Now that Disney World has reopened, we’ve been combing through the parks to collect all the brand new tips you need to know!
In order to enter the parks, all guests ages two and older are required to wear an appropriate face covering. So, since nearly everyone who enters Disney World will need to wear a face mask, we figured this is a pretty important topic to cover!
And while wearing a face mask in Disney World definitely takes some getting used to, it’s not unbearable — especially if you do it right! So, here are our top tips for wearing a face mask in the parks!
Bring Several Different Types of Masks
We’ve found that it’s important to have extra masks for each day — between the rain, humidity, and sweat, ours always seem to end up wet after a few hours! But we’ve also found that it’s helpful to have several different KINDS of masks — meaning different style, material, and fit!
That way, if one particular type of mask starts to rub in an uncomfortable way, we can swap it out with a completely different mask that fits different. In fact, we’ve even found it helpful to change into a new mask mid-day, regardless of whether our first mask has started to feel worn-in!
Did you know that you can get a Disney Food Blog face mask?? Check them out here!
Mask Thickness and Material Make a Difference for Comfort
We’ve worn a wide variety of masks around Disney World, and we’ve found certain materials are more comfortable for us. But this largely seems to be a matter of personal preference, so we suggest trying out masks made of different materials to see what you find most comfortable!
It’s helpful to test out your masks before your vacation so you can get a feel for how they will wear after spending some significant time in them. Try to go for a walk outside to see how comfortable they are while you’re active!
Here are three things that surprised us at the Disney World Annual Passholder preview!
If You Have Long Hair, Bring Clips to Secure Your Mask on Thrill Rides
This tip won’t work for everyone, but if you do have long hair, this can be super helpful! If you’re worried about losing your mask on one of the high-speed thrill rides, pack hair clips to secure the ear loops of your mask to your hair!
We tested this out on Expedition Everest, and it worked like a charm — even when the coaster zipped backward through the mountain!
Check out our LIVE coverage from the reopening of Animal Kingdom!
Plan a Sit-Down Meal Mid-Day
Guests are required to wear masks in the parks at all times — except when eating or drinking. Guests may remove their masks when seated at a restaurant, as long as they remain at their table.
By planning a sit-down meal mid-day, you can create a built-in break for your family where you can get out of the heat, remove your masks, and relax.
These are the restaurants that are reopening with each of the Disney World parks!
Find Out Where the Relaxation Stations Are Located
So, what happens if you REALLY need a break outside of mealtime? Guests will find “relaxation stations” at each of the parks. These are designated areas where guests can remove their masks while maintaining distance from other parties. These spots can be a HUGE help for giving the kiddos (or you!) a much-needed break!
Find out where the relaxation stations are located in the park you’re visiting so you know where you can go if you need to spend a few minutes without your mask!
Here’s where the “relaxation stations” are located in the reopened Disney World parks!
Take Care of Your Lips!
While wearing a mask in Disney World, we’ve found that our lips tend to get chapped pretty quickly. So, be sure to pack lip balm in your park bag! And if you wear makeup, you’ll also want to bring lipstick and a compact for touch-ups!
So, even if these aren’t items that previously made their way into your park bag, we’d suggest adding them on your next trip!
You won’t believe how low the wait times were on Animal Kingdom’s reopening day!
Make Sure You’re Drinking Plenty of Water
With the heat, humidity, and amount of walking involved in a trip to Disney World, dehydration can sneak up on you fast! And even though guests are allowed to move their masks to take a drink, we’ve found that we’ve been drinking water less frequently while wearing our masks.
We were pretty surprised at how easily we just forgot our normal water breaks with our mask on! So, make sure you’re staying hydrated and drinking enough water in the parks! You might even want to set an alarm on your watch or phone as a reminder to stop and take a sip!
Here’s how you can get water in the reopened Disney World parks!
Be Diligent About Applying Sunscreen to Your Face!
Just like staying hydrated, protecting your skin is always important. Make sure you don’t forget to apply sunscreen to your face just because you’re wearing a mask! We opt for a sunscreen with a high SPF for extra protection!
And reapplying throughout the day is also important — trust us, we’ve ended up with some interesting face mask tan lines!
Most people who are booking their Disney World trips right now don’t know THIS!
So, while wearing a face mask in Disney World is definitely a different experience than we’re used to, we’ve found ways to make it easier for ourselves! We hope these tips are helpful to you on your next trip to the parks!
Here are 10 new Disney World tips we never thought we’d have to share!
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Have you been back to Disney World since the reopening? Share your face mask tips in the comments!
Don Curren says
The best relaxation station is the Big Top Tent in Fantasyland , midday Saturday it was ice cold inside and very few people around!
Richard Scott says
Thanks for the tips! Can you verify whether “gaitors” can be worn as masks? I heard they were not but that doesn’t seem to make sense and those were what we bought for our upcoming trip. Thanks.
DFB Sarah says
Richard, Disney updated its language recently to say gaiters are NOT acceptable.
Annie says
Plan breaks at the relaxation stations the same way you would plan to do a certain ride/attraction. Today is our last day of 10 at WDW and the relaxation stations have been key to our enjoyment, especially for the kids. They need time to reset.
Jason Randall says
I’ve been loving the on-site posts this week!
Any chance we could get some ‘how to do each park in one day with the new hours’ videos?
Really curious how to maximize our trip at the end of the month! 🙂
SML says
Gaitors are not accepted, and for good reason. They are single layer and allow for too much air through. I think I read it was almost an 80-90% passage of air. When someone sneezes with one of these on, there is basically no restriction on flow. WDW requires at least 2 layer cloth masks.