To ensure we are equipping our readers with all the information they need, we will continue to report on all travel, safety, and COVID-related news that could impact a Disney Parks visit.
Disney World has gone through several changes since March 2020. From increased health and safety measures to attraction closures, Disney has worked to adapt and change in the midst of a global pandemic. As 2022 approaches, the pandemic continues to impact the world, including the state of Florida where Disney World is located.
EPCOT
Now, as the Omicron variant continues to spread across the country, the state of Florida is setting records as cases surge.
According to data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Florida had 31,758 new COVID-19 cases on Friday, breaking a record for the most cases in a single day since the start of the pandemic in the U.S. in March 2020.
Mask signage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
During the holiday week, the Florida Department of Health reported that the statewide new-case positivity rate rose to 13.8%. The week prior to Christmas had a 5.3% new-case positivity rate, and the rate was even lower at 2.6% the week before.
COVID-19 Health and Safety Sign
The Orlando Sentinel attributed this surge in cases to people’s rush to get tested ahead of the holidays. Additionally, they reported that the Omicron variant is the dominant strain among newly reported cases.
Disney World
This record number of COVID-19 cases is the highest since August 2021. The previous record was 27,669 coronavirus cases in one day, and that number was surpassed twice in one week. Recently, Disney World’s Orange County was also listed as a COVID-19 “hotspot,” a designation that is used to indicate that a county has reached a threshold of disease activity that is considered as being of high burden.
Social distancing signage
The holiday season brought massive crowds to Disney World, and the return of international travel introduced more guests to the parks as well.
Magic Kingdom crowds Christmas week
As cases rise, we’ll continue to monitor any changes on Disney’s part. If there are any updates, you can learn all about them and find out how they might affect your trip right here on DFB.
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Hello!
I just wanted to let you know that my whole family and friends (14 of us) had to cancel our trip to Disney a couple of days before we were to depart on our trip. We are in Quebec so we couldn’t take a chance in being stranded.
It’s a good thing too because even though we’re double vaxed, my husband and I both came down with Covid. Because we’re vaccinated, we only have the mild cold version.
We were very disappointed because we worked so hard to get our dinning reservations. Many early hours 3:00am answering to texts about restaurant availability, lol.
I just want to thank you for this wonderful, well informed news emails and of course answering emails too. You guys are great!!
Hopefully we’ll be able to travel in 2022!
Happy New Year and be safe!
What are the hospitalization rates? What are the ventilation rates? God forbid; what are the death rates?
How many hospitalizations? How many in the ICU? How many have died? We are going to get sick, like we have for countless milenia. We are building a narrative that we can’t even get even fall ill anymore.
Let me ask this question, for which I already know the answer. Why is it important about the number of people who have COVID-19 “Omicron” We all know that it is more transmittable, and less deadly. We all knew that from the reports that had come out of South Africa, back in November. You all can go to the Florida CDC to see how many, or few people are being hospitalize and or deaths from this variant. Are we now only counting the number of people who have Omicron/COVID-19. Or are we also looking at hospitalization and deaths. Because those numbers just are not present from this variant. We have come a long way from stay home and do nothing for only 15 days to bend the curve. So that we do not stress out our hospitals. I’m sorry. I just don’t get it. On the other hand, I do enjoy the rest of your blog. Thank you, for that.
So it’s like a bunch of people have a cold? Okay.
We have lost over 460,000 to Covid in the U.S. alone. The majority, unvaccinated, go figure. What number of deaths will it take to make this pandemic real to the unconvinced? Perhaps only serious incident of a loved one or close friend. Information is an effective tool against ignorance.
Don – Wow!
DFB: Why do you keep censoring my posts with “Excessive Moderation?” What are you afraid of?
Guess I won’t need to order that DFB Guide to Walt Disney World Dining 2022. DFB has convinced it’s too dangerous to go, so I’ve canceled my plans.
FL-Dad, when I don’t approve your comments, it’s either because the information may not be accurate or because of language. I’m not afraid of anything but wish to keep the comments as close to verifiable fact as possible (as we both know, sources can be wildly contradictory), linguistically appropriate for a wide audience, and generally not inflammatory. I hope this helps you to understand where I’m coming from. Thank you, as always, for reading and for sharing your thoughts.
Just want to remind you all at dfb that this is called the Disney FOOD blog, not the let’s add to the covid scare and misinformation pandering blog.