No Vaccine Passports at Disney World or in Florida
We’re back with another roundup of Walt Disney World news & rumors. This one covers a job listing for a fireworks designer, Cast Members’ incentive for getting inoculated, and why vaccine passports will not be used anywhere in Florida. (Updated April 3, 2021 with official vaccine passport ban details.)
Let’s start with fairly significant developments around topics we’ve been discussing the last few months. Florida passed a bill shielding companies that make good faith efforts to public health guidance from pandemic-related lawsuits, while also raising the standard of proof.
During the signing of that bill, Governor DeSantis stated he would issue an executive order banning vaccination passports or other other methods of proving individuals have been vaccinated, citing privacy concerns. He further called for the Florida Legislature to pass a bill making the ban permanent.
April 3, 2021 Update: Governor DeSantis has issued the promised executive order, effectively banning vaccine passports in Florida. Among other things, the EO states that it’s based upon Florida’s desire to protect individual freedom and patient privacy.
The executive order further indicates that requiring vaccine passports for taking part in everyday life–such as attending a sporting event, patronizing a restaurant, or going to a movie theater–would create two classes of citizens based on vaccination; and it is necessary to protect the fundamental rights and privacies of Floridians and the free flow of commerce within the state.
As for the mechanics of how the state accomplish the vaccine passport ban, the order states:
“No Florida government entity, or its subdivisions, agents, or assigns, shall be permitted to issue vaccine passports, vaccine passes, or other standardized documentation for the purpose of certifying an individual’s COVID-19 vaccination status to a third party, or otherwise publish or share any individual’s COVID-19 vaccination record or similar health information.”
Additionally: “Businesses in Florida are prohibited from requiring patrons or customers to provide any documentation certifying COVID-19 vaccination or post-transmission recovery to gain access to, entry upon, or service from the business.”
There had been some question about how Florida could enforce such an order at private businesses. That’s also addressed in the order, as businesses that are non-compliant with the order would not be eligible for state grants or state-funded contracts.
The new executive order seems to slam the door on vaccine passports in Florida. However, it also raises a number of questions, including how cruise lines or airlines would be able to operate out of Florida if those industries or international destinations require proof of vaccination.
That could raise potential issues for travel out of Florida. For example, it may be required of the cruise industry to verify vaccination status. As a company doing business in the state, that would put Disney Cruise Line in a precarious position. It would be something of a Catch-22: they potentially could not operate without requiring vaccinations, but could not check for them under this EO.
It would be a similar scenario for airlines operating out of Florida’s international airports. Numerous countries have set in motion plans for vaccine passports that will be required, and it’s probable the same will be true for international arrivals into the US. The European Union, for example, has announced a “Digital Green Certificate” that will be required for travel.
There’s also the possibility that businesses in Florida already implementing vaccine passport plans will challenge the executive order. All of this will need to be sorted out. It’s possible that subsequent EOs will issue carve-outs that sidestep some potential problems. Suffice to say, we probably haven’t heard the last on vaccine passports in Florida. So stay tuned!
Obviously, this has significant potential impacts for Walt Disney World. We’ve been discussing health rule relaxations for months here, and one counterpoint to that is always the potential for lawsuits. The newly-enacted law should sufficiently address that. (Unless we’re now going to quibble over what’s necessary for good faith efforts.)
Late last year, we covered digital health/vaccine passports being developed by IATA, CLEAR, and IBM that would allow users to share test and vaccination results in a verifiable and privacy-protecting manner. At the time, we speculated that Walt Disney World could be a potential candidate for using such a system. In multiple subsequent posts, we’ve called that unlikely.
In large part, our quick about-face was driven by reader comments. We anticipated a mixed reaction to the first discussion of vaccine passports, with a split of people for and against them. The actual response was overwhelmingly negative–probably 75% or more readers were against them.
One of the things we love about the comments section here is it gets us out of our own “bubble.” We may not always agree, but it’s invaluable to see other perspectives. In this case, I had been reading about vaccine passports extensively before posting that, and the response was overwhelmingly enthusiastic–just scattered privacy fears. However, that was in the context of international travel, where people (probably realistically) have the perspective that it’s this or nothing for 2021.
