News Disney mask policy at Walt Disney World theme parks

[BuddyThomas]

There is zero science saying that masking a two year old does anything.

Irony alert, as you appear to consider small children nothing but germy disease vectors whose existence might negatively impact YOU if they aren’t masked at all times. Never mind THEIR development.

Consideration cuts both ways.

“While this is a natural concern, there is no known evidence that use of face masks interferes with speech and language development or social communication. Plus, children can still get plenty of face time at home with mask-free family members.Aug 26, 2021”

Face Masks for Children During COVID-19

The American Academy of Pediatrics answers frequently asked questions about cloth face masks and children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

www.healthychildren.org

 

[marymarypoppins]

“While this is a natural concern, there is no known evidence that use of face masks interferes with speech and language development or social communication. Plus, children can still get plenty of face time at home with mask-free family members.Aug 26, 2021”

Face Masks for Children During COVID-19

The American Academy of Pediatrics answers frequently asked questions about cloth face masks and children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

www.healthychildren.org

It absolutely does in terms of teaching phonemic awareness. So much so that several of the new curriculums coming out include videos of this particular skill to help in districts still holding on to mask. Lots of money is being spent on fixing the huge deficits in learning covid and the restrictions have caused.

 

[DisneyHead123]

“While this is a natural concern, there is no known evidence that use of face masks interferes with speech and language development or social communication. Plus, children can still get plenty of face time at home with mask-free family members.Aug 26, 2021”

Face Masks for Children During COVID-19

The American Academy of Pediatrics answers frequently asked questions about cloth face masks and children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

www.healthychildren.org

While I understand why they did it, it was frustrating to see journalists rush to report that "there's no evidence that masks...". I mean technically that was true, but there was no evidence either way. I could say "There's no evidence that having a kangaroo babysit is harmful to toddlers" and yes, that would be true, because no one has collected data on this. But there are reasonable inferences one can make. No evidence for or against is very difference than having evidence of a positive outcome. (Referrals for speech therapy are up since Covid, btw, according to the American Speech-Language Hearing Association.)

Currently, there is evidence that children's development has been delayed during Covid, although it's very difficult to tease out the impact of masks vs. lockdowns and family stress. If you are interested, however, some recent articles on this topic:

The Atlantic - The Case Against Masks In Schools

Time Magazine - It's Time to End Mandatory Masking in Schools

NPR - New questions about whether kids should wear masks

 

[The Mom]

Please stop all of the personal attacks and arguing. Thank you.

 

[Lilofan]

ERs do not test everyone. Have you been to the ER in last 6 months?

That's incorrect. I had abdominal pains that did not go away for a day recently , went to the ER in the middle of the night, CT Scan said inflammed appedicitis, emergency surgery a few hours later to take out appendicts , released from recovery room, came home in the early afternoon. While was in ER got the swabs up my nose for Covid tests. Tip of the day, when pains don't go away go to ER, CT Scan says what going on. All along, I thought appendicitis was a young persons ailment. I did notice no one wore a N95 mask including staff, wore hospital surgical masks instead.

 

[bdearl41]

“While this is a natural concern, there is no known evidence that use of face masks interferes with speech and language development or social communication. Plus, children can still get plenty of face time at home with mask-free family members.Aug 26, 2021”

Face Masks for Children During COVID-19

The American Academy of Pediatrics answers frequently asked questions about cloth face masks and children during the COVID-19 pandemic.

www.healthychildren.org

Talk about misinformation

 

[Homer fan]

NJ is dropping mask mandate for schools. It’s a matter of time now before all the dominos fall…freedom is in sight!

 

[The Visionary Soul]

From what I’ve been hearing, we can expect Disney to end most, if not all, face masking requirements in March or April of this year.

 

[G00fyDad]

From what I’ve been hearing, we can expect Disney to end most, if not all, face masking requirements in March or April of this year.

