TIME TO GETAWAY

Disney Bound?

While the pandemic has kept a lot of us from visiting Orlando, you’ll find the theme park still has the same magical fun along with new safety measures.

Disney World in Florida is one of those places you may be dreaming of getting back to if you’ve been missing the fun of traveling with the kids. But with theme parks being naturally crowded places, you may be wondering—is it safe to go?

If you’re planning a trip to Disney, you can expect to see many changes from physical distancing on all modes of transportation to mask wearing at the parks to temperature screenings in the parks and at table service restaurants. Here’s a little more on what you can expect at “The Most Magical Place on Earth”:

THE PARKS

All four Walt Disney World theme parks and Disney’s Blizzard Beach Water Park are open. When you arrive, expect to have your temperature taken in addition to a security screening. Most rides are open and you’ll be seated with your own party. While character greetings and parades are on pause, there are still characters throughout the parks along with “special cavalcades”—or pop-up mini parades—down parade routes. Expect capacity limits at parks and reservations must be made in advance for entry. Visitors are encouraged to use cashless payment whenever possible.

HOTELS & TRANSPORTATION

The majority of Disney World’s hotels are open, with a few exceptions. Disney’s Beach Club Resort is scheduled to reopen May 30, Disney’s Wilderness Lodge will reopen June 6 and Disney’s Polynesian Village Resort is scheduled to reopen Summer 2021. Disney’s Boardwalk Inn is closed until further notice. If you’re staying over in a Disney World resort, you’ll see increased cleaning protocols during your stay.

There is physical distancing on Disney buses, monorails and watercrafts. Face coverings are required while boarding and using transportation. The Disney Skyliner loads one party per gondola. Self-parking is available at resorts while valet parking is suspended except for guests with disabilities.

RECREATION

Hitting up the hotel pool is an essential part of a Disney vacation and the good news is pools are open, though some may be operating with reduced hours and capacity.

The same thing goes for fitness centers and sports courts—they are open with reduced hours and capacity. Arcades, campfires, character experiences, marina rentals, spa and salon services are not available. Inroom childcare service and a few other special classes and programs like Mermaid School and hula lessons are currently suspended.

By Ronnie Koenig

THE MOMS’ TAKE

If you’re feeling nervous, read on for some firsthand takes on what it was like to get back to the parks.

Natalie F., mom of Elijah, 14, and Jayden, 10 from Atlanta, Georgia, recently visited Disney for the first time and said the mask requirements and dining precautions were strict and wait times for rides were what she expected. “The wait times at Magic Kingdom were pretty accurate overall ranging anywhere from 15 to 90 minutes long,” she says. “The longer wait times for rides like Splash Mountain were more like 75 minutes versus 90 minutes.”

She and her family were kept together on the rides and separated from other parties for social distancing. “We were the only ones seated together except for boat rides, but everyone remained six feet apart as displayed on the floor.”

The “cavalcades” of characters were a big hit, too.

“They had designated employees walk ahead of the parade to ensure everyone was on the sidewalk as the dancers and floats came through,” Natalie says. “We were able to see Winnie the Pooh, the Mickey and Friends Cavalcade, The Royal Princess Processional and Fantasy Friends Cavalcade led by Gaston from Beauty and the Beast who rode on a horse.”

Jenny E. from California, mom of a 2-year-old son, says the park was well organized. “Everything from ‘stand here’ floor stickers to ropes separating people in line to the way food ordering was done was according to protocol.” Jenny says.

KNOW BEFORE YOU GO

Prep for your Disney World trip by keeping these tips in mind:

Read any travel advisories for visiting Florida

Make sure you have a confirmed room reservation

If you’re not staying overnight but plan on dining, you must have a reservation

Be sure you have a MagicBand, Key to the World card or the My Disney

Experience app

Make a theme park reservation in advance and ensure you have a valid entry for the day you plan to visit

Face coverings are required for ages 2 and up and must be worn in all public areas except when swimming or seated for dining. (Mickey ears, while suggested, are not required)

Though some things are closed or at reduced availability, there’s still plenty of fun to be had and a Disney vacation is well worth the trip. Head to disneyworld.disney.go.com/experience-updates for more information.

4 Getaways DRIVABLE VACATION

These not-toofaraway spots offer outdoor adventures, history and great eats.

By Dina El Nabli and Angel Madison

Lake Placid and The Adirondacks

NEW YORK

Filled with mountains, lakes and woods dotted with small towns, the Adirondack Mountains in upstate New York are known for skiing but they’re also a spectacular destination for hiking in the spring, summer and fall. From stunning waterfalls to amazing local food and craft beer to wide open spaces to explore, a trip here will keep you and the kids moving.

One of the most popular spots to visit is Lake Placid, home to the 1980 Winter Olympic Games. At Lake Placid’s Olympic Sites, you can experience what it was like to be an Olympic Bobsledder on the new Cliffside Mountain Coaster at Mt. Van Hoevenberg, the country’s longest year-round mountain coaster. Don’t miss the Sky Flyer Zipline at the Lake Placid Olympic Jumping Complex and the SkyRide Experience, an 8-person gondola that takes visitors to its ski jump towers.

Take a hike, try riverwalking, get a unique view of the Adirondacks on a zip line trip or fly through the mountains with the Adirondack Flying Service. Head to the Wild Center to climb the massive tree house. Ausable Chasm, the Grand Canyon of the Adirondacks, is less than an hour from Lake Placid and is a must-see for its breathtaking scenery. Tour its waterfalls and relax by floating down the river in a tube.

