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.
We’ve been keeping a close eye on the latest updates on the impact COVID-19 is having on the Central Florida area.
Health & Safety Sign
Earlier this week, the CDC listed Orange County, Florida — one of the counties in which Disney World is located — in the “Substantial” category of overall COVID transmission.
The White House’s latest coronavirus report lists Orange County as a “rapid riser county,” the only county currently listed as such in Florida.
Mask signage at Disney’s Animal Kingdom
The Florida Department of Health reported 10,892 new coronavirus cases statewide this week among Florida residents, an uptick from last week’s number of 9,663 new cases. Of the total new cases, 905 came from Orange County. These numbers only reflect the number of cases among Florida residents, as non-resident case numbers are no longer available.
Health Signage
Statewide positivity also increased slightly to 2.5% from 2.4%, which is the highest the rate has been since the last week of October.
Weekly Case Positivity Rate in Florida ©Orlando Sentinel
We’ll continue to keep a close watch on Orange County, Florida in the coming days and weeks, and provide any further updates as they become available.
The Omicron COVID-19 Variant and Disney World: What You Need To Know
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It is a huge scam. When have any of the ‘experts’ said what the death rate is?
Positivity does not equal fatality.
Let’s add: how many of those who died, smoked? We’re obese? Had uncontrolled diabetes?
Enough is enough of this garbage. The only way this is over is when we, the people, say it’s over and act like it’s over.
I will NOT be a witness to toddlers being subjected to muzzling.
Of course Coronavirus is still out there, so why are we still allowing major sports to fill their stadiums with unmasked spectators??? Humm Do you think it’s all money related???
LOL!!!! “Positive” tests mean NOTHING! Many of these tests have been proven to show false “positive” results. And “positive” doesn’t mean “sick”.
Stop freaking people out!
Don’t you just love it? You are doing Diz the biggest disservice with your depressing stories. Write about FOOD.
OK, I am looking at the data now on the Johns Hopkins dashboard for the entire state of Florida.
For the week ending Nov 28 there were ZERO cases reported. For the week ending Dec 5, there were 19,555 – this is a reporting delay, likely due to the Thanksgiving holiday. The weeks prior were falling from 14K to just under 9K. So OF COURSE this *appears* to be a rapid rise in cases! But take the average for the two weeks, and it is still declining – 9,777 vs 9,899 for the week ending Nov 21.
Don’t simply take the word of the media or out of the WH as gospel and report it in a panic. I am seeing Facebook Disney groups explode with panicked posts, quoting or referencing THIS article, asking “Should I cancel my Disney trip???”
The majority of the “official” information about everything surrounding Covid is heavily slanted due to politics, as we all know, and the WH has a particular conflict with the governor of Florida – so take everything you read and hear from the government regarding Florida with a HUGE chunk of salt, and check the math yourself.
I realize that followers of the COVID misinformation sources will not be receptive to the following, but here goes anyway.
Saying that positive tests mean nothing is being dangerously misinformed. Death rates are a lagging indicator while positive test rates are a leading indicator. It will be several weeks to know what the death rate is. Waiting until the death rate is known means that any mitigation effort are delayed and people die needlessly.
Regardless of what you think, there is always a correlation to increased death rates and positive test rates.
Wow! Is it the holiday season? Alot of people have died from this pandemic and DFB is just giving us the updates.
Thank you DFB and keep up the great job!!
This isn’t anything even worth reporting.
Agree with all the previous comments.
Please don’t contribute to the alarmist hysterical media messaging ! There’s enough of that out there .
Thanks for passing along this type of info. It’s a big help to those of us who live out of the country and are trying to get an idea of the situation locally to help make plans/decisions for upcoming trips. 😊
HERE HERE!!!!! I absolutely agree!!! “DC-ers” need to just go ahead and be minding their own dang businesses!!
Ouch, these comments. Thanks for keeping us updated! We appreciate the good and bad news of COVID and thanks for not being a conspiracy theorist site on the side. As we know FL is the least restrictive state so, not super surprised. Vaxxed or not vaxxed, stay safe people!
Enough is enough! The death rate from COVID is down 21% from the previous 7 days. How about stop testing EVERYONE that want to go to a theater, a cruise or a flight to visit family, and just test and treat the ones who are actually sick? I promise you that if you stop testing everyone, COVID cases will drop. Yes people will still get sick, but just treat them, and stop spreading panic. We are well past and over the panic of this virus. Time to move on with life….
