To Go or Not To Go

[auntlynne]

…

 

[Dakota731]

Stating the obvious, but with all of the money Disney has, why cant they have testing at the first aid stations at the parks?

They are a theme park not a medical testing facility. So if they did and someone tested positive then they’d have to set up a hotel to quarantine people?!?

 

[Dakota731]

Grasshopper2016 said:
“That is the obvious solution. But the park reservation system has backfired, and now Disney has painted themselves into a corner. When things were looking better a month or two ago, they opened up park reservations and resort reservations way too much and too quickly. And now they're trapped. They can't very well cancel people's existing reservations. Which means that they have no way of limiting capacity over the next few months --- when reduced capacity will be needed most.”

Disney didn’t have a magic ball to foresee future events. Maybe they can just continue to allow us all to make our own decisions as adults and parents and decide whether it’s right at this time for our families to visit. A theme park can’t guarantee our safety from a virus no matter how many precautions they take.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

Good news, my mother's test came back negative for Covid. RSV cases have been high in Florida as well, so that would be my next guess. It was rather abrupt and vicious whatever it was.

 

[maryj11]

Good news, my mother's test came back negative for Covid. RSV cases have been high in Florida as well, so that would be my next guess. It was rather abrupt and vicious whatever it was.

Great news! When did she get back from Disney?

 

[Grasshopper2016]

Disney didn’t have a magic ball to foresee future events. Maybe they can just continue to allow us all to make our own decisions as adults and parents and decide whether it’s right at this time for our families to visit. A theme park can’t guarantee our safety from a virus no matter how many precautions they take.

Even leaving the delta variant out of it, Disney's decision to open up capacity so drastically before having the infrastructure and the staff in place to handle it -- and with many shows, restaurants, and other attractions shuttered and fastpasses unavailable -- led to massive lines, ridiculously long waits for rides and food, and a greatly reduced guest experience for much of the summer. That was poor judgment, in my opinion.

As for delta, of course Disney cannot guarantee anyone's safety. But all along, they have been making an admirable effort to try to protect customers --- right up to the recent decision to buck the rest of the industry and follow the CDC mask guidelines. But their decision before the delta wave to open capacity and require (and allow) park reservations makes it very difficult for them to dial back on capacity during this wave.

As an adult and parent, you are free to make a decision that it is the right time for you to visit. And I, as an adult and parent as well, am free to criticize Disney for taking an action that precludes them from making the parks as safe this time around as they were during the first reopening. In truth, I am still on the fence about whether or not to cancel my September trip -- though I'm going to have to make a decision one way or the other soon. But I would feel a lot more comfortable going if Disney was able to reduce the crowds the way that they did last time around.

 

[cakebaker]

They are a theme park not a medical testing facility. So if they did and someone tested positive then they’d have to set up a hotel to quarantine people?!?

Why? There are people at WDW that are positive so other than they just don't want to know, it would be convenient for guests. Cruise lines, including Disney have testing set up. It's a pipe dream that they'd provide testing because if they did, the public would know when and if there was a serious outbreak. The cruise lines want to know, WDW does not. But in this case, what you don't know will hurt you.

 

[Dentam]

Those who are seriously immuno-compromised- organ transplants, cancer etc have been recommended to get the booster, in which case, those people probably shouldn't be going to WDW anyway. I was hoping they'd extend it to seniors and at generally higher risk categories, but not so far.

I read an article today that said they are aiming to have these available to older adults this fall. I'm assuming that will include 65+ and starting in October or November but we shall see.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

Great news! When did she get back from Disney?

My daughter was the first to fall ill the morning of 8/6, the day we left Disney, followed by my mother and sister that evening and the following day, respectively.

 

[gretabull]

Has anyone been struggling with anxiety around going/not going? Even though I know logically my friends and I are fully prepared (masks, sanitizer, wipes, rapid covid tests) it just is hard to shake the worry. I would just reschedule, but the tickets are comps that expire at the end of September. I guess I'm just curious how other people have come to a decision/to read recent experiences. We are 3 fully vaccinated people in our 20s, no major health issues.

I have been truly bipolar about this decision - changing my mind hourly for the past week. I'm vaccinated but I still worry about breakthrough cases and the high Covid numbers in Florida. I am also a nurse and we are starting weekly testing for all staff again and I would hate to have to quarantine when I got back. My rational mind knows if I got Covid, there is a 99% chance I would be fine, but I feel like after all I went thru during the first surge to protect myself, there could also be a chance I could get really sick. So I just cancelled my trip today - was supposed to leave a week from tomorrow. I am sad, BUT, I just went in May and I have a contract for DVC which is pending so I know I will have many chances to go again.

 

[Dakota731]

Why? There are people at WDW that are positive so other than they just don't want to know, it would be convenient for guests. Cruise lines, including Disney have testing set up. It's a pipe dream that they'd provide testing because if they did, the public would know when and if there was a serious outbreak. The cruise lines want to know, WDW does not. But in this case, what you don't know will hurt you.

