Strongly Considering a Trip to WDW: Please Help me plan or talk me out of it

[KellBelle]

We were there the first week of December. We tend to go the same week every year, it has both the beautiful Christmas decorations and somewhat lower crowds. In our experience this year, the crowds were not light. It was actually about the same level as most years in that same week. We did get a lot done in the mornings at parks, but the afternoons mostly had nearly hour waits or more. Some of the wait times were exaggerated, but not all. Wait times for food was long also. For example, the first available pickup time for Woody's Lunchbox was about 2.5 hours after our order time. We found it somewhat hard to eat, unless we had a sit down reservation.

With that being said, we still had a great time and I would go back tomorrow if I was able. If you decide to go, keep expectations low, that is my best piece of advice to you. We really did not find masks bothersome at all. For us, it did not lessen the vacation one bit. I personally feel that one's attitude towards mask wearing can make or brake your experience. If you find them problematic in daily life, then you likely won't enjoy them all day at Disney.

I know others have said this already, but I cannot recommend enough to read the recent trip reports. There is SO much great info in them from people who have been multiple times since re-opening. Also as stated, watch some vlogs and you will get a feel of the crowd level. I like Tim Tracker and DFB best. Tim Tracker does a great job of stating wait times as he passes by things.

I hope you consider still going, I think it would still be a great time overall.

 

[mickEblu]

We were there the first week of December. We tend to go the same week every year, it has both the beautiful Christmas decorations and somewhat lower crowds. In our experience this year, the crowds were not light. It was actually about the same level as most years in that same week. We did get a lot done in the mornings at parks, but the afternoons mostly had nearly hour waits or more. Some of the wait times were exaggerated, but not all. Wait times for food was long also. For example, the first available pickup time for Woody's Lunchbox was about 2.5 hours after our order time. We found it somewhat hard to eat, unless we had a sit down reservation.

With that being said, we still had a great time and I would go back tomorrow if I was able. If you decide to go, keep expectations low, that is my best piece of advice to you. We really did not find masks bothersome at all. For us, it did not lessen the vacation one bit. I personally feel that one's attitude towards mask wearing can make or brake your experience. If you find them problematic in daily life, then you likely won't enjoy them all day at Disney.

I know others have said this already, but I cannot recommend enough to read the recent trip reports. There is SO much great info in them from people who have been multiple times since re-opening. Also as stated, watch some vlogs and you will get a feel of the crowd level. I like Tim Tracker and DFB best. Tim Tracker does a great job of stating wait times as he passes by things.

I hope you consider still going, I think it would still be a great time overall.

Thank you! Where I can find the trip reports? Are they just randomly sprinkled around.

I’ve actually gotten quite used to the masks when I’m working. But at WDW I’m trying to have fun and I worry about the accumulation effect of masks, tantrums, crying babies, rules/ one way walking zones AND long lines. The short wait times was originally what made me want to brave this trip and just the fact that we re bored to death. It also came up kind of spontaneously. Low wait times coupled with my expectations in check and I believe I will have a good trip. But I want to see the wait times my sister and Bro in law were raving about in October?

I wish I could get a test run with one day at Disneyland as opposed to having to fly to Florida for 9 days to try it out. Lol

EDIT. Nvm I see there is an actual trip report forum. Lol. I rarely venture out of the Disneyland forum. Thank you

 

[Tuvalu]

Thank you! Where I can find the trip reports?

WDW Trip Reports

Post your Walt Disney World trip reports here

forums.wdwmagic.com

 

[mickEblu]

WDW Trip Reports

Post your Walt Disney World trip reports here

forums.wdwmagic.com

Thanks!!

 

[KellBelle]

Thank you! Where I can find the trip reports? Are they just randomly sprinkled around.

I’ve actually gotten quite used to the masks when I’m working. But at WDW I’m trying to have fun and I worry about the accumulation effect of masks, tantrums, crying babies, rules/ one way walking zones AND long lines. The short wait times was originally what made me want to brave this trip and just the fact that we re bored to death. It also came up kind of spontaneously. Low wait times coupled with my expectations in check and I believe I will have a good trip. But I want to see the wait times my sister and Bro in law were raving about in October?

