2020 Downtown Macon Christmas Parade canceled due to COVID-19 concerns. When we were at Hollywood Studios, Kylo Ren and some Stormtroopers came out on stage. You don't want to take any chances with a glitch in the system. Tops 3 Million COVID-19 Vaccines a Day, Going up: Raleigh's construction boom unslowed by pandemic. You could see how people were navigating their day. Vacation inspiration, exclusive deals, tips, and more. Fresh off of negative COVID-19 tests for the whole family and wanting to cushion the blow for my son, I thought well, I can at least consider it. Now, you should know that the restaurants are limited capacity anyway and the tables are pretty well spaced out, but we weren't the only ones looking to beat the heat. If you get caught walking and eating, they will quickly warn you to step to the side. Green means all the parks are still under the reduced capacity. It was like having Disney to ourselves. Wake County, expecting 28,000 vaccines this week, opens 4th mass clinic. Repeat visits to Disneyland and Disney's California Adventure haven't been possible since the theme parks closed at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic. The longest wait time we saw listed for any ride was an hour on a ride that had been broken most of the day. Disney World has had to cut capacity and many attractions in the face of COVID and Christmas, unfortunately, will be no different. (That part was surprisingly fine, but still.) And … But we even made it into the final reserve group to go on the Rise of the Resistance and we did the Millennium Falcon: Smuggler's Run ride three times because my kid loved it so much. Rigby’s Entertainment Complex made the announcement with a Facebook post. Bio Jobs: Find a job that changes lives, even yours. You can get a pretty good deal if you decide to do what we did and wait until the last minute (not that I'd advise this!). Come. With little to no lines and entire rows to yourself on rides, it's the exact opposite of the Disney experience we've come to know. After 116 magic-less days, the parks reopened July 15, just as coronavirus cases soared in Orlando. And there are stickers at every possible point lines could form to enforce social distancing. 1. Downtown Disney, reopened on July 9. The new Magic Happens Parade on Main Street U.S.A. inside Disneyland in Anaheim, CA, on Thursday, Feb 27, 2020. You do have to make a reservation ahead of time to get in, and that's important to know. Oga's Cantina, by far the coolest dining experience for Star Wars, had nothing available for us. And Saturday morning, just a day and a half after coming up with this plan, we headed down to Orlando around 6 a.m. Full disclosure: I haven't been to Disney World myself since I was in my 20s. Raw: Video shows teen pinned by Raleigh officer. The 2020 Warner Robins Christmas Parade is the latest event to fall victim to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. And there is always the risk that you will either A. Depending on your party size, you might get entire rows of the ride to yourself. The Swan and Dolphin has a great pool, and we spent an entire day there. Instead of waiting in line and competing with fast passes (more on that in a second), this ride requires a boarding group. I did not love having to do that as a family was maskless and eating or drinking a foot or two away. Some people would die at the thought of not having the FastPass+, but for spontaneous travelers such as myself, I always found them stressful and unfair. This happened once when we went to Slinky Dog; the app stated 40 minutes, but when we got there, the line was 55. You can only ride this ride once. Yellow means some parks are full, and red likely means no parks are available that day. Update on operations at the Walt Disney World Resort. As California Expands COVID-19 Vaccine Eligibility to All Californians 50+, Governor Newsom Receives Vaccine in Los Angeles March 31, 2021 at 5:00 PM State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts March 31, 2021 at 1:59 PM Governor Newsom Statement on … Every staff member and character we were able to interact with at all paid us a ton of attention. While the employees are wiping things down, there are a couple of rides requiring 3D glasses. Important Walt Disney World Resort Update Concerning Coronavirus/COVID-19. 