News Disney mask policy at Walt Disney World theme parks

[dovetail65]

We can agree to disagree. It was far busier in mid November than it was that time previously. My local friend says way busier than pre covid. Likely because not everything I'd open. My friend is a really good friend too and wouldn't make stuff up.

And I'm sorry you took offense to me not wanting to take your advice. Just realize one size does not fit all. What you do works for you. You likely do not deal with issues I do either and I never wait more than 20 mins for a ride because of it.

Well I am not talking Nov I am talking Feb right now. I did not take offense? I hate these online forums because if we were sitting talking you would not take it that way. I was posting for everyone.

I was there in September, not that busy either. I always found the first two week of Nov to be less busy, but heck you we there at the peak of the 50th which pretty much was Oct 1 to about Jan 5th so of course it was busy for you last Nov!

 

[ToTBellHop]

The most unacceptable thing moving forward will be for someone to shame someone else for wearing a mask.

Anyone who chooses to wear a mask should get treated with the utmost respect. Who knows what issues they are dealing with.

As much as I hate masking it’s important we create an environment where people feel comfortable doing so.

There are plenty of parents lining up on social media to explain to parents who still mask their children that they are guilty of child abuse…

I made the mistake of watching a bit of the local board of ed meeting where they discussed removing the mask requirement starting 3/1.

Lots of parents have gone over to The Dark Side. They started out having the local DPH guy give his recommendation (not surprisingly, to continue masking) and people loudly booed at him and laughed at him interspersed with insults. When has being rude ever helped a person get what they want?

People have forgotten how to human.

 

[G00fyDad]

Been at HS for about 15 mins. Been through stores on each side of Hollywood & Sunset, I’d say 0 masks on any guests

That means they are all vaccinated doesn't it?

 

[ToTBellHop]

That means they are all vaccinated doesn't it?

It means they identify as vaccinated.

 

[correcaminos]

Well I am not talking Nov I am talking Feb right now. I did not take offense? I hate these online forums because if we were sitting talking you would not take it that way. I was posting for everyone.

I was there in September, not that busy either. I always found the first two week of Nov to be less busy, but heck you we there at the peak of the 50th which pretty much was Oct 1 to about Jan 5th so of course it was busy for you last Nov!

My friend is talking now. She goes all the time and has. She says it is slammed with pics and video to prove. I believe her and the pics. I was saying November was way busier since that's when I was there. In fact I left a park because it was ridiculous as did my same friend who was with me. There has been no peak for the 50th too from what I've seen. I honestly am not sure why you are even talking about this like I am a newbie or something. I'm not, I'm a DVC owner for almost 20 years now and go often.

This is a mask thread. I haven't asked for advice for a trip. I was remarking on how busy DHS was because that is where my good friend texted me from today. So how about we stick to the subject at hand - which is it is very busy at DHS and few masks.

 

[JohnD]

People can certainly still choose to wear a mask anywhere they want. But here's why mask mandates should be removed everywhere at WDW, including transportation. As was stated, "Face coverings are still required by all Guests (ages 2 and up) on enclosed Disney transportation, including Disney buses, monorails, and Disney Skyliner." But those same face coverings are not required on enclosed rides. Just saying.

I don't have plans to go anytime soon (I was there for the 50th in October) but I will certainly abide by the policy although the mandates for face coverings on transportation doesn't do anything.

 

[G00fyDad]

People can certainly still choose to wear a mask anywhere they want. But here's why mask mandates should be removed everywhere at WDW, including transportation. As was stated, "Face coverings are still required by all Guests (ages 2 and up) on enclosed Disney transportation, including Disney buses, monorails, and Disney Skyliner." But those same face coverings are not required on enclosed rides. Just saying.

I don't have plans to go anytime soon (I was there for the 50th in October) but I will certainly abide by the policy although it doesn't do anything.

Because after the accident with the monorail Disney has all of their transportation services under the direction of the FTA (or DoT, or some government agency). As of right now all public modes of transportation have to require masks.

 

[Trauma]

There are plenty of parents lining up on social media to explain to parents who still mask their children that they are guilty of child abuse…

I made the mistake of watching a bit of the local board of ed meeting where they discussed removing the mask requirement starting 3/1.

Lots of parents have gone over to The Dark Side. They started out having the local DPH guy give his recommendation (not surprisingly, to continue masking) and people loudly booed at him and laughed at him interspersed with insults. When has being rude ever helped a person get what they want?

People have forgotten how to human.

Not an excuse for their deplorable behavior but you have to remember the anti-mask crowd has been attacked and called every name in the book for the past 2 years.

However a parent should clearly be able to choose if their kid wears a mask or not.

