Travel Talk Tuesday: Fourth of July Travel Tips, How to Stay Safe While Traveling & More
Happy Fourth of July Eve! This week’s Travel Talk Tuesday is full of the top travel news stories from around the web to help you with your travels during this busy week. Read on for the top travel destinations for the Fourth of July, tips for road travel over the holiday weekend and more.
Traveling for the Fourth of July? Here are the worst times to leave your house
Lifehacker estimates that 48.9 million people will be traveling on July 4 this year. That’s a 4.1 percent increase from 2018! In addition, it is an Independence Day record. A recent report breaks down the worst times to set out on the road if you are traveling by car Thursday. The main takeaway from this report is that the early- to mid-afternoon will likely be the worst time to start your journey. It will be especially treacherous for those living in New York, San Francisco, Detroit, and Los Angeles. The report notes that you should expect delays up to nearly 4 times as long as normal. Traveling by airplane? Check out this other helpful article for making it through the airport without losing your mind, on July 4 or any other busy travel day.
Source: http://mentalfloss.com/article/586942/traveling-fourth-july-here-are-worst-times-leave-your-house
Top 10 travel destinations for Fourth of July
This article again quotes the Lifehacker estimate of 48.9 million travelers this July Fourth. One of the major factors in this year’s surge is lower gas prices as compared to previous years. “Gas prices are, on average, 17 cents cheaper than Memorial Day weekend, which is welcome news for motorists hitting the road to celebrate the July Fourth holiday,” said AAA gas price expert Jeanette Casselano. “More so, summer gas prices are poised to continue dropping even lower in coming weeks.”
This year’s top 10 travel destinations for the Fourth of July include Orlando, Honolulu, Seattle, Las Vegas, Anaheim in California, New York, Boston, Maui, Anchorage in Alaska, and Chicago.
Source: https://www.foxbusiness.com/economy/july-4-travelers-expected-to-reach-record-breaking-48-9-million
July 4th travel and safety reminders
According to the Transportation Security Administration, a record number of travelers will be flying this week. 12 million individuals plan to travel by plane between July 3rd and July 7th this year. The busiest day for air travel will be Sunday, July 7th. According to NCB 25 News, “the TSA anticipates screening approximately 2.7 million passengers and crew members during peak travel days. That’s an additional 5-hundred thousand people than on a typical day.”
In addition to these helpful statistics, this article shares some important reminders from the Federal Aviation Administration for those traveling by plan this week. One reminder: fireworks are banned on domestic or international flights. They are not allowed in your carry-on luggage or checked bags.
Source: https://nbc25news.com/news/profit-report/july-4th-travel-and-safety-reminders-and-new-tech
How to Stay Safe While Traveling
The recent headlines surrounding travel to the Dominican Republic have left many people worried for their safety while traveling out of the country. However, according to Travel + Leisure: “The Dominican tourism minister, Francisco Javier García, insists that it is safe for tourists, and there’s no warning from the U.S. State Department regarding the incidents. (The F.B.I. is helping the country’s national police to investigate.)” Travel + Leisure spoke with former critical care nurse and Clinical Director for the STATE MedEvac in Pittsburgh, John Gobbels, on key practices for eliminating risk while traveling. Currently, Gobbels is the VP and COO of Medjet. Medjet is a leading travel protection and medical transport company in the US. Read the full article, linked below, for more details.
Source: https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/how-to-stay-safe-while-traveling
What you need to know about the Zika virus and travel
The Zika virus made headlines in 2016 and led many to cancel trips to Latin America and the Caribbean. However, just as quickly as it took over the news, it seemed to disappear from headlines. The World Health Organization updated their report on the virus today. They cited it in 87 countries including Brazil, China, India and Egypt. “The good news is that we haven’t been hearing about Zika because transmission has been low,” said Dr. Eve Lackritz, who leads the Zika Task Force at W.H.O. “Transmission dropped dramatically through 2017 and 2018, but when we have an end of an epidemic we don’t stop our work.” For more details, head to the article linked below.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2019/07/02/travel/traveling-zika-virus-symptoms.html
Finding yourself at Walt Disney World Resort this Fourth of July? You’re in luck! We’ve rounded up all of the best things to do for Independent Day at the parks. If you did not plan ahead this year, don’t worry! Disney puts on a spectacular show for the Fourth of July every year, and our Disney specialists at Enchanted Travel can help you plan for July 4th, 2020. Check out everything the parks have to offer guests for this fun holiday below.
