OT-Disney World

ColbyLang said:

TideEggHead said:

@ColbyLang We just got back from Disney on Saturday. Last week was a lot busier than we thought it was going to be. I would highly suggest the genie + option if you can manage. Some of the wait times for the more popular rides were 70 minutes, 90 min, 100, 120. The Ratatouille ride in EPCOT was never less than a 70 minute wait.

Currently, there are quite a few quick service restaurants that make you mobile order (chick fil a style) then pick your food up. So you will need to have the Disney app to order. These will have the phone icon that pop up when looking at dining options on the Disney app. Normally, these restaurants have a walk up line to order but now it is mobile order only. Flame tree bbq at animal kingdom, Pinocchio Village Haus and Caseys Corner at MK, Regal Eagle Smokehouse at EPCOT to name a few.

Masks are not required outdoors but are required indoors except when eating etc...

I would suggest trying to get close to main street for the firework show at MK if you plan on staying. Get there about 1 hour before the show to get a decent spot. We started looking about 30 minutes before and it was madness, we had to watch from a non-ideal location.

Plan to stay for the firework show at EPCOT, it is worth it. Try to get a spot near the Rose & Crown Pub in the UK area.

My brother and his wife + 4 kids there now. He said it’s insanely busy. Stupidly booked multiple character meals. Ya know, over pay and a character stands 10’ from you due to covid. They Amazon Fresh delivered breakfast items and fruit. I consider that a smart play (someone has to have told them to do that. They ain’t that smart). 

Oh yea the character meals! We saw some people doing those, like you said Mickey was 10’ away and only stayed a few minutes. Like you, I would stay far away from those until/if things get back to normal. Also, our son had to have the $30 Mickey bubble wand, we’ll it lasted about a week haha. Oh well he really enjoyed it. We still had a lot of fun but the crowds were definitely there too. At least with staying on site you get early access!

If you like fireworks then definitely catch the display at Epcot, assuming they still do it.

My Beautiful Wife loves DW, and would be an awesome source for where yo go and what to do. PM if interested.

My wife is a Disney travel agent, she/we've been a bunch. Feel free to pm me if you have any questions, we'll help any way we can

We visited twice, flew first time and drove second. Driving was more fun for us.
Can’t give any Disney advice since it must have changed tons since our last visit.

Couple of memorable challenges…

On first visit our then youngest got chicken pox on day 2 or 3, glad we had travel insurance that paid for insane last minute air fares for swmbo to fly home with her.

Second trip was driving with printed map pre interwebz. Knowing in advance which state we would stay for each night on route, we would drop in their welcome centre right after crossing state border to pick up guidebooks loaded with motel/attraction/restaurant info/coupons, pick a motel and book with their discount coupon. On one occasion I didn’t bother to prebook, the front desk guy refused the coupon and demanded rack rate…no problemo, we went to a restaurant across the parking lot, while waiting for food I called the motel and the lady who answered gladly accepted the coupon. When we returned the guy was uncooperative but the lady came out from the back office and shut him up, the satisfaction was priceless   Interestingly, another couple with young kids were checking in too and paid about double IIRC.

Visited our youngest's family today and Disney discussion came up. Turned out we visited Disney three times over the years (thought it was two earlier, typical senior moment).

He shared this amazing customer service episode with us...
Few years ago his friend's young family were there. They were still in the parking lot when their young daughter vomited and made a royal mess. They informed the attendant that they needed to return to hotel to clean up and asked for permission to reenter without paying for parking again. The employee asked them to pull aside and wait...lo and behold, before long a Nascar-like crew showed up with water tank and cleaning supplies. The crew cleaned everything up, including the rental car's interior, provided use of shower facility, and gave the little girl fresh change of clothing from the gift shop!

^^^ Great writeup and photos. Only disappointment? Hotel lobby cage is empty 

@EzraBrooks

They were at a maxed reduced capacity when we were there. When we asked what reduced meant relative to normal operating capacity, they would not disclose percentages.