Now that all four Disney World theme parks are open this weekend for the first time since the closures, you might be wondering if guests are complying with Disney World’s mandatory face mask rule.
Magic Kingdom
We’ve been very concerned with making sure our own masks have been nice and snug since the parks reopened — even doubling up our masks when entering more enclosed queue areas, the monorail, or indoor rides. But we’re getting lots of questions from readers about how the whole mask compliance thing is progressing — and how Disney World’s staff is addressing the issue when folks AREN’T following the rules!
Disney World can provide a much-needed escape from reality under normal circumstances, but these are unprecedented times. The global health crisis is still prevalent — especially in Florida — and our safety is impacted by the people around us. That’s why Disney has enforced a strict mandated face mask policy, requiring all Cast Members and guests over the age of 2 to wear one at all times.
Main Street, U.S.A.
They’ve even formed a new squad of Health and Safety Cast Members to ensure guests are following the rules. These Cast Members can be identified by their bright yellow shirts and are stationed at various locations throughout the parks.
Guest Relations Cast Member
There are plenty of additional Cast Members monitoring the crowds of guests as well.
Are Guests Compliant?
So far, guests seem to be doing a really good job following the new face mask rule. But the issue we’ve encountered most prominently has been people not wearing their face masks correctly. It’s that “pulling your mask down below your nose” problem. This happens ALL. THE. TIME. Especially toward the end of the day when people are tired and flagging…and when there aren’t any Cast Members around to reprimand them.
Maybe they think the mask is still effective since it’s covering their mouth? But, no — the whole point of a mask is making sure it covers both your nose and mouth…because you breathe out of both…and you can expel germs out of both — so it’s significantly less effective when your nose is free and clear.
Cast Members on Main Street, U.S.A.
When we’ve seen this problem occur, we usually will eventually see a Cast Member ask the guest to fix their mask, and it hasn’t become a larger issue.
So what if a guest flat out refuses to wear their mask? We asked a few Cast Members what sort of training they’ve received and they said it’s really a case-by-case scenario. Ultimately, their goal is to have the guest wear a mask, but if the guest is being stubborn, they’ll be asked to leave. It’s uncommon for a guest to become belligerent, but it happens from time to time.
Line for Slinky Dog Dash
Social Distancing Protocol and Enforcement
The larger issue for Cast Members now, however, is addressing clusters of guests who are not social distancing. Cast Members are responsible for separating these larger groups of guests when they spot them. We’ve personally witnessed some clusters being “broken up” by Cast Members while inside Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge but to us, it seems like stricter limitations in this land might need to be enforced.
Crowds Near Galaxy’s Edge’s Entrance
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The unique footprint and flow of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge can be disorienting for guests and it certainly has a lot of pinch points. And the foot traffic for two of the park’s most-popular rides (Rise of the Resistance and Millennium Falcon: Smugglers Run) is adding to the strain on this rather cramped area of the park.
Galaxy’s Egde
PhotoPass Protocol and Enforcement
We think it’s also interesting to note Disney World will not issue guests their PhotoPass images if they appear to have removed their face masks. Even when taking pictures, all guests need to keep their face masks securely fastened to their faces…not their chins.
And this is true for both PhotoPass pictures in the parks and on rides. If you take your mask off during a PhotoPass enabled attraction, you may not be able to access your photo.
Mask Protocol While Eating and Drinking, and Enforcement
And you might ask if you can still eat and drink while walking around a newly reopened Disney World theme park, especially since a Taste of EPCOT International Food and Wine Festival is currently underway.
Normally, guests can stroll around the World Showcase — and other areas of Disney World’s parks — while enjoying a snack or a drink. The week after the parks reopened, Disney instituted a rule that guests may remove their masks to eat or drink when in a stationary and socially distanced position, so find a spot to pull over when you want a sip of your Mexico margarita.
Face Covering Signs
Extra tables have been provided at the Food and Wine Festival this year to encourage guests NOT to walk around while eating and drinking. We’ve confirmed with a General Manager Cast Members guests are allowed to remove their face coverings when standing at one of these socially distanced tables.
Tables
Removing your mask at a relaxation station, or while seated and dining at a quick service or table service restaurant is also acceptable. Otherwise, your mask must stay on while you munch and sip if your body’s in motion!
Learn more about Disney World’s mask-free relaxation stations here!
Overall, compliance with the new rules in Disney World is relatively high; and Disney World has Cast Members trained to remind guests to follow the social distancing and mask-wearing requirements.
But it remains to be seen what will happen once the new rules aren’t novel any longer. Compliance can break down toward the end of the day when there aren’t as many other guests — or Cast Members — around in certain areas of the parks and in Disney Springs. So we’ll continue to keep an eye on the situation and report back to you!
Is Disney World safe right now and should you even go? Read our answer here.
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Would you feel comfortable visiting Disney World right now? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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I saw the free range nose issue at Disney Springs tonight and no one from Disney was saying anything too them which is concerning. I also saw 2 different people with their mask dangling off of one ear while they talked to someone on speakerphone 🤷♀️ Is this a new trend?
