News Disney mask policy at Walt Disney World theme parks

[danv3]

Everyone here arguing about masks which, at the very least, are proven to be pretty effective indoors. Any word on when they can do away with the utterly useless temp checks?

They certainly could get rid of them now. But Disney is cautious, so when they will do so remains to be seen.

 

[pixie225]

I totally agree that we must "open up" our world again, and get people back to work. Many businesses in my area have "help wanted" signs up, and I hear the owners complaining that they just can't get people to work. Granted, the jobs might be at a fast food place, but even my local deli and bagel and hardware store can't get the help they need. People are content staying home and getting their extra unemployment $$$ to do so.
Temp checks seem useless now, and we will see how/if Disney relaxes their mask or social distancing outdoors to get rid of some of the lines that are winding around the park.

 

[GimpYancIent]

As of now social distancing in the parks is a 50/50 joke! Some guests are closing with others in que's to the point of physical contact with no concept of allowing any space. Temp checks at the entrances have not yielded any benefit. With temperatures rising roaming / meandering / just plain walking around wearing a mask in the open air / outside not being able to munch down popcorn, suck down a beverage or breath easily (a big issue for some) is a problem. I say the temp checks have outlived their usefulness, let the social distancing markers on the ground wear out and not replace them and the big one enforce the wearing of masks (make sure its clearly posted and in the periodic voice announcements) when in que's and enclosed spaces like a building. Otherwise guests are free to roam without wearing a mask and definitely take pictures. Just my two cents.

 

[correcaminos]

I totally agree that we must "open up" our world again, and get people back to work. Many businesses in my area have "help wanted" signs up, and I hear the owners complaining that they just can't get people to work. Granted, the jobs might be at a fast food place, but even my local deli and bagel and hardware store can't get the help they need. People are content staying home and getting their extra unemployment $$$ to do so.
Temp checks seem useless now, and we will see how/if Disney relaxes their mask or social distancing outdoors to get rid of some of the lines that are winding around the park.

Could be some worry about getting sick too. Parents aren't allowing kids to do some jobs too due to the pandemic. Just a thought..

 

[ImperfectPixie]

Could be some worry about getting sick too. Parents aren't allowing kids to do some jobs too due to the pandemic. Just a thought..

Not to mention that even for some kids in school, schedules have shifted, and they're not exactly job-friendly. My youngest doesn't get picked up until 9am, and my oldest gets home at 2pm. 5 hours in between. I'd be lucky if I could squeeze in a 4-hour shift after travel time, and what employer wants an employee from 9:30-1:30? Can't do a later shift unless I can pay someone $30 an hour for babysitting because the minute you add special needs, prices skyrocket...plus I have to be up at 5:30am.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

As of now social distancing in the parks is a 50/50 joke! Some guests are closing with others in que's to the point of physical contact with no concept of allowing any space. Temp checks at the entrances have not yielded any benefit. With temperatures rising roaming / meandering / just plain walking around wearing a mask in the open air / outside not being able to munch down popcorn, suck down a beverage or breath easily (a big issue for some) is a problem. I say the temp checks have outlived their usefulness, let the social distancing markers on the ground wear out and not replace them and the big one enforce the wearing of masks (make sure its clearly posted and in the periodic voice announcements) when in que's and enclosed spaces like a building. Otherwise guests are free to roam without wearing a mask and definitely take pictures. Just my two cents.

easy solution: everyone shut up, get vaccinated and kill the pockets of transmission/outbreak.

then DC starts sending their resources around the world to get those problems tamped down.

life really isn’t that hard. Demanding things because “I want it” is a waste of everyone’s time. Work the problem.

 

[Chi84]

As of now social distancing in the parks is a 50/50 joke! Some guests are closing with others in que's to the point of physical contact with no concept of allowing any space. Temp checks at the entrances have not yielded any benefit. With temperatures rising roaming / meandering / just plain walking around wearing a mask in the open air / outside not being able to munch down popcorn, suck down a beverage or breath easily (a big issue for some) is a problem. I say the temp checks have outlived their usefulness, let the social distancing markers on the ground wear out and not replace them and the big one enforce the wearing of masks (make sure its clearly posted and in the periodic voice announcements) when in que's and enclosed spaces like a building. Otherwise guests are free to roam without wearing a mask and definitely take pictures. Just my two cents.

