Covid July ‘22 (PCE)

[piratecat]

Jul 14, 2022 11:14:16 GMT -6 doublestuf said:

Jul 14, 2022 9:32:51 GMT -6 piratecat said:

My ILs really want to book a Disney trip for next February and I still feel so worried about COVID. People have been to Disney successfully, right? Flying with no mask mandate?? With a newly-masking 2YO??

We have our first ever trip planned for this November. I feel nervous too and we've been super cautious this whole time, but I really want the kids to go while they are still prime age (closer to 7.5 and 4.5 by then). We are close enough to drive though.

We are staying in a suite at Art of Animation, so we will have access to a fridge and microwave. My kids are annoying eaters anyways, so this just helps us feed them easier. My plan is to either eat outside or bring it back to our room.

I'm not a Disney person and neither is my 5YO but the family sold me on MEAL PLANS. 5 days of not having to feed my kids myself. Apparently meal plans are suspended due to COVID though? 

[richard]

We went to WDW in April, had a great time and didn't get Covid. We masked indoors (and were like the 1% of people who did) but not outdoors at all. We only ate one meal inside a restaurant. We mostly ate outside or did some carryout back to our room.

We did fly when there was still a mask policy, but to be honest with you, everyone else took their masks off for the beverage/snack service for like 20 minutes anyway. (We didn't.)

It can be done; you just have to make peace with being the only masked ones and ignoring other people's behavior otherwise you won't have a good time. And then to me, it's not worth the $ to be nervous/upset the whole time.

[richard]

Jul 14, 2022 11:24:19 GMT -6 piratecat said:

Jul 14, 2022 11:14:16 GMT -6 doublestuf said:

We have our first ever trip planned for this November. I feel nervous too and we've been super cautious this whole time, but I really want the kids to go while they are still prime age (closer to 7.5 and 4.5 by then). We are close enough to drive though.

We are staying in a suite at Art of Animation, so we will have access to a fridge and microwave. My kids are annoying eaters anyways, so this just helps us feed them easier. My plan is to either eat outside or bring it back to our room.

I'm not a Disney person and neither is my 5YO but the family sold me on MEAL PLANS. 5 days of not having to feed my kids myself. Apparently meal plans are suspended due to COVID though? 

There are no meal plans, but I don't get what you're saying. You don't have to make food yourself without a meal plan? The restaurants are all still there, lol.

[piratecat]

Jul 14, 2022 11:34:52 GMT -6 richard said:

Jul 14, 2022 11:24:19 GMT -6 piratecat said:

I'm not a Disney person and neither is my 5YO but the family sold me on MEAL PLANS. 5 days of not having to feed my kids myself. Apparently meal plans are suspended due to COVID though? 

There are no meal plans, but I don't get what you're saying. You don't have to make food yourself without a meal plan? The restaurants are all still there, lol.

Haha yes, that's true. They just really sold me on the ease of having meal plans. I will not be cooking or packing snacks regardless. 

[sifl]

I definitely feel like most of the world around me has decided to just stop worrying about Covid. Not like truly believing it’s over, but just done caring. A kind of burnout. Even among my science-y friends and colleagues I have to say, “We are still very Covid cautious so…” Thankfully no one is taking it personally or telling us we don’t need to mask anymore, but it does feel lonely.

[richard]

Jul 14, 2022 11:36:44 GMT -6 piratecat said:

Jul 14, 2022 11:34:52 GMT -6 richard said:

There are no meal plans, but I don't get what you're saying. You don't have to make food yourself without a meal plan? The restaurants are all still there, lol.

Haha yes, that's true. They just really sold me on the ease of having meal plans. I will not be cooking or packing snacks regardless. 

I will say that we did the meal plan the first time we went and didn't this last time and I barely noticed the difference. Between mobile ordering on the app with my saved credit card and Apple pay for places without mobile order, they make it very easy to spend money.

[byjove]

...

[sifl]

Jul 14, 2022 12:50:08 GMT -6 byjove said:

...

Oh? Nice to finally hear from the WH on this. Details, please!

