WWYD: Should I cancel for Fall 2021?

[jcourtney]

So here's my situation, like many of us here on the boards, we had plans to travel last year that got cancelled due to covid. This has left us with plenty of WestJet credits and companion vouchers, as well as 4-day Canadian Disneyland tickets that expire in December. The "we" in this situation is me (37F) my husband (38M) who are both fully vaccinated and our 9 year old son who obviously isn't.

A few months back we decided to book a trip to Disneyland for October (we love Halloween at Disney, not so much Christmas at Disney, no hate mail please) because we want to use up our Disney tickets before they expire and honestly we need a Disney fix! However, as things get closer the idea of all the testing and quarantining for a 5 day trip is stressing me right out! I'm hearing now that kids under 12 probably won't be vaccinated until 2022 and we can't keep him home for 14 days after our trip because he has school. Also and cost and stress of a test 72 hours before we go, and then another 72 hours before we come back (in Anaheim without a car), and then another at the airport coming home (is that right?). There are no direct flights from SK to LAX, we need to change planes in Calgary. Is this even doable with our 1.5 hour layover? What if one of the tests comes back positive? It seems like too much, it takes the vacation out of our vacation.

Does anyone honestly think this is likely to change in the next month or two? Am I being delusional by holding out hope that this trip is going to be feasible? Or is it time to cancel and use the money to maybe do some travelling in Canada this summer?

Is anyone else planning to travel with unvaccinated kids this fall?

 

[ellbell]

So here's my situation, like many of us here on the boards, we had plans to travel last year that got cancelled due to covid. This has left us with plenty of WestJet credits and companion vouchers, as well as 4-day Canadian Disneyland tickets that expire in December. The "we" in this situation is me (37F) my husband (38M) who are both fully vaccinated and our 9 year old son who obviously isn't.

A few months back we decided to book a trip to Disneyland for October (we love Halloween at Disney, not so much Christmas at Disney, no hate mail please) because we want to use up our Disney tickets before they expire and honestly we need a Disney fix! However, as things get closer the idea of all the testing and quarantining for a 5 day trip is stressing me right out! I'm hearing now that kids under 12 probably won't be vaccinated until 2022 and we can't keep him home for 14 days after our trip because he has school. Also and cost and stress of a test 72 hours before we go, and then another 72 hours before we come back (in Anaheim without a car), and then another at the airport coming home (is that right?). There are no direct flights from SK to LAX, we need to change planes in Calgary. Is this even doable with our 1.5 hour layover? What if one of the tests comes back positive? It seems like too much, it takes the vacation out of our vacation.

Does anyone honestly think this is likely to change in the next month or two? Am I being delusional by holding out hope that this trip is going to be feasible? Or is it time to cancel and use the money to maybe do some travelling in Canada this summer?

Is anyone else planning to travel with unvaccinated kids this fall?

Only you can make the decision. If it were me though if a trip is stressful then it isn't vacation. I have a 10 year old and I've informed himhe won't be travelling until he's vaccinated even though I am travelling with his brothers. He understands.

 

[bcwife76]

Unless you are prepared to quarantine your 9 year old (which you stated you are not) then I would cancel and rebook. We had plans to travel to Mexico last month and our 10yr old would quarantine when we get home as it would still be 2+ weeks before the start of school. Those plans are now cancelled due to the airline changing our flights. Our new plan is to go to Disneyland in November with my friend and her 13yr old son. DH and I will go with our 13 yr old DD but our 10yr old will stay behind with my friends' twins (who just turned 11 this week) and their dad and grandma (very generous of them to take our DD) because, like you, we are not having our DD10 miss 2 weeks of school for a 4/5 day trip to Disneyland. If I'm being optimistic, I think by our dates in November she *might* have one dose of the vaccine as Pfizer has stated they plan to release data for the 5-11yr olds in September/Oct (but who knows how long it will be before Health Canada also approves that data). The earliest I expect to travel with my DD (who turns 11 a month before Christmas) is mid March 2022.

 

[DisneyDillyDally]

We have not booked yet, but are in same position with a minor child who will not be vaccinated this year. I’m not booking any travel for him until all the hurdles are removed - I just don’t want to waste the brain space fretting over whether rules will be changed in time. I also want to avoid the testing requirements - hoping these will be lifted in North America by early 2022. Basically, it’s still too much of a hassle for me to travel.

 

[starry_solo]

Reschedule and use your WestJet credits for flights within Canada.

 

[mshanson3121]

So here's my situation, like many of us here on the boards, we had plans to travel last year that got cancelled due to covid. This has left us with plenty of WestJet credits and companion vouchers, as well as 4-day Canadian Disneyland tickets that expire in December. The "we" in this situation is me (37F) my husband (38M) who are both fully vaccinated and our 9 year old son who obviously isn't.