I think we'll see those changes soon; they're just coming at a pace that's too slow for some and too fast for others. People have different tolerances for risk and for mitigation measures- some people look at studies showing that 5 to 10% transmission occurs outdoors and see it as a reason to drop outdoor masks; others look at that same number and feel it's too soon to drop masks.

The crowds at WDW make it necessary to be more on the cautious side, but it's definitely true that people are becoming more lax about mitigation, whether it's because of COVID fatigue or because of feeling safer after getting vaccinated. There are still signs on grocery stores in my city requiring masks, but almost no one is still pulling them all the way up, even the store employees - and the stores don't care anymore. I hope vaccinations move quickly enough to outpace the drop of mitigation measures like social distancing.

 

[FormerMember]

close contact like sports, it's higher.

Would you cite this please? I don't know of any examples of transmission during sports.

 

[Tom P.]

I think we'll see those changes soon; they're just coming at a pace that's too slow for some and too fast for others. People have different tolerances for risk and for mitigation measures- some people look at studies showing that 5 to 10% transmission occurs outdoors and see it as a reason to drop outdoor masks; others look at that same number and feel it's too soon to drop masks.

The crowds at WDW make it necessary to be more on the cautious side, but it's definitely true that people are becoming more lax about mitigation, whether it's because of COVID fatigue or because of feeling safer after getting vaccinated. There are still signs on grocery stores in my city requiring masks, but almost no one is still pulling them all the way up, even the store employees - and the stores don't care anymore. I hope vaccinations move quickly enough to outpace the drop of mitigation measures like social distancing.

Despite the somewhat contentious arguments I've gotten into at times in these threads, I do still remain very optimistic. I know the pace of vaccinations is slowing down, but we all knew that would happen once you got past that initial surge of people who were clamoring to get the vaccine. I am cautiously hopeful that what we're working with right now is not a huge number of people who are anti-vax and will never get it, but rather people who are just more casual about it and will get around to it but aren't lining up around the block begging for a jab.

I am still optimistic, based upon the data and analysis that I have posted here before, that we have already hit the same "inflection point" that Israel hit a number of weeks ago, and that we are going to start consistently seeing cases drop over the next month or so. It remains my opinion -- based on nothing more than my ability to emulate Carnac the Magnificent -- that we are likely to see virtually all restrictions and mitigation measures gone by the end of the summer because our case numbers are that good.

That's all just my opinion, of course, and I don't even play a doctor on TV. But, as I said, I remain the optimist about all of this.

 

[correcaminos]

Would you cite this please? I don't know of any examples of transmission during sports.

I can give you facts from my schools. Entire teams got sick this fall in middle and high starting with football. Basketball too. Track seems to be faring fine. College football had to cancel games due to outbreaks. Very recently also the Canucks hockey team. I mean I can google the sports teams but close contact is key. MI attributes their spike in part to opening to sports https://www.freep.com/story/news/he...chool-sports-basketball-outbreaks/4733334001/

Really I thought this was well known. Close contact with no masks absolutely spreads. Me walking my zoo or parks does not really.

 

[FormerMember]

I can give you facts from my schools. Entire teams got sick this fall in middle and high starting with football. Basketball too. Track seems to be faring fine. College football had to cancel games due to outbreaks. Very recently also the Canucks hockey team. I mean I can google the sports teams but close contact is key. MI attributes their spike in part to opening to sports https://www.freep.com/story/news/he...chool-sports-basketball-outbreaks/4733334001/

Really I thought this was well known. Close contact with no masks absolutely spreads. Me walking my zoo or parks does not really.

Ah, so locker room issues, not sports. Got it. I misunderstood what you were saying.

edit to add....

Did you read the article you sent me?

"The MHSAA has yet to receive any data or evidence that COVID-19 has been spread within teams by sports activities, or between teams playing sports against each other. We have seen statements that there are 'basketball cases' but there is clearly a difference between basketball (or any sport) being pinned as a cause and students, who happen to play basketball or another sport, being infected by any range of activities," said Geoff Kimmerly, an MHSAA spokesman.

