Know Before You Go Updated - May 17 - Testing rule changes

[Doingitagain]

I mean yeah, if you were already voluntarily doing a thing that wasn't mandatory and now it is, that's not going to affect you. But that's like saying I stop at Target on my way to Old Key West Resort, so now when Disney makes it mandatory for EVERYONE to stop at Target on their way to Old Key West Resort, that makes it more convenient.


The problem is that there's a narrow band of the types of tests that will be accepted and the window is only 2 days, which is very very difficult. We've done two post-reopening cruises and I have unvaccinated under-5s. Their testing was very convenient. Swab at home on Friday, overnight to the lab, results on our account by Saturday, fly Sunday, sail Monday. That timeline doesn't work if they've shrunk the window from 3 days to 2 days, meaning mail-in kits are pretty much off the table. They're not fast enough.

They are now offering a self test through Inspire as well, but I am not sure of the cost.
Guests residing in the United States can purchase a pre-trip, at-home PCR test or an observed antigen test directly from the Safe Passage website by Inspire Diagnostics. PCR tests must be completed and mailed back 3 days before sailing. Observed antigen tests must be completed and uploaded to the Safe Passage website within 2 days prior to your sail date.

 

[Doingitagain]

Only rapid antigen needs to be proctored. The other types do not.

Right. They were referencing the BinaxNOW test kits and I have some that we received from the government and they are not proctored. I didn't want anyone to rely on their stash and then find out too late that they aren't proctored.

 

[bbn1122]

I just read my email from DCL regarding this topic. I do not cruise till the end of September. So, I am not going worry about it. Things keep changing.
By Late August-early September things will hopefully continue to be better and change. I am planning to get my 2nd Booster in last August.

And if things do not change, I am glad I can test and know my status before the cruise.

 

[CaptainAmerica]

PCR tests must be completed and mailed back 3 days before sailing.

How does that square with this:

Fully vaccinated guests on sailings departing U.S. and Canadian ports on or after June 7, 2022, must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result (paid for by the Guest) taken no more than 2 days before their sail date.

 

[Mrlogboy]

Do you remember the app?

Navica is one

 

[LiZaArd]

For those in the US, the BinaxNOW Covid tests for travel are FSA/HSA eligible, so if you have an FSA or HSA you can use those funds to pay for those tests. I just purchased them for my upcoming cruise (using the link provided in a previous post) and was able to use my FSA card. Optum administers my FSA account and it said right in the checkout box that the item was FSA/HSA eligible. At least if I have to pay for the test I'm using pre-tax dollars to do so!

Are BinaxNOW monitored tests? That's the kind we received with the free ones the government sent out but never looked to see if they had the ability to do it monitored so we can use it for travel.

 

[Doingitagain]

How does that square with this:

Fully vaccinated guests on sailings departing U.S. and Canadian ports on or after June 7, 2022, must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result (paid for by the Guest) taken no more than 2 days before their sail date.

Under 5's are still 3 days. I believe they are expecting Over 5's to use the observed antigen test. There is no way to regularly get stuff sent to the lab and results back and in the 2 day turn-around.
Guests residing in the United States can purchase a pre-trip, at-home PCR test or an observed antigen test directly from the Safe Passage website by Inspire Diagnostics. PCR tests must be completed and mailed back 3 days before sailing. Observed antigen tests must be completed and uploaded to the Safe Passage website within 2 days prior to your sail date.

 

[Doingitagain]

Are BinaxNOW monitored tests? That's the kind we received with the free ones the government sent out but never looked to see if they had the ability to do it monitored so we can use it for travel.

Some are and some are not. The free ones I got from the government are not. You pay more for the proctored ones, which makes sense.

 

[kathi]

Hmmm - I can't access Safe Passage for my cruise because we are 30 days out and you need to be 15 days out. So that means I have to wait another 15 days to order an Inspire test and that makes me nervous.

