The Walt Disney World Resort Thread: Splashed for the Last Time

Discussion in 'The Mainboard' started by CF3234, Feb 26, 2020.

  1. afb

    afb Spoiler Alert: Pawnee, IN may not be on a map.
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    one thing will stay true: getting a rise boarding pass will continue to be a shit show
     
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  2. Todd Bonzales

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    Have you been back since March?
     
  3. afb

    afb Spoiler Alert: Pawnee, IN may not be on a map.
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    not to DHS

    I went to epcot and mk last week for about an hour each. But my days off are midweek and midweek it is absurdly dead. I've heard weekends are a bit crowded and I wouldn't be comfortable with that.

    I was easily far away from anyone. Didnt ride anything, didnt go in any buildings, didnt touch anything, so it was basically like walking around the neighborhood at that point
     
  4. (Z)

    (Z) Well-Known Member
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    Yep. Just had to rebook resort for December. This trip has been a nightmare :facepalm:

    On bright side, got moved to Grand Floridian for same price.
     
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  5. Todd Bonzales

    Todd Bonzales Sex with old ladies for money aaaand bear traps.
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    Poly was the backup plan for my parents stay if I couldn’t get them in. Thankfully it worked out. That would’ve sucked
     
  6. (Z)

    (Z) Well-Known Member
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    Yeah, as long as we were on the monorail, I was fine, so it was just a hassle more than anything. I’d be about ready to shut the thing down for a couple of years if my daughters weren’t asking about it every 6 days.

    Hope some more character dining opens up for my little one in the next couple of months. Don’t know if it will though.
     
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  7. Todd Bonzales

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    Here’s another bonus — they just finished the walkway from GF to Magic Kingdom, so that’s really cool. It’s a bit of a walk, but that’s a really nice thing to have now.
     
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  8. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Going at the end of this month with a buddy to get away for his ex-wife's bday weekend. It's going to be a bit different as we are planning to play golf each morning:
    Friday- Golf at Palm course then Hollywood studios
    Sat- Golf at LBV then Epcot
    Sun- Golf at Magnolia then Epcot

    We wanted to mix it up but unfortunately the park reservations were booked on the weekend for everything that wasn't Epcot. Now need to figure out how rides work and if we can book any rides ahead of time.
     
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  9. lazy bum

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    Glad they're taking this time to refurbish the Poly...but I was eyeing it for next year after Thanksgiving for my daughter's first trip and now it'll be an even harder get with people wanting the see it redone.
     
  10. afb

    afb Spoiler Alert: Pawnee, IN may not be on a map.
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    no FP

    everything (except for Rise) is stand by only
     
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  11. DelapThrows

    DelapThrows Comforter, Philosopher, and Lifelong Mate
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    We have reservations for 3 days (MK, Epcot, DHS) at the end of September (Sunday-Tuesday) still... when you say "crowded" how crowded do you mean? I fully anticipate cancelling and rescheduling, but I won't until right before
     
  12. afb

    afb Spoiler Alert: Pawnee, IN may not be on a map.
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    I haven't personally been on a weekend but friends have and they've said that it doesnt feel much different than pre-pandemic.

    If you could do Tues-Thur, you'd probably have a better experience.
     
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  13. Ray McKigney

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    My wife and I indulged a little too much last night and almost sprung for a last minute birthday trip for my daughter for mid-October. Going to have a reckoning this morning about whether to make it happen. I am super super unsure about it and, frankly, not particularly comfortable with the idea. But my wife was pretty amped about the concept last night and I think we end up trying to make it happen.

    Make me feel good, TMB.
     
  14. Todd Bonzales

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    It’s the cleanest it has ever been there by a landslide.

    They are BEGGING for people to be there and they’re treating every customer like gold.

    Lines are way down.
     
  15. Ray McKigney

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    This is good. You are a heluva swell fella and deserve all good things.
     
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  16. GovNole

    GovNole Well-Known Member

    I went there at the end of July and it was amazing. No lines, everything was well organized, and clean. I would 100% go back right now.
     
