To Go or Not To Go

[Palaura]

I might need to switch things up now. I fear I have MK for next Tuesday. Ugh

We’re doing AK and BB! Maybe we’ll see you at the bus stop!

 

[faceofsam]

Our trips overlap mousefan73! I'm planning to have our boo bash day be a non park day, get to enjoy the hotel pool and sleep in. If you're not doing boo bash, I think animal kingdom or epcot would be the best bet.

 

[DeeCeeSW]

I booked with miles, so my miles were fully reinstated.

 

[DeeCeeSW]

Sorry, I don’t know about credits.

 

[Cliffside]

Sorry, I don’t know about credits.

That’s good..ours are chase ultimate reward points so I am not sure how it would work..I unfortunately don’t think I can get our points back ..

 

[DeeCeeSW]

That’s good..ours are chase ultimate reward points so I am not sure how it would work..I unfortunately don’t think I can get our points back ..

You might...no harm in calling and finding out.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

So cases should start going down soon?

According to some studies, yes. Others no. It’s so difficult because of the no longer reporting cases by county.

 

[P'colaBeachBum]

No more flip flop….we are going since I get my booster tomorrow. Flu shot next month. I will feel a lot better about going now even though we did cut back to 2 days for F&W. No kids, just the 2 of us and still wearing a mask when we need it.

 

[SwanVT2]

American Airlines is still allowing cancellations/changes (changes as long as you did not pick basic economy seats) and reinstatement of miles. I know because I cancelled my trip twice in the past 2 weeks.

We have basic seats booked for February. If we have to reschedule dobwe get charged? I couldn't find the fine print on their website. Perhaps I should just call.

 

[DisneyFave]

After agonizing over this decision for the past 10 days (while simultaneously agonizing over my kiddo’s preschool plans, ugh) I am deciding to cancel our early October trip. We are a family of 4, 2 vaxxed adults and 2 kids under 5.

Losing my $700 DVC Rental Store deposit is bad but I really am grieving over the quality time I longed to spend with my kiddos and hubby in a place I love so much, that makes us all so giddy, after a stressful and MONOTONOUS 18 months.

Last night I even cried about it because I just miss GOING PLACES (anywhere but home really) and making memories with my family. Seeing my kids giggle, being together and enjoying each other’s company instead of being cooped up inside.

My son is almost 5 and is the PERFECT age to explore parks with, too. I miss quality time with him and feel like he’s growing up too fast.

the one thing that’s making me feel better is that I am now scheduling a (refundable!!) trip for late winter.

 

[tinkerhon]

After agonizing over this decision for the past 10 days (while simultaneously agonizing over my kiddo’s preschool plans, ugh) I am deciding to cancel our early October trip. We are a family of 4, 2 vaxxed adults and 2 kids under 5.

Losing my $700 DVC Rental Store deposit is bad but I really am grieving over the quality time I longed to spend with my kiddos and hubby in a place I love so much, that makes us all so giddy, after a stressful and MONOTONOUS 18 months.

Last night I even cried about it because I just miss GOING PLACES (anywhere but home really) and making memories with my family. Seeing my kids giggle, being together and enjoying each other’s company instead of being cooped up inside.

My son is almost 5 and is the PERFECT age to explore parks with, too. I miss quality time with him and feel like he’s growing up too fast.

the one thing that’s making me feel better is that I am now scheduling a (refundable!!) trip for late winter.

Did the same- took some of the sting away from cancelling our August trip, by booking for Christmas- my kids (15 & 10) cant wait-
Almost made them forget about August ! (especially after getting "Cirque" tix!)

 

[rangerxenos]

I'm probably straying from the thread rules, but I think your research is very important. I have a good friend who is a Dr of Pharmacy at Vanderbilt Univ Medical Center and I specifically asked her about the news of a high ranking govt official getting that monoclonal antibody treatment despite no symptoms. She said that it's approved as treatment for use in patients with risk (so that's your husband), but it's not going to be readily available to all. It's probably a good thing to learn about, regardless of WDW plans.

We just hastily scheduled a trip for next month (due to some hoppers that expire that we didn't realize had), but I believe we won't be going. A friend with kids heading back to school on Monday reached out today about how she felt like Covid was just "closing in on them" because of how many people are dealing with it that she knows.

