Hello fellow travelers!

With all the uncertainty these days, it can seem challenging to find joy in even the simplest of things. So you can imagine how excited we were to hear that Walt Disney World was opening its doors to welcome us back “home.”

Although the idea of bringing back all the magic was invigorating, we could not ignore the anxiety that this pandemic has caused us as a global community. With this in mind, we were impressed at Walt Disney World’s efforts to make all their guests feel safe and secure.

Not only did we feel like we had the parks to ourselves (due to limiting the number of guests) but felt incredibly safe throughout our whole experience.

But you may be asking yourself, how is Disney Parks keeping us safe? Well, here some ways they are making sure we are all safe!

Your Health and Wellness is Disney’s Main priority!

In accordance with CDC guidelines, Disney has made it their priority to put your health first! They are doing this by reducing capacity in the parks using their new Disney Park Pass System which allows its guests to choose the day they will be going to the parks and helps Disney keep the number of guests they have in the park low.

Physical Distancing made easy

After parking your car (spaced out for physical distancing), you are guided towards the temperature check tents. Once your temperature is checked you are passed through security, which I found to be a lot faster due to their new security machines which minimized the need for a physical search of your bag. If needed, you will be taken to another area where a more thorough search will take place.

In their commitment to helping promote the physical distancing between guests, Disney Parks has added physical distancing markers as well as installed physical barrier in areas where physical distancing maybe difficult to maintain (i.e. rides, cash registers, etc.)

You will be required to wear face coverings

Both cast members and guests ages two and older must wear face-covering unless you are swimming or when you are eating and drinking. Disney really does enforce this policy throughout the parks and resorts so be sure to don your face covering before arriving at the park.

Hand washing & sanitizing stations are EVERYWHERE!

From walking to the monorail to getting off your favorite ride, hand sanitizing stations are everywhere in the park. You will not go very long before seeing a place where you can sanitize or clean your hands. I thought it was interesting that you will be asked to hand sanitize before you enter a ride and upon exiting. Also, rides are routinely paused to be cleaned for your health and wellness.

Using technology to promote health and safety!

The My Disney Experience App will allow its guests to know exactly where you can find hand sanitizing stations, relaxation stations (an area to take your mask off), and explore digital menus. Disney Parks are promoting limited contact options to their guests from mobile ordering to cashless payments to help promote physical distancing.

We will get through this together!

Walt Disney World Parks and Resorts are truly promoting the importance of health and safety in our communities with their new policies. Disney Parks is proactively communicating with its guests keeping them updated and letting them know what to expect upon their visit.

This past June, Disney Parks introduced, “Together We Can Make Today Incredible” a health and safety campaign that spotlights healthy behaviors featuring our favorite characters from the Incredibles animated movies!

Although some things may have changed, the magic and wonder that Disney brings to its guests never faded! We had an incredible time experiencing Disney Parks and whole heartedly believe that they are doing their part to keep their guests safe.  I think its safe to say that although the park was temporarily closed, the wonder of Disney magic never really left. 

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Hello fellow travels and welcome back!

As Florida starts to re-open its doors for locals and travelers alike, we wanted to share our experiences with our followers who may be wondering what travel to Florida will be like post COVID-19. We wanted to showcase some incredible places for you and your family to go that help support our local community and what better way to beat the stay at home blues then with a trip to the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens!

An Interesting History…

Did you know that the Central Florida Zoo has been around Central Florida since the 1920’s?! Established in 1923, The Sanford Zoo as it was formally known began when a rhesus monkey was given to the Elks Club by a traveling circus! Several more animals were later added by the Sanford Fire Department. For all you history buffs out there, check out the zoo’s humble beginnings here!

What is there to see?

Currently, there are more than 350 animals that range from tiny poisonous frogs to a huge endangered Indian Rhino. The zoo also shines the spotlight on some Florida locals such as the Florida black bear and the American alligators.

The Zoo’s commitment to help conserve and help endangered animals is one of the many reasons they have been recognized and accredited by the Association of Zoos & Aquariums, which means that this zoo meets the highest standards of animal care and welfare. Currently, there are only 240 zoo’s and/or aquariums around the world that hold this incredible honor.

Stop and smell the flowers!

In addition to all the incredible animals, you can experience the breathtaking flora all around you throughout the botanical gardens. The beauty of the flowers is matched by serenity you feel as you stroll through the animal exhibits. I will say I have been to many zoo’s in my lifetime, but never have I ever seen so many butterflies flying everywhere you look.