[doublestuf]

Jul 14, 2022 11:24:19 GMT -6 piratecat said:

Jul 14, 2022 11:14:16 GMT -6 doublestuf said:

We have our first ever trip planned for this November. I feel nervous too and we've been super cautious this whole time, but I really want the kids to go while they are still prime age (closer to 7.5 and 4.5 by then). We are close enough to drive though.

We are staying in a suite at Art of Animation, so we will have access to a fridge and microwave. My kids are annoying eaters anyways, so this just helps us feed them easier. My plan is to either eat outside or bring it back to our room.

I'm not a Disney person and neither is my 5YO but the family sold me on MEAL PLANS. 5 days of not having to feed my kids myself. Apparently meal plans are suspended due to COVID though? 

I read several places that the meal plan wasn't worth it, especially if you have picky and light eaters, which we do. I would love to go with nary a worry about a snack or a meal, but COVID or not, that really isn't realistic with my youngest.

But I totally hear you. It still feels like a huge break to not have to meal plan or do a big shopping trip for a week.

[piratecat]

Jul 14, 2022 13:54:02 GMT -6 doublestuf said:

Jul 14, 2022 11:24:19 GMT -6 piratecat said:

I'm not a Disney person and neither is my 5YO but the family sold me on MEAL PLANS. 5 days of not having to feed my kids myself. Apparently meal plans are suspended due to COVID though? 

I read several places that the meal plan wasn't worth it, especially if you have picky and light eaters, which we do. I would love to go with nary a worry about a snack or a meal, but COVID or not, that really isn't realistic with my youngest.

But I totally hear you. It still feels like a huge break to not have to meal plan or do a big shopping trip for a week.

Can I do one meal plan between the two kids (5 and 1)? The 5YO is fairly selective and a light eater but I think between the two of them they could maybe eat a full portion. I figured there would be plenty of kid-centered food options? 

[coffeecake]

Jul 14, 2022 13:56:29 GMT -6 piratecat said:

Jul 14, 2022 13:54:02 GMT -6 doublestuf said:

I read several places that the meal plan wasn't worth it, especially if you have picky and light eaters, which we do. I would love to go with nary a worry about a snack or a meal, but COVID or not, that really isn't realistic with my youngest.

But I totally hear you. It still feels like a huge break to not have to meal plan or do a big shopping trip for a week.

Can I do one meal plan between the two kids (5 and 1)? The 5YO is fairly selective and a light eater but I think between the two of them they could maybe eat a full portion. I figured there would be plenty of kid-centered food options? 

I don’t think you can even get a meal plan for the baby because they won’t have a ticket. Depending on which plan you get, you get a certain number of meals and snacks per day, but they roll over. So you could use it to get stuff for both the baby and older kid. We had so many snack credits left the last time we used it that we were at the food court getting packaged stuff to take back home. But I haven’t heard anything about it coming back any time soon.

Also, we went in April and no one got sick. We masked on the plane and nowhere else. I tried to be really vigilant about hand washing and hand sanitizer, but I guarantee at least one kid ate something without washing their hands.

[piratecat]

Jul 14, 2022 14:12:51 GMT -6 coffeecake said:

Jul 14, 2022 13:56:29 GMT -6 piratecat said:

Can I do one meal plan between the two kids (5 and 1)? The 5YO is fairly selective and a light eater but I think between the two of them they could maybe eat a full portion. I figured there would be plenty of kid-centered food options? 

I don’t think you can even get a meal plan for the baby because they won’t have a ticket. Depending on which plan you get, you get a certain number of meals and snacks per day, but they roll over. So you could use it to get stuff for both the baby and older kid. We had so many snack credits left the last time we used it that we were at the food court getting packaged stuff to take back home. But I haven’t heard anything about it coming back any time soon.

Also, we went in April and no one got sick. We masked on the plane and nowhere else. I tried to be really vigilant about hand washing and hand sanitizer, but I guarantee at least one kid ate something without washing their hands.

Oh right, I didn’t think of him not needing a ticket. What’s the reasoning for doing away with meal plans with COVID? Just less people getting food in general?

[leahcar]

piratecat, we tried to do a super budgeted version of Disney so we skipped the meal plan. You don’t need it IMO. We ate breakfast before we got there.

