Florida now has lowest COVID rates in the U.S.

Via DisDining.com

Florida now has the lowest number of COVID cases among the 50 United States of America, based on daily averages.

The Sunshine State is currently averaging 1,700 new cases daily, or approximately 8 cases for every 100,000 Floridians. The only other state in the union to have single digits per 100,000 residents is Hawaii.

Shocked?

Many who have watched the most recent numbers of COVID infections and hospitalizations and deaths related to the virus in Florida are very surprised, especially when you consider that in mid-August, a little over 2 months ago, the state saw an average of 25,000 new cases every day of the week. That’s about 116 cases per 100,000 residents.

In just over two months’ time, daily averages in Florida have dipped a remarkable 90%. The state of California, which has arguably the most stringent mask and vaccine requirements of these 50 states, sits at a daily average of more than twice Florida’s, and the daily average of new cases in Florida is less than a quarter of the daily average of new cases in Vermont, the state that boasts the highest number of vacated residents by percentages.

These are positive things for Florida, and they signal the beginning of two things: first, the mud-slinging across the party lines and politicizing of the virus, its spread, how to handle the spread, and what role the government is Constitutionally capable of playing in individual’s choices about wearing masks and getting the vaccine, and second, a talk about what these improved COVID case numbers might mean for crowds at Walt Disney World this holiday season.

We already know that Disney’s new Annual Passholder program that debuted in early September will play a role in attendance numbers at the parks. At the end of last week, almost all spots for New Year’s Eve in the parks were already booked, and Christmas Day was in 2nd place.

We’re far enough along in the pandemic to know that a rise in cases comes in waves–numbers rise; then they peak, and then they recede, and that’s been the case for a while now. What we don’t know is the timeline: when will the next significant rise in cases come?

We’re not entirely convinced that a rise or a recession in the number of COVID cases will necessarily encourage fans to head to the parks for the holidays. Then again, we aren’t entirely convinced that the lower number of cases will preclude fans from coming.

Most Americans feels adamantly one way or the other about the virus, and you can bet that anti-maskers and anti-vaxxers won’t let some numbers–large or small–on a CDC press release dictate to them what they will and won’t do with their holiday season.

And in the same respect, those who won’t leave home without a mask–if they leave home at all–will most likely not be swayed by the aforementioned numbers either.

Orange County, Florida Seeing 1,000 New COVID-19 Cases Per Day

Via wdwnt.com

Mayor Jerry Demings reported on Orange County, Florida’s current COVID-19 cases in a press conference today, saying, “we are in crisis mode.”

Orange County is seeing almost 1,000 new COVID-19 cases a day, which is about the highest peak the county saw in 2020. Demings is urging residents to get vaccinated. Approximately 61% of Orange County residents aged 12 and older have received at least one COVID-19 vaccine shot.

Mayor Demings has also been urging businesses to require masks indoors again regardless of vaccination status. The county cannot enforce a mask ordinance due to legislature by Governor Ron DeSantis, but private businesses can. Walt Disney World and Universal Orlando Resort have yet to make any changes to their current mask guidelines, which do not require vaccinated guests to wear them.

The 14-day rolling positivity rate in Orange County has more than tripled in the past month, currently sitting just under 14%.

Disney Cruise Line to Resume Cruises from Florida On Disney Dream August 9

It’s official: In just a few weeks, the Disney Dream will kick off the long-awaited return to cruising from the U.S. on August 9. Voyages will include tropical trips to the Bahamas departing from Port Canaveral, Florida. Three- and four-night cruises will visit the private island, Castaway Cay, for an unforgettable vacation at sea.

Cast Members have been working hard to get ready for this return, and their focus remains on operating in a responsible way while creating magic for all on board. Guests can find enhanced health and safety measures to promote wellness for all aboard the ships and in the destinations.

As always, the ships are overflowing with magic—from beloved character encounters to enchanting Broadway-style musicals and a spectacular fireworks display at sea. Disney Cruise Line has also come up with new and exciting ways to create memories together—tailored to the times and presented with all the care guests have come to expect from Disney Cruise Line.

Discover more information in the video below:

250 Alligators Have Been Removed From Disney Property in Florida Since Child’s Death in 2016

Via wdwnt.com

According to the Orlando Sentinel, approximately 250 alligators have been trapped and removed from Disney properties in Florida since 2016. That was the year when 2-year-old Lane Thomas Graves was killed when attacked by an alligator at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort.

