As the situation with the COVID-19 pandemic continues to develop, rules regarding masks, travel, and more in the U.S. and other countries continue to be discussed or changed depending on the circumstances.
Flight from Orlando
So far, we’ve shared that the U.S. may be considering some domestic travel restrictions, COVID-19 testing is required for international flights coming into the U.S., and COVID-19 testing may be required for domestic flights in the future. But, now we’re seeing some important updates coming out of the United Kingdom that could seriously impact travel plans.
According to CNN, vacations could be severely limited for those in the United Kingdom. CNN reports that officials have already warned that a foreign trip might not be possible during 2021 for those in the UK. But, now, the UK’s transport minister has said that even a staycation on home soil may be out of the question. CNN shares that the UK has one of the highest COVID-19 death rates, with nearly 4 million cases and over 115,000 deaths as of February 9th.
Airplane
Grant Shapps, the UK transport minister, shared, “Until we know the route out of lockdown, which we can’t know until we have more data, more information on vaccines as well, please don’t go ahead and book holidays.” Shapps said it is too early to know what restrictions will be in place by the summer. So, Shapps advised people to “do nothing” until things are clearer.
Travel Advisory Sign in Orlando Airport
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson said, “I understand why people want to make plans now, but we’re just going to have to be a bit more patient.” More information about the situation is set to be shared later in February. Although more than 13 million COVID-19 vaccines have been administered in the UK, the transport minister has said they’ll have to wait for other places to “catch up.”
Orlando Airport
With the high COVID-19 death rate in the UK and the emergence of new variants of the virus found in the UK and Brazil, the UK has been increasing its border restrictions. There are specific restrictions and rules that apply for UK and Irish residents who are planning to fly into the UK from countries on the UK’s “red list.” The “red list” includes places like South Africa, Portugal, and others. All other travelers (those who are not UK and Irish residents) who have visited countries on the “red list” 10 days before traveling to the UK are banned from entering. People who fail to comply with the requirements or try to hide that they’ve visited a high risk country before they arrive could face a 10-year prison sentence or fine.
Orlando International Airport
Additionally, there are specific requirements for travelers coming to the UK from other countries that aren’t on the “red list,” including a required negative COVID-19 test within 72 hours of their departure, isolation for a set number of days when they arrive, and additional COVID-19 testing.
Face Mask Sign in Seattle Airport
So, if you are from the UK and were planning to travel soon, even domestically, those plans may need to change. We’ll keep an eye out for more updates on this situation and other changes that might impact your future Disney trips.
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Thank you for keeping an eye on this ! It’s so difficult to consolidate everything that is going on I look forward to more updates ✨✨✨💖
Hoping this is better in November. We are hoping to come to Orlando from UK for our anniversary!
To be honest, our Government are just rubbish (I’m in England). They keep contradicting themselves day to day. Grant Shapps also said he knows nothing about travel. So while I think you’re right and it’s unlikely that any Brits will be allowed to go to Florida (or anywhere across the Atlantic) for the rest of the year, the Government are also trying to say that by Easter things might be becoming more “normal” here. Fingers crossed that the vaccines stop the spread and curb the rise in cases as soon as possible. This is now the longest stretch in 15 years that I’ve been away from WDW, and I miss it!!! I need to try the potstickers at Sunshine Tree Terrace and all the new things. Disney better keep them all there for 2022 🙂
Being in the UK we do know this already as it’s old news. We haven’t been able to travel abroad or within the UK for sometime now, unless it was considered an emergency ( riding 7DMT apparently doesn’t fall into that category) . Anyone understands it’s not the wisest thing to start throwing caution to the wind as soon as Covid restrictions begin to ease a little. I can’t imagine there are many from the UK realistically believing a WDW holiday will happen before October 2021, but we still like to plan for when that time comes and we can travel again to give us something to look forward to.
Boris and Shapps continue to state the obvious just in case anyone notices they actually haven’t a clue what’s going on and they’ve been winging it for the last year. Please please don’t mention them again alongside the wonderful things about Disney. It’s like being RickRolled haha… “ooo great, a Disney food blog email… noooo it’s uk politics!” Haha
Although on a plus note, we are rocketing along with our vaccinations!
I usually look forward to my WDW updates from you guys as it’s a form of dreamy escapism away from all things Covid and political- sadly, this article just depressed me. I’d rather read about Dole Whips than death rates please.
We were supposed to visit Home from the UK last April, then Sept, then this April. Cautiously holding out for this Sept now. DFB is one of the things keeping me going until I can return to my happy place.
Thanks for sharing this, Nicki! I shared it with the team. 🙂
We are meant to be getting married in WDW in early November this year travelling from the UK. I am holding on to hope that we can travel as we can change our booking up to 30days before so hard to even get excited for such a special time
That’s what I call being extremely loyal and unbiased in your views, Mirandamidas. What a ridiculous remark to make about the government making changes on a day-to-day basis. They’ve done an amazing job trying to keep everyone safe, managing to keep all the hospitals open and being ahead of the game worldwide with the vaccination programme. We’re very fortunate to have some incredible research departments in London and Oxford coming up with vaccines and also discovering drugs that will help people in the last stages of the virus. I suggest you find another country to emigrate to and it will be one less winger.
@Jen this is a happy blog where people talk about Disney, not politics, so I won’t engage with you on how you’re wrong – though please, if you’re going to be needlessly rude to people online, make sure you spell your insults properly (it’s whinger). Maybe consider that blogs like these are where stressed out people come to think about other things and yes, occasionally post a grumpy comment about the world (not Disney World 😉 ) Even Disney characters need to have a moan every so often!