Since the start of this pandemic, 2020 has undeniably been a rough year. It feels like we have all collectively suffered immeasurable loss and are struggling. Whether it be because of loved ones passing from COVID-19 or watching our friends peacefully protest for social justice and change; maybe you even participated in the call to action too. Whatever you are going through, you aren’t alone. 2020 has certainly just been a lot to handle. I think we can all agree that meme’s of dumpster fires, Leonardo DiCaprio in Django, and Will Ferrell yelling is keeping us somewhat sane and can pretty much sum up our feelings about 2020 as a whole.
Yet memes aren’t enough to help us really deal, sure they are entertaining, but there is still the added stress from social media news feeds flooded with footage of highly polarized and political content. It often felt inescapable, and what’s worse, Disney parks around the world closed one by one, so there was no reprieve to even visit the one place where all who enter are welcomed. So when Walt Disney World reopened amid a global pandemic, at first I was skeptical but then I thought; “what the hell?! Why not?” … Two months after the parks reopened, I returned to Walt Disney World, and boy oh boy was I NOT disappointed in this decision.
Let me just preface this list by saying going to Disney during a pandemic was probably the most surreal experience I could have imagined. It was like being on a whole other planet, one that wasn’t really populated but just as magical and safer than expected. However, here are 5 reasons why it’s the right time to visit Disney, even during a pandemic.
Number 5 – Limited Wait Times
Even with the fast pass system not in operation, I think the longest I waited for a ride was 20-25 minutes. Added bonus, it was in air conditioning, which was a much-needed reprieve from the brutal Florida sun. The limited wait time felt like the slow seasons of yesteryear, and I found myself having flashbacks to high school circa 2000-2004 when I would visit the parks during non-peak months and essentially walk on to the rides.
Number 4 – So much room for activities
Disney’s capped reservation system has made it so that you can easily walk around the park and never really come within 6 feet of anyone while moving from destination to destination. Now, is that what people are doing? No. Despite the serious lack of people in the park, I found that many park goers did not feel the need for social distance. However, I would be remiss if I didn’t say that the lack of bodies in the park made for some wonderful photo ops.
Number 3 – Your safety is a priority
Disney greets guests with temperature checks at the entrance, hand sanitizer dispensers throughout the park and at the entrance and exit of rides, open trashcans (so you don’t need to touch the can), and scattered handwashing stations. Every opportunity to sanitize is available to guests. Are the guests using these safety amenities? Our group sure did. Remember that 20-25 minute wait time I was talking about earlier? Yeah… that’s because Cast Members were sanitizing every single ride vehicle to ensure it was safe to ride. While in line for Mickey & Minnie’s – Runaway Railway I got to watch the whole sanitation process, and let me tell you, it was like watching Seal Team Six. Don’t believe me? Check out the video below:
Number 2 – First Dibs on Merch
When the Haunted Mansion spirit jersey and all the Halloween merch hit the ShopDisney site, I could not get my hands on a single item I wanted. I was absolutely devastated. I promised myself that when I went to the parks, I would hunt for the items I so desperately wanted. I prepared myself to be hunting all day and at multiple parks much to my husband’s dissatisfaction, but to my surprise and my husband’s elation, there was an abundance of items. I’m talking about a hundred Loungefly bags, which usually sell out quite quickly in the parks. I scored all my Halloween goodies and then some.
Number 1 – The Magic
Just like the podcast, I like to keep it real in the blog. Were there things that I saw at the parks that I wasn’t totally pleased with? Absolutely. Was that Disney’s fault? NO! As far as visiting the parks is concerned, Disney has done everything right. They have followed all guidelines to provide a safe and enjoyable environment for guests. There is still a significant amount of magic to be experienced. For example, the food available at EPCOT’s Food and Wine festival is still amazing, even with limited selection. I for one especially loved visiting the building with all the Festival Favorites, not only because I didn’t have to walk the entire park to enjoy some of the best eats EPCOT has to offer, I was also in air conditioning getting my drink on; and that my friends is absolutely magical.