Disney World Ending Most Face Mask Rules
Walt Disney World will soon be ending its indoor face mask rule for fully vaccinated guests in most locations! This post offers details on the dropping of health safety protocol, what else has changed, exceptions to the dropping of these rules, our commentary, and quick answers to frequently asked questions about implications for fireworks, FastPass+, Dining Plan, Park Pass, character meet & greets, and more.
To quickly recap, this move by Walt Disney World comes two weeks after Universal Orlando similarly dropped indoor face mask requirements for the fully vaccinated and ended enforcement of rules. It also comes one week after Mayor Jerry Demings “State of the County” press conference during which he announced that Orange County will enter the third and final phase of the reopening plan.
Orange County has essentially returned to normal in terms of health safety protocol. The state of emergency is over, and there is no face mask mandate for anyone, nor are there physical distancing rules for any businesses in the county. As has been the case previously, this paved the way for Walt Disney World to relax its health safety protocol…
Walt Disney World is now following Orange County’s guidance and making changes to its “Reopening & Update Experiences”, significantly modifying its health safety protocol.
What follows is the verbatim text on that page, which adds several paragraphs above the “Guiding Principles” section that describes current rules…
Within our communities, we’re encouraged that COVID-19 guidelines have been adjusted and eased by public health and government officials, paving the path for many businesses and industries to take positive steps forward.
As we have done since reopening, we’ve been very intentional and gradual in our approach to our COVID-19 health and safety protocols. Based on recent trends and guidance, Walt Disney World Resort will be making more adjustments to these measures, including physical distancing and face coverings.
Beginning June 15, 2021 you will start to notice the following changes at Walt Disney World:
FACE MASK RULES: Face coverings will be optional for fully vaccinated Guests in most areas. Face coverings will still be required of all Guests on Disney transportation, including Disney buses, monorails and Disney Skyliner.
While we will not require proof of vaccination, we expect Guests who are not fully vaccinated to continue wearing face coverings in all indoor locations, and upon entering and throughout all attractions and transportation. Guests must observe current policies on face coverings until June 15, 2021.
PHYSICAL DISTANCING: We will be relaxing physical distancing guidelines for Guests. This will be visible in places like queues, shops, restaurants, attraction boarding, transportation and our theaters.
It’s important to remember that some experiences and entertainment may still be operating with limited capacity or may remain temporarily unavailable. We’re not quite ready to bring back everything yet, but we are optimistic and look forward to the day when Disney pals and princesses are able to hug once again.
CLEANING: We will continue the high standards for cleanliness and sanitation we’ve always set for ourselves. Cleaning supplies and hand sanitizer stations will still be available.
We encourage people to get vaccinated.
Our Commentary, Predictions & Answers to Common Questions
Why won’t Walt Disney World be asking mask-less guests whether they’re fully vaccinated?
For one thing, that’s prohibited under Florida law and other businesses (notably in the cruise industry) have already lost high-profile legal battles over that.
For another thing, virtually no businesses anywhere—even in other states without Florida’s laws—are differentiating between vaccinated and unvaccinated guests beyond the honor system policy. It’s simply not worth the hassle and headache. It would be asking a lot of Cast Members at a time when there’s already a labor shortage and frontline employees everywhere are at about their wits’ end. This is why the new rule is, essentially, “there is no rule.” (Outside of enclosed transportation, where there remains a face mask rule for all guests. You should expect that to be actively enforced.)
If my kids are under age 12, and thus cannot possibly be vaccinated, will they be required to wear masks?
Again, this is effectively the end of enforcement of rules by Walt Disney World.
Even though it can reasonably be deduced that a small child is unvaccinated, Disney will not be policing whether they wear masks in light of the above. Instead, all unvaccinated guests will be “expected” to wear masks. Likewise, I am expected to eat vegetables when I prepare dinner for myself, but you can guess how that goes when I’m left unsupervised.
Why is Walt Disney World ending the rule on June 15, 2021 instead of immediately?
That’s a good question. For past rule relaxations, the new policy has gone into effect almost immediately at Walt Disney World. (Usually an announcement around the time the parks close, implemented the following morning.)
In this case, it’s possible that Walt Disney World is making this change because of the expectation that Disneyland will also be able to roll out identical policies on that date, which is when California reopens. However, we highly doubt that is the case and do not expect identical rules to debut at Disneyland Resort on that date.
More likely, Walt Disney World realizes some families of unvaccinated children under age 12 are going to be uncomfortable with this change, and might want to cancel their vacations as a result. Accordingly, it makes sense to give them some advance notice to plan accordingly. Either way, it could be a rough weekend ahead of this transition, so please comply with current rules and be kind to frontline Cast Members. Remember, they do not make the rules that they enforce!
