Travel Ethics in Covid Era

[rjb123]

I couldn't disagree more - but you are entitled to that, and I am aware that you are far from alone. Disney has found a way to keep the parks open SAFELY. Spending a week there is like going to a COVID safety boot camp - it made us see things differently when we got back. Of course, you can't mandate that people go, but I do think it's a really good idea.

I just wanted to comment that when you said Disney was "COVID boot camp" it was exactly how I feel! Like if the entire country got its act together and wanted to take this virus down, THIS is how you do it. When I got home I was kind of horrified and disgusted at how lax and lazy our area is with precautions.(and we are one of three states in the US that does not have rising hospitalizations and somewhat stable cases - going up but more stable) You get so used to covered faces and sanitizer every five steps that I was looking for it at the grocery stores or Target and finding that they didn't have ANY out! And it was an "ah ha!" moment to me when I saw the differences and how our numbers were going UP. We are lazy and people won't cover their faces and wash their hands. Disney forces you to do both. All the time. So it is a safe bubble. It is doable everywhere, but people won't do it for whatever reason. So we can't have nice things everywhere. It stinks!

 

[Ursula J]

OP, Does the just announced Chicago lock down by the mayor include your area? It is for all things with the exception of essentials (school, work, medical, groceries..) that would certainly make a difference in your decision making I’d guess.

How ever is works out, I wish you a great trip, or happy future planning

We're in the suburbs, so not directly. Still, it felt like something in the "con" column of our pro/con chart--things are so bad here.

 

[Ursula J]

Well, decision made My husband's boss rescinded his vacation time because she "needs him there" and a boss is a boss. We're trying to reschedule for 1/3-1/10. He said inside he felt like Clark Griswold at the end of Christmas Vacation when he yells at his boss, but he managed to keep it together . My daughter, 13, had a rough day with school and when we told her the holiday trip was off, she just fell apart. It was awful. I know a lot of people have it so much worse, but I also feel like disboards is the one place I can vent about this without someone yelling "first world problems!" Maybe we'll try for our dream holiday trip in Dec 2021!

 

[MrsBooch]

I just posted this on a smiliar thread asking similar questions -

We are still going - in 9 days.

The actual parks and the airplane concern me less than going to my in laws house for thanksgiving which will be filled with people who won't be masked, inside, who have been actively going to parties, having parties and hanging out with other people like no big deal....

We know we will be in places where people are actually required to wear masks, we know where we have decided to eat is either outside or extremely well ventilated/spaced out because we know for sure they are limiting indoor seating capacity.

We know if we feel uncomfortable anywhere, we can leave whatever location. We will have a 1 bedroom and are getting groceries.

We know that when we get home, we are staying home - just like we've been since march.

We feel we are making a researched decision. We cancelled a few trips this year when things were really bad bc of the numbers giving us pause, but the parks and resorts continued to be open- and instead we stayed home. We then watched other people continue to go, watched the parks continue to be safe, watched the masks continue to be on and CM's continue to police it, watched the cleaning measures not get cut, not slacking, hand washing and sanitizing everywhere. And we stayed home. Well - we are going this time.

At home, we don't go to bars, indoor restaurants, to parties, to recreational indoor activities. We ARE going to Disney. We've evaluated the parks and resorts to be a safer risk we are willing to take at this time.

Coming from the Philly area if that gives you context of cases etc.

 

[Lumpy1106]

I just posted this on a smiliar thread asking similar questions -

We are still going - in 9 days.

The actual parks and the airplane concern me less than going to my in laws house for thanksgiving which will be filled with people who won't be masked, inside, who have been actively going to parties, having parties and hanging out with other people like no big deal....

We know we will be in places where people are actually required to wear masks, we know where we have decided to eat is either outside or extremely well ventilated/spaced out because we know for sure they are limiting indoor seating capacity.

We know if we feel uncomfortable anywhere, we can leave whatever location. We will have a 1 bedroom and are getting groceries.

We know that when we get home, we are staying home - just like we've been since march.

We feel we are making a researched decision. We cancelled a few trips this year when things were really bad bc of the numbers giving us pause, but the parks and resorts continued to be open- and instead we stayed home. We then watched other people continue to go, watched the parks continue to be safe, watched the masks continue to be on and CM's continue to police it, watched the cleaning measures not get cut, not slacking, hand washing and sanitizing everywhere. And we stayed home. Well - we are going this time.

