Wow... September has flown by with so many emotions and changes! Especially the changes, and I think many of them are very positive!
Let's start with the obvious~ because it's OPEN... Walt Disney World! Since July this "Most Magical Place on Earth", has been providing joy and magic to guests once again! With loads of safety measures, always updating and improving every day! It's all working! Though some things we know and love are not yet open, and masks are in sight everywhere. Disney has succeeded in Florida! Contact me today for help and assistance... teri@dreamcatchervacations.com.
Then I, with a heavy heart must mention Disneyland. The "original" Disney Park, and still the only Disney Park in the world... not yet reopened! As of this day (September 30th), an ongoing lack of communication from the Governor of California, has Disneyland and all other theme/amusement parks still closed. After several requests from; The Mayor of Anaheim, Chairman of Disney Parks Josh D'Amoro, CAPA (California Attractions and Parks Assoc.), 18 of California's Legislator's, and others. The Governor has still refused to communicate the exclusive "guidelines for opening" that he has been promising now for weeks! Then also (as of today) another 28,000 Cast Members (Disney Employees) have been laid off due to the extended closures! (Total number are combined from Disneyland and Walt Disney World.) All we can do at this point is pray, hope, and stay as positive as possible.
On the Hawaii front, the news is quite a bit more positive! The Governor of Hawaii has finally made it "official", and Hawaii will re-open to visitors starting October 15, 2020. The big stipulation of course; you must be in possession of a "negative result", for COVID tested within 72 hours of your arrival! This seemed impossible at first! (All the labs were saying at least a week!) But in the last 48 hours alone the test and prices for those tests are changing fast and furious! It started with the announcement from United Airlines, that they would be offering tests to travelers on the day of departure from San Francisco and Los Angeles. Those rapid test results however come at a very steep cost... $250! Within 24 hours of United's announcement came Hawaiian Air's, day of testing for only $150 (also from San Francisco and Los Angeles as of today), and if you drive over the day before your flight- only $90! Now... as of today... if you fly from Oakland, California... it's FREE! According to Governor Ige, the test required within the 72 hours, will soon be offered at CVS and Kaiser also, but no cost has yet been released.
But wait there's more! As an expert it is my job to know as much about these kind of details- for you- as possible! This one I learned the hard way! I hope you (of course) will contact me to help you plan your special visit to the Islands! But at the least... beware! Many of the large wholesalers (online booking companies) are confirming your reservations for hotels that are NOT open! This has in fact happened to me twice! Many of the hotels across Hawaii are just not going to be ready by October 15th! So why then are they being confirmed? I have asked many people in my industry, and honestly they do not seem to know. (A very clear sign of the times!) My advice to everyone that reads this, especially if you are scheduled to arrive before November 1st... call, do not write, do not text... call your hotel directly and ask!
There are SO many new guidelines and rules, they are even hard for me to keep up with these days! But if you are ready to live again and travel~ if you feel confident and need to get away? These examples are actually just a few. The Caribbean, Tahiti, and Mexico are also waiting for you, just to name a few! (Most all require the negative COVID test with 72 hours or less from arrival.)
I do hope this information has been helpful! After 27 years in this industry~ nothing shocks me anymore! But I do still love what I do, and I am very eager to get back to doin it!
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