I wish I could get a test run with one day at Disneyland as opposed to having to fly to Florida for 9 days to try it out. Lol

Believe me, I was bummed about the waits.. I was so hopeful for short lines, but that ship had sailed long before we arrived. . Also, we do not have kids, so I have no experience/advice there. Below is how I access the trip reports. I LOVE reading them, it is so fun to live vicariously through others and I also have learned so many tricks from them!

 

[mickEblu]

Believe me, I was bummed about the waits.. I was so hopeful for short lines, but that ship had sailed long before we arrived. . Also, we do not have kids, so I have no experience/advice there. Below is how I access the trip reports. I LOVE reading them, it is so fun to live vicariously through others and I also have learned so many tricks from them!

View attachment 521434

Thank you. Being that the trip is completely refundable up until a day before, I’m going to move forward as if I’m 100% going. I’ll be closely monitoring waits in February though.

I have all my park reservations in for the 7 days. I also have 3 dining reservations in for BOG, Sanaa and Sci Fi Dine in. Plan on booking a few more dining reservations around too.

 

[mickEblu]

So I just put in a dining reservation for Biergarten for 6:30 pm on my one Epcot day. That way it’s doesn’t really cut into my day as the parks close at 7pm anyway. Will they be trying to rush us out of there though? At $50 a head I hope they allow us to take our time.

 

[mickEblu]

So no more free magic bands? I have to start looking for which one I’m going to rock. I’ll need something super obscure like a magic band with X Atencios writing hand on it or something.

 

[PiratesMansion]

Would they pro rate the cost of the park hoppers for the days you have left or would they charge for the entirety of your stay/ park days? I’m not seeing the value in park hoppers when the parks are closing so early and I have a 7 day parks ticket with intention of only having 5 full park days.

To my understanding official policy is to charge you for length of ticket. So if you have a seven day ticket, you can't add it on day 4 without them also applying it to all seven days, even the ones that have already been used up. You could add it before you even use the ticket or midway through your stay and the price will not change.

Honestly with everything the way it is right now and with it being your first time, I don't think you'll need hoppers.

So I just put in a dining reservation for Biergarten for 6:30 pm on my one Epcot day. That way it’s doesn’t really cut into my day as the parks close at 7pm anyway. Will they be trying to rush us out of there though? At $50 a head I hope they allow us to take our time.

Depends on the CMs and how it's operating right now, as pre-covid it was a buffet. Not sure what they're doing now (family style meals?). At most of my table service meals at WDW I've gotten the food very quickly.

As much as eating a table service at World Showcase is nice, don't feel like it's a make or break thing; while there is value in it, I think that post-Disney Springs, sitting down at Epcot for the "resort's best food/dining experience" is less important and less true than it used to be. It's great if you're able to find one that works, but snacking around is fine too. I think the far more important thing is to just explore each area. You will get a lot more out of World Showcase (and Animal Kingdom too) if you take it slowly and really explore the details-it's some of Disney's best design work anywhere.

There is no perfect answer re: go now or come back when things are more normal. As much as planning to go right now is stressful and full of unknowns, it's a little less high pressure than when ADRs and FP+ are operating at full tilt. But then if you wait for this to be over you'll get some of the pieces you're missing now and the reassurance of normalcy at the parks. I can tell you from my visits to non-Disney parks this year that it was a great relief to get out and do something, and it felt great to be back in parks-but it's also not really an escape right now, even if everyone is doing what they're supposed to do and everything is running as it should be.

 

[Little Green Men]

So I just put in a dining reservation for Biergarten for 6:30 pm on my one Epcot day. That way it’s doesn’t really cut into my day as the parks close at 7pm anyway. Will they be trying to rush us out of there though? At $50 a head I hope they allow us to take our time.

They shouldn't be rushing you, even if you get your food right away they won't be trying to get you out.