Walt Disney World and other domestic destinations are obviously different beasts entirely, and that was reflected in sentiment here. That’s not just here–we saw a lot of public pushback against digital passports and there’s a reason they haven’t gained much mainstream traction in the last several months.
Beyond that, the stellar vaccination rate in the United States pretty much obviates any need for a vaccine passport at Walt Disney World. By the time such a system could even theoretically roll out, it would be practically unnecessary thanks to widespread vaccine availability.
The topic of vaccine passports is now seemingly becoming grounds for the next culture war, so I’ll sidestep all of the impassioned arguing (and ask that commenters please do the same) and simply say that Walt Disney World is probably relieved by Florida’s move.
The executive order takes something controversial–that they probably would not have done at this point anyway–out of Walt Disney World’s hands. If visitors disagree with the approach, someone else is the villain.
The fact that Disney Cruise Line will not be requiring vaccinations before their upcoming United Kingdom “Disney Magic at Sea” summer staycation sailings lends credence to the position that Walt Disney World wouldn’t have used vaccine passports. Cruises are dramatically different in nature than theme parks (obviously), and are a better candidate for such a system–or requiring vaccines, in general.
Several cruise lines, most notably Royal Caribbean, are requiring proof of vaccinations for adults and pre-cruise testing for kids on their summer sailings. Disney is actually something of an outlier on that front, and my best guess there is that they don’t want to alienate a segment of their core demographic. Given how well the UK’s vaccine efforts are going and the limited nature of these sailings, it’s not like they’d struggle to fill the ships with such a requirement.
Part of me does wonder if, as with Florida’s move to ban vaccine passports, Disney Cruise Line would welcome this decision being taken out of their hands. The federal government has also stated that it will not develop or play a role in vaccine passports, so that eliminates an offering from the CDC. However, it’s possible CLIA could require something of its members. It’s also possible Disney Cruise Line will go a different route once longer sailings resume; it’s not really possible to have an outbreak aboard a 2-4 night sailing given average incubation periods.
I know by now that this is an unpopular opinion, but that’s my hope with cruises. I’m not the least bit concerned about my personal safety–once fully vaccinated, I will be ready to rock–but rather, the possibility of a cruise ending prematurely (CDC policy under the resumption framework) if something happens. Moreover, I’m not keen on wearing masks or dealing with a bunch of plexiglass on cruise ships this fall when vaccine verification and pre-cruise testing of kids is right there as a more effective and less burdensome alternative. That’s just me, though. We can agree to disagree on that.
On a somewhat related note, Walt Disney World is offering Cast Members an incentive to get inoculated by September 30, 2021. According to the above notice from the Unite Here 362 Walt Disney World Union’s Facebook page, Cast Members will get four hours of pay to get vaccinated.
Additionally, leaders will work with Cast Members on vaccination appointment scheduling, and will not record an attendance notation for Cast Members who miss time at work so long as they provide advance notice of the appointment. This is great news, and hopefully will help facilitate that return to normalcy we’ve been yammering on about so much! 😉
Let’s conclude with a more fun and lighthearted note: my dream job is open at Walt Disney World! Disney Live Entertainment has posted a job listing for Principal Fireworks Designer. This is the creative leader and overall representative for the Fireworks & Special Effects Design department.
Per the job listing, the demands of this role require an in-depth understanding of the “design intent and the ability for realizing it through the effective execution of the creative process.” Disney Live Entertainment’s Fireworks & Special Effects Principal Designer directs all special effects design including pyrotechnics, helping to prioritize, organize, and problem solve during entire course of a project.
Sadly, due to an “unfortunate incident” with fireworks in college, certain undisclosed parties are not allowing me to throw my hat in the ring for this role. (C’mon, it’s been over a decade, the statute of limitations has run on my offense!) There’s also the problem that all of my pyro experience is on the amateur circuit, and mostly relates to roman candles. That, and the reality that Disney Live Entertainment will likely hire from within, and this job listing is more a corporate formality than anything else. Still, dare to dream, amirite?!
What’s interesting here is that the first job responsibility listed is “participate in project’s creative development including blue sky brainstorming, project kick-offs, internal reviews and other project specific check-ins.” This does not relate to Harmonious, which is far beyond the blue sky stage–even though installation is still in progress, development is fully finished on EPCOT’s upcoming nighttime spectacular.
