If you’re feeling the Disney itch now is the time to scratch it!

There are many components that make up a Walt Disney World vacation and prioritizing them will differ depending on who you ask! Some families rely heavily on character dining to make their vacations special to them, while others focus on the parades and firework shows. As many people have reached a comfort level and are willing to get back traveling, the absence of some of their usual Disney favorites are holding them back from taking the next step.

We have been hearing a lot of the same reasons for waiting to book a Disney vacation:

We’ll go when fireworks are back.

We’ll go when dining plans are back.

We’ll go when Fast Passes are back.

We’ll go when club level is back.

We’ll go when masks aren’t required.

Unfortunately, you might be waiting a while for some of your favorite Disney amenities to return, if they ever do. Take note: as these experiences come back, so will the crowds. We are in an interesting position right now; while you may miss some things, there are positives that can come out of a Disney vacation in the near future.

CAPACITY – Lower capacity means fewer crowds. Disney has been at a 35% capacity which allows you to both maximize your time in the parks and stop and smell the roses every now and then. We are usually rushing from ride to ride, trying to squeeze in everything we want to do between Fast Passes, and rarely take the time to appreciate all the wonderful small details that Disney has to offer. With crowd levels down and Fast Passes out of play we have been able to have a more relaxed vacation and fully enjoy our surroundings.

MAGIC – In the words of Ferris Bueller, “Life moves pretty fast. If you don’t stop and look around once in a while, you could miss it.” While Disney is always a magical vacation and there are pros to taking children of any age, there is a sweet spot when innocence rules and imaginations can run wild.

If you are waiting for one of the above items to return you could be letting precious moments in time pass through your fingertips. Are things different? Yes. Are they still magical? Yes! Many parents are delaying their children’s first vacation because they may know what’s missing, but guess what…the kids don’t know! Anything new to them will be magical, amazing, and special…. so don’t miss it.

NO PARADES, BUT A GREAT ALTERNATIVE – Ever sit on the curb on Main Street for an hour waiting for a parade, only to have a family step right in front of you five seconds before it comes down the street? How annoying and rude. Do we really miss that? The cavalcades have been wonderful sprinkles of pixie dust throughout the day instead of sitting in the blazing sun waiting for one big production. If your children are afraid of getting up close and personal with the characters these can be a more comfortable way to see them!

TRY SOME NEW DINING – There could be a few reasons why you might not be dining at your usual places on your next vacation – it’s not open, you aren’t able to get a reservation, or you’re not quite comfortable dining inside yet. We dined al fresco in each park on our recent trip and found some new favorites!

NORMALCY – Can we all agree that this has been the weirdest year of our lives? And weird is putting it mildly. People are craving a normal activity and what better way to catch that feeling than to go on vacation, even if just for a few days. As we said before, if you’re feeling the Disney itch now most certainly is the time to scratch it!

That leads us to the final reason…

SAFETY – Disney puts the safety of their guests at the highest priority level, even prior to Covid. This year has truly shown how this company goes above and beyond in making all safety protocols the best they can be. Enforcing the wearing of facial coverings, social distancing, and temperature checks are just a few of the ways Disney made us feel safe.

If we’re certain of anything, it’s that Disney will not be reducing any of these safety measures until it is verified by the CDC and they can be certain their guests will be as safe as possible. What does this mean for masks? This is probably one of the biggest questions we get asked and the bottom line is: we don’t think that will be changing anytime soon. The good news is the masks are allowing us to do the things we want to do. We mask up and can go to school, church, stores, malls, and we can also go to Disney, which has many opportunities to be outdoors.

Life is a gift so live in the present. Book that vacation, pack your bags, and get down to the magic when you can experience a once in a lifetime version of Walt Disney World that you’ll (hopefully) never see again.

by Ellen Volpe – Co-Owner of ET Family Travel