A few months back we decided to book a trip to Disneyland for October (we love Halloween at Disney, not so much Christmas at Disney, no hate mail please) because we want to use up our Disney tickets before they expire and honestly we need a Disney fix! However, as things get closer the idea of all the testing and quarantining for a 5 day trip is stressing me right out! I'm hearing now that kids under 12 probably won't be vaccinated until 2022 and we can't keep him home for 14 days after our trip because he has school. Also and cost and stress of a test 72 hours before we go, and then another 72 hours before we come back (in Anaheim without a car), and then another at the airport coming home (is that right?). There are no direct flights from SK to LAX, we need to change planes in Calgary. Is this even doable with our 1.5 hour layover? What if one of the tests comes back positive? It seems like too much, it takes the vacation out of our vacation.

Does anyone honestly think this is likely to change in the next month or two? Am I being delusional by holding out hope that this trip is going to be feasible? Or is it time to cancel and use the money to maybe do some travelling in Canada this summer?

Is anyone else planning to travel with unvaccinated kids this fall?

Given that the US is heading into a 5th wave of Covid, I would cancel. I don't see travel restrictions/requirements being lifted further anytime soon.

 

[wdwmom3]

I’m really doubting my fall trip. My youngest won’t be vaccinated yet and I’m not liking the increasing cases in the US (especially Florida) along with the removal of all masks and distancing and enforcement at Disney.

I’m not super concerned if my youngest caught covid (although I still don’t want him too and take precautions) Everyone else around is now fully vaccinated. And he’s at low risk of getting sick. But I am concerned about him catching covid and then us having to get tested. A positive test would really complicate everything.

So now I’m looking at booking a backup trip for next spring. This will be the third time I’ve rebooked a trip we were supposed to take in March 2020

 

[Sue M]

I’m really doubting my fall trip. My youngest won’t be vaccinated yet and I’m not liking the increasing cases in the US (especially Florida) along with the removal of all masks and distancing and enforcement at Disney.

I’m not super concerned if my youngest caught covid (although I still don’t want him too and take precautions) Everyone else around is now fully vaccinated. And he’s at low risk of getting sick. But I am concerned about him catching covid and then us having to get tested. A positive test would really complicate everything.

So now I’m looking at booking a backup trip for next spring. This will be the third time I’ve rebooked a trip we were supposed to take in March 2020 ☹

I read Orange County Fla now has mandatory masks again inside. Haven’t heard anything from WDW yet, but they’ll have to follow regulations and do the same. Regardless I had planned on wearing masks when inside stores, etc. And for 14 day trip only made 3 ADRs we’ll mostly eat QS.

 

[damo]

I read Orange County Fla now has mandatory masks again inside. Haven’t heard anything from WDW yet, but they’ll have to follow regulations and do the same. Regardless I had planned on wearing masks when inside stores, etc. And for 14 day trip only made 3 ADRs we’ll mostly eat QS.

I think it is just recommended.

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/l...ks-as-covid-19-positivity-rate-climbs-higher/

 

[2Lunds]

We're booked Sept 8-15 currently. No kids, but the hassle and expense of all the testing etc... is a serious deterrent to our plans (it's meant to be a deterrent after all: the loosened border restrictions were intended to make it easier for residents to return from abroad and to ease family reunification, they weren't meant to make leisure travel any easier). We're hanging on until the next border update for July 21 to make our final decision, but heavily leaning towards changing reservation to Feb 2022 instead. So much up in the air with WDW right now as well - FP, EMH etc... which should be settled by October.

 

[Sue M]

I think it is just recommended.

https://www.clickorlando.com/news/l...ks-as-covid-19-positivity-rate-climbs-higher/

Ah, I see. The Gov made it illegal to make mask wearing mandatory. I will definitely be wearing a mask indoors and inside portions of queues. Even though we’re fully vaccinated.

 

[2Lunds]

We're booked Sept 8-15 currently. No kids, but the hassle and expense of all the testing etc... is a serious deterrent to our plans (it's meant to be a deterrent after all: the loosened border restrictions were intended to make it easier for residents to return from abroad and to ease family reunification, they weren't meant to make leisure travel any easier). We're hanging on until the next border update for July 21 to make our final decision, but heavily leaning towards changing reservation to Feb 2022 instead. So much up in the air with WDW right now as well - FP, EMH etc... which should be settled by October.

My dining window opened on Saturday and I've been attempting all weekend to make reservations with MDE crashing the whole time, AND knowing that I'll likely be cancelling these resos next week anyway. Boo.

 

[Sue M]

My dining window opened on Saturday and I've been attempting all weekend to make reservations with MDE crashing the whole time, AND knowing that I'll likely be cancelling these resos next week anyway. Boo.

