To book Orlando for this September because its cheap?

[Freestyleletsgo]

British Airways is insisting that it will be flying to Orlando on the 1st September however right know the US will only allow international arrivals into 12 airports and Orlando isn't currently one of them.
We usually go to Orlando every year anyway.
Staying onsite and the parks have massively reduced capacity.

Even if you were allowed into the US, Disney and Universal parks have a strict mask at all times policy. I’ve seen numerous blogs and online reports of people regularly passing out in the heat due to having to wear masks. You have to wear them at all times, even outdoors, even on rides.
There are no parades, no fireworks, no character meals or character meet and greets. No buffets. Everything has to be booked in advance - even entry to the theme parks.
It’s not going to be the magical Disney experience you are imagining at all.

We go every year at Easter, obviously this year was cancelled. We re booked for next year, even that looks shaky. My sister was booked for July and re scheduled for October, her flights were cancelled this week. If you go on the dibb it's just all about cancelled flights, many of which are struggling to get refunds. No one is certain what is happening or going to happen. But Reading the dibb August flights cancelled, September flights cancelled now they're doing October, there's even some posts about December being cancelled. No one right now can get in, anyone who was due to go have had their flights cancelled, you may not even get in to the country. You can book, the airlines are taking bookings but they are being cancelled.

The parks are on a pre booking system, there's no more of turning up and going in. The ticket agents are not selling the bulk tickets, people from this year have transferred their tickets to next year and some are booking park days now.

We normally do universal and their parks, it's reduced capacity, you have annual pass holders getting in and they are pre booking all their days. With Disney they've reduced everything, some of the hotels have sport teams isolating in them, there's no free dining, there's no meet and great, there's no early entry. They've cancelled alot of shows. You can only pre book a certain amount of days so it could happen that you won't get full value of park tickets.

The masks wouldn't bother me. We've done that in Germany a fortnight ago in 35c heat. It's not ideal but perfectly doable. Though in Germany the age for masks was higher.

And Disney is often very planned anyway. The low crowds and queues, and the adhoc character appearances are in some ways nicer than waiting for ages for the parades.

I'd be fine with masks for the long flight too.

But regardless of all that and what I'd be happy with - it's the going to the US and Florida right now that's the issue. Even if it was allowed I just wouldn't feel comfortable doing so. And it's not that I'm overly cautious either - I've just been away abroad for a fortnight as it is - but their numbers are just so high, and it doesn't seem like they're under control just now.

This is from the ESTA gov website: esta.cbp.dhs.gov/esta

Even if you have an in-date ESTA it looks like it will be revoked.

My mate has already had her November BA flight cancelled so wondering how you will get there?! Surely others will follow suit if not already. That's why it's cheap, no guarantee.

I personally wouldn’t risk. Just because the R rate in Orange County is low, I doubt the parks will be full of locals. There are going to be thousands of tourists from all over the states/globe. I know it sounds tempting but is it really worth it?
Do you want to be on a packed aeroplane with potential asymptomatic carriers?
Then you’ll have to quarantine on your return. Plus so much can happen in a few weeks, yes it could improve but it could also get worse. Wait and go when you can truly relax and have fun x

The people who are claiming Orlando has a low rate of infection are just wrong. It’s only low compared to Miami Dade county. It’s much higher than London. You don’t get tested without symptoms but there are over 32,000 cases in Orange County (where Orlando is) or nearly 2% of the Total population. So it’s incredibly stupid to think of going to theme parks there. Next you have quarantine for two weeks. And you can’t fly directly to Orlando. That’s not going to change so fast. Unless you are an American or married to one you won’t be allowed on the flight in the first place. It’s cheap for good reasons.

We just got ourselves a lovely house in Florida in January. I’d be on the first flight out tomorrow if they lifted the travel ban.

I actually wouldn't go to the USA at the moment if you paid me (although it doesn't sound like you could actually go even if you wanted to).

With Disney they've reduced everything

I've never visited Disney and don't intend to, but just out of interest have they reduced the entrance prices too ... ?

BA have just cancelled my flights to Las Vegas in October. I personally wouldn't chance it too much uncertainty and Trump isn't letting UK citizens in USA.

My friend is returning to America as a resident. Only residents or those with f1 visas (so live there temporarily e.g. to study) are allowed back. Those flights are available for THEM.

If you try to fly there, they will turn you away at the airport and rightly so. And you will invalidate your insurance. And lose your money. Please don't be silly op.