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  17. Ray McKigney

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    :bananallama::beerchug:

    Keep it coming fellas
     
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  18. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    If your family is low risk and willing to essentially self quarantine or get tested after going home, go for it. October is a wonderful time to go.
     
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  19. Ray McKigney

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    yeah we are low risk and a 2 week quarantine upon return was definitely discussed as a requirement if we do this.

    We surprised our daughter with a birthday trip last October and we are looking to capture that magic again. I had never been before and didn’t really have a prior relationship with Disney at all. Boy has that changed.
     
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  20. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    this is obviously not the year, but surprising a kid with a christmas trip to Disney will top it. Nothing better than WDW at Christmas time. Weather is great, Christmas decorations up, etc. It's amazing.
     
  21. Ray McKigney

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    We just said fuck it and we are now booked. 4 nights at the GF. Now we need to parse out what parks to visit. MK for sure for day of daughter’a birthday. Need to figure out Sunday and Monday. Probably AK Sunday and DHS Monday, although I think it will be hard to not go to MK on our first full day. May just have to do 2 days at MK and the other at AK.
     
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  22. Todd Bonzales

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    Make sure you reserve your park day as soon as possible.
     
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  23. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    I will be down there next week with a buddy. His divorce is close to being finalized and its his soon-to-be ex's bday weekend so he wanted to get out of town. We are playing golf each morning (Palm, LBV, then Magnolia) then heading to the parks in the afternoon (HS, Epcot, then Epcot). We are both playing the parks plan by ear as we are both a bit nervous about COVID issues.

    Also, earlier this week my sister informed me that she is taking my niece (5/6) and nephew (4) to Disney in at the end of October for Halloween and my niece's bday. So I will be heading back down there a month later as I want to be there for their first visit. I am not thrilled about her taking the little ones during the pandemic bc a) concerns about COVID and b) so much has changed at Disney they won't get the full experience. Per her, this is an "appetizer" trip with a bigger trip to be planned in about 2 years. We will see. Either way, I am still excited to see at least some of the magic of Disney through their eyes. Her, my BIL, and the little ones are staying in one room at Caribbean Beach and my parents and I are staying in another. The plan is MK, HS, then MK.
     
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  24. afb

    afb Spoiler Alert: Pawnee, IN may not be on a map.
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    That may not be the same this year :twocents:
     
  25. lazy bum

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    They’re still decorating, right? Just no party?

    Our tradition is to go for a yearly trip the week after Thanksgiving for the Christmas stuff but my wife is pregnant so no go this year. Killing me seeing all these crowd reports.
     
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  26. afb

    afb Spoiler Alert: Pawnee, IN may not be on a map.
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    No dreamlights and no telling how much decor they do and if it’s all parks or just main st at MK. For Halloween decor they don’t have everything in town square so I’d assume they limit Xmas decor as well.

    The crowd reports are kinda overblown now. Since Labor Day they increased capacity bc it’s definitely more full than it was in July/august.
     
  27. lazy bum

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    You mean candlelight? Read that was cancelled.
     
  28. Jack Parkman

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    they not doing mickeys merry Christmas?
     
  29. lazy bum

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    Nope, cancelled last week I think.
     
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  30. Jack Parkman

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    mother f..
     
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  31. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    Yep, both of the parties (Halloween and Christmas) were cancelled. I imagine they will still have all the decorations up but no specific parties, shows, etc....
     
  32. CF3234

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    Right. That’s why I said this wasn’t the year for it.
     
  33. afb

    afb Spoiler Alert: Pawnee, IN may not be on a map.
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    No I mean dreamlights. Those are the Christmas lights on the castle. They’re not doing them this year.
     
  34. afb

    afb Spoiler Alert: Pawnee, IN may not be on a map.
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    Not all of the Halloween decor was put up
     
  35. DelapThrows

    DelapThrows Comforter, Philosopher, and Lifelong Mate
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    So we are not cancelling our trip (Sunday-Tuesday at the end of September). We'll be at Hollywood Studios on a Monday... can someone explain to me (like I'm 5) what I need to do vis a vis the Star Wars stuff?
     
