Covid is not WDW exclusive.Doesn’t matter if you’re in Lake Buena Vista or Orange County it’s basically everywhere there. People need to be aware of this before they come and decide for themselves what risk level they are willing to take. Google is your friend here. There are many facts out there to find we can’t put them here, just watch what resources you use.

 

[tony67]

In the thread that got locked many Disers here reported they got Covid while on vacation in Orlando. And those trips included the theme parks. There’s really nothing for the media to jump on concerning cases at WDW Because simply the whole state is a hot spot. Covid is not WDW exclusive.Doesn’t matter if you’re in Lake Buena Vista or Orange County it’s basically everywhere there. People need to be aware of this before they come and decide for themselves what risk level they are willing to take. Google is your friend here. There are many facts out there to find we can’t put them here, just watch what resources you use.

Agree for the most part - I cant imagine anyone does not think Florida is a hot spot as far as the US is concerned.

I did not see the thread you mentioned Ill look for it- hard to know if people got it at Disney, at universal or before they left - when they returned at the airport - from the uber driver - almost impossible to trace.

I dont know if google is really your friend here - but yeah - do have to watch what resources you use no doubt.
Don't listen to some rando on a Disney website
That's why I always say look at the numbers on the CDC website - its all there by state county etc...

 

[bchbetha]

If they got sick at the parks, their stats would be in their home state, not Orlando area.

 

[soniam]

In the thread that got locked many Disers here reported they got Covid while on vacation in Orlando. And those trips included the theme parks. There’s really nothing for the media to jump on concerning cases at WDW Because simply the whole state is a hot spot. Covid is not WDW exclusive.Doesn’t matter if you’re in Lake Buena Vista or Orange County it’s basically everywhere there. People need to be aware of this before they come and decide for themselves what risk level they are willing to take. Google is your friend here. There are many facts out there to find we can’t put them here, just watch what resources you use.

Many of them were vaccinated too.

For those saying personal responsibility, yes I agree, and you have to do your research to protect you and your family, as an adult. If you are from an area that has always been very strict about covid, like California, and haven't traveled lately, then Florida could be a huge culture shock. I do dislike the personal responsibility claim, because the Texas governor is trying to use that as an excuse to prevent schools from requiring masks. Businesses can, but schools full of children that can't get vaccinated are not allowed to ask them to wear masks It's a term that is being usurped for political reasons. I am sick of the politicalization of everything lately

Good luck to those traveling to the parks, and please ask on the boards or read the parks websites to ensure that the protocols in place and the actual practice of those protocols meets with your expectations.

 

[tony67]

If they got sick at the parks, their stats would be in their home state, not Orlando area.

Yeah most likely that is true if they dont get tested till they get home.
I also think with contact tracing and all that we would hear more if it was an issue - and maybe we will
If a state had a ton of people contracting it after an Orlando trip Im sure it would be out there and Im sure there are plenty of anecdotal cases.

Anyway - Ill be bringing a few self tests with me to check every few days.
Ill bring my own hand sanitizer - I'm sure the stuff they provided was not great.
I won't be eating at buffets - I honestly cant believe they are back at Disney - but again personal responsivity.

All that said I may feel totally different when I am on the ground and experience it for myself - honestly I am more concerned about Uber and the flight than the parks