I truly hope so. I really do but I am going to set my expectations low for this one because then if we go in October and they are still around for indoors then I will not be disappointed. I just wish everyone had worn a mask (and not listened to idiots and conspiracy nuts) where they live from the start instead of only the responsible people so we could possibly be months and months past the mask requirements already.

 

[Incomudro]

From what I’ve been hearing, we can expect Disney to end most, if not all, face masking requirements in March or April of this year.

The family and I will be there late March, hopefully WDW will drop the masks by then.
I can handle putting on the masks indoors, but it will be far more convenient if it's over with.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Explain how you can share a row with Remy? Literally each row holds 2 or 3 people and I am seriously curious how that happened after riding it a few times. I have never in my solo trips been placed with a single stranger in a ride like Pooh or Peter Pan which is similar in size. They didn't even make me share for Pirates or IASW.

If you are saying they were in a separate row, that's different.

I was placed in a row with two other people twice on Remys. I’ve noticed they don’t do this on a lot of other rides, like you mentioned, Pooh, Peter Pan, Small World, Pirates, etc.

 

[correcaminos]

I was placed in a row with two other people twice on Remys. I’ve noticed they don’t do this on a lot of other rides, like you mentioned, Pooh, Peter Pan, Small World, Pirates, etc.

Dead horse. Already accused of calling people liars and shamed by a poster about this. Not sure what was going on the day I went. Only thing I can think of was it was early am and boarding groups were being used. Not a ride I'll rush to go on without my family as I hate being squished.

 

[MagicHappens1971]

Dead horse. Already accused of calling people liars and shamed by a poster about this. Not sure what was going on the day I went. Only thing I can think of was it was early am and boarding groups were being used. Not a ride I'll rush to go on without my family as I hate being squished.

I just people don’t travel solo, but I think it’s just an operations decision. I’ve been sat with someone else every time I’ve ridden SDMT, can’t say the same for Barnstormer. Splash mountain typically has you ride alone.

 

[correcaminos]

I just people don’t travel solo, but I think it’s just an operations decision. I’ve been sat with someone else every time I’ve ridden SDMT, can’t say the same for Barnstormer. Splash mountain typically has you ride alone.

I expect it on 7DMT and more often than not our party of 3 is split. Rarely does it not work out that way. It's a bit different as you get a real assigned seat. Unlike Barnstormer or BTM where it is a bench. Those we do not get assigned with others. Remy has like dividers but shared bars and bench. Again since behind me was 2, I was surprised they changed to loading so cramped. So maybe ride operators. Maybe change in policy once no more BG. I'll see if my kid wasts to ride or not and if so prepare for it. I fully admit to having real issues with people touching me who are strangers. More real separation doesn't bug me. It's totally my anxiety/ptsd issues though. Why I liked social distancing

 

[ToTBellHop]

From what I’ve been hearing, we can expect Disney to end most, if not all, face masking requirements in March or April of this year.

Yes. This is why I said “by April 1” back on 1/14.

 

[bdearl41]

I have an April 29 trip so please let them be gone by then.

 

[correcaminos]

Yes. This is why I said “by April 1” back on 1/14.

Still say central Florida spring break will have them (mid March) in part because that's when I will be there

 

[SingleRider]

Still say central Florida spring break will have them (mid March) in part because that's when I will be there

I bet they’re dropped around the beginning of March, right before my last park day. Outdoor masks and temp checks were dropped the night before my last park day in May 2021.

 

[correcaminos]

I bet they’re dropped around the beginning of March, right before my last park day. Outdoor masks and temp checks were dropped the night before my last park day in May 2021.

They dropped indoors 3 days after I left in June last year. They also chose not to drop when I was there in November when cases were super low. I'm bad luck for masks, but tbh I have had 2 trips with low cases so there is that good! But I say March 21st with my history.

I'm not too pressed for March as it's a shorter trip where our focus will be outside avoiding long lines. Would be nice but we're prepared one way or another. I got enough masks to get us through the school year.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I live in CT. We are extremely liberal and have an extremely liberal Governor.

Our school mask mandate ends 2/28/22. This is coming to an end very quickly now. And it’s time.