Start your day at the Breakfast Club, known for its Bloody Marys. Head to the Pickled Pig for wings, chili and burgers or the Big Mountain Deli, which serves an impressive sandwich menu that corresponds with the High Peaks. End your day with a seafood or steak dinner at Great Adirondack Brewing Co.

High Peaks Resort, a dog-friendly spot on Mirror Lake, and Lake Placid Lodge, a former estate with magnificent architecture, bonfires, cozy cabins and horseback riding, are two of many familyfriendly places to stay.

Greater Williamsburg

VIRGINIA

Go back in time to Williamsburg, Virginia, America’s first outdoor vacation destination established in 1609. Greater Williamsburg is known for its historic sites but also offers kayaking, boating, sailing (pirate cruises and tall ship schooners), fishing, zip lining, Segway tours, golf and biking.

From 1699 to 1780, Williamsburg was the thriving center of the American colonies. This area is all about walking, learning and experiencing. You’ll visit blacksmith shops, apothecaries, brickyards, carpenter yards, colonial yards and other historic sites and meet people dressed in 18th-century garb, who’ll tell you all about life in the 1700s.

The museums at Colonial Williamsburg recently completed a $41.7 million expansion project. New exhibition highlights include “Early American Faces” and “American Folk Pottery: Art and Tradition.”

Visit Berkeley Plantation, part of Greater Williamsburg, where the settlers observed the first official Thanksgiving in America in 1619. Colonial National Historical Park features Yorktown Battlefield, Historic Jamestowne and the Colonial Parkway—a beautiful place to bike and bird-watch. There are also ghost tours, art museums and 20+ guided and self-guided tours.

The Williamsburg Winery is a beautiful spot for dinner and an outdoor tasting flight. Stop at Honey Butter’s Kitchen for a Southern-inspired lunch of shrimp and grits, garlic fried potatoes, corn cakes and BBQ.

Save a day for Busch Gardens, where the adventurous can ride the Pantheon, the world’s fastest multi-launch coaster, expected to open this year. For water park fun, stay at Great Wolf Lodge in Williamsburg. Kingsmill Resort or Williamsburg Lodge are other popular family-friendly hotel options and Colonial House offers an authentic historic experience in the heart of Colonial Williamsburg.

Long Beach Island

NEW JERSEY

LBI doesn’t have a boardwalk like Wildwood or Seaside Heights, but the lack of typical “shore” amusements is one of the things that makes it so special. “Our region is a destination like none other at the shore, with distinctive towns that each hold their own personality,” says Lori Pepenella, CEO of the South Ocean County Chamber of Commerce.

Once in LBI, you must make a patronage to Barnegat Lighthouse State Park. A visit to Old Barney is obligatory, and the kids will love walking out on the big stone jetty and looking for sea creatures along the water.

For traditional shore activities, head to Fantasy Island Amusement Park and the Thundering Surf Water Park for rides, slides and an arcade. Or catch a family-friendly show at the Surflight Theatre. Pick up a free passport or visit passporttolbi.org to find more gems like the NJ Maritime Museum that offers kids’ programs and scavenger hunts and the LBI Museum with its history of the baymen and their tools.

Want to commune with nature? Head to Loveladies for the Long Beach Island Foundation’s marsh walk where you might spot ospreys. Or visit Barnegat’s Cloverdale Farm for cranberry bogs and a self-guided trail.

Grab breakfast at The Chicken and the Egg (aka Chegg) for a classic diner menu. Head to Parker’s Garage for fresh oysters and views of the water and make an early dinner reservation for the popular Black Eyed Susans with a seafood-filled menu.

While staying in any of LBI’s towns like Harvey Cedars, Beach Haven or Loveladies, many rent houses for a week, a month or the whole summer. But after a year of staying home during COVID, demand is higher than normal. “We recommend making reservations now for lodging,” says Pepenella. “Our website, visitlbiregion.com has up-to-date beach, surf and travel guides to make planning easy.”

Mount Washington Valley

NEW HAMPSHIRE

The coast of Maine and Vermont get a lot of attention, and for good reason, but this region, nestled in New Hampshire’s White Mountains, is a drivable hidden gem that’s a must for so many reasons.

See nature at its most extreme on the top of Mount Washington, where the observatory has the world record for surface wind speeds of 231 miles per hour. Advanced hikers can climb the mountain (7.6 miles of difficult elevation), but there’s also a drivable auto road and cog railroad that will take you to the Northeast’s tallest peak. The weather can vary wildly, with average summit temps of 26.5 degrees so bring a sweatshirt even if it is shorts and t-shirt weather at the bottom.

Nearby Jefferson is home to Santa’s Village, an amusement park dedicated to Christmas, with the Ho Ho H2O water park, reindeer feeding, Santa visits and rides like the Great Humbug Adventure. Story Land in Bartlett is a theme park full of fantasy and fairy tale characters, with a wooden roller coaster, log flume and rides and shows for the kids. Thrill seekers can try zip lines at Wildcat Mountain or Attitash’s long alpine slide for a fun trip down a mountain. Lost River Gorge and Flume Gorge both get you up close and personal with cascading waterfalls and the Polar Caves Park allows you to squeeze through glacially formed caves.

After a day of play, head to Moat Mountain Smokehouse for nachos, burgers and brisket or May Kelly’s Cottage Restaurant for Irish fare. Don’t miss Lickety Splitz for amazing ice cream sundaes.

Stay in North Conway, which is filled with outlet shopping and is easily accessible to nearby towns. Try the North Conway Grand Hotel for a resort-style vacation, or opt for a little New England B&B charm at the Cranmore Inn. The stately White Mountain Hotel opens Memorial Day, and is home to Ledges restaurant with panoramic mountain views.