News Disney mask policy at Walt Disney World theme parks

[dovetail65]

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I still think this does a disservice to kids. Masks protect mostly the wearer from spreading infections and kids aren't vaccinated yet.

I think a reasonable compromise might have been to keep mask mandates in place at essential businesses, ones that parents had to take their kids to, for example the grocery store, clothing retail stores, etc, but entertainment venues that are more optional could go mask free like movie theaters, bars and restaurants, etc

Once kids get eligibility this fall, then that's when you can lift all the mandates.

Very fair points. Hard for me to argue.

With that thinking if for some reason they find the younger kids can not get vaccinated then Disney will keep the masks forever. Entertainment "could go mask free " means Disney most likly won't.

It is not fair becasue I have a baby and some kids in the family that you need wear a mask. Disney needs start catering to the vaccinated, not the other way around.

Instead of me crying and making everyone wear a mask because our kids can't be vaccinated or that because my kid needs Kidney transplant everyone else needs wear a mask. This is up to me to decide at this point and for me to take my chances or not. We are all vaccinated and even my kids Kidney specialist say now that he is vaccinated he can wear the mask if he wants, but they do not see much benefit other than a hospital setting here we know people are sick en masse. He can go anywhere without it. We asked him and he chooses to mask up and/or not go anywhere on his own, last time he says dad I do not want to chance it so he didn't go into Disney with us last trip. Good on the kid.

I am pro vaccine, pro mask, but Disney needs stop catering to the people that are prolonging this thing in the first place, which are the people not getting vaccinated.

IF Disney has this inside mask rule for the end of time I dont think we would go back, 100% not in the summer. I might became a Universal Fan. It is very near time for Disney to call back the workers , open 100% capacity, open up the AP, open up the FP and get back to normal, even if the world is not not. We need move on.

 

[mikejs78]

That’s a valid point. Obviously most kids are not vaccinated as they are not yet approved via the FDA. That being said I firmly believe that kids shouldn’t have to mask anyways because there is very little proof they spread the virus. Per Dr. Scott Gottlieb yesterday on CNBC there really isn’t much of a point in requiring kids to mask.

That's not what he said. He was talking specifically about summer camps and outdoor locations. Indoor crowded locations He still recommended that kids mask. Kids do get and spread the virus, especially the latest UK variant. And a decent number of kids get seriously ill where they have to go to the hospital, or Even the ICU. Thankfully, not many kids die from this, but a trip to the hospital and I see you is no picnic and not something I would want to see happen to anybody's child..

 

[GimpYancIent]

Me, Myself and I find the relaxing of mask policies a good thing. Hey! If it is more comforting, reassuring and not uncomfortable by all means wear a mask. Personally I feel a lot of people simply are easier on the eyes with masks on. The three of us have worn a mask when appropriate and gone w/o mask when it was common sense.

 

[twebber55]

What kinda bus was she driving?

quoting for posterity

 

[DisneyCane]

Not true. They aren't allowed to enforce it, but they have one

An unenforceable mandate isn't really a mandate. A government mandate is something that citizens and entities must follow or face some kind of consequence. If there's no consequence, what they have is guidance like the CDC.

 

[mikejs78]

Maybe I'm missing something. You claim the risk of COVID is so great yet you are advocating for theme parks to maintain their measures. If you feel the risk is that high for your child, why are you bringing them to a theme park?

Me? I'm not personally. However I have a friend who felt that the safety measures that were in place up until now were reasonable and safe, and so they made plans, booked flights, etc. If the indoor mask policy is removed, they feel that I will no longer be safe for their kids, And they will lose out on a decent amount of money.

 

[SoFloMagic]

An unenforceable mandate isn't really a mandate. A government mandate is something that citizens and entities must follow or face some kind of consequence. If there's no consequence, what they have is guidance like the CDC.

We'll let's just stick with the facts. There's currently an indoor mask mandate in Orange county. Per the mayor's reopening plan, Orange county is close to the threshold to drop it. When he dropped the outdoor mandate, universal and Disney dropped their outdoor masks within hours. I'd bet that's what Disney is waiting for in order to join universal.