Disney erected a lighthouse memorial at the Grand Floridian to honor the boy. His family founded the Lane Thomas Foundation to remember him and to provide support to families with children in need of life-saving organ transplants.

Disney works with the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation (FWC) on the effort. Trappers contracted with the FWC trap gators and remove them.

Since 2016, the FWC has received roughly 17,000 complaints about gators statewide, and removed nearly 8,000. From permits reviewed by the Sentinel, there can be up to 500 gators removed from Disney property in the 14-year time frame from 2009-2023. They report that 429 have been removed in that period so far.

In addition to these removal efforts, Disney has also constructed barriers and other means to keep alligators from getting too close to guests. Fencing, boulder walls and warning signs can be seen around Seven Seas Lagoon at the Grand Floridian where Lane was killed, as well as around other areas of Disney property that are close to the water. In addition, Cast Members receive reinforced training.

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Experts on animal biology and conservation told the Sentinel that these removal efforts do not negatively impact the Florida alligator population, which is relativey stable at around 1.3 million alligators in the state. From 1967-1987, the American alligator was protected as endangered by federal law according to the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, but conservation efforts have since led to a recovery of the alligator population.

There have been three fatal gator attacks in Florida since 2016, and none of them have been at Disney.

Chicken Guy! Adds First Ever Drive-Thru Location in Winter Park, Florida

The oh-so delicious Chicken Guy! at Disney Springs is expanding their horizon. Guy Fieri and Robert Earl are preparing to hatch their newest Chicken Guy! fast-casual restaurant in Winter Park featuring the popular eatery’s first ever drive-thru lanes.

Chef, restaurateur, New York Times Best Selling author, and Emmy Award-winning TV host, Guy Fieri, and internationally renowned restaurateur, Robert Earl, are thrilled to announce that they have teamed up once again to open their third Chicken Guy! location in Florida, this time in Winter Park. The exciting new venue will be the first corporate-owned free-standing location with a drive-thru component, making the iconic menu more accessible to Orlando locals and visitors alike. Joining its successful predecessors at Disney Springs in Lake Buena Vista, FL and at Aventura Mall in Miami, FL, the fast-casual chain dedicated to serving delicious, succulent chicken tenders paired with 22-signature sauces to please all palates, will feature interior seating for 80 guests indoors and seating for 12 outdoors. The spacious 3,500 square-foot restaurant will have a sliding glass door of windows, a unique design element that will easily provide plenty of natural light or an open-air dining experience on a nice day. The parking lot will have reserved parking spaces to accommodate third party delivery services as well as guests who order on-line, with dedicated staff who will bring the orders directly to waiting cars.

The menu at Chicken Guy! features one-of-a-kind all-natural fresh chicken tenders, hand-pounded to maximize crunch and paired with a wide selection of delicious sauces. Brined in fresh lemon juice, pickle brine, buttermilk, and infused with fresh herbs, these tenders deliver on flavor and texture. The menu includes tenders—grilled or fried—in sandwiches, straight up on skewers, or in meal-sized salad bowls, your choice of signatures sauces to enjoy with the chicken as well as tempting sides like Chicken Guy! Fries with Guy’s special fry seasoning, crowd-pleasing Mac Daddy Mac ‘n Cheese, fried pickles, and fresh slaw. For dessert, Chicken Guy! features delicious Flavortown Frozen Treats that will satisfy any sweet tooth. The Triple Double Ice Cream Treat–triple chocolate and double-mint, or the Cinnamon Apple – a heaping cup of vanilla soft serve ice cream smothered in Cinnamon Toast Crunch™ and Apple Jacks™ cereal- are not to be missed and, of course, classic shakes are always available—Vanilla, Chocolate, Strawberry and Oreo Cookie.

“It’s always such a pleasure to be able to work with Guy on Chicken Guy! ventures and I’m beyond pleased to open a location in Winter Park,” said Planet Hollywood founder and chairman, Robert Earl. “Chicken Guy! is a proven crowd-pleaser now with three locations in Florida and two in sporting arenas on game days including FedEx Field in Maryland and Levi’s® Stadium in Santa Clara, we are well on our way to becoming a household name nationwide.” 

Set to open in late summer 2021, Chicken Guy! is located at 818 South Orlando Avenue, Winter Park, FL 32789. With a mixture of colorful meets playful design elements and modern finishes that will delight guests as they dine on-site, Chicken Guy! also offers innovative packaging that will make carry out and delivery orders even more fun to enjoy at home or on-the-go. No detail has been overlooked in providing the best possible dining experience that keeps guests coming back for more every chance they get.