Offsite Restaurants - Masks/Outdoor Seating?

[djmeredith]

Due to very limited on site availability, we will likely have to eat several dinners off site next week. Are the Orlando area restaurants still requiring servers to wear masks? Also, anybody have suggestions on offsite restaurants that are offering outdoor seating?

 

[Jennasis]

When we were staying off 192 in August we found mask compliance to be excellent all up and down the 192 corridor and the few places we went on I-Drive. The only area we saw compliance to be terrifyingly inadequate was in Celebration.

 

[djmeredith]

When we were staying off 192 in August we found mask compliance to be excellent all up and down the 192 corridor and the few places we went on I-Drive. The only area we saw compliance to be terrifyingly inadequate was in Celebration.

Thanks. Was your trip before the Governor's announcement about rolling back the state's mask mandates and capacities in restaurants? I'm wondering if the restaurants in the tourist zone around Disney are still complying with the CDC's masks and social distancing guidelines. If not, I guess we will stick with drive-thrus when he have to go offsite.

 

[Jennasis]

Thanks. Was your trip before the Governor's announcement about rolling back the state's mask mandates and capacities in restaurants? I'm wondering if the restaurants in the tourist zone around Disney are still complying with the CDC's masks and social distancing guidelines. If not, I guess we will stick with drive-thrus when he have to go offsite.

It was the 10th-16th, so before.

 

[Aimeedyan]

Orange County is still under a mask mandate. I am in a county about an hour away, also with a mandate, and absolutely nothing has changed in stores and restaurants here since the governor's decision. We have dined out in Orange County recently and found it exactly the same as it has been in recent months.

Even at Disney, you may see moments of relaxed mask wearing or distancing (I peeked into the Boathouse on Sunday and was shocked at how close the tables were!) so just be prepared in all situations to change plans if you arrive and things don't feel comfortable.

 

[djmeredith]

Orange County is still under a mask mandate. I am in a county about an hour away, also with a mandate, and absolutely nothing has changed in stores and restaurants here since the governor's decision. We have dined out in Orange County recently and found it exactly the same as it has been in recent months.

Even at Disney, you may see moments of relaxed mask wearing or distancing (I peeked into the Boathouse on Sunday and was shocked at how close the tables were!) so just be prepared in all situations to change plans if you arrive and things don't feel comfortable.

Thank you! I was hoping a local would weigh in. I am definitely prepared to see some non-compliance and change plans accordingly, which also happens here at home.

 

[BrinkofSunshine]

It’s really hit and miss in terms of restaurant compliance. I haven’t eaten in a restaurant since pre-Covid, but I’ve been following local dining FB groups and doing takeout. Employees everywhere still seem to be masked. There’s definitely plenty of restaurants with patio seating. I know Yellow Dog Eats has an awesome patio and a breakfast/lunch place I love called Dixie Cream Cafe has extended their patio into their parking lot.

 

[LovesTimone]

Due to very limited on site availability, we will likely have to eat several dinners off site next week. Are the Orlando area restaurants still requiring servers to wear masks? Also, anybody have suggestions on offsite restaurants that are offering outdoor seating?

Local here...

Yes, the servers are still wearing mask... and for the most part, alot of restaurants are working on getting back to 100%... with that said, I have noticed in our normal spots, the have taken out tables, so that social distancing is still in place... alot of places have added on additions to their booths, so that they are more enclosed...and tables are very spaced out... We eat out often and we have never felt uncomfortable... and if we did we would just go somewhere else...

As well just so you know that for most restaurants the menu's might be limited... and it is not the servers fault... or anyone in the kitchen or the manger... it's a corporate mandate... The people serving you, are just following the rules and have no control, as well they have the same worries and families that you do and please take good care of them. We have witnessed some really bad behavior toward the servers, which is absolutely ridiculous...

 

[djmeredith]

Local here...

Yes, the servers are still wearing mask... and for the most part, alot of restaurants are working on getting back to 100%... with that said, I have noticed in our normal spots, the have taken out tables, so that social distancing is still in place... alot of places have added on additions to their booths, so that they are more enclosed...and tables are very spaced out... We eat out often and we have never felt uncomfortable... and if we did we would just go somewhere else...

As well just so you know that for most restaurants the menu's might be limited... and it is not the servers fault... or anyone in the kitchen or the manger... it's a corporate mandate... The people serving you, are just following the rules and have no control, as well they have the same worries and families that you do and please take good care of them. We have witnessed some really bad behavior toward the servers, which is absolutely ridiculous...

Thanks for the info! That is terrible when customers take things out on the staff. I have always been a generous tipper because I had many friends in college who waited tables. I am even more generous these days because I know those employees are struggling.

 

[LizzyDragon]

Local here- I haven't seen any significant changes since the governor's Phase 3 announcement. Orange county is still under a mask mandate. Many restaurants offer patio seating- usually a check of their website or social media will help determine what they have available. The biggest challenge I'm finding with outdoor seating is that the patio areas also tend to be the smoking areas, which bothers me. It's catch 22. Outdoor areas also tend to be the pet-friendly areas, although this is more for restuarants in/near neighborhoods as opposed to the tourist districts.

I do recommend making reservations when possible, especially if you do want outdoor seating.