What is there to do?

One of the most interesting things that I learned from going to the Central Florida Zoo was the array of activities that you can do! There is something for all ages. You can glide through the trees in the Seminole Area Adventures, Chat with a Zookeeper, take a whirl on the carousel, feed some hungry giraffes, and so much more! Then, after you are all done with the all the physical activities, kick back, relax, and let your little ones play at the Wharton-Smith Tropical Splash Ground (my son’s favorite). For more animal attractions, click here!

Your safety is the Zoo’s number One priority!

We all know how nerve wracking it can be these days to step foot outside your home. The Central Florida Zoo understands your concern, which is why they are taking every safety precaution necessary to ensure that you and your family have a fun, safe and enjoyable time at the zoo! Everywhere you look, you will see hand sanitizing stations and helpful staff who are looking to make your time a memorable experience for you and your family! I can say with certainty that they I felt very safe.

Sunset at the zoo? Yes, please!

Are you over 21? If so, take advantage of the zoo’s fun (adult-only) event for just $5!!! Kick back, relax and have a drink while enjoying live music every third Thursday of each month! For more details, click here!

The fight is not over…

As many businesses know, COVID-19 really hurt our economy and the zoo is no exception. Unfortunately, the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens has lost out on much revenue that due to a lack of ticket purchases, spring break, field trips, etc. This loss directly impacts the zoo’s ability to provided top notch care for the animals we love so much.

What can we do to help!!!!!

Right now, the zoo is looking to raise $500k by the end of August and the rest by the end of the year! We can do this by raising awareness and share the positive impact that the Central Florida Zoo and Botanical Garden’s has in our community. You can help by going to the zoo or donating to help raise the funds to keep this incredible historic zoo open for everyone to enjoy!

Donate here!

Do you want to go? WIN FREE TICKETS TO THE ZOO!!!

At MyWanderFull World, we truly believe in the importance of conservation and preservation of all species is. Which is why we are giving away 2 free tickets for the zoo as well as one of our favorite furry friends to accompany you on your adventure! We would love for you to be an animal ambassador and spread awareness of this incredible zoo!

All you have to do is leave a comment below with your favorite animal and share this article with your friends on social media. You will then be automatically entered for the drawing which will take places July 2nd, 2020!!!

A BIG thank you!

We want to thank the Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Gardens for an incredible opportunity to witness all you do for the animals and the community. We will continue our efforts to share our experiences with our fellow travels who love animals as much as we do.

Remember, there is No Zoo Without YOU! 

The post Central Florida Zoo & Botanical Garden: There’s No Zoo Without You appeared first on My WanderFull World.

Hello Fellow Travelers,

If you have ever stayed at the Ramada, Days Inn, La Quinta, or the Wingate, you may not have known it, but you were being hosted by Wyndham Hotel and Resorts! With 20 unique brands and over 400 properties, Wyndham is a company that many trust with their hospitality when away from home. When we were given the opportunity to experience one of Wyndham’s signature resorts, right here in Orlando, FL, we jumped on it immediately.

Your home away from home...

We were greeted in the lobby by very friendly staff who guided us to check-in. There are always greeters at the door, ready to assist however they can, something I find to be a nice touch. The lobby itself contains the check-in desk, a concierge (or several), and a full bar with comfortable seating scattered throughout. Check-in was easy and we were quickly pointed to our accommodations.

Time to kick back & relax...

Stepping out of the lobby onto the grounds, we were greeted with a very attractive courtyard area with walking paths surrounded by meticulously manicured landscapes, two large heated pools, and a relaxing hot tub.  There is also a gym and health spa available to guests directly off the main walkway, easily within reach of the guest buildings.  The grounds are arranged to form a “walkable neighborhood” and serve to make the resort feel populated, but never overcrowded.  We arrived on a relatively busy day and never felt inconvenienced by long lines or lack of available space.

Great accommodations to choose from

Our room was standard fare with a pair of queen beds (pillow top mattresses!), a TV, safe, and mini fridge.  I very much appreciated the fridge being standard as we used it several times.  Also standard to every room is a balcony, with chairs and a table, overlooking either the pool area or facing ICON park.  All building access felt very secure as a key card was required to access the building itself as well as guest rooms.  Parking was also very well thought out as the lots behind each building accommodate plenty of guest vehicles.  The Wyndham truly strives to make their guests feel at home and really make an effort to accommodate your whole family. 

