Is Disney World closer to dropping the indoor mask policy?
New recommendations from the CDC indicate great news for the state of Florida. Is Disney World closer to dropping the indoor mask policy?
Face Mask Policy
For many months, the mask policy at Disney World was simple: everyone must wear a mask at all times unless you are eating, drinking, swimming, or in your hotel room. Back in April, we finally saw this policy relax with Disney allowing Guests to remove their masks while taking an outdoor photo.
Along with changes to the Guest face mask policy in June, coverings also became optional for vaccinated Cast Members in all indoor and outdoor locations. It was a welcome respite from the summer heat.
Unfortunately, the state of Florida experienced a surge in cases in late July and August, prompting Disney World to require them again in indoor areas.
The policy has remained the same for the last few months, but a new policy affecting Cast Members recently went into effect. Not only that, but the state of emergency in Orange County expired. This left us to wonder if Disney would be following their guidance.
New guidance
Disney has been following local officials versus national leaders and the CDC. It's been over two weeks since the state of emergency ended. Still, no changes to the guest policy have been made. All guests are required to wear masks indoors.
Orange County now falls under the moderate category according to the CDC. When that happens, the CDC recommends only unvaccinated people should wear a mask in public indoor spaces. According to the CDC, it is not necessary for vaccinated people to wear a mask.
Here is a look at the recent data:
As of November 15, 2021 there are 518 cases with a case rate of 37.17 per 100k. That equals a 2.48% positivity rate. Anything under 5% is considered good!
So, will Disney drop the masks?
However, that does not necessarily mean Disney is closer to dropping the mask policy. With indoor character meets returning and the cold winter months approaching, Disney may continue to require everyone to wear a mask regardless of vaccination status.
I (Monica) predict Disney will be much more cautious with the face coverings given the flip flop they did this summer. It's possible they may wait until this spring to see how numbers look.
What are your thoughts? Is Disney closer to dropping the mandate or will masks be around for a while longer? Join the conversation in the comments below and on Facebook.
AMEN!
When Disney drops ALL the Covid requirements, I will return. Until then, I will spend my entertainment dollars elsewhere. I won't wear my mask...or my star!
Thank you. I still have to be counted as disabled in some places because I can't wear one. I'm sick and tired of it and it seems ridiculous and unnecessary to continue these policies nowadays
I truly believe that any company that still requires this always will. Nothing will ever be good enough for them to drop the requirement. Unless people stop going in droves, which is unlikely, the policy will be forever. That does not mean I support the policy. I truly believe that a major driving force in transmission is self infection with people wearing them. Not breathing normally, excessively touching your face, and reusing disgusting masks (not to mention them being thrown on the ground). If we want the shot to have any significance beyond the basic health benefit, we should try to normalize things to how they used to be, at least for people who have gotten the shot, if not everyone. After all, that was a major driving force in its development. Many companies and areas have already done so. But those who stick to ultra strict policies always will, I believe
Unless it’s a well fitted N95 mask which is helpful, the rest are a waste of time. This has been proven time and time again
Also remember both masks and vaccines do nothing to prevent the spread. Let everyone assess and take their own risks like we did prior to 2020.
Just remember that people come from ALL OVER THE WORLD to the theme parks in Florida. You are taking one heck of a risk not getting the shots and not wearing the masks. Read the news, folks. This is contagious and extremely dangerous times we live in.
Look at numbers-masked states are no better off than unmasked. Spanish flu ended in 2 years without all this political bs.This is asanine. I haven't rescheduled a trip from May 2020 bc we're waiting to go maskless. 2 of us in my family have asthma and cannot tolerate the masks, and I am not interested in spending thousands of dollars to be miserable and compliant to tyranny. Much longer, and my kids will be too old to even care to go back.
drop the masks. Pictures are useless in indoors. Spend all that money to come and pictures are ruined because of the masks.
Drop the masks, Disney is the only theme park requiring it in Florida. Enough is enough, people know the risks of stepping outside of their home, now quit making people wearing dirty face diapers.
I don’t know if Disney thinks it is saving all of Florida with its useless mask mandate when it’s pretty much the only game in town forcing it on people. They threw the masks on us last-minute in august and it was MISERABLE. We have since discovered US and really have little desire to return to Disney and its mask tyranny. Cases are deaths have been down for months with no mask mandates in schools nor businesses … muzzles are useless. Look up “bexar county mask study” or better yet, check Florida schools Covid numbers when it was mask-mandated verses optional-masking in schools. The numbers don’t lie.
Noooo it’s related to a virus that is waning and early treatment options being made available in the state. Many vaxxed states are dealing with increased “cases.”
-RN
Drop the mandate. Period. Wear one if you want to, don't wear one if don't want to. Unless you're wearing a clean N95, chances are you're doing more bad (to your health) than good... but again, cover your face if it makes you feel better. Just stop requiring/expecting others to. Vaccines are available. It's been almost 2 years. Enough is enough. For our family, no more money goes to Disney, until they drop the mandates.
While I will agree the mask may help, the main reason cases are down is due to people getting vaccinated.
Time to drop the mask!
Time to get rid of it! I'd rather show my vaccine card. We went in September and that was one of reasons we didn't stay on site, our off-site hotel did not require indoor masking. We didn't do as much shopping as we normally would have because even with the AC on it was still too warm with the mask on inside. They ruin pictures, no one wants vacation memories with just your eyes showing. At this point the doctor's office is the only place that should still be requiring masks.
The great thing about masks is that you can wear one if you feel the need to. Unless you are wearing an genuine N95 masks they are pretty useless
Wow so many nonmaskers! The reason the cases are so low is because of the masks. Every time they drop the mask mandate cases go up. I for one am glad they have it indoors. They should have never required it outdoors. Thats just crazy!
The masks are as useless as Bob Paychek!
The mask requirement needs to be dropped, permanently. Such a farce and leads to a less than magical experience.
It's beyond time to drop the mask mandate. Every survey Disney sends me I tell them they are the only theme park to still require them & if they want to continue to get my business, they really need to drop it. Make it optional
Drop it now or we’re not renewing our annual passes. We’re ready to become Universal annual pass holders. Disney is becoming ridiculous with the policy mandates and the money grabs. Our family is over it.
Drop the mandate. If you want to wear it by all means wear it. This should be a personal decision
I agree. Disney needs to drop the indoor mask requirement. We were in Disney in October for 2 weeks and it was a pain mask on mask off and the mask police were all over it. We are flying back in March for 2 weeks if the requirement has not been dropped we are canceling this trip. I am over it!
They need to drop the mask policy immediately. Anyone who wants to wear one still can. Let the rest of us go free.
They definitely should Time to get back to normal!
They have until our AP renewal date to drop it, or they're losing our business. There are many other APs that feel the same way. Why pay tons of money to be treated like dirt when Universal and Seaworld are much cheaper and don't force guests to follow guidance that isn't even supported by science anymore? Disney needs to get with the program and out of politics before they lose all their fans.
I really hope they drop the mask policy by Thanksgiving weekend. I can't see purchasing Memory Maker if all our indoor pics show us with masks on.