disney hacks

Spring 2021 *Disney World during the Pandemic*

As 2021 gives us a sense of hope during this pandemic, we are slowly attempting to somewhat return to life as it used to be. We decided to take an impromptu family vacation a few weeks ago to the “happiest place on earth,” also known as, Disney World. We hadn’t visited Disney parks in over one year (pre-pandemic). Although we knew this time around it would be different, there were unexpected changes. These differences may not be noticeable to first-time visitors, however, for frequent visitors, the changes are evident. Since our trip, we’ve been asked if we currently recommend a Disney vacation during these times. Before we get to the pros and cons, here are some things you need to know:

Things you need to know:

Reserve your Park Visit on their website (or via app) due to limited capacity
Must Download the My Disney Experience app in order to check your reservation, order food, etc.
Order food through the My Disney Experience app. For most dine-in restaurants, you are required to order your food online via their app and then will receive a notification when it’s ready.
Must wear a mask (except when eating or stationary to take photos)
Temperature check at entrance
6 ft. Social distancing

Visiting Disney World during these times is a decision based solely on you and your family. We decided to go and used proper precaution while maintaining social distance and we had such an unbelievable and much-needed fantastic week. Here are some Pros and Cons for visiting Disney World this Spring 2021.

Pros

Shorter Lines. If you’ve been to any of the Disney World parks pre-pandemic, you’ll remember the insanely long lines that would sometimes strike a nerve. With the parks not yet open at full capacity, the wait time for rides is short. The lines may seem longer due to social distancing, however, they are quicker.
FL Resident Prices. Currently, Florida Resident can save up to 40%. Throughout the year, Disney has special rates for Florida residents to enjoy.
Florida Spring Weather. The temperature is still bearable, so if you are planning to go within the next few months, now is the time to go before summer blazing hot temps kick in.
It’s still the happiest place on earth! No matter how many changes and restrictions, Disney is still Disney! And there isn’t any other place like it. Whether it’s your first time or hundredth time, Disney World parks continue to be magical!

Cons

No Character Meet & Greets. This was the biggest con for us. Especially if you have toddlers/preschool aged children who LOVE Mickey and Minnie Mouse. Throughout the entire road trip, my son spoke about meeting Mickey. Unfortunately, to our surprise at Magic Kingdom, all Meet & Greets were closed. We still had a wonderful time, yet as we were exiting the park that night, my son mentioned he had a great day but didn’t get to greet Mickey. To our dismay, we found out later that all Character Meet & Greets are closed at all parks until further notice obviously due to the pandemic. If you have a Mickey fan in your family, the closest you’ll get to meeting him is at Hollywood Studios Disney Juniors Dance Party.
Less Shows. Throughout the parks there were several temporarily closed shows like Beauty and the Beast and Fantasmic at Hollywood Studios, and the Festival of the Lion King and Finding Nemo at Animal Kingdom which was quite disappointing. Some are said to reopen in the Summer.
No Visible Smiles. Because of the masks, we were not able to visibly see the crew smile which is a huge role in making Disney the happiest and kindest place on earth. I remember feeling the parks so different this time around, and this is one of the main reasons. Not seeing those friendly crew smiles changed the ambience a bit.
Wear a Mask All Day (2 years AND up). With mandatory facemask for guests who are 2 years and older. Please note that this means even your just turned 2 year old must wear a mask all day. We went before it was permitted to take off masks during photos, so we maintained social distance, took off a mask for a photo and in less than 3 seconds, Disney crew were about to ask us to leave the park. That was an uncomfortable situation, yet we acknowledge that we were not allowed to take them off for a photo.

We hope this was helpful in your decision-making of whether you should visit Walt Disney World parks in Orlando, FL. We were glad to experience a touch of magic during these times at Disney World parks which is still the happiest place on earth.

Am I the only mama that cries a bit during the week of my babies’ birthday? I don’t cry because of sadness, I cry because it’s an inexplicable, bittersweet feeling that pulls hard on my heart strings. And this past week, my firstborn (Caleb Beau) turned 3 years old! I know what you’re thinking: “He’s only 3!” But he’s my first child which means this is the first time I experience this. A firstborn child will always take us to turn a totally new and fresh chapter of our lives without us, parents, knowing what lies ahead of the blank pages. Everything is utterly unknown which is a beautiful feeling yet can produce a sense of uncertainty on what to expect.

Granted I am a sensitive mama, but this 3rd birthday definitely made me realize how quickly our little ones grow. He is in a new stage where he can actually carry a conversation, he repeats everything he hears both in English and Spanish, he analyzes things, draws conclusions, and seems to comprehend things beyond his years. Caleb is the kindest little gentleman with a heart full of love, spunk, and a God-given grace.

As we celebrated his birthday all weekend long in the happiest place on earth, AKA Disney World, I couldn’t help to hold back my tears as I watched him eagerly ride the attractions he once wasn’t tall enough to ride, and no longer being afraid to meet and greet all the Disney characters. He literally wanted to meet Mickey everyday in all 3 parks we visited (Magic Kingdom, Animal Kingdom, and Hollywood Studios) and has not stopped mentioning Mickey since we got back.

I looked at my husband, gave him and myself a pat on the back, and told him how proud I was of our now 3 year old boy, and of us for graduating from being parents of 3 under 3! It has not been easy but through God’s grace we have been able to manage it all. And God blessed us with Caleb Beau, the best son we could have ever been blessed with. He is obedient, loving, kind, caring, and brave.

We can’t pause time, but we can aim to enjoy and embrace our “now” by being present when we’re with our loved ones.

In this trip, I disconnected from social media to connect with my family and soak it all in. We brought down my DSLR camera and tried to capture a few lovely moments. The entire family enjoyed and most of all, our son’s happiness brought an immense joy in our hearts as parents.

Check out a few moments below from our trip that are engraved in my heart.