We’ve been very concerned with making sure our own masks have been nice and snug since the parks reopened — even doubling up our masks when entering more enclosed queue areas => I guess you’re not asthmatic then.
That golden hour shot of Mains Street USA, is gorgeous, the lighting is absolutely perfect!
Masks are not proven to prevent the spread of *any* virus (including flu), must less the smaller coronavirus. Studies that state masks do work are suspect, because they include social distancing (which does work, but cannot and should not be enforced). If you are worried about CO-VID 19, I do not recommend a Disney trip.
I definitely would not be going into Hollywood Studios from the videos I’ve seen. The bottleneck at all gate entrances as well definitely give me pause … I think if you’re outside and masked, your chances of contracting this virus seem to be very low, but with parks pretty much only having one way in and out (with the exception of Epcot’s World Showcase), that’s still an awful lot of exposure to a lottttt of people, even if it a short amount of time and outside/masked. I would probably double mask, too.
I think Disney has done a great job with their policies and if the numbers were lower, I wouldn’t have a huge problem with considering a vacation! But with the rates skyrocketing and seeing how some crowds are congregating … I think I’ll just plan on seeing if a viable vaccine is forthcoming. My hope is I can still make my annual birthday trip in February, but if the numbers are like they are now, it may just wait. 🙂
We’re going in November, God willing, and it does bother me to have to wear masks for all the pictures. Yes, I suppose you can see smiles in one’s eyes, but to really grasp the excitement on rides will definitely be different.
There simply aren’t enough cast member “enforcers.” I’ve been to MK 3 times since the reopening and once you leave the hub you don’t see any enforcement. I saw plenty of “nosers” and even a few pulled all the way down. I never once (in at least 2 hours per visit) saw a cast member with a yellow shirt beyond the hub.
Wearing a mask stinks! The sooner this is over the better!!!
No, I won’t be going to Disney anytime soon. We’ll all see what happens in a few weeks. I would pay the regular ticket price with so many events gone, i.e. parades, shows, fireworks, but to each his own..
Only time I would ever wear a face mask willingly over my nose was if I saw a “yellow shirt.” Once I was out of sight, you know that masked is being pulled under the nose.
RIdiculous. I should be able to walk and drink at the same time – I’ve been doing that since I learned to walk. And pulling down your mask just long enough to take a sip or a bite won’t hurt anyone.
Disney needs to look at what Universal is doing about people who CANNOT wear face masks for medical reasons – give those people special wristbands and let them go about their business. If you are outside and social distancing, everyone will be OK.
Kevin, I have asthma. I have no issues wearing a mask when I’m out in public.
Even if I did, and I couldn’t do so for extended periods of time, and I couldn’t do so properly, I would not want to be taking a trip to Walt Disney World. This isn’t a quick trip to the supermarket, or grabbing some takeout from a local restaurant. It’s not essential, and it’s either they take precautions or they don’t open for anyone at all.
Why do we have relaxation zones and mask squads if mask are so comfortable? Why is it ok to take off the mask when standing at a table but not when walking or standing away from a table. Why not require children under 2 to wear a mask? Does the virus know how old a child is? These rules are stupid and do nothing useful. Mask do not prevent anything except having an enjoyable vacation.
This showcases my one frustration with DFB. Especially now, information is changing rapidly and by not dating these posts, it is often unclear whether the information has already gone out of use or not.
I heard a doctor today say – imagine covid19 as a BB and your mask as a chain link fence – the mask can’t stop the virus because of how small the virus particles are.
How does the virus know to stay out of the relaxation zones? Likewise how does it know when your mask is down to eat or drink vs down for any other reason. It’s a very smart virus. It even knows what age your kids are.
I disagreed with the no gaithers face mask covering my son has a large full beard and the normal masks do not fit him well, the gaither that he has fits him quite comfortable and covers more than the paper masks or any other masks he attempts to use, plus it seals his face better top to bottom and side to side since it wraps around his whole head.
Let’s be totally factual here, OK! Face masks are not a 100% barrier to viruses, even if a mask blocked a droplet containing virus particles, your eyes are exposed and are a ready pathway into your body. SAFE, Hardly, just getting tired of all this Safety Promotion, Which it is NOT!
I wear a mask here in Ohio because I figure it can’t hurt but while in the hospital where I work, would never go into the Covid unit without a N-95 mask. The Food and drug administration has never approved any type of surgical mask specifically for the prevention against coronavirus. No matter how careful you are, Covid 19 is a virus, not a germ and a regular mask can not block viruses. Just be smart and keep social distances, don’t go out when you feel sick, wear a mask if you are ask to but don’t under any circumstances get a false sense of security that everyone wearing masks will protect you from this virus. There is a reason that Hong Kong Disney had to close again in a part of the world where everyone routinely wears masks. If you are high risk and afraid, stay home. If you are ready to get on with life, be smart and have the best time possible at this new version of Disney World. I believe there is still Disney Magic in this world.