Even when it gets to the point you are allowed to fly in, do check the small print of your travel insurance very, very carefully.

It cost me a thousand bucks for a twisted ankle when I was living there (all fully insured). I was in and out in less than 2 hours.

Intensive care costs between $4-10k a day. Be really sure you're not going to end up needing ventilation for Covid!

Based on the size of the average punter at Orlando theme parks, be careful - the average family that visits is morbidly obese, and therefore at high risk of needing hospitalisation/ICU/induced coma and mechanical ventilation. Be sure you can afford the risk/price tag trade off.

Peppa Pig world looking a bit more appealing for a few months yet, I reckon...good old NHS!

I had my orlando holiday booked for departure on 28th September with BA and it has been cancelled and money refunded. I cannot see it going ahead this year at all.

@Wherrsmaclickypen

Have to say from the various similar questions and 'go for it' responses on here, there really needs to be a very urgent mindset shift from 'what are we allowed to do/what can we get away with/what isnt going to cost us money, disappointment or general inconvenience' to

'what more can I personally possibly do to help eradicate this deadly global pandemic*'

*Y'know, that thing with nearly 20 million confirmed cases and over 700k deaths? (Both highly understated, by all accounts)

This, the UK needs a massive mindshift away from what Thatcher put in place, notable the politics of ME, ME, ME and return to society being more important as ultimately that's what would make the UK much nicer to live in.

Interesting thread for me - our 10th Oct flights to Orlando are yet to be cancelled. I don't want to go obviously but I don't know if BA will give me a refund if they haven't cancelled our flights.

I'm guessing the OP started this thread for the drama seeing as though they haven't been back.

Yeah I'd probably go back and read up on who is allowed to travel to the US 🤪

Yeah I'd probably go back and read up on who is allowed to travel to the US

Yep...

For clarity, trying to keep it simple, and in response to a couple of previous posts.

You can fly to the States as a British Citizen, but only are in one of the exempt groups/ if you hold one of the Visas which give an exemption (not just the F-1, British holders of other Visas such as a C-1/D are also allowed entry). However at the moment as a British citizen you cannot travel into the US as a holidaymaker on an ESTA.

There is no "flight ban" because airlines, including BA, continue to operate a limited number of flights into the States in part to allow those travel for those who are exempt from the entry ban (see previous para) .

As a result of the above if you've booked a flight to the US that goes into one of the nominated "gateway" airports you cannot rely on it being cancelled, it may operate.

@TheDreadedLurgy

Are people really this dense? I despair I really do

I presume you are referring to the 10/11 pages of people who think this is a real post and not written by something composing under a bridge? Because the second post was a give-away - they have "appropriate insurance" in place. No, they don't and that would be impossible. No insurance company will currently offer insurance cover a holiday to a destination which is on the "none but essential travel" list, which includes the USA. Even if that insurance was taken out pre-Covid. Not going to destinations which the FCO advises against is a standard clause.

Check your flights on my booking with BA as their emails are slow to come through. We had booked to go to Caribbean for a wedding ( which we had already decided we were cancelling), but were waiting till they cancelled our flights. They canx our departure flights but not our return. Didn't get email for days. Think you'll find they will cancel. No problem in getting a refund at all.

@kenadams love the name btw-my dsis is waiting for hers to be canceleld same time-someone she knows is going week before and got cancelled so shouldnt be long

Also, just want to add here, whilst we never know when the USA will let British citizens in (and knowing Trump it could even be tomorrow lol)
Florida have in the past week reported less covid cases. It sounds like they're winning and the curve is flattening. Except it isn't. The less cases they had was because they halted testing because they were expecting a hurricane.

I think we all need to sadly forget Florida holidays for atleast the rest of 2020, probably the most of 2021 too (and I am sad about it because by then I'll have lost 3 trips to Florida -and fuck knows when I'll see the refunds for them!)

I'd add that my husband would typically be in Orlando once a month at least for work, and he has no plans to go there until their rates drop to a similar level to what we're seeing in our US state.

If he did go there, he'd have to quarantine for 14 days upon returning, and would also be unable to see his dentist or optician for a full month - they are refusing to see anyone who has been in the high-risk states.

It's just not worth it.

Thanks @GabsAlot hopefully it shouldn't be too long then.

Florida is an utter shit show right now. I’m an expat in CT and would love nothing than for my parents to come and visit from England. But they’re not permitted and likely won’t be any time soon.