Will the face mask rule be enforced on transportation?
That remains to be seen, but our expectation based upon Disney’s different uses of verbiage is that Cast Members will actively enforce the mask rules on the listed fully enclosed forms of transportation.
Will face masks be required on boats, ferries, and other watercraft?
No.
Why isn’t ___ back? When might it return?
If you want to save yourself some time and not read the remaining questions and answers here, staffing–or a lack thereof is probably the answer to your first question and when more Cast Members have been hired and trained is probably the answer to the second question.
I don’t mean to sound glib. However, a shortage of Cast Members is the single biggest explanation for everything Disney is (not) doing right now.
When will Disney Park Pass reservations end?
Depends upon who you ask.
High level leaders, including the CEO and head of the theme park division, have stated in interviews that they will continue to use certain technology that improves efficiencies when operations are back to normal. Many fans have taken this to mean that Disney Park Pass is here to stay.
For reasons we discuss in When Will Disney Park Pass Reservations End? we doubt that will be the case. With that said, we expect reservations to stick around until Walt Disney World is comfortable increasing park capacity to 100%. At this point, that’s a staffing issue.
When will Park Hopping be allowed before 2 pm?
Park Hopping is likewise dictated by capacity, so those rules could be relaxed as soon as attendance caps further increase or are lifted entirely. However, that doesn’t mean it’ll be restored as soon as that occurs. Loosening Park Hopping rules may not be viewed as a high priority by Disney.
What does this mean for FastPass+ return?
With physical distancing relaxed and attendance limits increased, we’re seeing this question more and more. The short answer is that we haven’t heard anything recently, but don’t expect it to return in the near term. FastPass+ lines are already in use for select guests, but fully restoring the service would require more staffing—that’s an issue until late June or early July.
There are other complicating factors unique to this, which are covered at length in When Will FastPass+ Return to Walt Disney World? Personally, I wouldn’t worry too much about the lack of FastPass in the immediate future—Disney is also increasing attraction efficiency, which will help with wait times.
What about fireworks?
We’d say there’s a 90% chance of one fireworks show being back by the second week of July 2021. There’s about a 75% chance of two fireworks shows being back by that time, and a third potentially returning shortly thereafter.
It’s likely that Epcot Forever will be the first to return, for a limited engagement before Harmonious debuts. Following or simultaneous to that, Happily Ever After will return to Magic Kingdom.
When will Walt Disney World increase restaurant capacity?
One week ago, Walt Disney World adjusted its physical distancing verbiage to enable the relaxation of that rule. So today’s change isn’t actually a new development on that front.
Again, staffing is a huge problem right now for restaurants. We’ve done several meals recently where numerous tables were unfilled (beyond those deliberately left open) and many third party restaurants are offering huge signing bonuses in a desperate attempt to attract employees.
The good news there is that Walt Disney World has gone on a recent hiring spree and the College Program is returning very soon. These participants will begin in mid-June and should be trained by the end of that month. New Cast Members will help ease the burden on those restaurants, allowing Walt Disney World to increase capacity at restaurants—and open more locations. We already saw that earlier this week with the announcement that ‘Ohana and Sebastian’s Bistro will reopen, both within the next month!
Does this mean the Disney Dining Plan will be back soon?
See above. Restaurant capacity is a necessary prerequisite for the Disney Dining Plan being brought back.
For much more extensive commentary, see When Will the Disney Dining Plan Return?
What about character meet & greets?
We would not expect non-physically distanced character meet & greets to return anytime soon. To the contrary, this will likely be one of the last things to go back to normal. Possibly not until 2022.
It’s entirely about perception and practicality. Disney cannot and will not mandate that performers are vaccinated, and it’d be a bad look to allow a potentially unvaccinated performer to hug a child who cannot yet be vaccinated. Disney also cannot reasonably dictate that kids don’t touch the characters; that’s also not a realistic rule.
The actual risk of such a scenario might be virtually nonexistent based on the brief exposure time and the “layers” separating the fur characters from the child, but so much of what Disney is doing and has done is about optics rather than safety.
What about buffets?
At this point, there is no compelling scientific reason to not bring buffets back at this point. Buffet lines could have the same physical distancing markers as queues for those fleeting encounters. Given that fomite or surface transmission is exceedingly rare and unlikely, handling the serving utensils or being near communal food does not present any meaningfully degree of actual risk, although there’s undoubtedly still the perception it does.
