Back to the Parks – Jennifer’s WDW Recap

The magic is starting to return for our agents…and even for some of our families.  The word is out that our agents are Back in the Parks.  Families who may have cancelled a trip this summer or were always wanting low wait times are reaching out to us for our complimentary services.  So I would say this series has been a hit.  But it’s not over yet….

Meet Jennifer Hummel!  Jennifer joined our team a year and a half ago.  She is a Disney Vacation Club member and has used her love of Disney to hit both the California and Florida versions.  She was one of the first to return to the parks and here is her recap…

The Trip Basics

What parks did you visit and when were the dates? My husband and I visited every park from July 12 – July 19. We were there on day two of re-opening and the cast members were diligently working to ensure everyone felt safe and everyone was following Disney protocol. 

 

What made you risk going back so soon?  We originally had our annual anniversary trip planned for the week prior. We had decided that no matter what, if Disney was open, we were going. If Disney felt they had the procedures in place to reopen, we weren’t going to question it. Disney always does what is best for their cast members and guests to ensure everyone has a magical experience. 

Did you stay on the grounds somewhere? We stayed on property at Saratoga Springs Resort. We had a deluxe villa with a premium view of Disney Springs. We also were close to the walkway to Disney Springs which made for a great night time experience of dining, drinks, or shopping.

 

What modes of transportation did you use to get around? We rented a car because we were unsure the social distancing measures being taken on the buses and how that would affect being able to board a bus in a timely way. We also love to explore the area around Disney and love the freedom of having our own set of wheels to go explore after the parks closed. 

The Park Basics

Was there a certain ticket/package you purchased and what was the process of purchasing (different or the same)?  We had renewed our annual passes in March before Disney announced their closures. This is when we normally renew anyway during any given year. 

 

What were the new guidelines you had to follow (masks, could not do this, etc.)?  We followed the mask wearing guidelines at all times, and made sure we had the mask that had ear loops. Gaiters were not allowed the day before we left, so we purchased more masks at Disney Springs when we arrived. Using the car, we went to a nearby Target to get supplies to clean our masks daily in the sink. We followed social distancing markers and tried to stay as far away from a separate party as possible (which was pretty easy considering the crowd sizes were extremely low). We also wanted to not walk around with food or drinks if we had them, so we would always move to the side, a table, or out of the way of the crowd instead of walking around with food/beverages and no masks.

 

How was the crowd size?  The crowd size when we were there was practically non-existent. We walked on to every attraction we wanted and got to experience the park in a new way. The pictures we have are fantastic! 

Were there any attractions/experiences that were closed due to COVID?  The experiences we missed the most were the fireworks and the character meet and greets. We did love that the characters were out in a cavalcade style so they were still visible, but we always love having our picture taken with the mouse. We also know all the words to the Happily Ever After fireworks show soundtrack, so you can tell that the fireworks shows are our thing! We also love to dine at Disney, and some of our favorite restaurants experienced a limited menu. However, the overall dining experience was still top notch. 

What was the attitude like of the Cast Members? The cast members seemed very excited to see guests in the park again. They were happy to be there, to bring back the magic, and even though you couldn’t see their faces, they were smiling with their eyes. 

What was the attitude like of the guests? The guests that we interacted with were following the guidelines set forth by Disney at the time. The majority of the guests were hyper aware of their surroundings and I never felt uncomfortable by someone being too close or not following protocol. 

How was wearing a mask in Florida in the summer? Wearing a mask in the Florida heat was not as bad as I had expected. I had psyched myself out for it to be something that was going to be the most awful part of our trip, and that in fact was untrue. It didn’t feel much hotter at all than any normal July. We have been every year in July for the last 13 years, and this July felt no different even with the masks. We attribute a portion of that to the decreased crowds. We did take advantage of the areas in the park that you could socially distance yourself without wearing a mask. Cast members were monitoring these areas closely, and as soon as a party left a table within the area, the cast member was there ready to clean and disinfect all surfaces. 

Did you ever feel unsafe? No we never felt unsafe.

What advice do you have for post-COVID times at theme parks? The park hours this trip were a little concerning before going because we are usually night owls that stay up and in the parks late! However, with the extreme change in pace and the fact that crowd size was low, we were able to experience everything as many times as we desired. We found ourselves exploring Orlando after park close, or going to Disney Springs to shop or grab a drink. Even though the hours were limited the leisurely pace made for a much more relaxed vacation. 

My advice to anyone thinking about going is to JUST GO! I am already planning another short trip back in November, and I am so excited! I would make sure that you had enough masks for each day of your trip just in case you don’t have access or the time to wash the masks you have.