Prior to Walt Disney World’s closure, there were rumors of Magic Kingdom receiving a new fireworks show for the 50th Anniversary. I never put a ton of stock into that, as Happily Ever After is still incredibly popular and scores really well with guests. However, between the “Project Nugget” work and this job listing, perhaps that’s a possibility?
Personally, I’d love to see that. Disneyland’s approach to cycling through fireworks shows the last ~5 years has been really savvy, with fan favorites making occasional comebacks–and enhanced by projection mapping technology. That keeps things fresh and gives locals a reason to keep returning.
Walt Disney World is obviously more tourist-centric, but that’s less true today than it was during Wishes’ run. It would be a nice treat for the World’s Most Magical Celebration to have a special limited-run show paying homage to Magic Kingdom’s 50th Anniversary along the lines of “Celebrate Tokyo Disneyland.”
Importing a show from Japan might seem like idle daydreaming, especially when there are no fireworks, period, at Walt Disney World. However, something to keep in mind is that Walt Disney World’s 50th Anniversary celebration will last (at least) 18 months. A new show debuting in March 2022 could still run for over a year.
Beyond that, a lot of Celebrate Tokyo Disneyland could be recycled since it was designed for Cinderella Castle and the parks share many of the same attractions. Roughly 90% of the show could be reused, with the rest only lightly modified. My only request/demand is that the Country Bears riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad segment is longer in the Magic Kingdom version. Fifteen minutes sounds about right.
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YOUR THOUGHTS
Thoughts on any of this Walt Disney World news? Is it a good or bad idea of Walt Disney World to incentivize inoculations for Cast Members? Do you think it’s still possible Walt Disney World or Disney Cruise Line will use a vaccine passport, or is that idea pretty much dead at this point? Any theories about the fireworks designer job listing or 50th Anniversary fireworks at Magic Kingdom? Do you agree or disagree with our commentary? Any questions we can help you answer? Hearing your feedback–even when you disagree with us–is both interesting to us and helpful to other readers, so please share your thoughts below in the comments!
It’s interesting, but not surprising, that some Americans are so against vaccine passports. One of the things Disneyland is most famous for in my country is its measles outbreak. Disney are obviously playing to the home crowd here.
I do wonder when masks may not be required. Wearing them outside especially seems to be something they could relax soon with vaccine rates as they are and research suggesting the risk of getting infected outside is much lower.
I think Disney’s next move will be to limit mask wearing to strictly indoors before removing the requirement altogether. The question would be gray areas–covered line queues, like Slinky Dog Dash are going to be controversial.
I agree. My hope is by the end of the summer or mid summer they have relaxed. Chapek said in his interview he anticipates SOME type of mask wearing and social distancing through 2021. That doesn’t mean we have to wear it every single second we are there, especially outside. Inside ride queues, restaurants, etc., fine. But, outside, to me, is extreme.
I think mask requirements will be one of the last of the COVID restrictions to be lifted at Disney. Disney’s biggest concern is going to be increasing its capacity as much and as quickly as possible. That’s a lot easier to do with mask rules still in place. I also think there won’t be a partial loosening of mask rules, since the best way to ensure compliance and make it easier for CMs to enforce is keep the rules simple, clear, and consistent. When they lift the mask rules they will lift them completely, not by lifting them for outdoors only first.
Until.vaccines are opened to everyone not anytime soon. Industry says at least another year.k
Thanks Tom. Interesting to see the political developments recently, hopefully that will encourage Disney (and Universal) to be braver. What with this and an article in a UK newspaper at the weekend about advanced negotiations surrounding a travel corridor between the UK and the US, I feel somewhat hopeful that we might be able to visit Florida in a few months. Fingers crossed!
I love living in Florida and I love our Governor. I totally agree with his decision not to have vaccine passports. Disney has been open for months now with no issues and I have gone once a week during that time. I say if you don’t like the rules in Florida and you don’t like the way Florida is run then find some where else to go for your vacation.
