What will make you return to the parks?

[Boopuff]

I'm planning on returning. We as a society need to build up herd immunity. We'll never do that sitting at home. I do think there will be limited people allowed each day. I doubt we'll ever see this for a long, long time:

 

[cmrdgrs]

I'm not hopeful a vaccine will completely eliminate this virus. If it does I'll be very happy, but I don't see this playing out that way.

I can't say exactly when or what will make me be ready to go back to the parks. I do hope I can use the timeshare/resort part of my pre-paid vacation.

I'm ready for resort only stays parks/no parks

 

[TJA]

We will return to the parks as soon as they open! Can't wait .

 

[tinkerbelletreasure]

I’m looking to return as soon as they are open. DH and I are really interested in getting an antibody test before we return if we can. We had Covid type symptoms in early February before there was any covid type testing happening in our state. I’m not sure what I’ll do if they require masks. I have some sensory issues that have sprung up during this. I really hate rebreathing warm, moist air which happens unless you have the N95 filter. I have decent Fastpasses and ADRs lines up. I really hope our trip goes off as planned.

 

[Jadyreen1282]

It's time to open the world before it's closed for good. Disney opens we are going right away.

 

[Wild4Walt]

We have a trip loosely planned for September 2021 - by that time I'm hopeful that they will have a better handle on the virus ( causes, vaccines or at least better treatment than they currently have ). I have been reading about anti-body testing which they are hopeful of getting approved soon. If that was made available, I'd take the test and hopefully have an added level of comfort or a better idea on how to fight it.

 

[disneycat321]

It's really hard for me to say. We are very fortunate because neither of us is high risk, and we are both in public sector "essential" jobs and still receiving our full income. So for us, it's largely about whether the modified experience would be worth the cost or not, and also whether we think it's safe for us to go. Though we are not high risk, I do worry about exposing others in my life who may be.

Since DLR is a 7 hour drive away (vs a cross country flight for WDW), it seems pretty likely we will be back there first. It's also a much lower cost for us than WDW.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

My decision as to when We’ll be back isn’t as much dependent on the virus, because I can’t see disney opening and putting guests at risk. When they do reopen they will have put in the thought, the plannng, and the time and money to ensure a low virus risk experience.

That said.. it’s the experience that is offered that will be the deciding factor for Us. With the economy so unstable right now, the exchange rates (/) are way beyond what I’m willing to pay for a partial or diminished vacation experience.
A $9,000US vacation becomes a $12,655CDN vacation at today’s exchange rates. I’d pay that without hesitation for the full disney vacation experience - but if not all four parks are not open, no fireworks, no parades, long social distancing line ups, reduced service in restaurants or at the resorts, less frequent transportation due to social distancing meaning fewer guests can ride at once... no thanks, I can wait until it’s back to a fuller experience.
I should add, I’ve been going to WDW for a very long time, often two or three times a year. I’ve been spoiled by the full disney experience and always having something new to enjoy, I can’t imagine how sad I’d feel with anything less.
(1st world problems.. )

 

[karly05]

I was lucky enough to be there in February this year.

It was probably already going to be a couple of years before I make it back, but that seems even more likely now.

A WDW trip is a big deal for me ($$, time, travel) and I don't plan to return until things are fully back to "normal," and at least Ratatouille is finished. Plus I'll have to be ready to get on the stupid planes to get there, which I didn't love to begin with.

I do, however, think we'll get through this and I will eventually make it back.

 

[westie55]

I am hoping to return in either July or August, and if not then November, but I am doubtful if the parks will be open this summer, and fear they may close again in the fall when another wave of the virus hits. If they are open, which is hurdle 1, then I face hurdle 2: the modifications. I can do without the parade and fireworks. If all indoor rides and shows are closed, that is definitely a deal breaker because almost everything is indoors. No characters? Probably a deal breaker. My children are prime age for the magic of characters and not being able to meet Mickey at Disney World doesn't feel right. Masks are also a deal breaker. If I can't make it through a grocery run without feeling tortured in a mask, there is no way I can get a toddler and preschooler to wear masks in the 95 degree heat and humidity. Disney is just too expensive for a very watered down experience, IMO. I will make my FP when I can and wait until I know more to cancel. I am not booking flights until I have a better idea of whan opening will be and what it will look like. Hoping for the best, but expecting the worst.

 

[UpstateMick]

When there is a vaccine. It’s an amusement park, not life. My family’s health takes precedence over a vacation.

 

[twinprincesses09]

I have trips scheduled for June and August. We will do one or the other, if they are open. If it is a severely modified experience (no characters, no indoor shows) we would probably still go, but do more of a resort stay with only 1 or 2 park days (maybe after hour events if they are offered). We have been fortunate to have visited either WDW or Disneyland every year for the past 5 years, so we are ok with missing some things this year and doing a shorter trip. We do have the free dining plan scheduled in August, but mostly for the character dining. So if that is not an option, be will cancel the package and just go for a few days. However, we will not go if we are required to wear masks. I have to wear one 12 hours a day at work, and can't imagine myself wearing one in the Florida heat during summer. And trying to get my kids to keep them on would be impossible. That would NOT be a vacation for me.

 

[LuvMyEAR]

My decision as to when We’ll be back isn’t as much dependent on the virus, because I can’t see disney opening and putting guests at risk. When they do reopen they will have put in the thought, the plannng, and the time and money to ensure a low virus risk experience.