So what do they do with people who test positive and didn’t drive to WDW - put them on Disney bus? They can’t go back to any hotel or airport. Have taxi pick them up and infect the driver? Send to the hospital? What about other family members they are traveling with? Where do they quarantine? They don’t test at airports, concerts, casinos etc. This is a theme park not an international border.

 

[parasail_of_congress]

So what do they do with people who test positive and didn’t drive to WDW - put them on Disney bus? They can’t go back to any hotel or airport. Have taxi pick them up and infect the driver? Send to the hospital? What about other family members they are traveling with? Where do they quarantine? They don’t test at airports, concerts, casinos etc. This is a theme park not an international border.

I assume @cakebaker is suggesting that Disney partner with a health provider to run testing - not that Disney would run the testing itself. So people would be expected to do the same thing that they would if they were to get tested somewhere else.

FYI, you can get a covid test at the Orlando Airport (https://centracare.adventhealth.com/urgent-care/covid-19-testing-orlando-international-airport) as well as other airports. I haven't heard of any concerts that offer covid testing, but I have read about some that require a proof of vaccination, but I don't think Disney is allowed to do that because of the ban in Florida.

 

[ellbell]

So what do they do with people who test positive and didn’t drive to WDW - put them on Disney bus? They can’t go back to any hotel or airport. Have taxi pick them up and infect the driver? Send to the hospital? What about other family members they are traveling with? Where do they quarantine? They don’t test at airports, concerts, casinos etc. This is a theme park not an international border.

As someone coming from Canada I have to test before coming home. Having a testing available on site would make this a lot easier. There is actually an entire thread on the Canadian disers board dedicted to finding testing that is convient and doesn't cost you're first born child. I can see a huge benefit to testing in site.

 

[ellbell]

I assume @cakebaker is suggesting that Disney partner with a health provider to run testing - not that Disney would run the testing itself. So people would be expected to do the same thing that they would if they were to get tested somewhere else.

FYI, you can get a covid test at the Orlando Aiport (https://centracare.adventhealth.com/urgent-care/covid-19-testing-orlando-international-airport) as well as other airports. I haven't heard of any concerts that offer covid testing, but I have read about some that require a proof of vaccination, but I don't think Disney is allowed to do that because of the ban in Florida.

The airport facility is not reliable to even have the test booked to take. So many people have reported having issues with that testing site.

 

[parasail_of_congress]

The airport facility is not reliable to even have the test booked to take. So many people have reported having issues with that testing site.

Yes, I have read that as well. I was just pointing out to the other poster that MCO has testing because the poster mentioned that airports do not do testing.

 

[faceofsam]

For people curious, I just picked up some rapid tests at my local CVS to bring for my trip. They cost $23, and each box had 2 tests. I'm not sure how available they are in Florida, but you might be able to get them before you travel.

 

[DisneyFave]

We ended up doing an afternoon at Epcot. We’re locals so we only stayed for 2 nights which honestly was plenty with a toddler lol. The parks are hard right now with a 15 month old. He wants to walk but won’t hold our hands so runs into everyone. He doesn’t like long, slow rides so we don’t ride much. It’s just hard. We’ll be back in September for another 3 night stay but at AoA and do have 2 park days planned. We usually go in the morning before his nap or in the afternoon after his nap but just one or the other so like 3-4 hours in the park total. The rest of the day is at the resort

This is what I am planning to do also, with my 15 month old and 5 year old. Half day max at parks and only if the crowd levels are below a 3. I took my eldest at that age and it was hard on my back, carrying him through all the lines! At least at the resort (poly) he will be able to roam. Did you have a good time at the resort with your kiddo? What kinds of activities did you do?

 

[tinkerhon]

They are a theme park not a medical testing facility. So if they did and someone tested positive then they’d have to set up a hotel to quarantine people?!?

True, but if the stories are true about ppl having to travel for miles and miles to get a test, and they are obviously concerned.. there has to be someplace closer to the parks (if its not going to be in them, and I understand what you are saying) to get a test - I know that if I thought my DS10 might have Covid, I would want somewhere near the parks or hotels where I could get him tested. Maybe there is somewhere, but so many ppl saying there are not any.

 

[maryj11]

My daughter was the first to fall ill the morning of 8/6, the day we left Disney, followed by my mother and sister that evening and the following day, respectively.

Yeah that would have made me worry too!

 

[maryj11]

So what do they do with people who test positive and didn’t drive to WDW - put them on Disney bus? They can’t go back to any hotel or airport. Have taxi pick them up and infect the driver? Send to the hospital? What about other family members they are traveling with? Where do they quarantine? They don’t test at airports, concerts, casinos etc. This is a theme park not an international border.

Good question!