2. But clearly this particular parade is still going—and, if this photo is any indication, on Day 1 crowds certainly weren’t a problem! Besides wanting to know if it is safe, the second most important question is: is it worth it? We had done at least three or four rides before we had ANY wait time at all. While that is still 65% less than usual, that doesn't necessarily mean there aren't many people. My husband has actually flown recently (I have not flown since pre-COVID times) and said that, in hindsight, he would have rather flown than driven. The folks at Disney have pulled out all of the stops to try to minimize the risk as much as possible. Again, it wasn't the spectacular show and energy you are used to, but getting to experience all of the attractions before the day was up because lines were short? We're not entitled to things just because we want them, of course, and I would never advocate going to a concert or a bar based on what I know. The answers are only on WRAL tonight at 6. You can either take your food and eat it outside or, if you can find a table, inside. There was also a noticeable increase in cleaning. There is stroller parking outside of the rides and that is ... not regulated (except for signs that specify where you can and can't park strollers) or socially distanced. Even some solo guests would see me on an elevator and insist, "No, you go ahead and take this one and I'll get the next one.". It's the most fun we've had in months, and the most hopeful I've felt about what lies ahead as we attempt a return to normalcy when the last seven months have been anything but. The lines kept moving too, so it never felt like we were stuck waiting around all day. There are plenty of hand sanitizing stations at every ride entrance and exit, and walkway, but some of them are out. But I think plenty of us have heard that sort of rhetoric during this pandemic, only to get to a particular place and see that human nature always wins. In normal times, my 4-year-old was way likelier to get shoved out of the way when Kylo Ren came out than he was to get to wander up to the stage and have Kylo talk to him personally. 4. PlanningYou MUST get a Disney ticket and reserve a park. But I have a lot of friends who've taken their kids (or gone as adults by themselves), and I have some awareness of how Disney works. On rides shared between two groups, they put up plexiglass. We happened to know a few people who have gone, and they all insisted it had been incredibly safe. Word of the wise, if you can go as soon as your group is called, there is less wait than at the end of the hour. For assistance with your Walt Disney World vacation, including resort/package bookings and tickets, please call (407) 939-5277. He had a great time. Well, it turns out, Disney has been doing A LOT of thinking. I am 37. You have to reserve your spot at a park for a specific day ahead of time as they are limiting capacity, and you can't park-hop. You couldn't wear masks in the pool, obviously, but there weren't all that many people by the pool anyway. During The Walt Disney Company’s Q1 FY2021 Earnings call on Thursday, Feb. 11, CEO Bob Chapek shared the company’s expectations for COVID-19 precautions at the Disney … My husband turned to me jokingly and said, "Well hey, not like you'd ever agree to go to Disney, right?". How Do We Live Now? And so did we. But they want to get people there. This is a modal. Raw body cam footage: Officer injured, woman dies in gunfire exchange. Updated September 13, 2020 9:41 a.m. EDT By Lauren Brownlow, WRALSportsFan columnist/reporter. The Walt Disney Co. is the parent company of this station. But at that moment? Once inside, I was awestruck by the lack of other people around us. Florida? But many of us have been in this extremely restricted world for going on seven months now. 3 COVID-19 vaccines: What's the best option for you? (Photo … Now that months have passed since its reopening, it's not quite as empty, but it's not packed either. Most of the lines snaked outside, so six feet apart didn't feel forced at all. I think we ate indoors more times at Disney than we had in the previous seven months combined, and that was in large part because we needed a break from the heat. Like I said, you MUST be in Hollywood Studios to be eligible to join a boarding group. Orlando, Fla. — My family decided to brave Disney World during COVID-19. We ate in between crowds, too, so we could feel more comfortable sitting down. Basically, the process is that you get to a restaurant that's open (some are not, or have limited hours), scan a QR code on your phone to pull up the menu, place your order online and then you're allowed inside the restaurant to pick it up. We had a stroller to save our little one's legs (and thank goodness, as he was constantly insisting that we pick him up even when we were in line for rides). This is how they monitor capacity. I'm not going to downplay the nuances of this decision to go to Disney World during the pandemic. These are all things we have to live without, but if you want a fuller experience, you may be better off waiting. But, of course, if you consider yourself to be high risk in any way, you probably shouldn't do this. You can exit by navigating to the close button and hitting enter, or hitting the esc key on your keyboard. 