I agree. In California we’ve been on lockdown for over a year (killing small businesses and jobs) with the best mask compliance in the country, yet our COVID numbers are not much different than Florida. Which is remarkable considering the very high elderly population & tourism in FL. It’s astonishing to see the people bashing Florida & their Governor (for stupid political tribalism) while also enjoying Disney World vacations & other Florida destinations that are only open because of common sense policies. People need to get a more balanced diet of news that challenges their opinions & sources. They look like fools & hypocrites posting Disney World trip reports, while simultaneously trashing Florida. It’s not based on “science”. Send them to CA where Disneyland has been closed all year.
Although I am someone who plans to get vaccinated as soon as I qualify, I am strongly against a vaccine passport of any kind.
I know Disney might be worried about upsetting a certain portion of their consumers, but I do wonder which cohort is larger: people against vaccine passports or people who are more likely to visit because they are reassured that others around them are low-risk. Count me among the latter.
Genuinely curious, if you’re vaccinated and therefore protected, why would you feel unsafe if others at WDW are not?
Because most Americans believe in their rights. We don’t carry around a travel passport when we travel domestically, we don’t require a passport of all our vaccines, we don’t show ID when we go into a grocery store, you don’t have tonshow ID to vote and medical records are protected by law.
Probably 80-90% of adults will eventually get vaccinated, and this vaccine won’t seem much different from the MMR that is required by many schools now. International travel will require COVID vaccination, as will many occupations and schools. Cruise lines will suffer if they don’t require it. A COVID superspreader event at a WDW park, hotel, or restaurant must be a Disney exec nightmare, and DeSantis has made sure that nightmare will continue to cause sleepless nights.
I think the reality on vaccine passports is just that people opposed are much more likely to feel the need to voice their opinion, with actual percentages being far different. As a result, I’m posting for the first time to say I would strongly support vaccine passports. I would be far more comfortable visiting Disney World were they in use, and I absolutely will not use a cruise line unless they are using them in some form.
A lot of us are just waiting for mask mandates to be gone but are also fine with risk in knowing that vaccines aren’t 100% effective anyway, knowing that, like all of time before, some people vax and some people don’t. There is definitely a mix, but still a majority are pro freedom, regardless of vaxxing.
Absolutely agree. Fully willing to share full medical history if it means myself and others are safe. Really who would give a second thought about my medical history? What are they going to do with it that will affect me? You all need to get rid of your smartphones, normal passports, laptops, smart watches if your concerned about privacy.
Agreed mate, most people complaining about the privacy issue have their phone number, location, place of work and a vast quantity of photos listed publicly on their social media; or some combination there in. Sharing your vaccines isn’t a breach of privacy and reveals no intrusive information – we live in a strange world.
People do know they have to provide vaccination records for their children to enter kindergarten, college, and certain grades in school, right? Leisure travel is different than education but the commentators who would adamantly NEVER share this info. is amusing. Health care systems may share your data too.
Certain employers currently require proof of certain vaccines as well, just sayin.
And don’t forget the often still paper health forms you need to fill out for your children to play sports every season/session or attend camp every year. I’ll stop.
Genuinely curious, if you’re vaccinated and therefore protected, why would you feel unsafe if others at WDW are not?
@ Jeremy The majority of people who go to Disney are families with young kids who aren’t able to get the vaccine yet. While it is true that kids aren’t as likely to get COVID, or have serious cases, when kids do get a serious case there have been some pretty frightening symptoms that could effect them for the rest of their lives. Many parents don’t want to take that risk, especially if there are a lot of adults who refuse to get the vaccine despite being able to get it.
I don’t think this is a situation where people are not willing to share information. As stated by several on this thread, people share a lot of stuff online all the time. But a vaccine passport is not comparable to that in that your travel, and ability to go places becomes managed by the government. They will be able to stop you from leaving the state, boarding a plane, entering a park, or maybe even a grocery store because your vaccine is not up to date. A big NO to any form of this. Especially for a virus with a 98%+ survival rate.
@kenR your ability to travel is already controlled by the government, not just your government but every government worldwide. That’s the purpose of border control and you can be refused entry for literally any reason that country deems fit.
Vaccine passports will only stop people who don’t want to be vaccinated from doing things which are a privilege, they will not limit who can’t be vaccinated. Honestly it’s a no brainier. Do I want to protect people who are immune compromised? Yes. Do I want them to feel safe when they visit other locations? Yes. Then I will get the vaccine and support vaccine passports.