  36. afb

    afb Spoiler Alert: Pawnee, IN may not be on a map.
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    before getting to the park make sure your party/family are all linked through the My Disney Experience app so you can add one another for the ride

    be in the park at opening hours

    cold open the app (make sure the MDE app is not open, and open it from your home screen) right at 10:00 am (assuming that's when the park opens) and you'll see the Rise of the Resistance icon which you tap then add your party
     
    #886 afb, Sep 18, 2020
    Last edited: Sep 18, 2020
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  37. Ray McKigney

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    We are supposed to be leaving Sunday and my anxiety levels are fairly high at the moment. Florida completely opening up recently concerns me, as does flying. I was also reading how the parks are starting to fill back up again, so the advantage that existed in July/August/September w/r/t wait times may not be as great any more.

    Any Florida folks have current insights? We can still cancel and get our money back, I believe. My wife remains not particularly concerned.
     
  38. CF3234

    CF3234 Fan of: Bandwagons
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    afb is the best one to answer your questions, but I know that Disney hasn't lifted any restrictions.
     
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  39. DelapThrows

    DelapThrows Comforter, Philosopher, and Lifelong Mate
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    We went last week (Sunday-Tuesday, Epcot-Hollywood Studios-Magic Kingdom):

    The good:
    - Mask compliance was at 100% in the parks, no lie.
    - Physical spacing in lines/eateries is solid and in excess of 6' wherever possible
    - Physical spacing on rides is high, you will often get your own boat/cart/whatever for you and your family
    - Epcot and Magic Kingdom, especially, were not crowded. I've never been to the MK with so few people. Longest wait of the day was 25ish minutes and most rides is was 10ish.
    - Temp Check/Ticketing was quick and easy

    The bad:
    - Hollywood Studios felt more crowded, simply because of the layout of the park. Lot more narrowing of crowds, with only one way to get to certain places, etc.
    - Rise of Resistance was still (even with reduced crowd) a complete crapshoot to get on (we luckily got onto party #108 and we were one of the last groups of the day to go through)

    I was initially skeptical, but my wife pushed hard for us to go. I honestly felt safe except for a few moments at Hollywood Studios where there were just too many people around us.
     
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  40. duc15

    duc15 Hey Nong Man
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    Booked our flights for late March
     
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  41. Ray McKigney

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    this is helpful and makes me feel a little better about things.
    Thanks for your input.

    To add on: one thing I think allowed me to justify the risk internally was that we are going to be at the parks on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday, as opposed to the weekend. Seems like our experience should mirror yours, assuming I don’t put the kibosh on the whole thing.
     
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  42. afb

    afb Spoiler Alert: Pawnee, IN may not be on a map.
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    Weekdays are much better than weekends but they’ve definitely increased daily capacity
     
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  43. CoastalOrange

    CoastalOrange Well-Known Member
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    :tebow:
     
    #893 CoastalOrange, Oct 6, 2020
    Last edited: Oct 7, 2020
  44. Ray McKigney

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    On the bus headed to the GF. Animal Kingdom tomorrow, MK Tuesday and DHS Wednesday.

    Pumped, but still a little anxious. Hoping that will subside once we get going tomorrow. Most importantly my daughter is super pumped, which is all that matters really.
     
  45. Todd Bonzales

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    Have a great time!
     
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  46. Artoo

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    Don't die
     
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  47. Ray McKigney

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    Thanks!
     
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  48. DelapThrows

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  49. jplaYa

    jplaYa CHAMPZY/SMOLTZY/CHELSEA
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    My brother and sister-in-law go multiple times a year and are down there right now. They said it’s packed in relation to what they thought it would be.

    I was a little surprised to hear that, but it may be due to them opening up more.

    They may also have been a little more miffed since it’s rained a lot.
     
  50. afb

    afb Spoiler Alert: Pawnee, IN may not be on a map.
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    the july/august no crowds are long gone
     
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