2. The point is that we had plenty of time to do it, in large part because fewer people were at the park. But go back up to the pros — No. 7:00 AM to 11:00 PM Eastern Time. You can't meet and greet the characters the way you normally can. Disney World Opens Its Gates, With Virus Numbers Rising, How To Stay Safe When Flying During The Pandemic, IMAGES: We braved Disney during COVID-19; here's what happened, Disney Parks chief on reopening: 'We are in a new normal', Families eager to visit Disney after reopening, Disney, Staggered by Pandemic, Sees a Streaming Boom. Disney World has currently suspended FastPass+ services, which means everyone stands in the same line, except for Rise of the Resistance, as it requires the boarding pass. This is a button that clears the search input field and clears the search results by hitting the enter key. It would be pretty difficult to do that, especially as Disney staffers were stationed all around as you get closer to the ride, sending you to various different lines based on the size of your party and making sure each party had its own separate car. I wondered to myself, what are these people DOING? We were in scramble mode for an alternative. Disney World is reopening after closing for COVID-19. It's a unique opportunity to use your time at Disney in a way that's more efficient than was possible before. 4. The safer elements of Disney no longer felt quite as safe when we were indoors with a bunch of people who were removing their masks to eat and drink. That's a lot to get to do in about seven total Disney hours, including meals. He is *still* talking about that and remembers exactly what Kylo said to him. Once you reach the last search result you will be naviated back to the clear button where you can clear the results make a new search query. SafetyWe didn't see a soul without their mask on walking around the park, which is impressive considering that going to the grocery store, you don't always see the same respect. Contract the virus and remain asymptomatic and spread it in your community or B. Just to see that in action is reassuring. But if it had been more crowded, I would have been less likely to send my 4-year-old up to the stage alone. Disney reportedly didn't get as many guests as expected upon its initial reopening, which is understandable. At a distance, of course. All of the made to order vendors required you to order on the app first and then show the host your meal is ready before you are allowed to enter, limiting lines and exposure to people. We got there about 45 minutes before the park was technically supposed to open, but it usually opens up by about 8:30, and it did. The park reservation isn't extra, but it is required among admission. They even had you go through the metal detectors with your bags on you, and our "ticket" was a card that you scan on a reader that doesn't require any contact. THIS is what our new normal could look like, if we could all do the things recommended to us. It's just not going to be a regular Disney experience. Disney didn't call itself the happiest place on earth by being just any other place though. Most of the lines were a lot faster than their posted time. As we continue to monitor the coronavirus situation, we wanted to share a few updates you should know about concerning the Walt Disney World Resort. It's hot. Maybe? Disney workers parade past park to demand safe reopening as coronavirus cases surge ... 28 Jun 2020, 0:12; DISNEY workers took to the streets to demand safe the reopening of the resort as Covid … It is only available if a search query is made. I saw four or five people either not wearing a mask at all or wearing it beneath their noses. If you reach the last suggested entry you will be navigated to the close button. 5. Most of the restaurants also require a reservation with limited walk-up availability. We're trying to keep things as fun for my son as we can, but we kept looking ahead and started to wonder, what was Halloween going to look like? Abbi Longmire from Busy Bee's Parties aka Princess Anna from Frozen stoped by the Disney drive by for Cloey Prince to perform a few songs in London, Ont., on May 2, 2020. I wore two masks the whole time, except when on a ride (then I wore one). The CDC also recommends against participating in anything revolving around crowds. You can close the search menu by hitting the esc key once if the search input is empty. We didn't tell my son ahead of time where we were going, and he was so psyched to see the pool that he thought THAT was the surprise. While Orlando peaked over the holiday months, it's trending downward in February. Not all of the rides are cleaned between uses. For me, I thought it was great just getting to experience little moments of magic. If you previously used a social network