Another great article Tom! So very interesting and informative. I wish more states handled things like Florida. A great example of a safe practical approach. Can’t wait to come back for the 3rd time since they reopened!!
Add another reader to the no passport list. I have to say I agree with you Tom, I feel the tide is turning and tolerance for the temporary abnormal is waning. And if people are already pushing back on masks and such, then acceptance of a vaccine passport isn’t likely to be widely popular either…
Agree with you on vaccine passports for cruises for exactly the same reason – I want the chance that my cruise vacation gets cut short by a Covid outbreak of ship to be as low as possible.
Tom, you need to hold out for the Country Bear PR Manager position when it comes available. You’d be great at it. I’m going to captain a boat on the Seven Seas Lagoon someday. After I learn to drive on of course.
Thanks for info on WDW. So good that the passports won’t be a thing. Not wanting to stir any debates, but wanted you to know here is one more reader absolutely against it. Your 75% estimate can keep climbing!
I’m glad they won’t be requiring vaccine passports!!! My body my choice!!! That’s just one more major way of the government owning/controlling us!! Wish all governor’s would take stand governor Desantis has taken.
Very glad to hear vaccine passports won’t be factoring into WDW’s return to normalcy! As someone who has no intention of receiving the vaccine its good to know that WDW will be a viable vacation spot.
Please don’t think people who reply to your posts are a representative sample of anything. Including opinions on vaccine passports.
For example, I’ve been “voicing” my opinion on DeSantis’ policies by making no plans to visit Florida and thus spending less time on sites and blogs like this one, so I wouldn’t even see a discussion about WDW and vaccine passports, let alone take the time to post how much I dis/agree with an opinion about them.
I love pyro, so thanks for the behind the scenes info on what a park looks for in a pyro master.
Comments here definitely aren’t representative of the general public, but the type of concerns raised here are a window into the nature of the controversy. There definitely was public pushback, and a few companies (TicketMaster, in particular, comes to mind) walked back statements about their intent to use such systems.
We are a representative sample of people who love WDW and most things Disney. We are not representative of those who would be negative towards or belittle other human beings opinions.
You can still get that job, I know for a fact. My uncle accidentally started three (3) forest fires but now he’s a stunt coordinator for Michael Bay. He doesn’t even have eyebrows anymore and STILL aced the interview.
I want to get the vaccine passport so I can prove I am 95% invincible (the ladies love this). Also because the CDC card doesn’t fit in a wallet. I mean, what is WITH the size of that? I can’t be the only one furious they didn’t go with the business card stock.
You’re supposed to wear the CDC card at all times in a lanyard around your neck. Everyone knows that. (Bonus points if you adorn it with your finest pins paying tribute to extinct DCA classics, Superstar Limo and ABC Soap Opera Bistro.)
Oh man, you got to go on Superstar Limo? I wish I had gone on that so bad, but I didn’t have a pass during that three months it was open. It looks like it was…..mind-boggling.
Sadly, no. I have, however, become overly obsessed with various elements of DCA 1.0 that we missed, with Superstar Limo being a prime example. I’m sure it was absolutely atrocious, but I would’ve loved to experience it.
Still hilarious how they repurposed so many celebs as CDA members.
“Country Bears riding Big Thunder Mountain Railroad…” ummm, what? I feel like I’m missing something big. I’ve been a County Bear Jamboree fan since I was a kid at Disneyland. Tell me more!
Here’s the full scene–it’s amazing: https://www.facebook.com/watch/?v=2185915324769755
Forget that job. Roman candles!!! You’ll put your eye out.
Sarah, is that you? 😉
As the survivor of many many years of family July 4th firework shows while camping on the beach in Mexico, including one year when there may have been a small roman candle “war” between several of my cousins that involved them aiming them at each other from opposite sides of the beach (and subsequently over the heads of some pretty unhappy family members viewing the show) I feel I’m qualified to say apply for that job now Tom and give them the gift of your vast knowledge!! Your loyal readers have faith in you that you’d design one heck of an amazing show! 😀
I am also totally against any vaccination “passports”. I see the slippery slope of a two-tiered society. Medical decisions about treatment and/or What we choose to introduce into our bodies Is a personal private decision.
I’m about 27 years removed from an incident with homemade fireworks, and one of my childhood friends hasn’t let me live it down. Civil statutes are different, right?