Rod, thanks for the feedback. The date is in the URL, but I will pass your sentiment along!
I was in Epcot Sunday and cast members were gently reminding people to correct their masks. There were plenty of tables to stop and eat. Cast members were also reminding us to hydrate. Today, Monday, we were in Magic Kingdom. Same experience. Plenty of cast members issuing gentle reminders. I felt Disney was providing a safe environment while trying to keep the magic alive.
It’s sad to see so many comments, after all this time, from people who don’t understand how the cloth masks work (and, yes, they do).
Yes, the virus is smaller than the weave of the fabric, but that’s not what the mask are trying to do. They are intended to trap droplets exhaled by you. To a lesser degree, they will also trap droplets you might inhale (recent research is confirming and supporting this). The masks reduce spread risk significantly. The intent isn’t to stop all virus spread, just enough that with social distancing, hand washing, not touching your face – nose, mouth, eyes – use of hand sanitizer, you reduce the viral load exposure to the point where it’s not effective as a contagion. Remember, it’s dose (amount of virus particles) plus time of exposure (longer increases the risk). Your goal is to minimize the dose exposure by wearing the mask, social distancing, avoiding groups, minimizing time indoors with others, etc.
The CDC recommends at least two layers of cotton fabric as this does the best job and is reasonably effective. Three layers is better but that’s pretty tough to wear all day. Gaiters are made of synthetic material and are designed to stretch, opening up more holes for droplets to escape. Simple test: put on your mask. Light a candle. From 6″ to 8″ blow as hard as you can (think of a sneeze or cough) and see if you can blow out the candle. If yes, your mask is pretty worthless. If the flame moves a lot it’s still pretty ineffective. The less it moves the better.
My husband and I are Florida residents and annual pass holders and enjoy going to Disney several times a year. After reviewing these blogs since July 11 and seeing all the changes to the parks we have decided that buying annual passes is not the value/expertise it once was. With all of the new restrictions such as No park-hopping, no fireworks, no parades, the uninviting plexiglass barriers in stores and queues, the “stand here” signs, forced wearing of masks, etc. make the whole experience much less fun and magical. And just getting in to the parks seems to be a gamble as to if you can get in on the days you have hotel reservations. Unfortunately, I don’t know if we’ll ever get back to “the happiest place on earth” because it appears to have been closed for good.
We won’t be visiting WDW anytime soon, the reasoning being that is, my grandson, daughter and my self, all suffer from asthma, and have been left with breathing difficulties after contracting COVID-19, so wearing a mask is just not viable for us. We have all taken the Covid test and are now Covid free.
From all I have seen WDW is not dealing with this disability, to force people with breathing difficulties to wear masks, is only going to make their experience of Disney world less than enjoyable and make it difficult for them to breath.
Yes I’ve seen the “breathable” ones, I have tried them, they don’t work. In the heat in WDW Florida will make for more complications.
I will not return until mask are gone, fastpass+ is back, along with the dining plans, I dont.want to pay all that money for this strange experience..
I agree about the date. Due to settings and numbers of tabs open, it’s not always easy to quickly see the date in the URL. It can be frustrating to sort through multiple postings on the same topic and a simple date at the top of the posting would be so helpful.
I don’t know why people are debating the efficacy of masks and social distancing in the comments about Disney rules. They have rules, they’ve always had rules, these are new rules they have implemented. It really doesn’t matter if you like them, if you agree with them, or agree with the reasoning behind them. They are still the rules. If you are unable or don’t want to follow the rules, then don’t go. Although it may feel like it, Disney is not a necessity. You don’t have to go. If you can’t be a responsible, respectful adult and follow the rules, then wait until they don’t have the ones you don’t want to follow anymore.
I was at Hollywood studios today and Epcot yesterday, and I didn’t notice any problems. Everyone seemed to be following the rules.
I went to Universal & Disney this past week & eventhough both have facemask policies, I felt better at Universal due to the fact they let you wear gaiter masks, take a quick maskless picture with characters via social distancing, & sips of water. I felt the Disney masks were WAY thick & with the heat, it did make it difficult to breathe. I do hope Disney relaxes a bit on the mask issue. Truthfully, I felt safe in both parks & both were very clean & people were practicing social distancing & wearing masks. But for the price, I would want to return to Disney when it is fully operational with less restrictions.
I was at Disney two weeks ago and witnessed an interaction between a cast member and two guests who were not wearing appropriate masks (they were made of tulle). The cast member was polite the entire time, even when the guests began debating whether their masks met CDC guidelines. The cast member then handed the guests disposable masks to wear.
Overall, I was pleased to see a cast member approach guests who were not wearing the proper masks and handled the situation well.
Was just down at Disney the last week of july and did not see any issues with masks. Visited the parks from open to close each day. Disney has way better and safer restrictions than in grocery store and public places in northern Illinois. I felt afee there than at a target at home.