lil99chris said:

---

Getting close to 60 days prior to Christmas. If you are interested in a Disney trip in 2021, contact me. There are still resort options available.

---

How much would a week long vacation be in 2022? All the parks, all inclusive for two.

Sea Speed said:

---

Any idea if they are going to let up on mask requirements any time soon?

---

quoting this just so it isnt at the bottom of the page where posts go to die.

Tibbers said:

---

lil99chris said:

---

Getting close to 60 days prior to Christmas. If you are interested in a Disney trip in 2021, contact me. There are still resort options available.

---

How much would a week long vacation be in 2022? All the parks, all inclusive for two.

---

Send me an email at csmith at travelwithontheroad.com

Sea Speed said:

---

Sea Speed said:

---

Any idea if they are going to let up on mask requirements any time soon?

---

quoting this just so it isnt at the bottom of the page where posts go to die.

---

I have not heard any updates. I imagine they are going to keep the current rules and look at dropping the mask requirements in the spring.

Agreed. Would have loved to take a big family vacation there this Christmas, but we're not paying to be miserable in a muzzle. By the time they come to their senses, it will be hot weather again.

yep. was gonna give the kids a disney trip for christmas and leave the next day but thats completely out so long as they still require masks. just beyond moronic.

Just to be clear….these are the current facemask requirements.




https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/experience-updates/#drawer-card-faceCoverings

Right. Like when meeting princesses or standing in line for most rides.

Yep. 75% of the time or more. Yet deaths are decreasing in the midst of packed football stadiums. It's ALL theater

seeing that we're probably playing in tampa or orlando, can you still plan a disney/universal vacation starting a day or two after Christmas?

There is still availability, but I would take action soon. Send me an email and I can see what is available. The other factor is park reservation availability. Below is a snapshot of the current availability.

https://disneyworld.disney.go.com/availability-calendar/?segments=tickets,resort,passholder&defaultSegment=tickets

We are supposed to go in February, but cannot/will not wear masks. This is our last chance to go and stay on property without having to split into two rooms or spend a ton of money (family of 6). Also our last chance to go when our youngest is still free. We even have a free day at the parks that they gave us from some problems we had on our last visit. It is looking less and less like we will be able to go. Makes me sad for my littlest ones.

Yea, I've got 5 free nights in a Hilton property to use and now I'm trying to scramble to find something else before I lose the status.

Just got back from Walt Disney World. The mask rule was irritating but to be honest, we didn't put them on until entering a ride building (not in the outdoor ride queue) and pulled them down once the ride started.

There were some cast members who were adamant about reminding people but I think even the most ardent rule-followers are losing steam. At Mickey's Very Merry Christmas party, for example, most cast members were allowing people inside ride buildings and on the rides without masks. Same with the Skyliner at night.

It was my first time at the Epcot Food and Wine Festival. Loved it.

Not a Stars War fan, so I didn't really get Rise of the Resistance and the other stuff.

But Remy's Ratatouille Adventure and Mickey and Minnie's Runaway Railroad were both awesome rides. Good use of technology and clever story-telling. Walt would approve.

You are actually willing to put one of those things on your kids though. I and many others, are not. Thats the point. We weren't even going to fly in because I'm not making my kids wear a dumb mask.

Also I dont want to further derail OPs posts, so will just be keeping an eye out on here for when the rule is lifted. Hopefully soon!

Sea Speed said:

---

You are actually willing to put one of those things on your kids though. I and many others, are not. Thats the point. We weren't even going to fly in because I'm not making my kids wear a dumb mask.

---

Well, we didn't have any kids with us. But I get what you are saying.

For those thinking about a Disney Cruise in 2022...

https://disneycruise.disney.go.com/why-cruise-disney/experience-updates/us/

Not Disney, but universal florida very few are wearing anywhere

Correct. Masks are "encouraged" indoors at Universal. I also book Universal vacations for those interested.

I was at Universal a few months ago. Great experience and plenty of table service dining options.

https://www.universalorlando.com/web/en/us/plan-your-visit/safety-faqs

Our family of 7 just returned from a 4 day trip to WDW. The masking indoors was a huge PITA and everyone we met was quite strict about it. Yet you're still stuck in queues asses to elbows. My 4yo was kicked out of a store at Hollywood Studios the first day for taking hers off to take a drink.

We stayed in the resort but off property at Wyndham Grand Bonnet Creek. Awesome hotel and great pools and other amenities. Spent the last full day just bumming around the hotel and shopping at Disney Springs.

We had gotten plenty of tips from my wife's cousin who goes a few times a year. Although she hadn't gone since the introduction of the new Genie+ "fast pass". What a chore to do and it keeps you on your phone a lot throughout the day.

Just got back from a Disney World trip a few weeks ago. Kids had a great time and we did as well...but I hated Genie+. You spend a ton of money to get there and then you feel like you have no choice but to bite the bullet and get that plus lighting lane passes. It was irritating and required me to be on my phone constantly. After checking in for a ride, you get your phone out and start looking for the next one.

We were planning to go again next year but have since changed our mind based on the recent experience. This is a short-term positive for their balance sheet that will build a lot of residual resentment.

We did a short trip to Universal last year. They have really stepped up their game and are a legit destination on their own. Still, you don't see the large family groups with three generations like you do at Disney. It will be interesting to see how this plays out.

