Disney will no longer require masks to be worn outdoors at Walt Disney World theme parks

May 15, 2021 in "The Walt Disney Company"

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Posted: Saturday May 15, 2021 9:00pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Disney has moved very quickly to follow the latest CDC and Orange County COVID-19 guidance and will no longer require masks to be worn at Walt Disney World when outdoors.

Masks have been required since the parks reopening in July 2020 but will no longer be required when outdoors

The new policy comes into effect on May 15 2021 at the Disney World theme parks, Walt Disney World Resort hotels and Disney Springs. Masks will still be required at the Disney theme parks when indoors, including when queuing for and riding attractions. Masks will continue to be required on Disney transportation. Physical distancing will also remain in place, with the original 6ft being reduced to 3ft over the coming weeks.

Here is the updated Walt Disney World face mask policy in full effective May 15 2021.

Face coverings are required for all Guests (ages 2 and up) and Cast Members. Please bring your own face coverings and wear them in all indoor locations, except when actively eating or drinking while stationary and maintaining appropriate physical distancing. Face coverings are optional in outdoor common areas at Walt Disney World Resort, but are still required upon entering and throughout all attractions, theaters and transportation.

Face Coverings Required

Upon entering and throughout all attractions
All theaters, including theater entrances
All transportation, including transportation entrances
All indoor locations, including restaurants, except when actively eating or drinking while stationary

Face Coverings Optional

Outdoor common areas
Pool decks

Although masks will now become optional for guests when outdoors, Walt Disney World Cast Members will continue to wear masks both indoors and outdoors.

Earlier today, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings announced that he is lifting the requirement for individuals to wear masks when outdoors after Orange County reached the 50% vaccination level among Orange County residents.

Yesterday, the CDC went even further and said that people who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear masks indoors or outdoors.

Along with the elimination of masks outdoors, Disney is also beginning to reduce physical distancing from 6ft to 3ft, and we are already seeing those changes at several attractions and shows in Walt Disney World.

Festival of the Lion King reopened last week with 6ft physical distancing, that is now reduced to 3ft

This news is a massive boost for Disney as it moves to return the Walt Disney World theme parks to a more normal mode of operation that it has not seen since the parks closed back in mid-March 2020 as the pandemic took hold.

Disney theme parks have been under COVID-19 restrictions since reopening in July 2020

In addition to the changes to the mask requirements, we have also this week seen the removal of a face shield requirement for Cast Members outdoors, and temperature checks being phased out this week for both guests and Cast Members. Also this week the process has begun to once again cover the trash can openings that have remained locked open for the last year to reduce guest contact with surfaces.

Elsewhere, Universal Orlando has earlier announced that it will not require masks outdoors effective May 15 2021.

Discuss on the Forums

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wdwmagicApr 14, 2022

This thread is going to take a break for a while until any changes are announced at Disney in regard to the last remaining mask requirements on transport.

Andrew CApr 14, 2022

If we are talking about WDW, put the blame on the company for keeping this silly rule in place. For airplanes, put the blame on the feds. When people realize stupid rules are in place and have no impact, they are going to be challenged. That’s just human nature and the reality throughout history. On the other end, when rules tend to make sense, people are more receptive. WDWs transportation rule is illogical. The feds 14 day extension of the public transportation rule at this point is the same. Expect more push back. It’s all about appearances than anything else and more and more people will pick up on that.

Chip ChippersonApr 14, 2022

No, you're not following the rules. You're planning the mask version of holding your finger an in from your siblings face and saying, "I'm not touching you!" And for the record, on my recent flights, the message was that masks had to be replaced between bites/sips, so unless you plan on holding g a drink to your mouth for the entire flight then you're not following the rules - but if you do that, please report back and let us know of how that worked out for you during turbulence.

Club CooloholicApr 14, 2022

I already explained it. It slows things down and makes it harder for the employees. And some might not really want to sit for 3 hours on a flight next to a guy sipping coffee the whole time.

Nonsensequitter75Apr 14, 2022

I don’t understand why you’re mad at me.

G00fyDadApr 14, 2022

There. Fixed the stupid. Now, go create ANOTHER account for me to ignore. :rolleyes:

Nonsensequitter75Apr 14, 2022

Thanks for understanding

G00fyDadApr 14, 2022

Okay.

Nonsensequitter75Apr 14, 2022

God bless, but no thank you.

G00fyDadApr 14, 2022

They are flag carriers for the socially inept and the self-important. They have one job here. It's stupid but they're going to do it.

G00fyDadApr 14, 2022

Just go back to your regular account. Please? For everyone.

Nonsensequitter75Apr 14, 2022

What can I say? I’m so lonely at this stage in my life, that the (virtual) company of people who hate me is better than the alternative, which is no company at all.

DisneyCaneApr 14, 2022

Hence why I asked the poster if they were intending to only experience outdoor attractions with outdoor queues. If yes, then I can at least understand their logic. If no, then the obsession about people not masking on transportation doesn't make any sense.