You can bring in food - which we did. We brought bars and electrolyte drinks. (Also - refillable water bottles) I also brought goldfish since my youngest can eat them by the bucket.

We bought a refillable popcorn bucket so refills were super cheap. Every snack station will give you a cup of water if you ask.

I limited us to a meal (quick service lunch) and 1-2 non-popcorn snacks in the park. It was plenty; no one complained. And my kids are big eaters! We were there preCOVID and mostly ate outdoors.

I think flying is much more risky than Disney itself. (That being said - I am flying next week and just accepting the risk-reward of it.)

[goldenbird]

One of MH's best friends is in town and invited him/us to a party at her mom's house this weekend. I felt like an asshole but I told him I really prefer he not go. Not one single person who will be there is particularly concerned with COVID in general. DS is scheduled for his second shot next Sunday and his birthday is just over two weeks away and I don't want either of those fucked up. Obviously I can't control if he gets COVID from daycare, but it feels like playing with fire to go to a party right now.
I feel bad since he hasn't seen her in person since March 2021 but meh.

[coffeecake]

Jul 14, 2022 14:42:40 GMT -6 piratecat said:

Jul 14, 2022 14:12:51 GMT -6 coffeecake said:

I don’t think you can even get a meal plan for the baby because they won’t have a ticket. Depending on which plan you get, you get a certain number of meals and snacks per day, but they roll over. So you could use it to get stuff for both the baby and older kid. We had so many snack credits left the last time we used it that we were at the food court getting packaged stuff to take back home. But I haven’t heard anything about it coming back any time soon.

Also, we went in April and no one got sick. We masked on the plane and nowhere else. I tried to be really vigilant about hand washing and hand sanitizer, but I guarantee at least one kid ate something without washing their hands.

Oh right, I didn’t think of him not needing a ticket. What’s the reasoning for doing away with meal plans with COVID? Just less people getting food in general?

I’m not sure, but I think because not all of the restaurants have re-opened since Covid. So they can’t really sell all these meal plans and then not have the capacity for reservations. But you can absolutely still eat out the entire time without the plan. You just pay as you go. With the meal plan, you prepaid for all of your meals. When we do Disney we eat out the entire time and buy zero groceries.

[nelzie]

Jul 14, 2022 15:39:17 GMT -6 leahcar said:

piratecat, we tried to do a super budgeted version of Disney so we skipped the meal plan. You don’t need it IMO. We ate breakfast before we got there.

You can bring in food - which we did. We brought bars and electrolyte drinks. (Also - refillable water bottles) I also brought goldfish since my youngest can eat them by the bucket.

We bought a refillable popcorn bucket so refills were super cheap. Every snack station will give you a cup of water if you ask.

I limited us to a meal (quick service lunch) and 1-2 non-popcorn snacks in the park. It was plenty; no one complained. And my kids are big eaters! We were there preCOVID and mostly ate outdoors.

I think flying is much more risky than Disney itself. (That being said - I am flying next week and just accepting the risk-reward of it.)

This is pretty much my plan when we go. My kids are so picky I'm not wanting to waste money on the sit down type meals. We will mostly do snacks and quick service. My parents will be with us so they might want to do some meals though.

[euphony]

Canada just approved Moderna for under 5s, but my province is saying they will start booking during the first week of August for a heretofore unstated "later date." What the actual fuck, Nova Scotia? If PEI or NB has them sooner, it is road trip time.

[sifl]

I would not be going to a party right now goldenbird. You did the right thing.

[piratecat]

Jul 14, 2022 17:34:37 GMT -6 euphony said:

Canada just approved Moderna for under 5s, but my province is saying they will start booking during the first week of August for a heretofore unstated "later date." What the actual fuck, Nova Scotia? If PEI or NB has them sooner, it is road trip time.

Shoot, I hadn't considered vaccine availability for the little kids for our trip to Nova Scotia. Is Pfizer available now? 

