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McDaniel FamilyDisney VacationSusan MarquezThe unforeseen and unfortunate Covid-19pandemic caused many to hunker down andgo into a self-imposed quarantine for severalmonths in 2020. Travel all but stopped whileplanned vacations were canceled. As thepandemic progressed, measures were establishedand proven to provide for the safety ofpeople as they ventured back into the world.Face masks, hand sanitizer, and social distancingbecame the norm.For the McDaniel family of Brandon, it wasuncertain if their much-anticipated trip toDisney World would happen in 2020. “Wemade plans to go for Thanksgiving,” says JayMcDaniel. “It was our sixth trip to Disney.”Jay and his wife, Carly, have been taking theirchildren to Disney World since they were justout of strollers.The McDaniels love the “happiest place onEarth.” Disney has always been their go-tovacation destination. “We’ve gone other placesas well, but we usually plan a Disney trip aboutevery couple of years.” When the Florida themepark re-opened last fall, the McDaniels decidedit would be safe to go.“It was great,” says Jay. “We usually go in theoff-season anyway because it is not as crowded.Our travel agent had gone a couple of weeksbefore us and she told us that with the park’sreduced occupancy, it was great.”The family traveled to Orlando by car andarrived the Friday before Thanksgiving, stayingthrough Wednesday. “We stayed on-site at thePop Century,” Jay says. He explained that theDisney resorts are moderate, deluxe or value.“We’ve always stayed in a moderate resort, butour travel agent convinced us to try the PopCentury, which is considered a value resort.It has a new skyliner attached to the hotel thattakes guests directly to the park. We found itto be a great property, and a really nice resort.”Jay was impressed with the safety precautionstaken at the park. “Everyone had theirtemperature taken upon entering the park.Masks were required at all times unless guestswere eating, drinking, or sitting, and therewere hand-sanitizing stations everywhere.”The social distancing aspect worked in theirfavor as well. “It made the lines look a lotlonger, but they really moved much quicker.”Some of the features they typically enjoywere absent this trip. “There were not manylive shows, which we enjoy, but we’ve seenthem all, so that was fine. And there weren’tas many character visits, but that’s not asimportant to my kids anymore.” Jay says hischildren, Avery (16) and Jake (14) are at theage that what they most want to do is ride andeat, which is what the family did during mostof their trip.The McDaniels were joined on the trip byJay’s brother, his wife, and their nine-year-oldson as well as his parents. “It was nice to spendtime with them, and to feel ‘normal’ again.”Hometown RANKIN • 59