You are close to all the fun!

One of the main selling points of this resort is its proximity to the largest attractions Orlando has to offer.  ICON Park with its restaurants, rides, and museums, is only a ten-minute walk away whereas SeaWorld, Universal Studios, and Disney are all accessible via shuttles from the grounds.  Since we were here to check out an event at ICON park, we grabbed our cameras and headed on over.  It’s very easy to find where you are headed as you can see the beautiful ride lights in the near distance, even from the back of the hotel’s courtyard!

Ready to go? All major attractions are closer than you think!

• 9 mins to Universal Studios Florida
• 11 mins to SeaWorld Orlando
• 20 mins to Disney's Magic Kingdom

It's the little things...

Apart from the friendly atmosphere and the prime location, the Wyndham Orlando has a few other defining features that make it feel like home away from home. There are room options ranging from our double queen to massive suites, and even rooms with bunk beds for the kids!  The property is also pet friendly to it is common to see pups walking around, graciously taking their humans for a walk. And after a day of fun and a dip in the pool, food is easy to find! The Gatorville Bar and Grill is directly beside the pools and is an easy walk-in dining or bar experience and if you are looking for a more formal sit-down meal, Cooper’s Hawk Winery and Restaurant is right for you!  Are you looking for a more indepth look at some more resturants on I-Drive?  Check our review on ICON Park’s Sip n’ Savor where we got to try diffrent restuarants in the area! 

Final thoughts...

The Wyndham Orlando Resort International Drive is, quite simply, an excellent choice for your stay in the Orlando area, especially if you love being right in the middle of the action. With their comfortable rooms, ample amenities, and prime location, all at a reasonable cost, this is definitely one I’d check out for your trip to the City Beautiful.  

The post Say “Yes” to adventure at Wyndham Orlando Resort I-Drive! appeared first on My WanderFull World.

With summer just around the corner, here in central Florida we are definitely feeling the heat! We were so excited to hear the news that Island H2O Live! water park was opening its doors for all this Memorial Day weekend.

We wanted to share our experiences with you so that you know exactly what to expect as you try to soak up the sun with peace of mind. During our visit we met with the director of marketing, Chris, who shared with us some important information on what guests should expect when they visit! He also shared the Safe-Splash Guidelines that have been implemented to keep patrons safe.

Manage Park Capacity

In accordance to the CDC guidelines, Island H2O will have daily limits for its guests as well an emphasis on social distancing. Chris did mention guests’ need be ready to encounter longer-than-normal wait times as every visitor will pass through the health screening and security checkpoint.  Also, they since they will not be open everyday until mid-June, check out their calendar to check out the days they will be open.

Helpful Tip: Purchasing your tickets in advance will get you in the gate much faster that purchasing on-site. Having an annual pass will make it even faster! 

Implement Daily Wellness Checks

Before entering the park, all guests go through a verbal COVID-19 screening check before entering the security check point. Here are the security questions you will be asked:

In addition, all the team members also receive daily temperature checks and are sent home if their temperature exceeds the 100.4 temp. This rule also applies to all guests if they have any of the symptoms and/or if they have a fever.

Practice Social Distancing

As you walk into the park you will see signs all around expressing the importance of social distancing practices.  In addition to this, Island H2O Live! has placed large blue dots on the ground at six feet from one another to guide guests to a safe distance while queueing for food or rides.  

Hand Hygiene & Respiratory Etiquette

As you walk around the park you will notice a plethora of hand sanitizing stations for both guests and employees to make use off. Employees are also required to wear approved masks and guests are encouraged to do so.

Clean, Disinfect and Sanitize on a Continuous Basis

Something that I had NO idea about until I spoke with Chris were the lengths to which Island H2O Live! goes to protects its guests, even prior to the current state of events. All the pool water at the park is double treated with chlorination and ultraviolet light to maintain the healthiest water conditions. UV light disrupts the DNA or RNA of specific organisms, such as viruses, killing or inactivating the virus completely. Once I heard this, it made feel very comfortable knowing that they were taking every precaution necessary to make us feel safe.

