News Disney mask policy at Walt Disney World theme parks

[danlb_2000]

It’s understandable. It’s been a bit of an adjustment for myself too. That’s what 14 months of a pandemic will do to you, I suppose.

And it's not just the result of the pandemic, some people just deal with risk and illness different then others. I was never to concerned about getting the flu, but if I heard a co-worked gut a stomach bug it would give me an anxiety attack.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

And it's not just the result of the pandemic, some people just deal with risk and illness different then others. I was never to concerned about getting the flu, but if I heard a co-worked gut a stomach bug it would give me an anxiety attack.

I mistook bad colds for the flu for years...until I REALLY got the flu...and ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. It's nothing to mess with.

ETA: I was so sick I couldn't even sit up.

 

[disneygeek90]

I mistook bad colds for the flu for years...until I REALLY got the flu...and ended up in the hospital with pneumonia. It's nothing to mess with.

I never got the flu shot until I got the flu about 5 years ago. Could barely drag myself to bed that night. After a couple days, I wound up with a terrible ear infection and it sounded like I was underwater for at least 6 weeks. I get the flu shot now.

 

[monothingie]

Yes, but in how many situations could that even be allowed? You could only do that in places where a persons vaccination status could be validated.

Trust the people or the government incompetents?

 

[Chomama]

I never got the flu shot until I got the flu about 5 years ago. Could barely drag myself to bed that night. After a couple days, I wound up with a terrible ear infection and it sounded like I was underwater for at least 6 weeks. I get the flu shot now.

Same! I got it for the first time 6 years ago. It was absolutely awful and I will never miss a flu shot again.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

Same! I got it for the first time 6 years ago. It was absolutely awful and I will never miss a flu shot again.

Same here. It knocked me on my butt...way harder than I ever thought it would.

 

[HairyChest]

We have gotten the vaccine, and would still be uncomfortable going maskless at this point in time. Not only do we feel masks protect us, but also protect others just in case we are carriers. It may just be in our heads, but we still swerve to avoid people not wearing masks if we see them- though I would say 95% or more of the people here still wear masks. Even though we are at a 2.5% infection rate here for the first time since November we still had around 450 new cases yesterday here on Long Island, and people are still dying. Just as we take precautions anytime a virus starts going around, or lice, or chicken pox, we will continue to take precautions as long as covid is around.

Thats great that you are thinking of protecting others. Once the vaccine is readily available yet the anti vaxxers still refuse to take it, would that enable you to be comfortable maskless in close proximity? Or will you be masking for the foreseeable future?

 

[HairyChest]

I fit in this category, and it's not political influence or actual science, it's irrational fear. I am actually a very scientifically minded, logically thinking person, but that can' override deep seated fears of things.

I think alot of people are in this position. Im still not sure how i would feel indoors without a mask yet but im optomistic that i will adapt to it once i do it a couple times when permitted. Im getting the vaccine soon, my family is waiting to see any sideeffects reported until the end of the year. Im in the middle of the sides.

 

[danlb_2000]

I think alot of people are in this position. Im still not sure how i would feel indoors without a mask yet but im optomistic that i will adapt to it once i do it a couple times when permitted. Im getting the vaccine soon, my family is waiting to see any sideeffects reported until the end of the year. Im in the middle of the sides.

I will be more comfortable once vaccinated, but won't return to full normal until the community spread is under control. I have no plans to go back to Disney until that happens.

 

[DC0703]

Thats great that you are thinking of protecting others. Once the vaccine is readily available yet the anti vaxxers still refuse to take it, would that enable you to be comfortable maskless in close proximity? Or will you be masking for the foreseeable future?

The percentage of people vaccinated also in crucial in answering this question. I've been fully vaccinated for about 3 weeks and each day I feel slightly more comfortable with interacting with others. When we get to the point where about 65% of the country has at least one shot, I would assume the spread of COVID will be dropping quite a bit and my comfort level with being maskless would be much higher.

 

[jmp85]

Or maybe because we've been conditioned by the click driven drive by media for the past year to believe that the second we step foot outside or interact with anyone we're going to die.

Maybe the best way for people to return to normal is see that other people are doing it and not instantly being killed? Seems like a lot better way than perpetuating the cycle of isolation...

I would tell them I am uneasy about returning simply to continue working from home longer. No shame.

 

[Chi84]

I will be more comfortable once vaccinated, but won't return to full normal until the community spread is under control. I have no plans to go back to Disney until that happens.

We're comfortable enough to try WDW next week. The only issue is how uncomfortable we'll be in masks outdoors, and I doubt the CDC guidelines will immediately affect Disney. Luckily Blizzard Beach is open and masks are not required throughout much of the water park. We've decided to postpone the family trip until next May when we hope things will be back to normal.

 

[CatesMom]

What about Tom Sawyer island, do I need to ware a mask all the time there, or only when I go in the caves? What about the Morocco pavilion, do I need to wear a mask in the marketplace area, or only when I cross the threshold into a shop area? Same issue with the Galaxy's Edge markerplace. Do I need to wear a mask in the American Gardens Theater? Just a few examples of the grey areas.

Disney can easily put up signs saying "Masks required from this point." No need for anyone to guess.