At home, we don't go to bars, indoor restaurants, to parties, to recreational indoor activities. We ARE going to Disney. We've evaluated the parks and resorts to be a safer risk we are willing to take at this time.

Coming from the Philly area if that gives you context of cases etc.

GOOD FOR YOU!! I am confident you will not regret this - and you will be planning another trip as soon as you get back

Edit to add;
And I would not be going to that Thanksgiving party at your in-laws. Family gatherings like that are EXACTLY what is spreading COVID, not Disney. If your in-laws followed the same protocol as Disney I would attend though. You will see when you get there.

 

[Naomeri]

I went Oct 26-30 and I’m so happy I did. I live with my grandparents, who are obviously high risk, so when I got home, I put myself in quarantine, and have been wearing a mask anytime I’m on the same floor of the house as either of them (my room, tv space, and home office are in the basement while they live on the main floor). I followed a lot of the threads on these boards and felt comfortable that Disney had things well in hand, and made sure that my grandparents were totally OK with my plans. I felt safer during my week in Disney than I did visiting a local craft store as far as distancing and confidence that people were masking properly.

Edited to add: if I had sufficient money and PTO, I’d go back in a heartbeat after the holidays are over.

 

[Snowysmom]

We were supposed to go tomorrow for 6 nights. We talked about not going mainly due to spending alot of money for a limited experience. Well. our dog decided for us. He got very sick, pneumonia, and we used some of the money for the trip for his medical emergency. So, staycation it is! But, we would have gone if not for that. We felt that if we didn't like a situation at Disney we could leave the area and find some place else in the park or resort where we felt more comfortable. I believe that Disney is following precautions very well and everyone coming back from WDW say they felt very safe. Sorry to hear that your trip has been postponed but January can be nice too. We will be going again in May and we rebooked our Nov 2020 trip for Nov 2021 so we can see the decorations. We have 2 trips to plan and look forward to.

 

[yulilin3]

Friendly reminder that some words are not allowed on the Dis and will get your post deleted and warning points granted

 

[MrsBooch]

GOOD FOR YOU!! I am confident you will not regret this - and you will be planning another trip as soon as you get back

Edit to add;
And I would not be going to that Thanksgiving party at your in-laws. Family gatherings like that are EXACTLY what is spreading COVID, not Disney. If your in-laws followed the same protocol as Disney I would attend though. You will see when you get there.

you are so right. Thank you!!

 

[Ursula J]

Friendly reminder that some words are not allowed on the Dis and will get your post deleted and warning points granted

Oh! I hope I didn't do that--is there a list somewhere? I'm newish.

 

[yulilin3]

Oh! I hope I didn't do that--is there a list somewhere? I'm newish.

Nope not you. When you post an inappropriate word it'll show with asterisks

 

[mlayman7]

I live in Central Illinois. Numbers are getting very high everywhere in state but have to remember anyone can get tested here so that will find more positive cases which helps with contact tracing, etc. Florida's numbers have dropped a lot but only (may not still be the case?) Because they only allow those with symptoms to be tested. Not sure how many other states limit testing like Florida but I wouldn't compare illinois numbers to Florida's.

 

[yulilin3]

I live in Central Illinois. Numbers are getting very high everywhere in state but have to remember anyone can get tested here so that will find more positive cases which helps with contact tracing, etc. Florida's numbers have dropped a lot but only (may not still be the case?) Because they only allow those with symptoms to be tested. Not sure how many other states limit testing like Florida but I wouldn't compare illinois numbers to Florida's.

Not true, anyone can get tested in Florida, you don't need to have symptoms

 

[fla4fun]

Not true, anyone can get tested in Florida, you don't need to have symptoms

I do wonder sometimes if there are many people without symptoms getting tested here in Florida. The only people I know who have been tested were either notified of an exposure incident or had symptoms. Then that makes me wonder if our numbers are actually better or worse than reported. The things one thinks about when stuck at home . . .