[piratecat]

I crowd-sourced on FB and have gathered a list of hair salons that are still masking. 🙌

[Wtfshouldmynamebe]

Jul 14, 2022 13:56:29 GMT -6 piratecat said:

Jul 14, 2022 13:54:02 GMT -6 doublestuf said:

I read several places that the meal plan wasn't worth it, especially if you have picky and light eaters, which we do. I would love to go with nary a worry about a snack or a meal, but COVID or not, that really isn't realistic with my youngest.

But I totally hear you. It still feels like a huge break to not have to meal plan or do a big shopping trip for a week.

Can I do one meal plan between the two kids (5 and 1)? The 5YO is fairly selective and a light eater but I think between the two of them they could maybe eat a full portion. I figured there would be plenty of kid-centered food options? 

The baby can’t buy a meal plan. So yes, share. We did at that age (my kids are also 4 years apart). Honestly, we found often we were ordering 2 meals and a side of something for 4 of us. But, at that time we were also annual pass holders, we knew what worked.

Signed - Mickey and I share a birthday

[Wtfshouldmynamebe]

piratecat. Others made a good point - you can bring snacks. We would bring in a small lunch bag with an ice pack and cheese sticks, etc (my older has autism and sensory issues so good was an issue when he was little). I stopped buying the meal plan when they eliminated appetizers and tips included.


I hate to put this there, but if anyone is looking to rent DVC points, my new batch is coming due. We are doing universal lately because my kids are teens. I rent them through a service, but I would do private. I own at animal kingdom lodge.

[elle]

Jul 14, 2022 23:03:07 GMT -6 Wtfshouldmynamebe said:

Jul 14, 2022 13:56:29 GMT -6 piratecat said:

Can I do one meal plan between the two kids (5 and 1)? The 5YO is fairly selective and a light eater but I think between the two of them they could maybe eat a full portion. I figured there would be plenty of kid-centered food options? 

The baby can’t buy a meal plan. So yes, share. We did at that age (my kids are also 4 years apart). Honestly, we found often we were ordering 2 meals and a side of something for 4 of us. But, at that time we were also annual pass holders, we knew what worked.

Signed - Mickey and I share a birthday

You two share a birthday with my oldest! Also funny thing, my h's birthday is one day off from Walt Disney's. So close to being weird. 😆

[Wtfshouldmynamebe]

Jul 14, 2022 23:10:17 GMT -6 elle said:

Jul 14, 2022 23:03:07 GMT -6 Wtfshouldmynamebe said:

The baby can’t buy a meal plan. So yes, share. We did at that age (my kids are also 4 years apart). Honestly, we found often we were ordering 2 meals and a side of something for 4 of us. But, at that time we were also annual pass holders, we knew what worked.

Signed - Mickey and I share a birthday

You two share a birthday with my oldest! Also funny thing, my h's birthday is one day off from Walt Disney's. So close to being weird. 😆

It’s been funny when we have gone - most cast members don’t know mickeys birthday. I always scheduled trips around then. From 2003 - end of 2019, I went at least every 3-6 months. My boys had both their first haircuts at Disney. Both their first birthdays. My cousin works there now. She knows when mickeys birthday is (and hers is the day before).

We bought DVC in 2007 just before our first son turned 1. I got my moneys worth. Through the pandemic I have been renting it out. My kids are also into universal now.

I mean my license plate says Disney.

[elle]

Jul 14, 2022 23:26:22 GMT -6 Wtfshouldmynamebe said:

Jul 14, 2022 23:10:17 GMT -6 elle said:

You two share a birthday with my oldest! Also funny thing, my h's birthday is one day off from Walt Disney's. So close to being weird. 😆

It’s been funny when we have gone - most cast members don’t know mickeys birthday. I always scheduled trips around then. From 2003 - end of 2019, I went at least every 3-6 months. My boys had both their first haircuts at Disney. Both their first birthdays. My cousin works there now. She knows when mickeys birthday is (and hers is the day before).

We bought DVC in 2007 just before our first son turned 1. I got my moneys worth. Through the pandemic I have been renting it out. My kids are also into universal now.

I mean my license plate says Disney.