As for our hoppers, perhaps I'll call WDW and ask if the expiration can be extended.

Definitely call, I've found Disney is often really good to deal with, especially if you are nice to people over the phone.

 

[SG131]

FWIW, We went twice during COVID, in January 2021 and June 2021. In January, the parks were very crowd-controlled and social distancing was strict. Masks were everywhere except when seated at a restaurant and that was well-enforced. We felt WDW was doing an excellent job. In June, numbers had gone down so much that we felt very comfortable, even taking my older parents (everyone is fully vaccinated). We even enjoyed the blissful mask-free window of mid-June, when cases were SO LOW.
I would not go now, and will not until this is all over. In part, I feel WDW has just surrendered and thrown up their hands regarding the virus and is now desperately grabbing for cash: too crowded, masks barely in use, no testing sites (they had one in January on Disney property at an administration building, open to public). (News: cases are higher than ever! WDW: Let's open a buffet!)

I did a covid trip in November 2020 before any of us were vaccinated. I was a little paranoid on the plane (back when they were leaving middle seats open), but once I got to Disney I felt so safe. They were really enforcing masks, they were cleaning regularly, and there was plenty of space in restaurants and queues. I'm sad to see all of those protocols disappearing since my 4 yr old isn't vaccinated. If they still had those in place I would've 100% still gone in September. I just don't have the comfort level in Disney's protocols right now that I had in November. I'm still sad about missing one last opportunity to see HEA.

The points that are expiring I put toward a quick trip in Feb that may be mostly resort only (I say that now, but I'm not sure if I'm capable of resort days!). Fingers crossed that trip works out. Hopefully, my then 5 yr old will be able to be vaccinated so I won't be as worried since I don't think any of those safety protocols are coming back.

 

[maryj11]

Did the same- took some of the sting away from cancelling our August trip, by booking for Christmas- my kids (15 & 10) cant wait-
Almost made them forget about August ! (especially after getting "Cirque" tix!)

This is what we did. Just canceled our trip next week and already had booked week after Thanksgiving for a back up.
So we are now looking for flights.
I’m so disappointed .
After thinking about trying to avoid people along with wearing masks in the heat just wasn’t worth it. Now that masks are optional for outside rides and lines.
We will be going in November covid or not. At least if the covid is still bad wearing masks will be easier.

 

[mikerobrewer]

Have a 4-day trip planned beginning Sept 11 that was originally scheduled for last October but cancelled because of Covid. We have booked two 3BR grand villas and another studio for our family and some of my wife's family (total of 18 of us). We are all fully vaxxed except for my 3 grand kids which is of great concern to me and my wife but my son and daughter in law still want to go.

Their reasoning is we are going at a less crowded time, their kids are fine wearing masks and they'll be as careful as possible to avoid crowds, won't do rope drops, and use sanitizer before/after every ride. Also they say their school has a mask optional policy and more than 1/2 the kids aren't wearing masks so they're just as likely to get Covid from school as they are from WDW.

I'm not convinced but at this point we are going, will take as many precautions as possible, and hope for the best.

 

[kboo]

Their reasoning is we are going at a less crowded time, their kids are fine wearing masks and they'll be as careful as possible to avoid crowds, won't do rope drops, and use sanitizer before/after every ride. Also they say their school has a mask optional policy and more than 1/2 the kids aren't wearing masks so they're just as likely to get Covid from school as they are from WDW.

I had been spending a lot of time and energy being anxious about my under-12 kids' exposure, and particularly indoor dining (did not want to give up some of the indoor dining ADRs that we'd booked - Cali Grill, Topolino's, CRT ... ) We had gone twice during the pandemic (Christmas 2020, spring break 2021), both times we were masking indoors and out, so we know what that is like, in temps in the 90s (the spring break week got hot; over Christmas, we were happy to wear our face blankets because it got pretty cold). The family we'd been planning the trip with are on the fence about going (also with 1 under-12 kids, health care workers coming up on time to get boosted, and one works with a particularly vulnerable population), and haven't traveled much of anywhere during the pandemic.