 

[mikejs78]

I'm not necessarily saying indoor mandates should be dropped right now; I'm saying we shouldn't wait for a vaccine to be available for children.

Maybe we're not as far off from each other is as it seems then. I think indoor mask mandates should stay until one of the following two things happens:

1. Everyone who wants to get vaccinated has the opportunity to. That includes children
2. The case counts get low enough that the risk of infection by anybody is negligible and that the vaccination rate is high enough in the population that those who are unvaccinated are basically covered.

 

[SoFloMagic]

They are likely waiting for Orange County to enter imaginary Phase 3 (which based upon the plan you referenced should have been triggered already) just to have some PR "cover."

Local leaders are allowed to make public health decisions for their communities based on the local data. The governor can make them legally unenforceable, either way people not following standards and calling them "imaginary" is why covid lasted 14 months.

But I do agree with you that demmings will likely lift the mandate next week and Disney will follow within several hours.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

Local leaders are allowed to make public health decisions for their communities based on the local data. The governor can make them legally unenforceable, either way people not following standards and calling them "imaginary" is why covid lasted 14 months.

But I do agree with you that demmings will likely lift the mandate next week and Disney will follow within several hours.

If they drop it at all this soon, it will definitely be after the holiday. Still bizarre that Universal lifted theirs in the middle of the day just before a major holiday weekend.

 

[Santa Raccoon 77]

 

[Wendy Pleakley]

Do you think your child's mask (or everyone wearing a mask) is as effective as a vaccine? That's what I'm confused about. The vaccine is 95% effective at preventing symptomatic illness. What is the efficacy of community masking at preventing symptomatic illness? Be specific. Because if you can't, you're putting your child at risk to a serious illness (your claim) and using a protective measure that you don't actually know how much it protects them from said illness.

We obsess over efficacy numbers of the vaccine to the one hundredth of a decimal but never discuss efficacy of masks at preventing illness; simply "wear a mask" which suggests they are 100% effective (they aren't).

So again, you claim your friend feels "unsafe" without a mask. What percentage "safe" do they feel with masks?

No one thinks masks are 100% effective. That's a false talking point that doesn't reflect the reality of how people feel.

The past year has often made us choose how much risk we're willing to take in order to do certain things.

If I was completely risk averse I wouldn't go grocery shopping or eat in a restaurant. The presence of capacity limits, masks, and social distancing puts those activities into the acceptable risk category for myself.

I would have felt comfortable going to WDW recently. It appears that the rules are being followed and the amount of risk is low. I'm not under any delusion that there's zero risk.

If the indoor mask requirement were to end and I wasn't vaccinated yet my risk assessment would undoubtedly change. It's not surprising that this family changed their plans. It's not that they thought that they would have been at zero risk, just that the risk threshold was at a level they could accept.

 

[Chi84]

If they drop it at all this soon, it will definitely be after the holiday. Still bizarre that Universal lifted theirs in the middle of the day just before a major holiday weekend.

That's a mystery. There are a lot of local entertainment/dining establishments that are dropping masks and capacity limits this weekend, which I can understand because it will help those businesses. But theme parks aren't a last-minute type of decision.

 

[wdwmagic]

Once again, not a debate on effectiveness of masks .

 

[Ripken10]

As you said to me, cite your study.

can you all please take this argument to an appropriate location. there has been several warnings and you continue to ignore them.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19)

CDC provides credible COVID-19 health information to the U.S.

www.cdc.gov

You didn’t read it. Not even going to attempt to refute the specifics because it’s a complete waste of time.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

Once again, not a debate on effectiveness of masks .

Apologies I will stop.

 

[correcaminos]

If they drop it at all this soon, it will definitely be after the holiday. Still bizarre that Universal lifted theirs in the middle of the day just before a major holiday weekend.

Since it's been 24 hours past Universal I agree. I wouldn't be shocked if it is lifted June 3rd. Nor would I be if it were later.

 

[MaryJaneP]

Us too.

 

[mikejs78]

Once again, not a debate on effectiveness of masks .

My apologies Steve. I had been away from the forums for a while and didn't know this was prohibited. I will stop. Feel free to delete any of my posts.