Yet another layer of protection present throughout the park involves disinfecting all handrails, loungers, tabletops, tubes, mats, door handles, and other surfaces several times throughout the day. Rest assured that if you still feel a little uncomfortable and need something wiped down, an employee will happily sanitize the area for you

Electronic Payments

To make all transitions smoother and easily attainable to all guests, Island H2O Live! is encouraging the use of electronic payment as well as encouraging all guests to purchase tickets in advance. This encourages social distancing and makes any necessary contact quick and easy!

via GIPHY

Manage Use of Indoor Areas & Communal Spaces

One ultimate layer of support comes from nature itself; sunlight! Security’s Biodefense Research Laboratory states, “sunlight seems to be very detrimental to the virus,” and “within minutes, most of the virus is inactivated on surfaces and in the air in direct sunlight.” So being outside in the sunshine is not only great for your self-care, but it also another way you can combat the virus.

via GIPHY

Island H2O live! also has their own COVID-19 response Team on hand!

All staff was trained on safety protocols to ensure that health and safety of guests and fellow employees. This means that there is always a team of supervisors and managers available to respond to COVID-19 concerns from ALL guests or employees.

via GIPHY

But how was the experience, you ask?

As a guest myself, my experience was not wholly different from the previous two dozen or so visits over the past year. Upon arrival, we were surprised at the length of the line waiting to get in. This is present due to the mandatory slowdown of the screening and security check. While it was less than perfect to have to wait in line to get in, the staff did a great job of making it as expedient as possible. The line itself was not a place of social distancing whatsoever as it stretched far outside the park and was not controlled by the staff. There were the same blue dots on the ground, silently reminding guests to stand a respectful distance apart but these were largely ignored, especially as the crowd grew.

Once past the checkpoint and onto the park property, those without tickets were placed in a queue to the ticketing window (no distancing here either) and those with passes or pre-purchased tickets were guided to the main entrance.  Here, the process has not changed, apart from the staff now wearing masks and offering hand sanitizer to each guest.  The blue wrist bands are still in use, albeit sanitized more thoroughly and frequently than in the past.  After we received our bands, we were left to our own devices, as it has always been.

Upon searching for our usual seat in Candy Stripe Lane, an area designated for younger children, we noticed that a lot of new signs had been posted.  The most frequent were those explaining the new seating and distancing guidelines which included claiming a set of seats by putting the backs up and highlighted the distance between chair clusters.  At all the tables, there are now small signs that can be flipped from “Taken” to “Available”.  As it was explained to us, the “Taken” side indicates that the table is or has been recently occupied and if there is no one present, will be cleaned by a staff member and flipped to “Available”.  The tables themselves had also been moved farther apart to promote a safe distance between parties. 

As we walked around the park, it was not uncommon to see an employee wiping down handrails, seats, tables, etc.  Literally anything that could be cleaned, was being cleaned continuously.  ALL staff members could be seen wearing masks even those life guarding at the swimming areas.  And for the most part, all the swimming areas were open and accessible with only a few changes.  There are now no tubes on the lazy river or in the wave pool, as these would be shared items that would be near impossible to sanitize regularly or efficiently.  The large drop slides are also both closed for the foreseeable future as they are a frequently touched, enclosed environment.  Other that these changes, everything was available for guest use.

All in all, it’s clear that the management and staff at Island H2O Live have a plan to keep guests safe and it is being implemented to the best of everyone’s ability.  Inherent in the decision to attend a water park, or really any large attraction, during this time MUST be an understanding of risk.  No matter how conscientious the staff are or how sanitary the environment is, the other patrons are, more or less, an uncontrollable factor in the equation.  While social distancing is possible and well executed from a logistical standpoint while guests are stationary at their chairs, or on a ride, moving from area to area will include getting in closer that the recommended distance from other park goers.  Lines are marked at six-foot intervals, but this is largely ignored.  I will say though, people were staying 3-4 feet apart instead of the complete crowd crunch that is used to be the ride queues.  People on attractions such as the lazy river were, for the most part, polite in their spacing and on pathways whenever possible, kept a healthy distance.

Final thoughts..

This season opening was certainly an odd one for the park.  Both patrons and staff alike were finding their footing and learning the best ways to cope with the new rules and precautions.  I’d say it was largely a success from a customer’s standpoint as I felt safe and well cared for throughout my visit.  This is a strange time to be going out, especially to someplace as generously populated as a water park.  But the water was clean, the sun was shining, and I feel like it’s going to be a decent summer for such outdoor activities.

As our day ended, we realized that even though times have changed our experience as a family has not. We are so grateful to ALL the staff who made our first time back to the park such a fun and memorable experience and we cannot wait to go back!  Especially this little guy  

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