Normality of off-site restaurants

[MrsB87]

We’re due to go on 30 April (with our then 2 year old for the first time). We are currently making the decision whether to postpone or not (mainly due to masks for 2 year olds) however, my husband’s main worry is that restaurants will be packed and close together or hard to get into. Are restaurants just the same as they always were now? We will be staying in a villa so mainly keeping ourselves to ourselves, but eating out in the evening.

[YorkshireT]

We had no issues. We ate at Outback Formosa and it was excellent and all our restaurants were offsite in Miami Beach. Was all good.
By far the worst experience which was just ridiculous and contempt for the customer was Starbucks and Sleepy Hollow both in Magic Kingdom.

[mick]

We were at Highgate Park for nearly 3 weeks from mid-Nov until early Dec and, as we always do, ate around 75% of breakfasts out and 90% of dinners out.

Breakfasts at Cracker Barrell, Bob Evans, Denny's, Perkins & IHOP

Dinners at Longhorn, Texas, Carrabba's, Red Lobster, Bob Evans, Bonefish Grill, Fords, Millers, Cheddars, Culvers.

Absolutely no issues with any of them. We wore masks until seated. All of them "walk ups" apart from Texas and Bobs (around 30 minutes for Thanksgiving Dinner).

We wore masks in shops.

I'd say basically the same conditions as the UK except there was no mass media hysteria as we have over here.


Mick

[sully301]

We tended to book online to eat out at popular times eg 6pm but never had a problem booking that day. April may be a little busier

[MrsB87]

Excellent - thank you. I think he’s just worrying it will be more trouble than it’s worth but sounds like it’s pretty similar to normal. It’s usually a little busy when we are there (especially around US Mother’s Day).

[mick]

Originally Posted by MrsB87

Excellent - thank you. I think he’s just worrying it will be more trouble than it’s worth but sounds like it’s pretty similar to normal. It’s usually a little busy when we are there (especially around US Mother’s Day).

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In terms of restaurants (I assume you meant off-site?) I'd be inclined to agree. Apart from masks it was "pretty similar to normal"

Can't speak for WDW though as we don't go within 15 miles of it.

A few strange retail experiences though. Christmas decoration stuff in Michael's was dire. I guess it was trapped in container ships on the high seas from China. Fresh food was a bit slow to replenish in Publix.

We are also back in May so it will be interesting to see how things have changed.

Mick

[Gryff]

Mick
Things have improved in the shops I was in Michaels yesterday and they had as much stuff for Christmas at 70/90% off as they did in November at full price stuff I’d never seen
Grocery wise it’s a lot better as well

[G82]

We ate out with no problems. Millers, Outback etc.

Masks are optional, about 50% of people wear them. In general, restaurants were 'busy' but not overcrowded. We never had to wait for a table.

It was great to be back there.

[DonnaD]

Originally Posted by Gryff

Mick
Things have improved in the shops I was in Michaels yesterday and they had as much stuff for Christmas at 70/90% off as they did in November at full price stuff I’d never seen
Grocery wise it’s a lot better as well

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I think Mick was right about the Michael's Christmas stuff being trapped in a container over Christmas. I was in the Posner Park one today and saw stuff for 70% off that definitely wasn't even in the shop the last time I was there! It was largely own brand kids craft kits so probably a whole order that hadn't been received in time.

[Gryff]

Donna you are right I saw and have bought stuff this trip that I;wanted when I was out in November but it wasn’t in the store it’s different this week than it was last week at 70% off
Same with Rae Dunn DIL has wanted since 2020 January a rainbow mug could I get/it in 2020 or before Christmas nope last week loads of them in home goods at Posner in the deep clearance $5
But the best thing our much loved ocyclean stain remover gel that you could not get anywhere in November I cleared out Winn Dixie when I arrived well it’s for 6 households