 

[ImperfectPixie]

Disney can easily put up signs saying "Masks required from this point." No need for anyone to guess.

As someone who has been in the sign business for many, many years and been responsible for signage in the real world, including in hospitals, apartment complexes, on streets and highways, etc etc...let me ask you a question.

What do you think the odds are that a high percentage of people will notice a sign? What do you think the odds are that everyone who sees the sign will do what it says?

 

[CatesMom]

As someone who has been in the sign business for many, many years and been responsible for signage in the real world, including in hospitals, apartment complexes, on streets and highways, etc etc...let me ask you a question.

What do you think the odds are that a high percentage of people will notice a sign? What do you think the odds are that everyone who sees the sign will do what it says?

Agree that it's not foolproof, but it's a start.

 

[danlb_2000]

Disney can easily put up signs saying "Masks required from this point." No need for anyone to guess.

Sure they could do this, but will they bother? They don't seem to be having a problem filling the parks, so until the need to wear masks starts deterring a lot of people from coming, I don't see them making major changes to the policy. They are going to want to change policies that are impacting operations first, like social distancing in lines.

 

[correcaminos]

I totally understand it taking time. I can’t even watch tv shows and movies without having one moment of “where are the masks??”

But I agree, the science is there. At some point, we have to trust the vaccine and the effectiveness. Though, if people want to keep wearing masks I certainly won’t begrudge them. I’ve been to the parks in the heat as much as anyone this past year and have been 100% in agreement with all the protocols. But at some point my fully vaccinated self can’t worry about infecting someone else. The non-vaxers (choose not to be vaccinated) are the ones that need to worry about that.

I'm getting better about it myself. I have been fully vaccinated a while, and known it for about 3 months now. I'm trusting a lot more than I was this time last year that's for sure. I have slowly learned to let go some. It takes time.

Well, I'm going to be rude. There's a decent-sized, very LOUD portion of the general public who has been very loud and vocal about pushing conspiracy theories, balking at every safety precaution, and pushing absolute garbage about the vaccines. These people have very public platforms on multiple media outlets and even in Washington and they've all done more damage to America in the last year that I could have ever imagined.

What does that have to do with the information I gave you though? Vaccination does inhibit spread of virus. This is science, not some sort of conspiracy theory I am pushing if that's what you are getting at. I'm all about following what they see. In the labs they saw spread not happening and IRL the same is happening. I trust the science and the vaccine.

Would you feel comfortable being unmasked inside with somebody still waiting for a shot

Yes, and I have. I was there to comfort my friend after her mom, also a dear friend of mine, died. I have faith the vaccine keeps me safe. If we don't have faith in science why vaccinate?

For the most part, people who are getting vaccinated are being patient and understanding about continuing with mask-wearing. But I predict it won't be too long before they take the position that it's their job to get vaccinated and Disney's job to figure out how to distinguish between who is and who isn't.

I am honestly being patient, I just am arguing the outdoor masking isn't necessary since we're seeing that to be true. All I am seeing locally and reading of friends who go, the patience is waning. People already are not following. Why do we think the mask with pics rule was waived? People were already doing it.

 

[Chi84]

I am honestly being patient, I just am arguing the outdoor masking isn't necessary since we're seeing that to be true. All I am seeing locally and reading of friends who go, the patience is waning. People already are not following. Why do we think the mask with pics rule was waived? People were already doing it.

If you think people aren’t following now, wait til the CDC says outdoor spread is not happening. I don’t agree with people who think WDW will keep masks around simply because people are still coming to the parks. They’re going to carefully consider what is said tomorrow and also consider what other theme parks are doing.

People are fond of saying that Disney is careful to follow CDC guidelines, but that’s not entirely the case. The CDC wasn’t recommending that theme parks open in July 2020 at the height of the pandemic when the CDC was telling people not to travel and to stay home as much as possible. Disney will consider the CDC guidelines, but in conjunction with its business needs. Obviously I don’t know for certain, but I doubt it wants to be the only theme park requiring masks outside.

 

[HauntedPirate]

We're comfortable enough to try WDW next week. The only issue is how uncomfortable we'll be in masks outdoors, and I doubt the CDC guidelines will immediately affect Disney. Luckily Blizzard Beach is open and masks are not required throughout much of the water park. We've decided to postpone the family trip until next May when we hope things will be back to normal.

You have to wear a mask basically when you aren’t walking to a slide, in the pool, or sitting in your chair. Otherwise they were enforcing mask wearing last month to order food, order a drink, use the restroom, etc. They may have relaxed that by now but I wouldn’t count on it yet.

 

[Chi84]

You have to wear a mask basically when you aren’t walking to a slide, in the pool, or sitting in your chair. Otherwise they were enforcing mask wearing last month to order food, order a drink, use the restroom, etc. They may have relaxed that by now but I wouldn’t count on it yet.

Appreciate the info. I’ve read recent reports that once you crossed the bridge, masks were not required. They were required when you went to get food, and in the restrooms, changing rooms and shops. That seemed to make sense since there’s no way they can tell whether someone in the “inner” area is walking to a slide, pool, or somewhere else. Hopefully we’ll be able to camp out maskless in a Polar Patio.