Florida

[Pomegranatepompom]

@DBML
@puzzledandoissedoff

And anyone else 😊

Wondered if you’d like to continue the Florida discussion?

I’ve not cancelled August yet, I know it’s only a slim chance of going.

Btw I made some pooh bear toast, it was pretty similar and easy to do.

To be honest, it’s pretty much what I expected in terms of measures but I’m surprised at how late they’re leaving it to open - I was thinking it would be mid June.

To me, it’s just not the same without character dining, parades and fireworks. It’s a lot of money to pay for so much uncertainty!

@derenstar I thought midJune as well. Wonder why not?

@justforthecake thank you so much for all the updates 😊

We booked our August trip last April. We've been planning for over a year and I feel like throwing a toddler tantrum and crying it's not fair.

I want the package we have now potted over to next year exactly as we have it - dining reservations and all!!

I think a toddler tantrum is perfectly reasonable in the circumstances

I’m really sorry justforthecake, I would be tempted to do the same. Are you able to move your booking to later in the year maybe?

If we hadn't moved our mini break to October I'd be seriously looking at moving Florida then but we can't.

Hi All hope it's okay to join!

DH and I were originally going to America for 3 months in September but now that's up shit creek!

We had Disney booked for late Oct/Early Nov so have kept that booking and Virgin agreed to change our flights around it. However they have also now cancelled flights out of Gatwick, I have requested a refund now.

I'm really at a loss of what to do

Our trip is booked from September 7th. We need to decide if we're rebooking to next year and paying the amendment fee, or cancelling and losing our deposit to then book for next year (different deal or hotel!). If we change to next year our plan is to go for 3 weeks instead of 2 though (silver lining)

@DBML is your opinion schools will be relaxed the holidays next year as well??

@Pomegranatepompom

I honestly don’t know. I’d like to think they’d be flexible, especially with young children. But on the other hand and after all this time missed, it could go the other way. I really wouldn’t like to say. 😔

I’m a teacher, so sadly I don’t have the option anyway, but I can totally understand why parents might want to plan a holiday after missing one.

@DBML Thanks for your reply. So we just this week put a deposit on flights for 2 weeks in Feb. We’d take them out for a week, they normally have very good attendance, I think the school would authorise (they have previously due to my job). But now I’m wondering about October and we couldn’t really take them out twice??
I think probably too many park restrictions for August.

@EmotionalFlood how much deposit would you lose?

@Ilikeanimalsmorethanpeople I’d be optimistic for your dates?

One thing I’m learning is life’s far too short.
Just book the holiday xx

I do think that - but I don’t want them to be behind or P off the school. We have been doing loud of activities with them so hopefully that helps with skills.
My colleague (nhs) died of covid - it’s been awful...
So part of me does think - sod it !

Btw excellent prices with BA for February.

Can I join this thread too? Booked to go to Disney for two weeks in August. Hoping I can amend to next year. Any news on whether the free dining will reappear next year?

I don’t think free dining has been mentioned yet. Where were you staying ?

@Pomegranatepompom so sorry to hear about you colleague. I totally agree with DBML, life is far too short, so just do it. Last year, the kids missed 3 days at the start of term due to our trip, for my eldest who was just starting year 7, it wasn’t ideal. I agonised over the decision for ages but in the end, it didn’t make one jot of difference as she caught up in no time. The memories we made however, were priceless.

Still no news as yet about free dining for 2021 @LyndaLaHughes, there is some speculation that now the re-opening date has been announced, the offer will be announced imminently (some people are even saying it might be tomorrow). Hopefully, there isn’t so much pent up demand from all the trips that had to be postponed this year that Disney do still offer it

I love a Florida thread, we are booked for late September 2021 for 3 weeks. I have to admit that I'm worried about it being the same even by then, I can't even get my son to wear a hat let alone a face mask.

This will be my 5th trip with my husband and his family but my son's first. We are staying in a villa in Windsor hills and will be doing a 2 week ticket for Disney and a week ticket for universal.

I don’t think free dining has been mentioned yet. Where were you staying ?

Port Orleans Riverside.
Been planning it all since free dining release day last April

@LyndaLaHughes so disappointing, could you move to later this year?

@derenstar thank you. We all need more holidays and happy times. I think we’ll book for October and reassess February. We were thinking of getting annual passes and trying to squeeze on 3 trips by going August this year, Feb, then July. That’s probably not workable now.

@Mads123 hopefully back to normal ish by then ?!

Just tried to move our booking to October but been told no availability- booked via attractions tickets direct. People booked direct with Disney may get a different answer ?

Sadly, following Disneys announcement yesterday, they’re not taking any new bookings for the rest of this year but I understand you can rebook for stays from Jan 2021. What are you going to do @Pomegranatepompom? Have you spoken to ATD yet about your options? Such a horrendous situation. I’m so sorry for all of you that have trips booked this yea.

Please can I join? Disney mad family here!
We're booked to stay at Port Orleans French Quarter in mid-August. Never stayed on-site before, very frustrated about the removal of the dining plan.
DH & I went to WDW in 2011, took DS in 2015 and this would have been DD first visit.
Booked hotel and tickets with one company and flights direct with airline. To be honest, as much as I'm desperate to go, I'm hoping the flights will be cancelled so we can get all our money back and book again for 2022 (hopefully with free dining).
At the beginning of lockdown I bought the Disney Eye Found it game. We've played it lots over the past weeks and all enjoy it.

@derenstar
BA say I’ll lose the deposit unless they cancel the flight -£400
Same for attractions tickets direct -£200 but I do they they should refund us as they’re not able to give us what I booked ie dining plan ??

Plan to go on Feb for 3 weeks and take out of school for 2 weeks, I don’t wish to annoy the school but I think this is important for us as a family. We’ll be proactive with their work until then to hopefully help a bit.

@shufflebumnessie so disappointing. Too hot in with masks, we also had the dining plan. I hope it will be offered next year...
I’m going to google your game.