Universal re-cap

[Jrb1979]

I wonder why it’s so inconsistent. I am just finishing up my quarantine after returning from the US and no app was made to be downloaded onto my phone that makes sure I stay home, nor has anyone called me to inquire about the status of my quarantine. Perhaps they randomly select travellers to follow up with (similar to “enhanced screening” at the airport)?

It could be the local health department too. She lives in Thunder Bay so that might be a reason.

 

[Sue M]

I hope that's the case. I still have some concerns with what exactly is being asked of people who are entering Canada and what instructions they're being given regarding quarantine procedures. My understanding was 14 days at home, period. And as you mentioned how the heck is someone allowed to drive back and forth across the border so freely, as much as they want, when others are being denied the same ability? I thought the fact that the border is closed for everything other than essential travel such as the trucking industry means just that, you can't drive back and forth when it suits your needs. I didn't think it matters if you own property, at least it doesn't for US citizens who have dwellings HERE, certain parts of our "cottage country" were like ghost towns this year. Perhaps they have a situation that involves dual-citizenship or one is CDN and the other is US? Just curious about this because it sounds like a bigger loophole than the "you can still fly" one.

I can only say what my experience was. Before you fly back to Canada you have to download an app. Arrive Canada which asks you your info about where you’ve gone, dates, address, passport #, flight numbers and carriers etc.
When you go thru Canada customs you show the number you’re given from the app to customs and they look you up in the system. Officer carefully interviews you about your quarantine plans and if satisfied your free to leave. If not you may have to speak with a health officer. I was fine because I have a seperate part of the home to quarantine in.
Every day you’re emailed a link to answer a question. Yes or no, do you have any symptoms. And they phoned me 2x during my 14 days. Very nice. Asked me how I was doing and if I needed anything. I’m in BC.

 

[Sue M]

I wonder why it’s so inconsistent. I am just finishing up my quarantine after returning from the US and no app was made to be downloaded onto my phone that makes sure I stay home, nor has anyone called me to inquire about the status of my quarantine. Perhaps they randomly select travellers to follow up with (similar to “enhanced screening” at the airport)?

Maybe it depends what province you’re in?

 

[pangyal]

Maybe it depends what province you’re in?

It might! I’m in Ontario. I did of course download the ArriveCan app for the number to show the agent on arrival, but she just verified that we had the number and told us to have a nice day. There were no questions asked regarding our quarantine plans.

I’m sorry to derail your thread! I’m glad you had a great time at Universal. We went once in July and once this month sandwiched between Disney days, and thought that they were doing a good job with safety (except for at Moe’s, which was a train wreck).

 

[Monykalyn]

Sue was great to meet up with you! Hope we can meet up in august and be “normal” lol! I felt like the parks and resorts do a great job of mitigating risk and hope the extra cleaning stays!

Do NOT worry about new mutations. The popular press likes to make Mount Everest out of a dust spore. Actual virologists have LOTS of questions on that new mutation and actual infectiousness (testing with PCR is NOT-NOT a measure of transmissibility Nor infectiousness!). Plus there was news of a “new variant highly transmissible” of covid wayyyy back in May or June or something, turns out popular press and researchers weren’t exactly accurate on that . Another point is UK is one of a very few countries that is doing extensive viral typing.Just because they justFOUND his mutation does NOT mean it’s “new” nor that it is all already everywhere (as no one else lookin for it). Yeah I listen to lots of nerdy sciency podcasts done by actual virologists lol!

 

[Sue M]

It might! I’m in Ontario. I did of course download the ArriveCan app for the number to show the agent on arrival, but she just verified that we had the number and told us to have a nice day. There were no questions asked regarding our quarantine plans.

I’m sorry to derail your thread! I’m glad you had a great time at Universal. We went once in July and once this month sandwiched between Disney days, and thought that they were doing a good job with safety (except for at Moe’s, which was a train wreck).

Wow, the agent must have spent 10 min at least talking to me about my quarantine plans and explaining what is expected for quarantine including giving me a print out!
So out of curiosity which park did you think did the better job? Universal or WDW?

Sue was great to meet up with you! Hope we can meet up in august and be “normal” lol! I felt like the parks and resorts do a great job of mitigating risk and hope the extra cleaning stays!

Do NOT worry about new mutations. The popular press likes to make Mount Everest out of a dust spore. Actual virologists have LOTS of questions on that new mutation and actual infectiousness (testing with PCR is NOT-NOT a measure of transmissibility Nor infectiousness!). Plus there was news of a “new variant highly transmissible” of covid wayyyy back in May or June or something, turns out popular press and researchers weren’t exactly accurate on that . Another point is UK is one of a very few countries that is doing extensive viral typing.Just because they justFOUND his mutation does NOT mean it’s “new” nor that it is all already everywhere (as no one else lookin for it). Yeah I listen to lots of nerdy sciency podcasts done by actual virologists lol!

It really was. I wish I could have joined you and Patty later on. But glad I was able to get a visit in with both of you! Lucky for me you were both having lunch at the same time in restaurants nearby lol!
Hopefully we’ll get to go in Aug. but if quarantine is still in effect we won’t be going. Daughter can’t take extra 2 weeks off work.

Breaking news tonight.....travellers returning to Canada now need a neg Covid test 3 days before travel.

 

[pangyal]

Wow, the agent must have spent 10 min at least talking to me about my quarantine plans and explaining what is expected for quarantine including giving me a print out!
So out of curiosity which park did you think did the better job? Universal or WDW?

Quite honestly...I feel that both had staff who honestly tried their best. However, I think that I would say that the guests seemed different overall. Disney had more guests who were looking to sort of work as a team to try to follow the rules, while Universal had more guests who were trying to find ways to circumvent them. At both parks, I would make sure to leave tons of space and just avoid anyone who seemed to be non-compliant with masks, distancing, or both; however, I found that I had to do this more often at Disney. To be fair, we had Express at Universal and therefore waited in fewer lines, which resulted in fewer opportunities for infractions. To cut it short, I felt safe at both parks, but I did feel that there was more non-compliance at Universal that wasn’t corrected by staff, and more glaring examples of non-compliance at Disney. How’s that for a total non-answer ?

 

[Sue M]

Quite honestly...I feel that both had staff who honestly tried their best. However, I think that I would say that the guests seemed different overall. Disney had more guests who were looking to sort of work as a team to try to follow the rules, while Universal had more guests who were trying to find ways to circumvent them. At both parks, I would make sure to leave tons of space and just avoid anyone who seemed to be non-compliant with masks, distancing, or both; however, I found that I had to do this more often at Disney. To be fair, we had Express at Universal and therefore waited in fewer lines, which resulted in fewer opportunities for infractions. To cut it short, I felt safe at both parks, but I did feel that there was more non-compliance at Universal that wasn’t corrected by staff, and more glaring examples of non-compliance at Disney. How’s that for a total non-answer ?

We had express pass too. Always stay at the 3 Uni hotels with them. The only time I saw non compliance was in the Hagrids queue. Guess because it was longer so I noticed a couple of individuals who had nose sticking out