We are there for 2 weeks in Aug and only have 3 ADRs. Minamizing indoor dining. We will be doing QS mostly, at places with outside patios. One exception will be Harbour House. One of my fav CS. But will go off peak times.

 

[tlcdoula]

Ah, I see. The Gov made it illegal to make mask wearing mandatory. I will definitely be wearing a mask indoors and inside portions of queues. Even though we’re fully vaccinated.

I have been watching some live streams trying to see how many are wearing masks in the parks and didn't see many. We are looking at doing Disneyland in the fall, but I plan on wearing a mask for the trip. I am pretty used to wearing it for longs periods of time and hope that the temps will be a little lower so it won't bother hubby to wear his.

 

[jcourtney]

We're booked Sept 8-15 currently. No kids, but the hassle and expense of all the testing etc... is a serious deterrent to our plans (it's meant to be a deterrent after all: the loosened border restrictions were intended to make it easier for residents to return from abroad and to ease family reunification, they weren't meant to make leisure travel any easier). We're hanging on until the next border update for July 21 to make our final decision, but heavily leaning towards changing reservation to Feb 2022 instead. So much up in the air with WDW right now as well - FP, EMH etc... which should be settled by October.

That's a good point, it is meant to be a deterrent and it's working...sigh
I might as well also wait until July 21 but we'll probably cancel, I'm so bummed!

 

[quandrea]

Reschedule and use your WestJet credits for flights within Canada.

I agree. That’s what we are doing. Travelling in Canada. I’m even considering selling our dvc, as the US has low uptake of vaccines and the variants may prove problematic. If I can’t get there for some time, no point owning dvc. Canadian travel seems to be the way to go. To answer your question, I wouldn’t go under these circumstances.

 

[Madame]

I agree. That’s what we are doing. Travelling in Canada. I’m even considering selling our dvc, as the US has low uptake of vaccines and the variants may prove problematic. If I can’t get there for some time, no point owning dvc. Canadian travel seems to be the way to go. To answer your question, I wouldn’t go under these circumstances.

Us too. We have 2 contracts and luckily usually borrow heavily being a family of 5 traveling during school holidays only. Now, though, we’re starting to scramble to use up points.

All of us will be fully vaccinated in Sept but teachers might not (probably not) be allowed to travel even during that 2 week pd at Christmas. What do we do then? I have hundreds of points that need to be used tied up in a Christmas reservation right now.

We don’t own DVC to rent it out, but use it. I foresee many problems going forward that would be solved if we visited on a cash (easy to cancel) basis instead.

 

[2Lunds]

https://canadiantravelnews.ca/2021/07/14/maybe-the-u-s-doesnt-want-the-border-open-either/
"... the U.S. has working groups talking with Canada and other countries about the border and travel rules. “But U.S. officials say they still have no timetable and travel industry officials think the restrictions may not be lifted until August or later.”

Read this earlier today and that was basically the nail in the coffin for our Sept plans. Cancelled, re-booked for end of Jan 2022. Got a great price on Garden Wing at CR, which represents a serious upgrade from our previous plans at Coronado Springs, so I feel pretty good about it. I just don't see our respective leaders coming to an agreement on this any time soon, and while it may be technically permissible for us to travel in September, all the hoops were just making me feel super stressed about the trip, and I was not enjoying the planning process at all.

 

[Lollipop's Mom]

Not sure if someone has said it yet, but I would call WDW and I am sure they will extend your passes due to covid. I can't see them not doing this, as customer service is so important to them.
If I had an unvaxed kid I wouldn't travel. I personally would not chance it.
Also testing outbound and inbound times 3 people will really add up.
Cheapest I have found in the Vancouver area is $200 each and at the airport test was $139USD before coming home. Thats an extra $800 for my trip for 2 of us. I am praying that fully vaxxed won't need to test by mid-Sept when we go to Disneyland, but otherwise, I have had to build that $800 into our vaca budget...but im calling it a must 'for mental health'. lol.

 

[podgirl]

Add me to the list of people who might be cancelling. The whole testing while you're down there thing is stressing me out, even with the fabulous info people have been giving here. I have a trip booked for Aug.16 to WDW-so I'm going to leave it up to the government regulations which should be announced next week. If they say that as of Aug 15 fully vaxxed people can cross the land border without providing a negative test before coming back, then I will keep the reservation. If not, I think we'll just go to Montreal as I haven't been there for ages. Thing is, Disney is such an EASY vacation for my situation, as I'd be going with DS19 who is intellectually disabled. The companion bathrooms at Disney are perfect as I can't take him in the women's bathroom and I can't send him in the men's by himself as he can't/won't close the door by himself. DH and DS17 are going to Vancouver on a last blast trip before DS17 goes away to university. Having said all that, if Florida begins to get to be a real hot zone, then do I really want to go? So many things to consider...