On the travel front, since Florida reopened I have been on two Disney trips and two non Disney trips, with the first in June and the last ending just a week ago. I am following all the suggestions (mask, pre and post quarantine, space and hygiene) and so far (knocking on wood) it’s worked out fine. All the trips have been in Florida. I have another Disney trip planned next month, and one in January. I don’t feel I am doing anything unethical or immoral by traveling. I don’t have anyone in my household but me right now, I am working from home, and I am contributing to my local economy when I do a local vacation. I love to travel and need a regular change of scenery for my mental health. I would be in a very dark place right now if I hadn’t been able to travel for months. As long as no laws or mandates are being violated, I don’t have a problem with anyone traveling. Stay safe!

 

[mlayman7]

https://www.google.com/amp/s/amp.cn...las-desantis-testing-covid-florida/index.html
Took me a bit but found several places that reference this article, so not that it is required but an urging of health officials to test less and limit it to those with symptoms.

 

[Lumpy1106]

I live in Central Illinois. Numbers are getting very high everywhere in state but have to remember anyone can get tested here so that will find more positive cases which helps with contact tracing, etc. Florida's numbers have dropped a lot but only (may not still be the case?) Because they only allow those with symptoms to be tested. Not sure how many other states limit testing like Florida but I wouldn't compare illinois numbers to Florida's.

Honest question - why would you even want to get tested if you don't have symptoms? Reason I ask - the positivity rate continues to be a leading factor on how the shutdowns are handled. OK, but the positivity rate in CA just went up to 4% - 96% of the people taking the tests are not sick. What compelled all of those people to even get tested, and how is that an indicator of anything other than fear?

 

[mlayman7]

Honest question - why would you even want to get tested if you don't have symptoms? Reason I ask - the positivity rate continues to be a leading factor on how the shutdowns are handled. OK, but the positivity rate in CA just went up to 4% - 96% of the people taking the tests are not sick. What compelled all of those people to even get tested, and how is that an indicator of anything other than fear?

Unfortunately if you are asking this, you won't listen to any response. Regardless this is off topic, my response was only meant to say numbers from one state should not be compared to another. Testing standards are different as are numerous other indices that can lead to wide variances.

 

[kristenabelle]

Honest question - why would you even want to get tested if you don't have symptoms? Reason I ask - the positivity rate continues to be a leading factor on how the shutdowns are handled. OK, but the positivity rate in CA just went up to 4% - 96% of the people taking the tests are not sick. What compelled all of those people to even get tested, and how is that an indicator of anything other than fear?

For me it's about behavior adjustment. If I'm exposed or potentially exposed but don't have symptoms, testing & quarantining while awaiting results helps manage any potential spread from asymptomatic people. Even though I wear masks everywhere (even running outside), particles can still escape. And when I got home from my FL trip, I didn't go to Target or ShopRite or anywhere at all until I got a negative result (even though I never had any symptoms, and never tested positive).

The ability to quickly and effectively test, along with mitigation steps like wearing masks is what will ultimately help us resume many kinds of normal behavior.

 

[Lumpy1106]

Unfortunately if you are asking this, you won't listen to any response. Regardless this is off topic, my response was only meant to say numbers from one state should not be compared to another. Testing standards are different as are numerous other indices that can lead to wide variances.

Try me - it's an honest question.

 

[xiphoid76]

The way I see it

If you have the money and time
If there are no travel restrictions
If the transport options are available
If you are comfortable with the new procedures implemented by transport companies and at your destination
If you practice good personal hygiene and wear a mask
If you follow guidelines regarding quarantine and testing

Then go and enjoy your vacation.

In 2021 travel shaming will be everywhere, but we all have to find our own comfort level. As long as you are aware of risks and are doing your best to limit the spread of the virus, then I see no issue with going to WDW.

I love that term "travel shaming" and am totally going to use it. It is so true and fueled by jealousy from people who wish they were traveling. In 2020 we traveled extensively domestically mostly to escape the lockdown status of Minneapolis. It was a needed mental health break - we are safe and traveling has never been safer - it is so clean on a Delta plane you can't catch a germ to save your life. I think people need to do what they feels comfortable, but stop the "travel shaming" of those that choose to go on an adventure. Suicides and addictions are way up in our country...mental health needs to be addressed and taking a vacation is a good start!
We had some international trips planned and we canceled although we could have gone - big one was to Egypt which is open for tourists, we decided to reschedule for 2021, but we have no shame in traveling now to international destinations as possible in 2021.