 

[dcassetta]

Are BinaxNOW monitored tests? That's the kind we received with the free ones the government sent out but never looked to see if they had the ability to do it monitored so we can use it for travel.

Depending on the brand you got, the free government ones could be used for a virtual test, but they no longer seem to have the option to schedule an appointment.

 

[jujubiee4]

This is what my mom often uses:

https://store.optum.com/shop/products/abbott-binaxNOW-COVID-19-ag-emed-at-home-test-kit-2-pack/

You order them in advance and then they watch you take the test via video. The tests end up being $35 each and your insurance may reimburse part of that. Plus you can schedule it at your convenience to take in a hotel room, at home, wherever.

DCL will take this?

 

[jujubiee4]

I suppose every family will have different circumstances. We have sailed 4 times since reopening and always tested at home before we flew to Florida as a precaution anyway. So now that testing will count for our boarding. It will also speed up the boarding process, which will be nice.

Also great for us flying cross country . We test before we fly but knowing that test will count is great
before boarding plane.

 

[Husker Mike]

Also great for us flying cross country . We test before we fly but knowing that test will count is great
before boarding plane.

Not necessarily. The at-home tests will not count, so unless you are paying a third-party service to do the testing (or proctor an at-home rapid test), this is another step in the process. And only if you are flying in the day before the cruise.

 

[indylaw99]

DCL will take this?

I can't say for certain but it's the one that Carnival specifically suggested beginning last year when they started this same system. And it seems to meet all of the qualifications that Disney lays out on their new rules.

 

[MommyCMickey]

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/why-cruise-disney/experience-updates/us-checklist/

Know Before You Go Link

"

• Fully vaccinated Guests on sailings departing US and Canadian ports on or after June 7, 2022, must provide proof of a negative COVID-19 test result (paid for by the Guest) taken no more than 2 days before their sail date to be exempt from embarkation testing at the terminal. All other fully vaccinated Guests must be tested at the terminal before boarding and will be charged for the cost of the test.

This is great news!!!!!!

 

[lanejudy]

DCL will take this?

BinaxNOW comes in 2 versions -- 1 is at-home unproctored and the other is at-home proctored. To use for DCL you must get the proctored version (the kind where you make an appointment for an online video call while testing).

 

[jjb1974]

$70/2 people for monitored testing (which I just quick searched and appears to be the going rate on Binax testing), which you can do 2 days before departure, is well worth the price when you consider the alternative of getting to the port, being in sight of the ship, and in the damned parking deck, and being told to take your butt home to wherever home is and take your luggage with you.

 

[jjb1974]

Not necessarily. The at-home tests will not count, so unless you are paying a third-party service to do the testing (or proctor an at-home rapid test), this is another step in the process. And only if you are flying in the day before the cruise.

Where are you getting that you can only do monitored if flying in the day before the cruise?

 

[CaptainAmerica]

$70/2 people for monitored testing (which I just quick searched and appears to be the going rate on Binax testing), which you can do 2 days before departure, is well worth the price when you consider the alternative of getting to the port, being in sight of the ship, and in the damned parking deck, and being told to take your butt home to wherever home is and take your luggage with you.

The alternative was taking an unproctored test for $0, which I could do 2 days before departure, and if I test negative I never take the flight in the first place.

You're acting like Disney FORBADE you from taking a pre-emptive test. We've all always had the option of testing ourselves before travel and mitigating that risk of a surprise positive at the port.

This isn't Disney being generous with flexibility, this is Disney cutting costs.

 

[slindamood]

We are traveling with a 4 year old the end of June out of Miami. We have decided that since she has to be tested at the port (in addition to PCR 3 days before) we are going to all get tested at the port and not interrupt our 2 days at Ft Lauderdale Beach to get the 6 vaccinated people tested. It is a trade off between hassle and money.

We received the email from DCL and it appears that we have a choice - test monitored within 2 days or test at the port and pay @$75. Does this appear correct?

Edited to add: We will self test before leaving home, but that is 3 days before sailing.