If the kid doesn’t agree with the parent they can just take the mask off once they are inside anyways.

 

[dovetail65]

There are plenty of parents lining up on social media to explain to parents who still mask their children that they are guilty of child abuse…

I made the mistake of watching a bit of the local board of ed meeting where they discussed removing the mask requirement starting 3/1.

Lots of parents have gone over to The Dark Side.

Oh lord, let's all go to WDW and forget reality for a bit.

Two days ago we are at MK, a little girl about 5 goes up to her mom and says, mom get your mask on. It was the cutest thing I ever saw. This woman had 5 kids with her, probably from about 2 years or a bit less(I assume because no mask) to about maybe 11 years old. I never saw such well behaved kids in my life, so cute in their Disney and princess attire. I am not sure where the husband was but my gosh, all the kids were masked up, one of the older ones helping another little one with their mask and what amazing order and all following moms directions. They were having the time of their lives and perfectly well behaved.

Not that this is related to masks, but 2 hours later I saw a mom lean over the stroller and crack her kid in the face. What a difference in behavior. She didn't even stop nor miss a beat, just cracked the kid. I thought in my head if you aren't going to be happy why come here? So that is the kids memory, mom cracked me at MK. Most families look so happy, a few looked so tired, but every once in awhile we would see a family that looked to have made a fatal mistake coming to WDW. We could see Disney was not for them , they were stressed and looked unhappy or at least they acted that way.

 

[JohnD]

Because after the accident with the monorail Disney has all of their transportation services under the direction of the FTA. As of right now All public modes of transportation have to require masks.

Okay, they have to follow the Feds. But my point remains the same.

 

[Ayla]

This time of year and right now the crowds are not crowds. I do not feel the park have been any more busy that any other Feb we have come and that is with many show closures right now. For the record we do live in IL, but are local as we have a home a few minutes from Ak as well. If WDW opened every show tomorrow, had two roller Coasters back operating at AK the parks would seem less busy than a regular Feb.

I am not sure why this is, but some guests keep saying it so busy, but I assure you we have been to each park 2 or 3 times in the last two weeks and the crowds leaving are nothing at all comparatively. There are hot spots yeah, but the longest line we chose to stand in was 25 minutes and we have done very attraction in every park.

If people don't want to adjust how they choose to see the parks than they can stand in lines or come up with their own plan that works for them. If that plan has them in 90 minute lines then it is the wrong plan, at least this month. I mean who the heck stands in line for the Rat for 170 minutes over 11 bucks a person, that is their choice. I talked to one person that asked me how I am walking in the LL lane. I was amazed, this guest didn't even know there was such thing as an LL or Genie plus. I had to show him how to use the app even using his phone to demonstrate how to use the app. I thought most of these people standing in the standby just didn't want to pay, possibly many Guests don't have a clue?

I just offer my advice for those that want to take it for this month, no more than that. 2 days ago we left MK 15 minutes before close and walked on the monorail and I mean walked on, zero minute wait. Now that day I saw posts saying how very busy it was at MK, you seem to know WDW so I ask, if I can walk on the monorail 15 minute before close can it really have that many people in it? I say it "seems" more busy than a regular Feb, but in reality I do not believe it is. Heck, if all the shows were open and a ride here and there not down it would be less busy than a regular Feb. For example, at Space Mountain someone showed a picture of the line going all the way down to the Monsters show, WOW so busy, right? That picture made the crowds look huge. What they don't mention is that day all the internal que were not being used(as few as ther are inside to begin with), yep we got in and it was a straight line to the coaster. This is just one example of how the parks are looking more busy than they are. Now matter what the pictures show or what my own Fl neighbors say, I can see from the cars and the crowds that leave and the wait times my wife and I have in line that we are nowhere near capacity, not even close. Anyone complaining the last two weeks about long lines or it being super busy simply does not know how to approach going on the rides or never was in WDW when they were at true capacity pre covid.

You're in for a surprise starting today. LOL

 

[correcaminos]

You're in for a surprise starting today. LOL

Yeah when my friend sends me pics of crowds I know that it's bad. She's really been remarking lately how busy it's been. Beyond days that she assumed would drop off. But she said today was extra busy. Asked me to look when the princess races started. Reminded her of winter break right now for many this week and next.

 

[G00fyDad]

It means they identify as vaccinated.

I'll identify as the CEO and start making some changes.

 

[correcaminos]

Denmark did this. Turned out bad so far.

Denmark removed restrictions at the height of the omicron peak. It dropped a little before they did it but not a lot. Looking at the last 30 days it seems like cases stabilized and are on their way down.

 

[drnilescrane]

The mandates are dropping for two reasons, one, elections coming up, two the numbers are declining quite a bit.