Totally agree about the genie+. Seems like Disney hired someone like the dearly departed blood sucking lawyer from Jurassic park.

https://getyarn.io/yarn-clip/05871176-a9c1-4fb0-8ee7-0e9d45c44258#iaPzlNqM

interesting. unfortunate reviews for genie (but not surprising). i take my kids, esp the teenagers, to get them off of their stinking phones!

Seven of us going 4/30-5/7. Any tips?

I'd think those are dates that have lower crowds unless there is a special event, South American spring break, etc.

If you're going to do genie+, learn the app inside and out. If you aren't staying at a Disney property, you can't book any genie + or individual ride tickets until you get in the park. If you are staying on any Disney property you can book at 7am. Those not staying on property have limited reservation options since so many are taken by 7:15 am.

If you don't mind getting to the parks by opening time, don't waste your first + reservation of the day for a very early time - use those early times to stand for the shorter lines in the early AM. Likewise, don't make it too late either - if your first + reservation isn't until noon then you can't make others until you've used that noon reservation, then other times end up filling up. It is a balancing act.

Also w/plus, as soon as you've checked in to your reserved attraction time, open your app and start looking immediately for your next + reservation. You can usually start this within a few seconds of scanning into your current + reservation line. They make more spots available throughout the day so keep monitoring.

We went and ended up paying extra for several rides that otherwise you'd need to be at the park at rope drop or wait in line 2+ hours (Ratatoullie, Rise of the Resistance, and Mickey & Minnie's Runaway Railroad). These have "individual lightening lane" times that can be reserved, and those rides are NOT eligible for the genie + service.

It was worth it to us but we're only 2 people. RoR was $15 PER PERSON. Other paid reservations ranged from $7 per person to $9 per person. We valued time over money and were willing to pay the upcharges so that we didn't spend hour after hour after hour of our vacation in long lines. Then we'd use genie+ to secure entry times for other rides.

It sucks how they've added significant costs for convenience, especially if you're on a budget. If budget isn't a factor it is nice to be able to maximize your time by paying more.

Really appreciate this! We are on a budget but not on a budget. Similar to you, we'd rather maximize time at the parks and rather not stand in lines so we'd rather pay to move up. We haven't gone to Disney since they closed it down (left the day before they closed) so we weren't sure what it's like now with Genie.

I'm at WDW right now for the last time for a LONG time.

It's never been more expensive to go (thanks Lightning Lane) and have never done so little (crowds).. and the mask NAZI's are RELENTLESS!!!!!

Nearly anything now has a buy up option. From Candy Crush on your phone, to topping on your steak, VIP concert experience, quicker crops in Farmville, etc. To be honest, Disney is one of the last hold outs. Universal had buyup line skipping options YEARS before Disney.

I am not saying its good or bad, but its the current reality. For budgeting, would be nice if they adopted something similar to airline. Ticket to get in the gate, then price per ride. Wait, they did that... once upon a time:

https://www.yesterland.com/abcde.html

BTW - in those days riding Its a Small World was an extra $4-$5 per head.

We went the week after Thanksgiving to avoid the worst of the holiday crowds. We did not buy Genie+ but did buy ILL for Rise of the Resistance and Remy which were absolutely worth it. We rope dropped early guest entry for animal kingdom and had ridden FoP, safari, and Everest twice by 10am. We park hopped to MK where crowds were much worse. That is the park that is likely worth the Genie+ investment, especially if you have kids. (We didn't have any with us)

We rope dropped DHS the next day and went straight to SDD since we had ILL for Rise. Rise was down most of the morning, and seems to break regularly so that is well worth the ILL investment to avoid wasting hours of your day in line. If your window passes while the ride is down it automatically updates in your app to an all day availability. We park hopped to Epcot and then came back to DHS. Strongly recommend DHS after dark - crowds thin out (zero wait for ToT and the view at night was awesome) and galaxys edge at night was empty and beautiful. We jumped in line for SDD at 8:45 and that's such a great ride at night.

We also did the MK after hours party and rode everything with no lines, especially while most of the crowd was watching fireworks or the first parade. That party was scaled back from previous Mickey Cmas parties, but we still really enjoyed it.

I really missed the old fast pass system - it was nice to know what times your passes were ahead of your vacation and then be able to plan around it. Getting up at 6:45am, with an eye on the world clock to book the ILL EXACTLY at 7am was a stressful way to start the day. If you're not on property, you're not getting an ILL for rise or genie+ for SDD, they're gone within minutes of 7am. Definitely get to know the apps and the system ahead of time - we were watching wait times and return times the days before to understand the crowds. I did *NOT* like the new system at all but if you can still max your time in the park by getting up early.

Indoor mask requirements were absolutely no big deal. Wear it on your wrist, pop it on once you get inside and off when you leave. Universal has NO requirements.

We took one day to check out the gingerbread house at the GF and the decorations at the Polynesian. Spent a couple hours on the patio and at Grog's grotto which was relaxing and super fun. The drinks and atmosphere were awesome.

the benefits of planning ahead. well done

Appreciate the tips. The last time we went (week before the shutdown) it was just one kid and now we have two so honestly not expecting too many rides. More so just walking around and "seeing" stuff. One thing the wife was curious about was how are they doing the character pictures? Like if we wanted to go see Mexican Donald or Gaston, are they still doing those?

Will be happy to help out with booking Disney or Universal travel. I keep up-to-date on all news regarding mask updates, ride updates, dining, etc.

I can help as much or as little as you would like. If there is an issue, I have contacts that can assist. If there is a promotion announced, I will be on top of it to apply to your vacation.

My services are free and you will be helping out an Aggie small business!

Csmith@travelwithontheroad.com