Florida Lifts Travel Restrictions for Guests From New York Tri-State Area

by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

August 6, 2020

Guests arriving from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut may now have an easier time keeping that Disney World reservation, thanks to the fact that Florida Governor Ron DeSantis today rescinded the 14-day quarantine restrictions on travelers arriving in Florida from those three states.  

But don’t celebrate quite yet – New York’s quarantine restrictions for arrivals from 35 other states including Florida remain in effect. So, New Yorkers might not have to use those 14 days to quarantine when arriving in Florida, but they will upon returning home. 

In fact, New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio announced yesterday that additional traveler registration check points at major bridge and tunnel entries to New York City will begin operating today (August 6) to ensure quarantine compliance requirements and completion of New York State Department of Health Traveler Forms.

On March 23, with COVID-19 numbers rising across the tri-state region, Florida Governor DeSantis imposed restrictions on people traveling via airplane to Florida from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut. He also established checkpoints on highways coming into Florida to inform out-of-state travelers of the mandatory quarantine. In June, New York Governor Andrew Cuomo “returned the favor” by implementing a similar quarantine restriction on travel from Florida, one of the first states to make it to New York’s list, although there are now 35 states under travel restrictions.  New York’s Executive Order is based on a seven-day rolling average of positive tests in excess of 10%, or number of positive cases exceeding 10 per 100,000 residents, and imposes fines of $10,000 for individuals who fail to quarantine.

So, instead of blocking out more than a full month (33 days) for a five day trip to Disney (14 days in Florida quarantine, 5 days in Disney, and 14 days of quarantine upon returning home), New Yorkers now only have to set aside just under three weeks (19 days) for a 5 day Disney getaway (5 days in Disney, and 14 days of quarantine upon returning home). 

How badly do you want that Dole Whip?

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.

Florida Quarantine Remains for Travelers from New York Tri-State

by Beth Keating

News

DisneyBizJournal.com

June 9, 2020

Not so fast there, you New Yorkers who were planning to get away from your house by sneaking in a visit to Disney World. Don’t be so smug, New Jerseyans. You’re on the list, too. Pump the brakes, Connecticut, and go back to your room and unpack the suitcase. You aren’t going to Florida quite yet.

If you are from the New York Tri-State area (in other words, New York, New Jersey or Connecticut), you are under special restrictions in the State of Florida. Florida Governor Ron DeSantis has extended the directives for anyone entering the state of Florida from those three states to isolate or quarantine for a period of 14 days from the time of entry into Florida or the duration of the individual’s presence in Florida, whichever is shorter. This includes families driving to Florida and entering by roadway. 

So, while Disney Springs is already open, Vero Beach is opening June 15, Disney Vacation Club properties at Disney World and the Fort Wilderness Campgrounds open June 22, and Disney World parks begin opening July 11^th, those of us from the tri-state will not be among the guests celebrating the return of the magic.

For the specific details from FloridaHealthCOVID19.gov:

• This order was extended in Section 3 of Executive Order Number 20-139.
• This Executive Order does not apply to individuals involved in commercial activity and students traveling for the purpose of academic work, internships, sports training and any other activity or program approved by the educational institution.
• All persons isolating or quarantining will be responsible for all costs associated with their isolation or quarantine. This includes transportation, lodging, food, medical care and any other expenses to sustain the individual during their period of isolation or quarantine.
• Roadside checkpoints are set up on interstates to check for potential COVID-19 cases coming into Florida from areas with substantial community spread of the virus. The checkpoints do not apply to commercial drivers or health workers.

Even though New York’s COVID numbers are going down and our area is beginning to open back up again, you may not be welcome in the Sunshine State for the time being. With Florida’s COVID numbers still on the rise, though, it might not be such a bad thing after all.

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Beth Keating is a regular contributor to DisneyBizJournal.