 

[mickEblu]

To my understanding official policy is to charge you for length of ticket. So if you have a seven day ticket, you can't add it on day 4 without them also applying it to all seven days, even the ones that have already been used up. You could add it before you even use the ticket or midway through your stay and the price will not change.

Honestly with everything the way it is right now and with it being your first time, I don't think you'll need hoppers.

Depends on the CMs and how it's operating right now, as pre-covid it was a buffet. Not sure what they're doing now (family style meals?). At most of my table service meals at WDW I've gotten the food very quickly.

As much as eating a table service at World Showcase is nice, don't feel like it's a make or break thing; while there is value in it, I think that post-Disney Springs, sitting down at Epcot for the "resort's best food/dining experience" is less important and less true than it used to be. It's great if you're able to find one that works, but snacking around is fine too. I think the far more important thing is to just explore each area. You will get a lot more out of World Showcase (and Animal Kingdom too) if you take it slowly and really explore the details-it's some of Disney's best design work anywhere.

There is no perfect answer re: go now or come back when things are more normal. As much as planning to go right now is stressful and full of unknowns, it's a little less high pressure than when ADRs and FP+ are operating at full tilt. But then if you wait for this to be over you'll get some of the pieces you're missing now and the reassurance of normalcy at the parks. I can tell you from my visits to non-Disney parks this year that it was a great relief to get out and do something, and it felt great to be back in parks-but it's also not really an escape right now, even if everyone is doing what they're supposed to do and everything is running as it should be.

Yeah no Hoppers for me this time.

Biergarten is family style now which I’m fine with and no more communal tables which I’m more than fine with. Lol. Just don’t want to sit down and be rushed. But honestly I don’t think I’ll end up using this reservation.

I agree. No perfect answers right now. Just have to hope the pros outweigh the cons. Long lines are non negotiable for me though not when I’m giving up so much of the other stuff.

 

[mickEblu]

They shouldn't be rushing you, even if you get your food right away they won't be trying to get you out.

Ok good to know. I just wonder if it operates like the stores by staying open one hour after the parks close? That would make me feel better about eating there

 

[Little Green Men]

Ok good to know. I just wonder if it operates like the stores by staying open one hour after the parks close? That would make me feel better about eating there

I find eating at restaurants toward the end of park hours usually works fine, especially at Epcot. I usually eat at the UK pub late so I can see the fireworks (when they still had them).

 

[Little Green Men]

Btw definitely consider Satu’li Canteen in Pandora at DAK for a counter service meal, it’s a more unique meal and has actual dishes and silverware that you’re more used to with DL counter service.

 

[1HAPPYGHOSTHOST]

Seriously... gators the size of horses!

 

[PiratesMansion]

Btw definitely consider Satu’li Canteen in Pandora at DAK for a counter service meal, it’s a more unique meal and has actual dishes and silverware that you’re more used to with DL counter service.

Seconded. With that restaurant, Flame Tree BBQ, and Tiffin's, DAK has some very good food.

 

[mickEblu]

Seconded. With that restaurant, Flame Tree BBQ, and Tiffin's, DAK has some very good food.

Great! Sounds like I’m good with quick service on my AK day. I also don’t want to plan too much because then your vacation feels like check list. With that said, there’s no harm in having a bunch of reservations in case you decide to use them.

 

[mickEblu]

Btw definitely consider Satu’li Canteen in Pandora at DAK for a counter service meal, it’s a more unique meal and has actual dishes and silverware that you’re more used to with DL counter service.

Will do! Sounds like AK has some nice Quick options.

 

[mickEblu]

These menus on the app though are rough. The allergy list etc. Are longer then the name of the dish themselves. Find my eyes just glossing over all of it.

 

[Little Green Men]

Will do! Sounds like AK has some nice Quick options.

Definitely! Nomads is a lounge so you do have a waiter but it doesn't require reservations and is usually quick and easy.

BTW I found a vid on Youtube of some Disneyland regulars going to WDW for the first time. If you can get through it it might have some good tips