Here Now & Just Back WDW Reopening Experiences Including Park Hopping

[maui2k5]

We go next week and have 4 park days planned. I have day 1 and day 3 with MGM (I will never change) park passes. If we don't get ROR on day one, we have day 3 to fall back on. If we get it day 1, we may move day 3 some place else.

Plan on hopping to EPCOT every night after late afternoons at the pool.

I have thought about getting a hopper pass (which we normally do). The $300 premium is steep when you do not know for sure you will be able to hop to the park you want to in the afternoon.

 

[olive]

I have thought about getting a hopper pass (which we normally do). The $300 premium is steep when you do not know for sure you will be able to hop to the park you want to in the afternoon.

I don't think anyone has been prevented from hopping at all since reservations were mandated. I know it isn't a guarantee, but it made us feel better about hoppers.

 

[Ecomommy09]

I don't think anyone has been prevented from hopping at all since reservations were mandated. I know it isn't a guarantee, but it made us feel better about hoppers.

I’ve never had park hoppers, but I got it for my August trip. Naps sound lovely at 3pm

 

[olive]

I’ve never had park hoppers, but I got it for my August trip. Naps sound lovely at 3pm

Huge bonus. I am a big fan of the afternoon break!

 

[CampbellzSoup]

That’s for a different thread. But here’s theirpolicy if anyone is interested. It’s for vaccinated guests.

Based on the recently announced guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, we are modifying our policy regarding face coverings at SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando, and Discovery Cove. Face coverings will no longer be required for guests at SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando, and Discovery Cove who are fully vaccinated in accordance with CDC guidance. We will not require proof of vaccine, but ask our guests to respectfully comply with our revised policy. All SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando, and Discovery Cove park employees will be required to continue to wear face coverings at this time. The safety of our guests, Ambassadors and animals in our care remains our top priority. We will continue to monitor and address this changing environment as necessary.

oh I’m sorry I was just giving the differences as it comes to Disney won’t happen again!

 

[SwanVT2]

These threads about long lines are so depressing considering how expensive tickets are.

 

[VandVsmama]

Huge bonus. I am a big fan of the afternoon break!

our family always does an afternoon break!

 

[lovethattink]

These threads about long lines are so depressing considering how expensive tickets are.

I was at AK on Tuesday night. And in the last 3 hours we only had 5 minute waits for Triceratop spin, Dinosaur, Kali River Rapids, and Kilimanjaro Safari.

 

[SwanVT2]

I was at AK on Tuesday night. And in the last 3 hours we only had 5 minute waits for Triceratop spin, Dinosaur, Kali River Rapids, and Kilimanjaro Safari.

Well that is promising to hear. Thanks for the good news!

 

[Krisshay13]

These threads about long lines are so depressing considering how expensive tickets are.

I felt the same way.....for us, it was hit or miss. But, of course, the worst was Friday & Saturday. The lines do look worse than they actually are but, there are lines. We couldn't make it to the end of the day. so, if you can, I'm sure that is a good plan.
Still had a great time!!! Even before Covid, we have to visit during busier times so, it wasn't much different for us.

 

[loves to dive]

We go next week and have 4 park days planned. I have day 1 and day 3 with MGM (I will never change) park passes. If we don't get ROR on day one, we have day 3 to fall back on. If we get it day 1, we may move day 3 some place else.

Plan on hopping to EPCOT every night after late afternoons at the pool.

I did the same thing but mine was day 2 and day 4. I didn't get RoTR in the morning first day but did get it at 1 (while sitting at BD eating a Cobb Salad) for around 5:30. I left after lunch and rested in my room then headed back to HS for my BG and then went to Epcot. The park reservations were full so I couldn't switch my 2nd HS day but did get RoTR that morning when I tried. I spent the morning there and did the few rides I hadn't done on the previous day, my BG was called around 11:30 so I left after that for the pool and a nap then headed to Epcot. I went to Epcot for at least a few hours every single day. Rode every ride except Mission Space more than once and snacked at the booths. It was nice because I didn't have to worry about standing in long lines if I didn't want to because I knew I had a 2nd day at HS. The other days I did everything I wanted in AK in the morning (all the rides except River Rapids) and hopped to MK did a few rides, back to the room for a rest then hopped to Epcot. I got everything done by 1 on my MK day because I had done some of the rides I wanted to on my AK day. Every single day I went back to the room and either went to the pool or just to my room to rest.