That said.. it’s the experience that is offered that will be the deciding factor for Us. With the economy so unstable right now, the exchange rates (/) are way beyond what I’m willing to pay for a partial or diminished vacation experience.
A $9,000US vacation becomes a $12,655CDN vacation at today’s exchange rates. I’d pay that without hesitation for the full disney vacation experience - but if not all four parks are not open, no fireworks, no parades, long social distancing line ups, reduced service in restaurants or at the resorts, less frequent transportation due to social distancing meaning fewer guests can ride at once... no thanks, I can wait until it’s back to a fuller experience.
I should add, I’ve been going to WDW for a very long time, often two or three times a year. I’ve been spoiled by the full disney experience and always having something new to enjoy, I can’t imagine how sad I’d feel with anything less.
(1st world problems.. )

While there is a part of me screaming to be at the gate the moment WDW re-opens, the above post sums things up far more accurately. The US/CAD exchange rate can be a killer for us, and I am not looking for a watered-down experience, either.

The other deciding factor will be the ability to get decent travel health insurance. Can’t leave home with it!

 

[imjustafatkid]

What will make me return the parks? The parks being open. We are going this year, for sure.

 

[OnceUponATime15]

While there is a part of me screaming to be at the gate the moment WDW re-opens, the above post sums things up far more accurately. The US/CAD exchange rate can be a killer for us, and I am not looking for a watered-down experience, either.

The other deciding factor will be the ability to get decent travel health insurance. Can’t leave home with it!

I completely forgot about travel insurance.. ugh. If you can get coverage that includes covid 19 it’s going to be crazy expensive.

 

[Tallis]

COVID -19 already wiped through our family. Out of 9 of us, 8 got stick. The one that didn't probably has antibodies anyway. We will find out this week. We most likely brought it back from WDW, a couple of months ago since we don't go anywhere else.

Anyway, what didn't kill us, hopefully made us stronger. Can't wait to get back to our happy place!

 

[epcotobsessed]

COVID -19 already wiped through our family. Out of 9 of us, 8 got stick. The one that didn't probably has antibodies anyway. We will find out this week. We most likely brought it back from WDW, a couple of months ago since we don't go anywhere else.

Anyway, what didn't kill us, hopefully made us stronger. Can't wait to get back to our happy place!

So happy you are ok. I am comfortable returning to the parks before a vaccine is available, assuming they open, and that's in part because I think antibody testing will continue to show us that the infection rate was/is actually far higher than what we've been able to establish, because of lack of COVID-19 tests. If that continues to hold up, reopening can happen much more quickly and successfully, so I'm really hoping states can and will start widespread antibody testing in the next few weeks.

 

[Kaadk]

I've mentioned this in some other thread, but since we already had a trip booked in Aug (Hotel, tickets, flights, ADRs, etc...) with the only thing left to deal with being FP+, if the parks are open by our trip (and that's the actual parks, not just the resorts and DS) then we'll be going for that trip, regardless of the reduced experience. Otherwise, if they're not open, then I'll see what our rebooking options are to minimize our financial losses since currently most of what we have is reschedulable, but not refundable.

However, if it wasn't for the fact that we've already done all this planning and cash outlay, if I was booking from scratch.... I wouldn't be booking at all. At least, not until I knew for a fact that the experience was back to full, normal operation. At that point in time, we'd probably be looking about 7-8 months out or so, our usual pre-booking window, so that we can get our ADRs, package deals, and whatnot like we normally do.

It being open is all I need. I don't care what is reduced/changed/not there, I'm happy with it just being open. That being said, I probably won't go until around Sept. just because there will be other trips that need/want to take before then. We will need/have to go down to south Ga. to see my honey's parents as soon as it's safe. Neither are well and he knows it's borrowed time so any chance we get, we haul the RV down there and camp in their yard. After that, I NEED a trip to the beach, again we will haul the RV to one, water just makes me happy and relaxed. A dive trip would be heaven but alas, I fear those days are over since we have a dog that can't be boarded and even in the RV can't be left alone for longer than 3 or 4 hours. Then WDW here I come, either solo or with my son.

Normally we'd just take the dogs with us in the RV, and they love camping, but I've found that if we're going someplace that we expect we'll be away from the RV for long stretches at a time, then we just get them a babysitter instead of trying to do the boarding thing. It's basically a win all around. One of the nieces or nephews gets either a long week end (or a week long in some cases) break from their family and basically gets a house to themselves. We get somebody who watches both the house and the dogs, and the dogs are left in an environment where they feel safe and secure, by staying in their house. I know it feels odd to consider going RVing without the dogs, but if you can get them a babysitter, maybe give that a try for at least one trip, when you know it'll be unfair to them to be cooped up all day.

 

[Tallis]

So happy you are ok. I am comfortable returning to the parks before a vaccine is available, assuming they open, and that's in part because I think antibody testing will continue to show us that the infection rate was/is actually far higher than what we've been able to establish, because of lack of COVID-19 tests. If that continues to hold up, reopening can happen much more quickly and successfully, so I'm really hoping states can and will start widespread antibody testing in the next few weeks.

Thanks!

Here in our area of Florida, antibody testing started today. I also believe many people had it without even knowing. Some of us would have never known if not for the test. Only two of us were sick enough to get tested initially. The rest was just like a chest cold with sore throat and lingering cough. Nobody got sick enough to need hospitalized. Only one of us (the one with asthma) needed anything beyond OTC meds and I had the inhalers and nebulizer treatments on hand anyway.

 

[kimmar067]

With my 2 kids @15 &18, I’m afraid our Disney trips are done for maybe ever....

...don't underestimate the fun of an "adults" WDW trip....of course, assuming it's Covid19-free.