to login to WRAL.com, click the “Forgot your password” link to reset your password. But it can be a little crowded in the pick-up process, and tables weren't easy to come by. In our case, we drove, stopping as little as we could. At least in our experience, everyone on Disney properties — hotels and the parks — were abiding by the rules. MAUREEN DOWD: Hunter Biden, Matt Gaetz and nonstop depravity, Travel tips to know before you get on the plane, 5 On Your Side uncovers an insurance issue that almost cost one driver $11,000, Wake Forest firefighters raise awareness for autism with colorful shirts, Wilber Shirley, original owner of Wilber's Barbecue in Goldsboro, dies at 90, Boss of Vegan makes plant-based burgers out of ghost kitchen, Only On WRAL-TV at 6: Five on Your Side gets results for a gross but very real problem! The answer is that it kinda depends. Not that those two words should ever go together, but it was a glimpse into a world that could exist as we try to get back to something resembling normality, incorporating elements of our pre-pandemic lives in a safe way with those safety measures never feeling intrusive or obstructive. At Magic Kingdom, I went back and counted: We got to hit 16 different rides or attractions. Whole Home Generator As Low as $85 per month, Click to See All CONTESTS available from WRAL.com, Spring Savings - Free Installation On All Showers & Baths, Storm damage photos: Downed trees, ominous clouds, hail as severe storms roll through NC, Sky 5 flies over Orange County storm damage, Parents say daughter found dead in Raleigh apartment was happy, hardworking, Raleigh student found dead in apartment days after birthday, Why some people may get an extra tax refund, Woman opens fire at Burger King drive-thru during long wait, Locations, phone numbers to get your COVID shot in central NC, US Marshals Service issues warning about scam calls seeking cash, Moment of Truth: The never-before-seen story behind the tragic murder of James Jordan, Coach Royisms: The "frikkin dadgum blankety blank" stuff he says. Luckily, we got it. Quick and easy. Disney 3-Day or 4-Day Military Promotional Tickets for admission to the Disneyland Resort expire and may not be used after December 18, 2020. Strange enough to where it was hard for people not to get congested at certain parts. We found a good deal at the Swan and Dolphin, got a room at the Swan for a few nights, planned a pool day on Day 1 to help unwind after a long drive the day before and bought tickets for Magic Kingdom and Hollywood Studios, the latter of which was walking distance from the hotel. What would CHRISTMAS look like? I felt like a rotisserie chicken. My 4-year-old son had been really looking forward to it, and just like most of you, we haven't been able to do much fun for him this summer. Some were indoor-outdoor spaces, and some were just indoor. Bitcoin is booming. If dining is important to you, these reservations need to be made weeks in advance. It's a luxury. 5 On Your Side found out why and got action. *Sigh* But that didn't stop us from having a great experience. Copyright 2020 by Capitol Broadcasting Company. Texas Must Let Counties Offer Multiple Ballot Drop Boxes. They were standing six feet from each other, and other than staring at them, there wasn't any interaction. The experience is worth it if you want it to be. Here's a list of new movie release dates for 2020, 2021, and 2022, including Tenet, Mulan for $30 and Marvel release dates for movies postponed and delayed due to coronavirus. We wiped ours down. Another note, screenshot EVERYTHING. But the gas station or restaurant stops were much more anxiety-inducing for us than any moment at Disney. But at least you can wait in a line for a ride or for food along clear social distancing markers. There are still some indoor attractions that are open as well. There are hand sanitizer stations all around the park and at multiple points of a ride, both waiting in line and then after the ride. That was literally more people than I saw without a (correctly worn) mask in the entirety of our three-day stay combined. The app is updated regularly, but the best gauge is when you get to the end of the line, an employee usually stands with the wait time posted on a sign. Warning: Florida coronavirus cases nearly surpass two million. 6. You can navigate to it by tabbing forward from the search input. It's not easy or feasible to go around sanitizing frequently used surfaces or have staff members around just to enforce wearing masks and social distancing. Many families return to their strollers to take a break or eat some food, and we found ourselves trying to navigate the closest thing to a crowd to retrieve our stroller. — You've seen dead deer on the road for weeks. The whole experience was like living in a weird COVID utopia.