 

[CampbellzSoup]

Well wrapped up my four days one in each park and boy were they all crowded…it legit felt like normal times… I couldn’t believe how crowded it was and I assumed more people would hang onto their masks, masked were without a doubt the minority.

Was May always considered busy times? I’ve been going to Disney for a while pre and post covid..I assume without shows, characters and fireworks to swallow people it’s just all packed.

 

[hereforthechurros]

That’s for a different thread. But here’s theirpolicy if anyone is interested. It’s for vaccinated guests.

Based on the recently announced guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, we are modifying our policy regarding face coverings at SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando, and Discovery Cove. Face coverings will no longer be required for guests at SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando, and Discovery Cove who are fully vaccinated in accordance with CDC guidance. We will not require proof of vaccine, but ask our guests to respectfully comply with our revised policy. All SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando, and Discovery Cove park employees will be required to continue to wear face coverings at this time. The safety of our guests, Ambassadors and animals in our care remains our top priority. We will continue to monitor and address this changing environment as necessary.

So in theory 40% of people visiting there should still be masked.

 

[LSUmiss]

These threads about long lines are so depressing considering how expensive tickets are.

And in the heat. We go next week & a few days are expected to hit 99 degrees .

 

[stephnerninnie1984]

These threads about long lines are so depressing considering how expensive tickets are.

I remember before COVID, FOP was typically a 2-3 hour wait any given day, Test track and Soarin’ always over 90 minutes, PETER PAN 90+ And 7DMT upwards of 2 hours. The wait times are nothing compared to a lot of the waits before. I feel like people forget that. I mean, you’re not wrong, the price IS depressing compared to the wait times but it’s no different now then in 2019 when I was a passholder. Prices were depressing then too. Either way, waiting or not, we always have a good time!

 

[LSUmiss]

I remember before COVID, FOP was typically a 2-3 hour wait any given day, Test track and Soarin’ always over 90 minutes, PETER PAN 90+ And 7DMT upwards of 2 hours. The wait times are nothing compared to a lot of the waits before. I feel like people forget that. I mean, you’re not wrong, the price IS depressing compared to the wait times but it’s no different now then in 2019 when I was a passholder. Prices were depressing then too. Either way, waiting or not, we always have a good time!

Right but with no fast pass there is no option but to wait or not ride. And why does DHS continue to have such short hours compared to the other parks ?

 

[scrappinginontario]

Right but with no fast pass there is no option but to wait or not ride. And why does DHS continue to have such short hours compared to the other parks ?

I'm looking at the balance of May hours and up until June 19th and MK is open for 13 hours each of those days. AK, DHS and Epcot are all open for 11 hours each day.

Possibly park hours have been updated lately as 3/4 parks are all open 11 hours each day?

 

[DisneyFive]

I remember before COVID, FOP was typically a 2-3 hour wait any given day, Test track and Soarin’ always over 90 minutes, PETER PAN 90+ And 7DMT upwards of 2 hours. The wait times are nothing compared to a lot of the waits before. I feel like people forget that. I mean, you’re not wrong, the price IS depressing compared to the wait times but it’s no different now then in 2019 when I was a passholder. Prices were depressing then too. Either way, waiting or not, we always have a good time!

I agree completely about the standby times you mention from the past, but that’s because you didn’t Fastpass them. Every single one of those rides you mentioned we would Fastpass, even day of, with at most a 25 minute wait.

With Park capacity opening, I think we will find the people saying “I love standby times right now“ going away completely and instead being replaced with super frustrated guests due to unavoidable long lines.

