Masks No Longer Required Outside in Walt Disney World

Posted on by Mathew Corn Animal Kingdom, Disney Dining, Disney Parks, Disney Resorts, Epcot, Hollywood Studios, Magic Kingdom

Breaking News! Starting today, May 15th, 2021 there will be new face masks rules in Walt Disney World! Following more information from the CDC this week regarding vaccinated people not needing to wear masks, Disney has started to make adjustments to their safety procedures and this is the newest one that has surprised us all.

Disney’s website has posted this new chart that outlines the updated requirements when it comes to masks throughout the Walt Disney World Property. The biggest change is that masks are no longer required in outdoor common areas or pool decks.

Guests will still be required to wear a mask in areas such as transportation, attractions, and indoor locations per CDC suggestions and guidelines.

For full details on the requirements and expectations from Disney, visit their Know Before You Go for complete details and explainations.

Disney+ Surpasses 103.6 Million Subscribers

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney+

By the end of March, Disney+ had reached 103.6 million subscribers. The streaming service had surpassed 100 million earlier this year.

Disney+ gained 8.7 million global customers during the first quarter, even as it approached its first price increase on March 26. During this quarter, both of Marvel’s first shows on the platform, WandaVision and The Falcon and the Winter Soldier, debuted.

In December, Disney predicted that Disney+ would reach between 230 million and 260 million subscribers by September 2024.

Walt Disney World Has Already Increased and Will Increase Theme Park Capacity Even More

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Walt Disney World has already started to raise theme park capacity according to Disney CEO Bob Chapek, and they will continue to do so given today’s new guidance from the CDC.

The last we had heard, the theme parks were at 35% capacity, but according to Chapek, this changed at some point to an undisclosed higher percentage.

In terms of the parks, and when we’re going to sort of be able to raise our capacity limits, we’ve actually already started that. Given the guidance that just came today, from the CDC, and earlier guidance that we got from the governor of Florida, we’ve already started to increase our capacities.

So I think you’re going to see an immediate increase in the number of folks that were able to admit into our parks through our reservation systems that we recently implemented. So we’re very, very excited about that.

Bob Chapek, CEO, The Walt Disney Company

Given yesterday’s announcements by the CDC regarding vaccinated people and their reduced need for masks both indoors and outdoors, Chapek stated that guests will “see an immediate increase” in park pass reservation availability at Walt Disney World, as the theme park capacity will be raised even more.

Exactly what “immediate increase” means remains to be seen, but at some point soon at least, we expect to see the parks to be filled with many more guests.

CEO Bob Chapek Hints at Summer for Changes to Walt Disney World Mask Policy

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Earlier today, in the Q2 earnings call for The Walt Disney Company, CEO Bob Chapek hinted at an impending reduction or elimination of the current face mask requirements. Today’s announcement by the CDC that fully vaccinated people can be maskless outdoors and in non-crowded indoor locations was “very big news for us,” Chapek said.

This evening, Chapek specifically hinted at a change occurring this summer. “There will be a lot more comfortable people this summer in Orlando,” he told CNBC in a televised interview.

This statement doesn’t give an exact timeframe for the reduction or removal of the mask policy, but with summer approaching rapidly, we can expect to hear more from Disney soon. The current policy requires face coverings for all guests age 2 and up regardless of vaccination status. Guests may remove face coverings only when actively eating, drinking, swimming, or taking an outdoor photo as long as appropriate physical distancing is maintained.

Walt Disney World has already begun to alter their COVID-19 policies. Temperature checks will be removed by May 16th and physical distancing measures will be reduced or removed in select locations in the upcoming weeks.

80% of Cast Members Recalled Have Returned to Jobs at Disney Parks

Posted on by Mathew Corn Disney Parks

Alongside the news that capacity at Walt Disney World has already been increased from 35% and will be increased again “immediately,” CEO Bob Chapek brought up the return of Cast Members to the parks.

In an interview with CNBC, Chapek said, “80% of the Cast Members, that we called back who unfortunately we had to furlough,” showed a “willingness and zealotry” to bring magic back to the parks.

Since the parks’ closure for the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020, more than 32,000 Cast Members were laid off or furloughed. Many struggled with unemployment and relied on local food banks for support. Furloughs continued to be extended even after Walt Disney World Resort reopened in July 2020.

Disneyland Resort didn’t reopen until last month, but Cast Member recalls will likely continue when California allows for increased capacity at theme parks.

Walt Disney World President Jeff Vahle said that Cast Members would be “at the heart” of the upcoming 50th anniversary of the resort. That statement was released shortly after another round of layoffs and came under critique on Twitter. The return of many Cast Members may help back up that promise.