Fourth of July Celebrations at Magic Kingdom
1. Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky
The main attraction on the Fourth of July at Magic Kingdom is “Disney’s Celebrate America! A Fourth of July Concert in the Sky”. On both July 3 and July 4, park guests can enjoy a spectacular fireworks show set to patriotic tunes starting at 9:15 PM EST. PLUS, if you’re not able to be at the park IRL, you can view the live stream of fireworks display on the Disney Parks Blog.
2. The Muppets Presents…Great Moments in History
Join Miss Piggy, Kermit, Fozzie Bear, and other favorite muppet friends for this special presentation. During the show, the muppets reenact some of the greatest moments in American history. It is performed multiple times each day near the Hall of Presidents in Library Square
3. Hall of Presidents
Honor our country’s past Presidents at the infamous Liberty Square show, Hall of Presidents. It includes all 45 U.S. Presidents, including their history in office. Plus, you’ll get an education on the history of the prestigious presidency while you’re there.
4. The Flag Retreat
The Flat Retreat takes place every day at 5 PM EST on Main Street U.S.A. Here, guests pledge allegiance to the flag. In addition, get in the Fourth of July mood with patriotic songs as the flag is lowered. Each day, a veteran is selected as the honored guests. In addition, you can check with City Hall to see if availability is open for your veteran loved one.
Fourth of July Celebrations at Epcot
1. IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth & The Heartbeat of Freedom
“IllumiNations: Reflections of Earth” will come to an end on September 20th of this year after a 20-year run. Unfortunately, this means if you don’t find yourself in Epcot this year over the Fourth of July, you won’t be able to experience it next year. If you are at Disney this year, however, you’ll be wowed by the patriotic Fourth of July grand finale of this beloved nighttime performance.
“The Heartbeat of Freedom” is a fireworks show that will begin immediately after the IllumiNations finale, which starts at 9 PM EST.
2. The Voices of Liberty
You can catch the Voices of Liberty performing some of American’s greatest songs during Epcot’s Fourth of July concert at the America Gardens Theater. Their are multiple showtimes: 5:30 PM, 6:45 PM and 8 PM EST on July 4. In addition, you can catch the group’s performance inside The American Adventure pavilion at 2 PM and 3 PM EST.
3. More Patriotic Fun at Epcot
In addition to IllumiNations, the Heartbeat of Freedom, and the Voices of Liberty, guests can expect to find their fave Disney characters in their “Spirit of 76” patriotic attire at The American Adventure throughout the day on the Fourth of July.
Guests can also treat themsleves to themed treats and drinks in honor of the Fourth. You’ll find these throughout the park, including Independence Day-themed cupcakes and special dining packages. Don’t miss the red, white, and blue sangria and the Boom Berry Lemonade!
Fourth of July Celebrations at Disney’s Hollywood Studios
Disney’s Hollywood Studios celebrates the Fourth this year with the “Star Wars: A Galactic Spectacular” fireworks display. The show takes place on July 4 at 9:30 PM EST. The fireworks are Star Wars-themed with lasers, special affects and video projections of iconic characters and scenes from the saga. And of course, it is all set to the amazing film score.
Fourth of July Celebrations at Disney Springs and Disney’s Animal Kingdom
At Disney Springs, you’ll be enchanted by the incredible Fourth of July decor throughout the grounds. In addition, Disney’s Animal Kingdom will be serving up specialty food and beverage items in honor of this favorite American holiday.
Call us today at 402-390-9291 to speak to one of our Disney Travel Agents in Omaha about booking your Fourth of July 2020 trip to Disney World next year! You can also get started here.