Again, perception is everything. As such, we don’t see buffets coming back this summer. To the contrary, Walt Disney World has doubled down on family-style with recently-announced restaurant reopenings for July 2021. Buffets could potentially return later in the year if all hygiene theater ends, but companies might want to retain the appearance of some safety measures even after the most meaningful ones have been dropped. Conversely, the absence of things like buffets and playgrounds might be frustrating and almost nonsensical, but they’re far less impactful on the overall guest experience than face masks. That’s a trade-off we’ll happily accept!
Planning a Walt Disney World trip? Learn about hotels on our Walt Disney World Hotels Reviews page. For where to eat, read our Walt Disney World Restaurant Reviews. To save money on tickets or determine which type to buy, read our Tips for Saving Money on Walt Disney World Tickets post. Our What to Pack for Disney Trips post takes a unique look at clever items to take. For what to do and when to do it, our Walt Disney World Ride Guides will help. For comprehensive advice, the best place to start is our Walt Disney World Trip Planning Guide for everything you need to know!
YOUR THOUGHTS
Thoughts on Walt Disney World essentially ending its face mask rule indoors, with only a few limited exceptions? Do you agree or disagree with the swift relaxation of rules? Surprised by Disney’s rule change? Think Walt Disney World has more plans to return to normal? Expectations with the Dining Plan, FastPass+, fireworks, meet & greets, or anything else? Please keep the comments civil. This is not the place for arguing about efficacy, politics, and so forth—all such comments will be deleted, irrespective of perspective. You are not going to change anyone’s mind via the comments section on this blog, nor are you going to change Disney’s rules or public policy. If you wish to contest this, rather than yelling into the internet abyss, have your voice heard in a meaningful way by contacting Disney or your local elected officials.
@Nancy-
I was wondering the same thing. We have all had Covid, and have built up natural immunity. Will my children be required to wear masks at Disney World? Will they be told by others to put their masks on? I absolutely understand wearing them if you want to, and respect that, but even our schools dropped the mask mandate for kids in May. Has anyone experienced the parks since the mask mandate changed yesterday, and can share what the situation was with their kids? That would be so helpful!! We are leaving for Disney Saturday, and have been desperately needing this for a loooong time! So excited!!
Oh and thanks Tom and Sarah for the wonderful posts and amazing pictures!!! You’re blogs are so informative and entertaining!! 🙂
@laurie. Your point is well-taken. I would think that it just is logistically impossible to just allow vaccinated people into the parks or other venues.
Vaccinated people have little to fear even with the variants. Unvaccinated people don’t seem to realize that they are living on borrowed time. There is now a new variant-Delta- that came from India. Much more contagious and much more severe if you catch COVID. It is now 10% of the cases in the U.S., and is expected to grow exponentially. And even if you’ve had COVID your antibodies are no guarantee with this variant.
The Washington Post ran an article yesterday about how the unvaccinated areas throughout the U.S. are where the death and disease are still real risks. Vaccinated areas are doing great. And there is little danger in getting back to normal pre-COVID.
@Laurie, no thanks! I refuse to live in fear. I am wondering though, of the many who rushed out to get these experimental injections, how many are the same ones scared to eat any so-called GMO foods or products made with milk from cows treated with ABX?
Very good. Disney’s subtle jab at you who have been coerced and driven by fear into getting a shot that effectively kills superstition is a delight. This silly little bug has done all the damage that it can do and even Disney has grown weary of helping propagate the myth that anything we’ve seen the government do in the last 18 months had any effect on it. Yeah…I got a shot. See you at Disney World in August…and I sure won’t be wearing a mask.
@laurie.. that is absolutely crazy. Everyone in world should stay home if they choose not to be vaccinated? Disney will never ask for proof of vaccination so you best just stay home or go where they have your rules because it won’t be Florida. Of all the comments I have read on this thread your comment is by far the most ridiculous. You stay home if you are afraid.
Trusting people to do the right thing is crazy. You know darn well that people that aren’t vaccinated, aren’t going to where their masks since others don’t have to. You should have to show that you’ve been vaccinated. People say they have a right to privacy. What privacy. You’re just saying if you got a shot or not. They’re not asking you to drop your pants. I say if you’re not vaccinated, you shouldn’t be going anywhere period.
@DebC it’s entirely possible. Been too long now to recall exactly though! I really liked working in MK and interacting with guests and families. Except one lady I wanted to smack upside the head. I was working as greeter outside 20K in front of Storybook Treats when I saw a maybe 3 year old boy running down the way screaming. Obviously lost. I grabbed him and brought him over to our crew room and called City Hall, where his frantic parents were looking for him. He was pretty upset so I took him over and got him an ice cream cone, which calmed him down a lot. He held onto it and as soon as he saw his mom he smiled and started eating it. But then she came up and started yelling at him. I understand she was scared and upset, but it was her fault he got lost! I used to think those leashes on kids were cruel, but not any more.