Dan

 

[Princess Katelet]

Just back a few hours ago. We were there from May 12-May 20. The weather was PERFECT, 72-82, NO RAIN and no lovebugs!

I've been to both Disney World and Disneyland many, many times, always for seven to ten days, and my feet never hurt and I never get sunburned. This trip my feet were killing me all week long and I was limping each morning when I first woke up, my calves were killing me and my shins hurt. My lower back also hurt a LOT this week and I never have back pain. Last but not least, I've never gotten sunburned at Disney. I determined the difference was all the standing, standing, standing in lines. In all previous trips we utilized FP all day long and just walked on and off rides. It was a lot of walking, but there was also a lot of sitting in ride vehicles, and walking is just far easier on the body than standing still. I believe the sunburn was due to the long lines outdoors. I did have an umbrella with me but admittedly did not always use it as it was a bit cumbersome and I kept hitting my daughter in the head with it and she was not pleased. My painful feet/legs and sunburn tell me how vastly different this trip was and how crowded with so few things to eat up the crowds there are, plus, of course, the lack of FP played a huge role in all the standing. Oh, and the bus situation added to that.

We waited about an hour many times for the bus back to Saratoga Springs. We waited more than an hour for Tower, FOP, and even Pirates one day. Average waits for headliners were 45 minutes except Thunder which you could count on to be under half an hour.

We had fun, but the place was PACKED and there was not enough for people to do and the lack of FPs was a disaster. We also felt there were not enough restaurants open and the ones that were open did not have a great variety. Mobile ordering is the BEST.

CMs were all friendly and kind, but they were not policing masks well at all. I got so tired of hearing all the attraction announcements say you had to wear a mask or you'd be asked to leave. That NEVER happened and no one ever told people to mask up once they were past that initial queue check. The amount of noses that were showing was awful, and there were plenty of chin wearers. too.

We discovered Earl of Sandwich this trip which was a MAJOR find. Just delicious, we got it five times!

We found ourselves very disappointed with everything closing so early, BUT the bus taking an hour to arrive so by the time we got back to our hotel we always just missed the hotel store closing by a few minutes. It was super frustrating to not have food options after 10:00 at night.

We rode Smugglers Run twice just by ourselves, at our request. The second time, May 18, the guy said yes, but to not expect that perk to last very long, which of course implied that distancing would soon be ending. He said until he was told otherwise, he could still give us our own ship though. Distancing on Soarin' changed while we were there...the plexilglass was removed and only one empty seat between parties. Plexiglass on the Safari and Frozen were still there when we rode.

Pirates was still being loaded every other row as of last night (May 19). Distancing in lines was mostly a joke. You were assigned a row of carousel horses on that ride. Small World was every other row. Splash was every other row. No idea on Jungle Cruise as we didn't wait in the huge line. The Tree House has no distancing despite narrow walkways and passages. Tom Sawyer raft only takes four parties and once you're on the island you can go anywhere, maskless. Skyway was still giving people their own gondola.

MCO was a crowded zoo, with many, many noses showing and even some unattended luggage that they never even brought bomb sniffing dogs to. They asked us and someone else, who was near it, if it was ours. No one claimed it so a security guard said, "All right, I'm calling it" and I expected a closure of the area and rerouting of gates and such, but instead a few people periodically looked it over without touching, conversed, went away, came back, eventually touched it, and eventually moved it behind a JetBlue counter at the gate! This was abandoned in the hallway leading from the center atrium of A to gates 1-9. We finally boarded our plane so I have no idea what actually happened to it, but it was two pieces of luggage, a roller and a smaller bag hooked over it.

Any questions just ask!

 

[Helvetica]

I did have a pretty good day after DHS. I toured the resort, checked out a grand villa and had a great time at Epcot.

One thing to keep in mind is that the Skyliner line seems to be getting longer. If you can drive back to your resort, drive. Hopefully this will improve once they add capacity to the Skyliner. They’re still only doing one party per car.

Edit: It took 45 minutes- 1 hour to get on the Epcot Skyliner back to the resort. This is a lot longer than it was the night before.