You are so off base, link to that than. Most people still support it, not the other way around;

Most Americans still support mask mandates as states relax rules: Poll

Throughout the pandemic, face coverings have been a point of contention and politicized.

www.newsweek.com

Rules have there place , we as individuals are not going to do the right thing, I don't. If we all did why bother having any rules at all, it's because people as a group people follow rules. From what I am seeing at WDW everyone was happy and fine with the mask rules. Now we will be happy with the new rules.

It is a very small minority that actively fight rules, they just scream the loudest. Fact is most will do whatever the rules are. I had a great time with the mask rules, now I wil have a great time with no mask. I am not going to say the mask rules were useless, they were and are not.

I stand by what I said. Despite polling showing high support for mandates, when you poll on sentiment Fully 70 percent of Americans agreed with the statement that “it’s time we accept Covid is here to stay and we just need to get on with our lives”


You're right, most people will quietly follow the rules but to say they are happy with it is another thing. They won't even complain about the rules themselves - even think they are necessary - but they'll be unhappy about other things and it all boils over one way or another.

 

[Chip Chipperson]

Not an excuse for their deplorable behavior but you have to remember the anti-mask crowd has been attacked and called every name in the book for the past 2 years.

However a parent should clearly be able to choose if their kid wears a mask or not.

If the kid doesn’t agree with the parent they can just take the mask off once they are inside anyways.

And we all know that 100% of the anti-mask crowd has behaved themselves in a respectable manner and haven't assaulted any flight attendants or store clerks or referred to people who masked up as "sheep" and people who got vaccinated as "guinea pigs." Up until now, they've been setting the standard for how to behave in a calm, polite, and peaceful manner in public from Day 1.

 

[ToTBellHop]

Oh lord, let's all go to WDW and forget reality for a bit.

Two days ago we are at MK, a little girl about 5 goes up to her mom and says, mom get your mask on. It was the cutest thing I ever saw. This woman had 5 kids with her, probably from about 2 years or a bit less(I assume because no mask) to about maybe 11 years old. I never saw such well behaved kids in my life, so cute in their Disney and princess attire. I am not sure where the husband was but my gosh, all the kids were masked up, one of the older ones helping another little one with their mask and what amazing order and all following moms directions. They were having the time of their lives and perfectly well behaved.

Not that this is related to masks, but 2 hours later I saw a mom lean over the stroller and crack her kid in the face. What a difference in behavior. She didn't even stop nor miss a beat, just cracked the kid. I thought in my head if you aren't going to be happy why come here? So that is the kids memory, mom cracked me at MK. Most families look so happy, a few looked so tired, but every once in awhile we would see a family that looked to have made a fatal mistake coming to WDW. We could see Disney was not for them , they were stressed and looked unhappy or at least they acted that way.

When I see parents get physical with their kids in a theme park, I think, “we are in public. How is this child treated at home?” Scary thought.

 

[ToTBellHop]

I'll identify as the CEO and start making some changes.

Better shave your head.

 

[G00fyDad]

When I see parents get physical with their kids in a theme park, I think, “we are in public. How is this child treated at home?” Scary thought.

When I see it I report it. That said it is a little hard to do so when A) I do not know who the person is and B) when at a place like Disney. I am a mandated reporter and even if I weren't I am not going to sit there while a child is abused. Spanking with the open hand once or twice is one thing but to smack/punch a child in the face is too far.

 

[dovetail65]

You're in for a surprise starting today. LOL

Starting today going to be any different than the last two weeks? I'll pay for LL and genie + and not wait in long lines no matter what's going on. We are lucky enough to be able to be in a mode to go to the parks and have zero expectations of going on any rides or attractions all, no pressure. Our attraction is being in the bubble and we found that is working for us this trip. No long line waits, no amount of people in the park is going to change it for us because we have no pressure to see anything. We are finding when we don't put that pressure on ourselves to see this or that all of a sudden we are seeing everything! It could be we are just very lucky, that's fine too.

I heard the same thing last week someone saying boy it's busy, don't come. We did anyhow and headed to MK. That night I kissed my wife like I used to do far more 25 years ago. At that moment Fireworks are going off and Tinkerbell flew right by our heads. I am not an emotional guy, but what a moment! The poster that warned me how busy it was and not to come had their perception, it was the same day, same crowds. Maybe we just don't care about the crowds or too old to care. There was a lot of pushing on the edges of the fireworks crowd and I thought these trees need be cut for fireworks viewing so another 5 thousand people could see better. Still, I will remember that moment for years to come as busy as it was or wasn't.

So far the last two weeks have been amazing and I highly doubt the next two weeks will all of a sudden be any different for us. Nothing will make it an August summer day in the next two weeks.