Instead, Kimmerly pointed to "parties, or sleepovers, or other activities happening among students outside of practice/competition that are sparking the spreads" that could then prevent teams from playing. "

 

[correcaminos]

Not to mention that even for some kids in school, schedules have shifted, and they're not exactly job-friendly. My youngest doesn't get picked up until 9am, and my oldest gets home at 2pm. 5 hours in between. I'd be lucky if I could squeeze in a 4-hour shift after travel time, and what employer wants an employee from 9:30-1:30? Can't do a later shift unless I can pay someone $30 an hour for babysitting because the minute you add special needs, prices skyrocket...plus I have to be up at 5:30am.

Don't get me started on that. We had to decline the 12-15 Pfizer trial for my kid for this reason. I had to reschedule doctor appointments because the school schedules and days in person or online kept changing. It's insane to be a parent of kids in school. I am lucky that my main is and always has been at home. My spouse can WFH the days I had to go in for work at church. It is nuts though to schedule things this year!

 

[JohnD]

Wow. The CDC says you don't have to wear masks outside if you're vaccinated. Isn't that great?!!! (Sarcasm). However, I understand that while inside the parks everyone still wears masks. You pay for admission. You follow WDW rules. You can't determine who has been vaccinated and who hasn't. However, I hope WDW relaxes mask requirements outside of the parks.

 

[Dan Deesnee]

My predictions are that Disney will keep social distancing through until October, possibly end of year. Masks outdoors will go away by June or July, indoor possibly by October.

When they'll get rid of the ride ruining abomination that is on-ride plexiglass/barriers, who knows.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

I think we'll see those changes soon; they're just coming at a pace that's too slow for some and too fast for others. People have different tolerances for risk and for mitigation measures- some people look at studies showing that 5 to 10% transmission occurs outdoors and see it as a reason to drop outdoor masks; others look at that same number and feel it's too soon to drop masks.

The crowds at WDW make it necessary to be more on the cautious side, but it's definitely true that people are becoming more lax about mitigation, whether it's because of COVID fatigue or because of feeling safer after getting vaccinated. There are still signs on grocery stores in my city requiring masks, but almost no one is still pulling them all the way up, even the store employees - and the stores don't care anymore. I hope vaccinations move quickly enough to outpace the drop of mitigation measures like social distancing.

...can’t expect the adults to be intelligent/patient, huh?

“I’ve seen this fish before...”
But I still love you.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

My predictions are that Disney will keep social distancing through until October, possibly end of year. Masks outdoors will go away by June or July, indoor possibly by October.

When they'll get rid of the ride ruining abomination that is on-ride plexiglass/barriers, who knows.

they’ll keep barriers to increase attendance. Barriers go when public perception for Rona flatlines...

which looks like it won’t happen until the end of 2022 at the earliest.

 

[Sirwalterraleigh]

Would you cite this please? I don't know of any examples of transmission during sports.

anecdotal...but there were correlations between our youth cases in my town and sports. Field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, et al.

hard to not “share air” in that setting when the game is the game

 

[Dan Deesnee]

they’ll keep barriers to increase attendance. Barriers go when public perception for Rona flatlines...

which looks like it won’t happen until the end of 2022 at the earliest.

It doesn't have to flatline (unless I'm wrong in assuming you mean perception/concern has to go to zero).

Also this is the latest from Gallup:
-----------------------

By RJ Reinhart of Gallup.com,

Highlights

35% of Americans are worried about catching COVID-19, down from 49%

77% say the COVID-19 situation in the U.S. is improving, up from 60%
--------------------------

Based on that I'd assume that fear % will be down to 5-15% by end of year.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

anecdotal...but there were correlations between our youth cases in my town and sports. Field hockey, lacrosse, soccer, er al.

hard to not “share air” in that setting when the game is the game

I think I mentioned the skate park in our town before to you - it's been threatened to be closed AGAIN (4th time, I think?) because the SAME kids and parents just don't give a carp about following the distancing and mask rules. There have been cases reported in the kids that frequent the park and the neighborhood surrounding it that have supposedly been linked to use of the park.

 

[FormerMember]

I think I mentioned the skate park in our town before to you - it's been threatened to be closed AGAIN (4th time, I think?) because the SAME kids and parents just don't give a carp about following the distancing and mask rules. There have been cases reported in the kids that frequent the park and the neighborhood surrounding it that have supposedly been linked to use of the park.

The same kids keep getting and spreading Covid???