Orlando is BACK!

[dioxide45]

Okay, so we just returned from a stay at Sheraton Vistana Villages. We have been on many timeshare stays since May 2020 and the days of empty resorts are behind us. We went to the Bella pool yesterday and lounge chairs were at a premium. They have small pleather cloths over certain loungers for social distancing, but most of those had been tossed to the side and it was pretty packed. The normal jumping kids and ball throwers were there again to irritate us. We stuck it out for a couple hours.

We went to Epcot and returning around 11pm, the parking lot was back to usual, no parking spaces anywhere near a building entrance. Have to park way over yonder and hike it back. Tracking down a luggage cart this morning was another challenge that we hadn't seen in a while. Three luggage carts all left outside of peoples villas on the 6th floor. Traffic was horrendous again in Orlando this morning when we were trying to get from the Vineland outlets down to 535 and onto I4. We gave up and did a U-turn and took a different route.

So; traffic is back, people are back and it seems Orlando is BACK. It is spring break after all but far different than spring break just a year ago. Now we know why we never traveled around spring break in the past.

 

[got4boys]

All Walt Disney Parks are sold out starting this week for the next few weeks. I was just there last week and spoke to the front desk check in person at Sheraton Vistana and they said that the reservations were picking up and will be full by Easter Week.

When we flew down, the plane was packed and there was not a seat available. Rental car pricing was a premium and long waits at the rental car counters.

 

[dioxide45]

All Walt Disney Parks are sold out starting this week for the next few weeks. I was just there last week and spoke to the front desk check in person at Sheraton Vistana and they said that the reservations were picking up and will be full by Easter Week.

When we flew down, the plane was packed and there was not a seat available. Rental car pricing was a premium and long waits at the rental car counters.

By parks full, it doesn't mean full like in the past though. I think they are still operating at 35%. Disney never announced an increase to 50% that I know of. I think a lot of people are just looking to get away and may not even go to the parks. That just means they will be at the pools.

 

[vistana101]

Wow! Very happy for the industry and all the employees, but I was selfishly hoping to be able to enjoy a quieter version of the main pool on our next stay. Dreams dashed!

 

[dioxide45]

I forgot to point out that this increase occupancy is causing big issues at checkin. We had read on some Facebook groups of people waiting five hours for their villa to be ready. On those nights we came back late, there were cars lined up outside of the registration building. I suspect a lot of people sitting in their cars waiting for a call that their villa was ready. They simply don't have the housekeeping staff back yet to meet the needed demand to get villas cleaned. So just don't expect to be able to checkin early. It was about 5:30pm for us before we were able to get into our villa.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I forgot to point out that this increase occupancy is causing big issues at checkin. We had read on some Facebook groups of people waiting five hours for their villa to be ready. On those nights we came back late, there were cars lined up outside of the registration building. I suspect a lot of people sitting in their cars waiting for a call that their villa was ready. They simply don't have the housekeeping staff back yet to meet the needed demand to get villas cleaned. So just don't expect to be able to checkin early. It was about 5:30pm for us before we were able to get into our villa.

That doesn't sound like very good planning. They need to get some housekeepers and not overwork the ones they have.

Glad to know the resorts are filling up.

 

[CPNY]

I guess spring break week is upon us. I’m going to miss the quiet days. I low key hate people now lol

 

[pedro47]

I am happy visitors are returning to the sunshine state; but I am praying that we Americans realize that the pandemic is not over.

We still need to practice social distancing, wash our hands, wear our masks and receive our COVID-19 vaccinations shots. IMHO.

 

[rickandcindy23]

I watched 700 Club today and CA and FL have about the same number per 100,000 people with Covid. The difference is that FL is open. I am glad DeSantis chose to keep the state open.

Stores, amusment parks, restaurants, and every business in Florida, can make rules to require masks as they feel are necessary. I like that and abide by all rules set forth by municipalities and businesses.

We get our Covid vaccines in two weeks. I am glad to know that I will no longer have to worry about the risks, but these businesses will still require me to wear a mask. I think that is something that will need to be addressed.

This post will bring attacks on me personally, I am sure.

 

[jwalk03]

I watched 700 Club today and CA and FL have about the same number per 100,000 people with Covid. The difference is that FL is open. I am glad DeSantis chose to keep the state open.

Stores, amusment parks, restaurants, and every business in Florida, can make rules to require masks as they feel are necessary. I like that and abide by all rules set forth by municipalities and businesses.

We get our Covid vaccines in two weeks. I am glad to know that I will no longer have to worry about the risks, but these businesses will still require me to wear a mask. I think that is something that will need to be addressed.

This post will bring attacks on me personally, I am sure.

Im with you. There is ZERO evidence that any of the strict lockdowns in CA, & NY, & IL, et. al. had any amount of success. DeSantis did the best job of any governor in the country while Cuomo was being lauded as the best- maybe they have finally figured out he is a DISASTER too.

 

[wolfhound89]

Orlando may be back but I would have to say from our experience this week that a majority of the people on property are not owners. The lack of noise and smoking enforcement was evident. Was given a "newly remodeled" unit. Guest shower and most of the electrical outlets were non-functional. I was told that they did not have another unit to move us to.