Given where we live and our past experience at WDW during the pandemic, I think outdoor risk can be managed (there are a lot of tourists in NYC right now), and the indoor restaurants we've booked are all very large with decent air flow. And my kids have been going to masked, mostly indoor summer camps here - but then they sit unmasked for lunch with all the other unvaccinated kids in a smaller room, closer together ... so I don't think its all that different from what they're doing for lunch now.

 

[leeniewdw]

Given where we live and our past experience at WDW during the pandemic, I think outdoor risk can be managed (there are a lot of tourists in NYC right now), and the indoor restaurants we've booked are all very large with decent air flow. And my kids have been going to masked, mostly indoor summer camps here - but then they sit unmasked for lunch with all the other unvaccinated kids in a smaller room, closer together ... so I don't think its all that different from what they're doing for lunch now.

We're trying to make a Sept decision as well so have been looking at as many stats as I can (we don't have a go/no go date until early Sept as we have a room only reservation). When I look at Case Positivity Rate in FL as compared to where I live, it's double -- and I think where I live is high. Of course, people at disney are from all over, right? But how long have people been local/vacationing/dining indoors, etc. FL is also making it a little more difficult to know which direction they are heading since they only release once a week.

 

[tlcdoula]

I am all over the map on what to do with our upcoming trip. (we are planning Disneyland this trip no World because of the shorter flight) but everything is so uncertain I am worried about booking flights and them cancelled on us or changed so they won't line up properly with our time off etc. I haven't flown since coming home from mexico in early 2020. I am not sure how keen I am on having someone else sit next to me for the flight, do you book first class to have just 2 seats and pay the extra cost for a short flight.

 

[browneyedgirl1683]

After agonizing over this decision for the past 10 days (while simultaneously agonizing over my kiddo’s preschool plans, ugh) I am deciding to cancel our early October trip. We are a family of 4, 2 vaxxed adults and 2 kids under 5.

Losing my $700 DVC Rental Store deposit is bad but I really am grieving over the quality time I longed to spend with my kiddos and hubby in a place I love so much, that makes us all so giddy, after a stressful and MONOTONOUS 18 months.

Last night I even cried about it because I just miss GOING PLACES (anywhere but home really) and making memories with my family. Seeing my kids giggle, being together and enjoying each other’s company instead of being cooped up inside.

My son is almost 5 and is the PERFECT age to explore parks with, too. I miss quality time with him and feel like he’s growing up too fast.

the one thing that’s making me feel better is that I am now scheduling a (refundable!!) trip for late winter.

I can relate. My daughter is turning two and it feels like she's a baby forever because we haven't done any of those "watch her grow" things like let her walk around a petting zoo. We did Sesame Place and that was it for her entire existance. I'm hoping though that she and my 7 year old will both be more excited for our new trip we scheduled for February. Maybe there's more they will want to try. The toddler hates rides for now, so she can only be interested in doing more... and the 7 year old might want to try coasters.

 

[leeniewdw]

Last night I even cried about it because I just miss GOING PLACES (anywhere but home really) and making memories with my family. Seeing my kids giggle, being together and enjoying each other’s company instead of being cooped up inside.

My son is almost 5 and is the PERFECT age to explore parks with, too. I miss quality time with him and feel like he’s growing up too fast.

the one thing that’s making me feel better is that I am now scheduling a (refundable!!) trip for late winter.

Plan a picnic somewhere that it's a "trip". Go to a nice park somewhere with a lunch and make a big deal out of it. Even a state park with a picnic area and take a like "hike". Stop for ice cream on the way home.

I can relate. My daughter is turning two and it feels like she's a baby forever because we haven't done any of those "watch her grow" things like let her walk around a petting zoo. We did Sesame Place and that was it for her entire existance. I'm hoping though that she and my 7 year old will both be more excited for our new trip we scheduled for February. Maybe there's more they will want to try. The toddler hates rides for now, so she can only be interested in doing more... and the 7 year old might want to try coasters.

If it's any consolation, my kids went many times as pre-schoolers and elementary school kids. They have almost no specific memories of those trips. One of my son's got to go as a young HSer as part of trip related to a soccer tournament and that's really the only distinct memories he has of being there.

Also -- someone who went recently and mentioned mask-wearing, etc now says they tested positive for covid (they are vaxxed). It's on the "just back" thread. It's so very hard to make these decisions, but I almost feel stupid for having made one recently in Sept. (fully cancelable).