Positive for Covid after our Disney World trip

[KevinFL]

Went to Disney World Orlando last week Thursday-Saturday and now Tuesday this week all the symptoms hit me hard. Went for test and I am Covid positive.

We live in Tampa and have been on 3 separate trips to Disney World since August and they have greatly increased capacity since August so this was a concern and almost kept us from going this trip. You are now in very long lines with no Fast Pass to skirt the crowds. Average wait times most rides 45-80 minutes standing in lines. We wore masks and constantly hand sanitized.

The highest risk at the parks from what I have observed in our 3 trips since August is I have never seen them santatizing any ride seats, ride handle bars or seat belts. These are constant high touch points. Someone gets off the ride and we hop right on where they sat and this is repeated 500+ times during the day and you now have your most likely place to come in contact with the virus.

Obviously no telling exactly where virus contact was. But do not let their park safety protocols give you a false sense of security.

Be careful.

 

[DLgal]

Sorry you got sick. Did you eat indoors at all? If so, that is a more likely point of transmission than fomites on a surface. Air conditioning systems can transmit the virus over 20 feet in a matter of a couple minutes inside a restaurant if you are sitting in the line of airflow. Some really crazy studies are coming out that prove that happened in Korea.

Regardless, take care and hope you only have mild illness.

 

[Eeyore daily]

I'm sorry you got sick. We live outside of Tampa and were at Disney at the same time and I also never saw the rides being sanitized but did deal with the long lines at times. It felt hard to social distance on the walkways that's for sure. I hope you feel better soon!

 

[KevinFL]

Sorry you got sick. Did you eat indoors at all? If so, that is a more likely point of transmission than fomites on a surface. Air conditioning systems can transmit the virus over 20 feet in a matter of a couple minutes inside a restaurant if you are sitting in the line of airflow. Some really crazy studies are coming out that prove that happened in Korea.

Regardless, take care and hope you only have mild illness.

Hi, greatly appreciated! We did eat indoors at all parks, Brown Derby, Cinderella's Royal Table, and Rain Forest Cafe. Praying for a quick recovery and for good health to the rest of you!

 

[hmsTigger]

KevinFL So very Sorry you are sick Anyone else in your travel party ill? What are your symptoms like?
Did you stay on site? I know...I sound like a contact tracer! It helps especially when others will be travelling there soon. Feel better soon!

 

[MarcIsMe]

During an August trip we had delays at several rides with announcements they were being sanitized. During our trip last week, no sanitizing delays at any of the four parks while we were in line.

 

[MarcIsMe]

I might also add during a day at Universal on the same December trip an employee was squirting hand sanitizer on every riders hands just before boarding and I saw rails being wiped down constantly.

 

[hereforthechurros]

You could have had it before your trip, however I’m not at all minimizing the risk of catching it at wdw. Seems they feel comfortable pushing the limits of safety in a time where many parts of the country are in a healthcare crisis. Wonder if we’ll see them announce they cut capacity in January (after Christmas crowds are gone) to appear sympathetic to the situation.

Wishing you a speedy recovery

 

[Donnask8pro]

Just wondering how you're feeling? Hopefully minor symptoms

 

[DL1WDW2]

Theme Parks in Orlando have a different definition for Capacity .
Yesterday was very crowded at MK and will soon be worse With holidays.
How easy will it be to convince guests to leave on NYE?

 

[DLgal]

Theme Parks in Orlando have a different definition for Capacity .
Yesterday was very crowded at MK and will soon be worse With holidays.
How easy will it be to convince guests to leave on NYE?

Well, the parks are closing early on NYE. People won't have a choice. They will have to leave.

 

[GAN]

Hopefully the OP is alright. I know several people that have had it with a pretty wide variance in seriousness. It’s too bad that Disney seems to be throwing caution to the wind after doing such a great job early on -I get it, they need the money and the fact is people are employed. WDW has the distinct advantage of a great percentage of guests visit and go home -many (if not most) don’t live in the Orlando area. So the responsibility for care falls on another state usually. Which Disney probably doesn’t mind using to their advantage. What I don’t get is why they don’t offer sanitizer before and after attractions(like Universal), seems like that would be an easy thing to offer/require ...even if it is theater.

 

[DaisyDuck001]

The highest risk at the parks from what I have observed in our 3 trips since August is I have never seen them santatizing any ride seats, ride handle bars or seat belts.

In November I saw them sanitizing the Little Mermaid ride vehicles. I heard that ride vehicles in general are sanitized once every two hours.

 

[zoo2tycoon]

I am sorry you got sick with COVID, but there is no way to know where you got it. You could have been exposed prior to the Disney trip. It Your observations are very helpful for those with upcoming trips. Hope you get better soon.

 

[tippity]

OP, this is really sad to read. Prior to increasing capacity to 35% it seemed that WDW was the ideal escape.
I read somewhere, pre-pandemic, the parks typically operated at about 35% capacity. Did it feel like a typical day at WDW, except with masks?

 

[tippity]

Sorry you got sick. Did you eat indoors at all? If so, that is a more likely point of transmission than fomites on a surface. Air conditioning systems can transmit the virus over 20 feet in a matter of a couple minutes inside a restaurant if you are sitting in the line of airflow. Some really crazy studies are coming out that prove that happened in Korea.

Regardless, take care and hope you only have mild illness.

I live in AZ and therefore live inside during the summer, and I went to restaurants throughout the summer.
Our cases increased in June and July, but then bars and gyms were shut down. Cases started decreasing ( I don't think it was because of the Gyms). If dining indoors had been the cause of viral spread in AZ, our cases would have continued increasing throughout the summer.
According to the CDC, restaurants are responsible for around 1% of the viral spread. But again, I think that number is based on establishments that practice social distancing and sanitizing between diners.
OP, was indoor dining spread out at WDW?

 

[Spridell]

I live in AZ and therefore live inside during the summer, and I went to restaurants throughout the summer.
Our cases increased in June and July, but then bars and gyms were shut down. Cases started decreasing ( I don't think it was because of the Gyms). If dining indoors had been the cause of viral spread in AZ, our cases would have continued increasing throughout the summer.
According to the CDC, restaurants are responsible for around 1% of the viral spread. But again, I think that number is based on establishments that practice social distancing and sanitizing between diners.
OP, was indoor dining spread out at WDW?

It should still be spread out.

I was at the Brown Derby in October and they weren't using all the tables. The waiter actually told us they could easily fill every table in the place but they were keeping them spread out.

 

[tippity]

It should still be spread out.

I was at the Brown Derby in October and they weren't using all the tables. The waiter actually told us they could easily fill every table in the place but they were keeping them spread out.

Yes but in October, WDW's max occupancy was 25% and when the OP was there it was at 35%. They might have increased occupancy in indoor dining..

 

[Spridell]

Yes but in October, WDW's max occupancy was 25% and when the OP was there it was at 35%. They might have increased occupancy in indoor dining..

True. I am there Tomorrow through Thursday

I will let u know.

 

[DL1WDW2]

Well, the parks are closing early on NYE. People won't have a choice. They will have to leave.

If I am on Main Street at 11 p.m. On NYE... I would bet I won’t be the only one.
I actually have reservations in the Castle that evening.

Yesterday evening as I departed Disney Springs I honestly Do Not Believe they were counting capacity figures! Sorry to say that cause it sounds Not true but !!!