Disney has recently updated its face-covering policy for guests visiting Walt Disney World.
Here is the full statement updated on Walt Disney World’s website:
Face coverings are optional for Guests in both outdoor and indoor locations, as well as Disney transportation. It is recommended Guests who are not fully vaccinated continue wearing face coverings in all indoor locations, including indoor attractions and theaters and on enclosed transportation.
Please note, face coverings are not permitted while experiencing water slides or in the water.
As previously shared, Walt Disney World Resort has announced they will no longer be requiring masks for vaccinated Guests indoors beginning February 17, 2022. Disneyland Resort followed the Disney World announcement with a face cover policy change as well. But, don’t throw away those masks just yet!
Disney has announced that despite masks no longer being required indoors, including enclosed locations such as Twilight Zone Tower of Terror‘s elevator or Mission: SPACE‘s closed-off rockets, they are still requiring face coverings on Disney buses, the Monorail, as well as the Disney Skyliner.
Disney’s official face-covering policy beginning February 17, 2022, reads: Face coverings will still be required by all Guests (ages 2 and up) on enclosed Disney transportation, including Disney buses, monorails, and Disney Skyliner.
So, why has Disney dropped masks from ALL indoor locations including up-close attraction experiences… but not on Disney transportation? Well, you can thank the President and the TSA.
The most recent statement regarding face masks via the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) dates back to December 2, 2021, when the President’s order was made to extend the face mask requirement on transportation. The statement reads as follows:
Following the President’s order and announcement regarding efforts to combat the Omicron variant, TSA, in conjunction with the CDC, will extend the face mask requirement for individuals across all transportation networks throughout the United States, including at airports, onboard commercial aircraft, on over-the-road buses, and on commuter bus and rail systems through March 18, 2022.
TSA Administrator David Pekoske has said frequently the combination of vaccinations and face masks work and are highly effective in terms of slowing the spread of the virus in the transportation system, and they make travel safer for everyone. More details about the extension will be available soon.
Did you catch the keywords in the statement? Commuter bus and rail systems. This would include commuter bus and rail systems on Walt Disney World and Disneyland property which is likely the primary reason Disney hasn’t pulled the mask policy away from its transportation options just yet.
We’re curious to see when March 18, 2022 rolls around next month if Disney will finally have the option to drop masks on its transportation outlets. Even more so, makes us wonder if Disney could then start looking at the return of its pre-COVID Minnie Van service.
The only form of Disney transportation NOT listed on the new face mask policy beginning February 17, 2022, is the Tram system which returned to Magic Kingdom December 2021 and will return this month at Disneyland Resort. The Tram is not enclosed making it the sole Disney transportation mask exception.
We’ll mark our calendars as maybe come March 19, 2022, Disney will announce the retirement of masks throughout ALL of its property… including Disney transportation.
BIG news coming out of Walt Disney World Resort today, February 15, 2022. Disney has updated its website to announce face coverings will now be optional in almost all parts of the Disney Parks and Resorts.
As COVID cases in Orange Country and Central Florida decline, Disney has reevaluated its face-covering policy. The news comes on the heels of last week’s announcement that Disney World’s neighboring theme park competitor, Universal Orlando Resort has dropped its face mask policy.
Now, it looks like Walt Disney World Resort is following suit! According to Walt Disney World: Beginning February 17, 2022, Face coverings will be optional for fully vaccinated Guests in both outdoor and indoor locations. We expect Guests who are not fully vaccinated to continue wearing face coverings in all indoor locations, including indoor attractions and theaters. Face coverings will still be required by all Guests (ages 2 and up) on enclosed Disney transportation, including Disney buses, monorails, and Disney Skyliner.
Take close notice that if you plan to use Disney transportation, you will still need a mask on hand as Disney noted Disney buses, monorail, and the Disney Skyliner will still require Guests to wear masks.
While the new policy states that face coverings will be optional for fully vaccinated Guests, Disney will not be checking vaccination records of Disney Guests.
Through Wednesday, February 16, 2022, Guests visiting the Disney property will still be required to use face coverings and follow along with the current policy which states, “Face coverings are required for all Guests (ages 2 and up) in all indoor locations, regardless of vaccination status. This includes upon entering and throughout all indoor attractions and indoor queues and in Disney buses, monorail, and Disney Skyliner, regardless of vaccination status. Face coverings are optional for Guests in outdoor areas.”
The most interesting part of this face-covering adjustment is that while Walt Disney World is dropping its face mask requirement throughout most of its property, Hong Kong Disneyland Park still remains closed due to COVID through February 23.
As Walt Disney World continues to review CDC and local health official guidelines, they are continuously making updates to their COVID policies. A recent update to Disney’s face coverings policy no longer requires masks in outdoor theaters.
When Disney first announced they are no longer requiring masks outdoors, the below table was provided to help guests understand where face coverings were required and where they are optional. You’ll note the portion that states “All theaters, including theater entrance”.
Now, you’ll see the website chart has been updated as shown in the screenshot below which states “All indoor theaters, including theater entrances”.
Currently, there are two outdoor theaters including the Feathered Friends in Flight show at Disney’s Animal Kingdom and the American Gardens Theater in EPCOT.
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.