Thanks for the update. Unlike some people, I choose not to bury my head in the sand but be informed and prepared for my travel to Disney. This includes knowing the risk level at the time of my travel.
It is only logical that when you bring hundreds of thousands of people together in overcrowded spaces, transmission rates will be higher, why is this surprising to anyone ?
Vaccinated, boosted and had covid at least once here. I’m ok, but I know people who became seriously ill, and people who died or are still suffering lon-term health effects. That it doesnt seriously affect me doesn’t mean it’s a scam.
Empathy and understanding that one’s actions can affect others is seriously lacking these days.
AJ, thank you for continuing to update us on these case rates. I’m leaving for WDW tomorrow and I like knowing this info!
AND I will add that Disney is doing the right thing by protecting us all with their mask mandate and requiring cast members to be vaccinated. My family would not be going there for 10 days if they hadn’t put these safety measures in place.
Your efforts to inform on all related issues are appreciated and certainly not a disservice. Thank you.
Yeah! And they don’t tell us how many people have died from falling off the edge of our flat earth! What is this science stuff anyhow.
No need to keep us posted on COVID in Orange County…it’s all a bunch of “you know what”. Stick to food!
The data from Africa tells us that NO “Omicron” infected people have been hospitalized or died from it. It also tells us that 11 out of 15 infected people were vaccinated. The four that were not vaccinated showed NO SYMPTOMS. As most of us knew, when a virus mutates, the mutation gets WEAKER. The science has been borne out here.
Megan: Update for you: It is now against the law in Florida for employers to mandate vaccinations for employees. Yes, even Disney must follow this law. We love our governor here in The Free State of Florida. Also, on Saturday, no masks were required on Jingle Cruise. People in Magic Kingdom were only wearing masks when actively told to do so. People are done with useless masks.
Again, if you are still afraid of the air you breathe, please stay home, “safely” bunkered and quarantined. The parks are crowded enough; you won’t be missed.
In Florida we have been manipulating the numbers for the last year at least to hide how many people are effected.
So unfortunately Floridians and visitors cant protect themselves easily. It’s up to each individual to protect themselves. Those that hide their heads in the sand so to speak will expose themselves and others….perhaps to catch the virus. Enjoy Disney but protect yourselves and stay safe. Sorry that those uninformed and mis informed have to be so rude in their comments. Please keep informing us out here of the situation at Disney properties.
The uninformed and misinformed are on the other side of this matter. They are the ones that are still pushing fear and false narratives, and there is no evidence that Florida has been manipulating the numbers. If you people that are unhappy with Florida would move out to a blue state and quit coming to Disney, we would all be better off. The ones mentioned that are making these “rude” comments are those that have a grasp of the situation and are tired of all the fear mongering. The latest strain of the virus is ultra mild. The death rate for all of it is still at 99%. This is something we will have to live with, and it’s not going to kill us. Stop spreading the fear!
Thank you AJ for keeping us informed. It’s sad to see so many callous and irresponsible comments here.
Love these comments! Love Florida! Everyone who is so afraid should stay home.
We were there 3 weeks ago stayed at the Dolphin. Maybe half the guests wore face diapers. At the parks (very crowded) nobody wore a mask. Unless you were inside. But if they were no cast member police the masks came off. Universal had no face diaper rules. Was more fun. Hope this helps. If you are afraid stay home.
Wow so many misinformed people who think they are scientists read DFB. I appreciate the updates and posts on covid.
our next Disney trip will be to cali not Florida.
DeathSantis has already killed off his margin of error with his mandates and encouraging people to hate masks. You might not die from covid – but do you wan to tell your now 7 year old when they are 17 they can’t run because of that time they got covid at Disney or anywhere. Covid is causing long term carido and pulm (heart and lung issues) in kids and in kids who didn’t get that sick.
Re: SAKA
Pot or kettle?
You’re right, Saka. Kids who got the jab will find out the repercussions when they’re 17 since we have NO clue what they’re now. That will be a tough conversation to have with your child about how you volunteered them to be part of an experiment medicine.
This is for Saka, it’s not Covid that is causing long term cardio and pulm (heart and lung issues. It’s the VACCINE. The variant’s of Covid are mutated from vaccinated people, not the other way around .