MrNico: For your Gardens of the World tour in 2016, you might have had my son lead that tour. He did a Disney Internship as a Gardener in the MK and then was hired full time after that ended. He enjoyed doing those tours.
@FrankV yes, done several of the tours and they are always interesting. My brother and I did the Keys To The Kingdom tour and I got to see some of the spaces I used to be at every day at MK. I wasn’t feeling good that day but didn’t cancel so he could see it. Want to do that one again. Also the Behind the Seeds is great, seeing the Land greenhouses, and Magic Behind Our Steam Trains tour is very, very cool. We did the Gardens of the World tour at Epcot during EF&GF in I think 2016 which was good too.
MrNico
I enjoy the parks not because of the fairytale stuff but because of the engineering marvels there. We had a chance to do a behind the scenes tour a couple years back. And it was very impressive
@FrankV the only thing I thought sucked about that series is that it ended. Amazing interview footage from Imagineers and company history not widely known. Seeing the derisive bumper stickers about Michael Eisner even in the mid-2000s showed how little folks actually knew about him. I’ve seen all episodes multiple times and still tear up at many points. Having worked at the company only a brief 8 months in the DCP 1992, I really wish I’d taken more opportunity to visit and talk with more people running specialized aspects such as the laser shows and pyro as well as other departments.
And hearing Kim talk about her mother as Madame Leota and taking her kids to ‘visit grandma’ was hilarious. A lot of people don’t want to know how the sausage is made, but as an engineer and technical person, I love it!
@Sara sure with enough butter, garlic and salt many vegetable can be delicious! ANd bacon.
I fully agree with you on the plexi/plastic issue. It’s a nice gesture but absurd in reality. It has, however, made me decide to always split party into groups of 2 for things like KJ Safaris and such where you have a better view of animals or scenery even after plexi is gone. Or a party of 4, tell them 2 and 2 for Skyliner so you’re not packed in like sardines.
@Phil, that would most likely violate union agreements in addition to those CM’s civil rights. While I agree that it seems like a simple thing and many of the character performers would likely be willing if not begging for the opportunity, unfortunately it seems unlikely. A lot of the character costumes are incredible elaborate and expensive, and each CM does not get their own complete costume. There have been stories in the past about grievances filed for having to don sweaty costume pieces from someone who just got off shift, and I didn’t blame them for that, even pre-virus fiasco.
@FrankV we’re already there. This, like other coronaviruses and that nasty bottled urine stuff some fools drink, will be around forever. It will change naturally (already has been) and some will get it and some of those will unfortunately succumb to it, just like what has already happened, minus the horrific overreactions, we hope. Now I’m no microbiologist but I do know how to culture bacteria and plants and such, and I cook my food to safe temperatures. No sushi/sashimi or salmonella for me, thanks! Buy a pellet grill and enjoy juicy chicken and tender steak… We did a 12# brisket this weekend. 12 hours in smoke and another 12 wrapped in towels in ice chest, and it was glorious.
@Doubtful would you prefer “not immune-compromised” then? Because that’s basically what she is saying.
@Cheryl_Stamm I believe this is similar to don’t ask, don’t tell situation. I wouldn’t bring it up at all to any CM or others, and just enjoy your trip. DAS is still in use and available for those with a disability in using the standby queue. But again, I would not mention not being able to take the injections as a reason.
Hey Tom! We are here now, staying at Disney through the 17th. We will be at HS the 14th and curious if you think, just like it happened in other changes, that Disney will softly allow people in the park to start removing masks indoors the night before the official change goes into effect? Crossing our fingers! Thanks!
Hi! Any thoughts on the return of Akershus, Snow White’s Storybook dining and the Spirit of Aloha luau? These are my little daughters favorites! Thanks
Rosegrower, Thanks for the heads up. Have you ever been in the beginning of February? Im hoping the crowds will be minimal and that kids are back in school. Is it faster to drive to drive to Epcot/Hollywood rather than take the skyliner? Thanks
Change of topic :-). I hope this is OK, Tom.
This is a really spectacular series if you have not seen it. Very insightful information on Disney and the roles Disney engineers have played in the evolution of the parks.
https://www.disneyplus.com/series/the-imagineering-story/6ryoXv1e1rWW
“Change of topic :-). I hope this is OK, Tom.”
Absolutely! Please go off topic here, so long as it’s fun or amusing. The Imagineering Story is both of those things, and also incredibly enlightening and balanced. Highly recommended!