Walt Disney World Resort is ringing in its 50th anniversary Friday, as families vacation to the park and think ahead to holiday travel plans. 

"I'm very excited for the 50th," said Doris Stanley. 

Stanley is a self-proclaimed Disney enthusiast. She and her son are regulars at the park. Now the local family planned to visit for the celebration once more. 

"I have a 7-year-old son and it's really wonderful to watch him experience it. So you kind of get to experience it again through the eyes of a child," Stanley said. "We love going and it feels like we're home." 

From home to destinations, travel experts say thinking ahead is a must.

"We're expecting it to be incredibly busy. We're expecting about 2-2.5 times as many travelers as went through TSA checkpoints in 2020," said Adit Damodaran, an economist at Hopper.

Hopper's Holiday Travel Guide report says the number of people screened through TSA increased to about 80 percent of 2019 levels this summer and has tapered off at about 77 percent. It recommends booking holiday flights before Halloween.

"So definitely beach destinations seem quite popular but if you look at the ones that have trended up the most since 2019 in search popularity it seems like ski resorts might also be very popular here," said Damodaran.

The report finds the most booked destination for Thanksgiving and Christmas is Orlando. 

"Will the theme parks continue their sort of destination dominance this holiday season? It's likely but we just don't know yet," said AAA spokesperson Andrew Gross. 

Newsy turned to AAA to learn more. 

"We can't say with any certainty how many are going to be traveling but we can assume folks will be traveling and probably the vast majority of those folks will be traveling by car," said Gross.

Their survey found more than half of Americans are planning a vacation before the end of next year, with around one-third of travelers saying they're more likely to buy travel insurance for trips between now and the end of 2022. AAA recommends looking for policies that have a 'cancel at any time option' for more flexibility. The curveball is still COVID.

"Prepare and pack your patience number one," Gross said."Go to the websites and see what kinds of restrictions are in place see if there are opportunities to go at those off-hours when they might be a little less crowded."

The rules vary from place to place with cleaning and other measures. 

In Florida, SeaWorld Orlando and Universal Orlando Resort encourage face coverings indoors, Walt Disney World Resort and Disneyland require them inside, while Universal Studios Hollywood mandates them outside, too.

"We're just cautious. We socially distance we wear our mask and we just try to do our part," said Rachelle Murphy.

Murphy planned to travel from Alabama to Disney with her son and family. 

"I'm really excited to experience that with him. So I'm most excited to do that with him and to always have those memories to be able to talk to him about it," said Murphy. 

Memories to hold on to for people near and far.

This story was first reported by Haley Bull on Newsy.com.

On this day in 1971, Magic Kingdom opened at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida.Following the success of Disneyland in California, Walt Disney Productions looked to open a second park. In 1959, market surveys revealed only 5% of Disneyland’s visitors came from east of the Mississippi River.Because of this, Walt Disney chose Orlando as the site of his new park.Watch the video above to see the full story.

Disney World recently updated several of its COVID-19 policies.

When it comes to its social distancing policy, the park is now asking large groups to separate from enforcing the new guidelines.

According to the park website, parties of 10 or more people are asked to split up into a smaller group to "better allow for physical distancing."

The park also updated its mask policy, saying that anyone over the age of 2, including those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine, would still need to wear a mask at all times while inside the park.

"Please bring your face coverings and wear them at all times, except when dining or swimming," officials said. "You may remove your face covering while actively eating or drinking, but you must be stationary and maintain appropriate physical distancing."

Park officials say face coverings must be made with at least two breathable material layers and must fully cover the nose and mouth.

Disney plans to restart fireworks shows at its theme parks in Florida and California in the latest move by the company to ease up on pandemic restrictions implemented last year.

The company said Tuesday that firework shows will resume at the beginning of July at Walt Disney World in Florida and on the Fourth of July at Disneyland in California. The fireworks shows had been put on hold to discourage people from gathering together after the parks reopened following virus-related closures last year.

The decision was the latest move by Disney to lift restrictions implemented last summer to stop the spread of the new coronavirus. Starting Tuesday, face masks were made optional for visitors to Disney World in Florida, provided they are vaccinated, though Disney workers weren't requiring proof of vaccination.

Related video: Disney World now allowing cast members in some outdoor roles to go without a mask

Disney World visitors who were not fully vaccinated still were being required to wear face masks indoors and on all rides and attractions, and all visitors, whether vaccinated or not, were still being required to wear face coverings on buses, monorails and the resort's aerial gondola.

"As we continue to see more communities adjust and ease COVID-19 guidelines, there's a new sense of optimism with many positive signs moving forward," Disney said in a blog post. "We're encouraged by it too, seeing more families making travel plans, friends dining out together more often and more Americans returning to work. And at Disney theme parks, we're gradually bringing back more of our beloved park experiences."

ORLANDO, Fla. — Busch Gardens, Walt Disney World Resort, and Universal Orlando have made changes to their COVID-19 guidelines.

Busch Gardens Tampa Bay

On Thursday, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay no longer took temperature checks upon entry.

"We are committed to the health & safety of our employees, guests, and the animals in our care. Our guidelines have been updated to remove temperature screenings for our guests, and we continue to operate with enhanced health and safety measures, including limited capacity, reservations, physical distancing, enhanced cleaning and sanitation procedures, and face-covering requirements," the park said in a statement.

The park said it would also be "altering physical distancing protocols in certain locations within the parks from six to three feet. The additional space will allow more access to venues while allowing guests to maintain appropriate physical distancing."

For more COVID-19 guidelines at Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, click here.

Walt Disney World Resort

Following the advice of the CDC and local health officials, Walt Disney World Resort will phase out the on-site temperature screenings at the parks for cast members beginning May 8 and guests beginning May 16.

"We will continue to follow the guidance of health and safety leaders going forward and most importantly encourage people to get vaccinated," the website stated.

As of now, temperature screenings are required for entry at some locations. Guests have to undergo a temperature screening with no-touch thermometers before entry.

The park asks guests to check the temperatures of everyone in your party as an extra layer of precaution.

For more COVID-19 guidelines at Walt Disney World Resort, click here.

Universal Orlando

Starting Thursday, May 6, Universal Orlando will no longer take temperature checks upon entry.

The park has also changed their social distancing between travel parties. It has been reduced to 3 feet (1 meter) instead of 6 feet.

"Still, most of our original safety protocols remain unchanged—from wearing face coverings across our Resort to our ongoing dedication to cleanliness and sanitization," the website stated.

For more COVID-19 guidelines at Universal Orlando, click here.

Lisette Lopez at WFTS first reported this story.