I was a tour guide at Disneyland, so it was part of my job to know, ha. My mom was also one of the first tour guides back in the day and my h was a gymnast in the Lion King parade and his aunt was the show director for years, so it's kind of a family thing in a way. Although living in SoCal it sometimes feels like almost everyone you meet has worked for the park at some point or another.

[byjove]

Jul 14, 2022 23:36:09 GMT -6 elle said:

Jul 14, 2022 23:26:22 GMT -6 Wtfshouldmynamebe said:

It’s been funny when we have gone - most cast members don’t know mickeys birthday. I always scheduled trips around then. From 2003 - end of 2019, I went at least every 3-6 months. My boys had both their first haircuts at Disney. Both their first birthdays. My cousin works there now. She knows when mickeys birthday is (and hers is the day before).

We bought DVC in 2007 just before our first son turned 1. I got my moneys worth. Through the pandemic I have been renting it out. My kids are also into universal now.

I mean my license plate says Disney.

I was a tour guide at Disneyland, so it was part of my job to know, ha. My mom was also one of the first tour guides back in the day and my h was a gymnast in the Lion King parade and his aunt was the show director for years, so it's kind of a family thing in a way. Although living in SoCal it sometimes feels like almost everyone you meet has worked for the park at some point or another.

My sister went to UC Irvine and did some special internship with Disney working in the park for years. She’s quite a bit younger than me and my parents didn’t move to SoCal until I was already in college, but it feels like she lived an entirely different life then me 😂

[elle]

Jul 15, 2022 5:14:12 GMT -6 byjove said:

Jul 14, 2022 23:36:09 GMT -6 elle said:

I was a tour guide at Disneyland, so it was part of my job to know, ha. My mom was also one of the first tour guides back in the day and my h was a gymnast in the Lion King parade and his aunt was the show director for years, so it's kind of a family thing in a way. Although living in SoCal it sometimes feels like almost everyone you meet has worked for the park at some point or another.

My sister went to UC Irvine and did some special internship with Disney working in the park for years. She’s quite a bit younger than me and my parents didn’t move to SoCal until I was already in college, but it feels like she lived an entirely different life then me 😂

That's my alma mater too. And yeah, my sister is a lot older than me and we definitely experienced our parents differently.

[byjove]

Jul 15, 2022 6:23:35 GMT -6 elle said:

Jul 15, 2022 5:14:12 GMT -6 byjove said:

My sister went to UC Irvine and did some special internship with Disney working in the park for years. She’s quite a bit younger than me and my parents didn’t move to SoCal until I was already in college, but it feels like she lived an entirely different life then me 😂

That's my alma mater too. And yeah, my sister is a lot older than me and we definitely experienced our parents differently.

How long ago were you there? I wonder if your paths crossed 

[piratecat]

Jul 14, 2022 15:39:17 GMT -6 leahcar said:

piratecat , we tried to do a super budgeted version of Disney so we skipped the meal plan. You don’t need it IMO. We ate breakfast before we got there.

You can bring in food - which we did. We brought bars and electrolyte drinks. (Also - refillable water bottles) I also brought goldfish since my youngest can eat them by the bucket.

We bought a refillable popcorn bucket so refills were super cheap. Every snack station will give you a cup of water if you ask.

I limited us to a meal (quick service lunch) and 1-2 non-popcorn snacks in the park. It was plenty; no one complained. And my kids are big eaters! We were there preCOVID and mostly ate outdoors.

I think flying is much more risky than Disney itself. (That being said - I am flying next week and just accepting the risk-reward of it.)

Yes, I think I'm mostly worried about the flying, especially if there's another variant or surge. And I'm not like super scared of getting COVID but I am nervous that one of us might get it just before the trip and won't be able to go or getting it while there and not being able to enjoy it. It's a big (and expensive obviously) trip and I'm having a hard time committing because I'm worried it will get ruined by COVID.

[elle]

Jul 15, 2022 7:00:20 GMT -6 byjove said:

Jul 15, 2022 6:23:35 GMT -6 elle said:

That's my alma mater too. And yeah, my sister is a lot older than me and we definitely experienced our parents differently.

How long ago were you there? I wonder if your paths crossed 

I worked there back when I was first married, so 2004-5.