DVC Show: DVC Vacation in the Age of COVID
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Would You Rather: BoardWalk or Riviera? – The Results -
Joffrey’s Coffee & Tea Company Introduces Disney’s Riviera Resort Blend
6 thoughts on “DVC Show: DVC Vacation in the Age of COVID”
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Paul, we are heading down in late September with a split stay at Beach Club and BLT. We picked them since they are harder to book during “normal” times and we can pretty much walk to the parks. Since you stayed at so many resorts, do you have any suggestions? Best for distancing? Any thoughts at all! Thanks!
Really depends on what you are looking for… On the whole Wilderness Lodge and AKL-Kidani were the only two properties that felt crazy busy.
All other resorts were reasonably quiet and social distancing was a breeze. We will be posting thoughts and reviews in the coming weeks.
Hope you have a great trip!
Good video/input. However look at the Xmas week. Lucky to get a stay at one resort let alone hopping !
Loved this show! I went in mid-July and in early August. And I definitely agree that if The Boathouse was my only experience at Disney World, then I would not have nice things to say about the COVID-19 efforts Disney is making. Knowing that The Boathouse is owned by a third party is one thing but Disney should be able to enforce the rules they’ve set since they own Disney Springs. Boathouse was packing people in. No social distancing, compliant mask wearing or capacity limits. I felt very unsafe there. Overall, Disney Springs is not the protective bubble that I feel like in the parks. Springs has the temp check like the parks but there is little hand sanitizer around unlike the parks and there is little to no enforcement of social distancing or mask wearing. In the parks, there is enforcement everywhere on social distancing and mask wearing. however, I will say that the retail environment is a free-for-all. There are capacity limits in the stores but no social distancing enforcement.
I had trouble with online check-in to avoid the front desk at all three of the hotels I stayed – Poly, BLT and Riviera. The rooms were ready at Poly and BLT late in the evening even though I asked for 4pm. So late at Poly, that we just checked our bags in at the resort in order to run to EPCOT. But I liked the enhanced cleaning table tents in the room to show the cleaning effort. And I liked the option that you can forego housekeeping during your stay.
At the parks, little wait times made riding rides multiple times a breeze. Used hand sanitizer before and after every ride. And I liked the plexiglas barriers in line and social distancing floor markers. A lot of work went into making sure people are 6 feet apart. Mask wearing was being enforced by Disney everywhere and after a while, even in 99 degree heat, it wasn’t a problem.
Food was sort of an issue. Since there is less capacity in the parks and closed hotels, there were less options for dining. It made it where mobile order counter service was the main option or very late in the evening Disney Springs reservations. I would have liked room service to be available even if just left at the hotel door.
Overall, I’d definitely visit again. I don’t think I’d recommend it to first timers or people who don’t go annually. This is not the time for a bucket list trip. No park hopper, fireworks, parades, character meets or live entertainment would make many feel like they are not getting their money’s worth. But I go a few times a year and I felt like it was a good experience as long as you are vigilant for your own safety.
I get your point about temp but it does do one important thing not mentioned. It discourages people who are slightly ill from bothering to try showing up. Let’s face it, there are plenty in the US that go to school, work, or anywhere else while somewhat sick. We often think nothing about trudging thru. You may have yourself or known others who went into the parks a bit under the weather.
Temp screens make people think twice. Why waste the effort showing up just to risk getting turned away at the park or your kids at school? It doesn’t need to be 100% effective to make a sizable difference, much of it will be due to a change from our past behaviors.
Okay. I feel like you are being unjustly harsh on The Boathouse. We dined there twice during a visit in July. While busier than other restaurants, several tables had been removed from the restaurant and we were not within 8 feet of another table. I will say that most tables were filled, however the restaurant Is following the protocols imposed on them by the state. If you do not want to be anywhere near people than this is not the restaurant for you. But I think that Pete claiming this restaurant doesn’t care about anything other than making a buck is ridiculous. They consistently have impeccable service and the staff was continually cleaning. They don’t make the rules. They just have to follow them. And while we were there, they were doing just that.