Dreaming of a vacation to Walt Disney World in sunny Orlando, Florida? Maybe this is a new idea, or possibly, you have been planning your trip since before your oldest was born, and this was going to be your year! But has 2020 been anyone’s year, really?!
I realize that if you have your heart set on visiting Walt Disney World, it might be really difficult to change your mind, and that is perfectly ok with me. My only hope is that this post will provide you with some realistic expectations to keep front of mind while you continue to plan and pack.
First, I understand that there are many different “types” of Disney travelers. Some people have a hard time convincing their friends that they haven’t sold their homes and moved to Orlando, because it seems that they are there so often. There are the guests who wait until all of their children are of the perfect age to appreciate the experience, and take one fully immersed vacation to Walt Disney World Resort, because they intend to visit only one time. Then there are many variations in between! As a family, I would say we fall in the middle, and tend to visit as a family every few years, as our kids shift through their developmental stages. For us, it is always so fun to experience the parks differently each time as our kids have different interests – and heights!
Second, I realize that everyone has very different thoughts on our current pandemic situation. The purpose of this post is not to debate whether or not people should travel during this time. Travel, when not lawfully restricted, is going to be a personal decision, and the intention of this is to provide you some experiences from a first hand perspective that might assist you in making the right decision for you and your unique circumstances.
Who should visit Walt Disney World right now? Put simply, people who have been before, and will go again.
You can read what to expect at Disney World During a pandemic in my list of 20 Ways Walt Disney World Resort is Different During a Pandemic.
Thanks to my job as a travel agent, I find myself on a Disney property several times a year. Don’t tell my children, but I don’t always take them with me. Sometimes I am just there gathering information to better serve my clients, but other times I take one or more of them with me for additional “research” purposes. In this case, I brought Buddy and Buggie with me, and left Babba home, since he just came with me in February, and because I was not certain that he would be able to comply with Disney’s policy of wearing a face covering for all guests two and older.
Can you handle wearing a mask that covers your nose and mouth, and has ear loops (no gaiter styles allowed) for twelve or more hours a day? If you feel that you could not, or would not be willing to do this, then plain and simple, you should not visit a Disney property until this is all past us. Some have asked if Disney will allow you to provide a medical exemption for mask use. The answer is, no, masks are a requirement at this time, and they are not offering any exemptions. They have asked that if you cannot wear a mask, that you wait to return to the magic until the mask requirement has been lifted.
Though you will find “Relaxation Stations” located around each of the parks, where you can sit without a mask on, otherwise, you must have your mask on at all times, inside and out, unless you are eating or drinking AND are stationary.
If you think you can wear a mask during a 100+ degree heat index day, then keep reading, this might be for you!
Do you love meeting characters? Let’s face it. Nothing puts me more in the Disney Magic spirit than having a one sided conversation with a non-verbal character in a small room with my toddler. My kids have an amazing Disney Character Encyclopedia book that they each use to collect character signatures, and even with as many times as we have gone, they still manage to find new characters each trip. Character meet and greets are on temporary hold. The character interactions are more impromptu these days. They include character cavalcades (which apparently just means small parade). You never know when they are happening, or who will be included. If you happen to be nearby when they come through, then you might be lucky enough to catch a blown kiss.
Yes, this temporary pause also includes most of the meals featuring characters. If you are ok leaving the clickable Sharpies at home, then keep reading. 
Would you cry if the fireworks were to be rained out? Just think of the foreseeable future as one giant metaphorical rainstorm. There are no fireworks, or parades, because these magical extras cause people to gather together in a tight space. Couple that with it being dark, not allowing cast members to monitor mask compliance, fireworks are out for now. Is this going to rain on your parade and fireworks all at once? Then you should start thinking twice about this.
Are you a night owl, or like to take breaks in the middle of the day? With the park hours currently drastically shortened, it doesn’t make much sense to take the time to go back to your resort for a mid-day break, unless your hotel is in the immediate vicinity of the park you are at for the day. With Magic Kingdom closing before my pre-schoolers bedtime, leaves you and everyone else staying at your resort with an awkward amount of time in the evening. This causes an influx of guests trying to mobile order food at the food court, and swimming in the pools.
Do you love rides? Are you like my mother, who we poke a little fun at to this day, about her nearly pushing kids down to get in line for It’s a Small World, because she loves that ride so much. You can have a love for more highly demanded rides, such as Space Mountain, Peter Pan, and Pirates of the Caribbean, and find wait times consistently around 20 minutes or less during the week, due to the limited park capacity at this time. (We found the weekends to be a heavier guest volume, and without Fast Passes, experienced lines a little harder to navigate.) 
After having personally visited Walt Disney World during this pandemic, my conclusion is that if you have very young children who will want to see characters, or if this is your first trip to Walt Disney World, or this would be your last trip, I regretfully recommend that you wait. If you have been to Walt Disney World a few times, and you also plan to go back again, then run, don’t walk – well scratch that, we all know that you will get the kindest scolding from a cast member for running – Pack your bags, and head on down to Walt Disney World.
If you are looking for a travel advisor who will provide just the right amount of help whether this is your first or fiftieth trip, reach out to me and ask about the FREE Travel Planning I provide my clients. Jessica.Priem@OrangeGroveTravel.com
