News Disney mask policy at Walt Disney World theme parks

[relic827]

Wearing masks to prevent transmission of a deadly virus isn't a "trend", it's what you do to prevent deaths.

I dunno. All those designer masks and selfies of people alone in their rooms wearing masks all over social media last year make it seem like it’s at least partially a trend. Or that there’s at least a trendy aspect to it.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

I think there are a lot of parents who are concerned about taking their unvaccinated under 12's to a theme park where about 50% of the crowd is not vaccinated, not distancing, and not wearing a mask.

I would agree with you but almost every kid I see at the parks is not wearing a mask, which tells me that most parents are not concerned about this (otherwise they'd have their kids masked).

Based on the crowds lately, I don't think Disney is losing a huge chunk of business to families concerned about young kids. I could be wrong though.

 

[Roy G. Dis]

I dunno. All those designer masks and selfies of people alone in their rooms wearing masks all over social media last year make it seem like it’s at least partially a trend.

By this definition, anything can be a trend.

 

[pdude81]

No one here is saying masks don't reduce transmission. But often an unvaccinated person wearing a mask is equated to a vaccinated person without a mask. They couldn't be further from each other in their ability to reduce transmission.

Understood. And that's why the feds won't tell the vaccinated to wear masks ever. It kills the broader goal of vaccination. Disney can and potentially should say that their business policy is to wear masks indoors while county positivity rates are over 5% and vaccines are still unavailable for children. If people have a major problem with the mask then they could cancel or postpone the trip.

DeSantis took away any chance of a vaccine passport, even for masks at WDW. They'd never do that anyway, but it's not even an option. So it's all or none. Technically there is still a mask policy for the unvaccinated that nobody is following. There are more <12 kids at WDW every day then there are children in clinical vaccine trials right now in the US. But almost none are masking.

Now again I'm not begging for masks here. I don't really want to deal with them on our vacation for us or our unable to be vaccinated son. But I have no problem with the policy if they want to ask for masks at the door to the air conditioned building and enforce them inside.

 

[Figgy1]

Could be, could not be. Assumption won’t give an answer.

Felix Unger had something to say about assume

 

[relic827]

By this definition, anything can be a trend.

Yep.

 

[CLEtoWDW]

This is somewhat true, but it's not very Magical® to neglect ways to protect your guests in favor of making the locals angry again. Disney's made 'health policies' for decades by choosing whether people can smoke in the parks, offering hand sanitizer -- simple common sense things to keep guests healthy. Wearing masks during a surging global pandemic should not be controversial, but here we are.

Disney’s number 1 responsibility is it’s fiduciary duty to their shareholders to maximize shareholder value. Back in July of 2020 the only way they were “allowed” to reopen per CDC guidelines was to have 100% mask compliance. Since the CDC has lifted their restrictions Disney will be doing everything in their power to maximize profit and masking policies are no longer their concern.

 

[pdude81]

I would agree with you but almost every kid I see at the parks is not wearing a mask, which tells me that most parents are not concerned about this (otherwise they'd have their kids masked).

Based on the crowds lately, I don't think Disney is losing a huge chunk of business to families concerned about young kids. I could be wrong though.

Anecdotally I'll chime in on this too. We went in April and masks required. No problem for us or our son. Fast forward to late June and we start by wearing them. He is supposed to and we felt like we should indoors if he had to also. But NOBODY was wearing them. We must have gotten a thousand odd looks from people wondering what we were doing. It lasted a day before we just used the on transportation. If nobody else is wearing masks, then forcing my son to be uncomfortable while already at higher exposure risk seemed crazy.

I'm just saying that at a certain point people could be like us and not want to be the only ones following a rule that Disney doesn't seem to care about.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

It's no secret that wait times exploded after the mask mandates were lifted. They are largely unpopular and bringing them back would undoubtedly result in widespread cancellations; especially when the company would be out an island with said decision with virtually no end in sight.

 

["El Gran Magnifico"]

Might be time soon to re-visit and update this one: (somebody at Disney is going to be in trouble)

Disney slashes prices of face masks at shopDisney as Disney World's mask requirements near an end

If you are looking for Disney face masks new pricing makes them much more attractive.

www.wdwmagic.com

 

[pdude81]

In May they just had piles of disposable masks for guests who “forgot”. I assume they’d do the same again.

This is a fair point. Certainly would have plenty to handle a week or two bump in people who didn't have one at the time.

 

[Incomudro]

Wearing masks to prevent transmission of a deadly virus isn't a "trend", it's what you do to prevent deaths.

It was absolutely a trend for many, many people, looking for hero status because the put a piece of cloth over their face.

 

[GhostHost1000]

If they bring back masks now so many people would cancel their upcoming vacations

I might be one of them

 

[Otterhead]

Since the CDC has lifted their restrictions Disney will be doing everything in their power to maximize profit and masking policies are no longer their concern.

Their profit margins are gonna be awfully slim if they're still neglecting their guests' health when positivity rates keep climbing and the parks get a reputation as an unsafe place to take your family. It's a tricky balance because lots of people have been delaying their trips until after the mask rule is gone... but if a surge in crowds meets a surge in Covid, well, I wouldn't want to be in charge right now.

 

[disneygeek90]

True, but I don't think the people that don't feel safe in the parks right now wouldn't feel safe in the parks even if there were mask policies in place.

Distancing and masks made it feel a lot more comfortable.

 

[GhostHost1000]

Distancing and masks made it feel a lot more comfortable.

Unless you’re there doing it. It’s crowded. In the summer

 

[Disney Glimpses]

Distancing and masks made it feel a lot more comfortable.

For some. For every person that returns because they bring back mitigation measures I'd argue two would cancel.

 

[Tom P.]

Widespread masking in the United States is done. It's not coming back. People will not do it anymore, even if they are told to, and even if there is a government mandate. They simply will not comply.

Now, I'm not arguing that's right or wrong. I'm simply telling you what I think is the reality. And I think Disney knows that.

 

[Disney Glimpses]

Their profit margins are gonna be awfully slim if they're still neglecting their guests' health when positivity rates keep climbing and the parks get a reputation as an unsafe place to take your family. It's a tricky balance because lots of people have been delaying their trips until after the mask rule is gone... but if a surge in crowds meets a surge in Covid, well, I wouldn't want to be in charge right now.

There is nothing whatsoever to suggest that the lack of mitigation measures is going to have a detrimental effect on attendance and thus profit margins. Quite the opposite actually.

 

[GhostHost1000]

Widespread masking in the United States is done. It's not coming back. People will not do it anymore, even if they are told to, and even if there is a government mandate. They simply will not comply.

Now, I'm not arguing that's right or wrong. I'm simply telling you what I think is the reality. And I think Disney knows that.

This 100%