Now that Disney World has re-opened, the parks are testing new health and safety guidelines and adjusting protocol around limited park capacity to ensure guest and Cast Member safety.
Magic Kingdom Balloons
While we’ve known that Disney would be implementing a mandatory mask requirement for everyone on property, we’ve also noticed that they are required at all times on attractions. The only place guests are able to take them off are when they are swimming, visiting a relaxation station, or dining.
But since the parks have opened, Disney has had to make language and policy changes to better fit what is best for everyone visiting. While face coverings have been clearly defined (and do not include gaiters or bandanas), and now the language regarding where and when masks need to be worn has been updated again.
Cast Members
Previously, Disney Cast Members and Guest Services confirmed that guests could pull their masks down to eat or drink while they were walking around Disney property. For example, if you had a cup of coffee, you could walk around Magic Kingdom and pull down your mask to take sips.
But today, Disney has updated their website language to state that face coverings can be removed when someone is eating or drinking, but that the guest must be “stationary and maintain appropriate physical distancing.” So, that means sipping on your coffee while walking down Main Street is a no-go for now.
©Disney
When we were in Magic Kingdom today, we confirmed this new health and safety measure with a Guest Relations Cast Member, and it seems that this could have significant implications for the 2020 EPCOT Food and Wine Festival. Walking around the World Showcase snacking on the tapas-sized eats from the festival booths has always been a beloved past time for many EPCOT guests!
But note that this year, EPCOT has set out many more tables around the World Showcase. And with limited capacity in the parks, it wasn’t too difficult for us to find an isolated table at which to stop, remove our masks, and nosh.
Food & Wine Tables
Although we might not be able to have that special moment snacking on a Mickey Bar while we walk around the parks, it’s still just as magical to chill out and eat at one of the tables! ;-D
Read about the disposable face masks available around the parks here!
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I am curious how they enforce 2 year olds to keep masks on? Or are they?
My trip in November is looking less likely to happen with Disney piling on more restrictions. Why bother coming?
Stationary but maintain appropriate distancing? One should worry about getting clipped by a stroller taking a dole slurp while standing amongst a pacing crowd.
They are really tripling down on turning the happiest place on Earth into the most miserable!
This was one of our biggest complaints about Epcot was everyone taking off their masks while walking and eating or drinking. I am glad that Disney has addressed the issue.
This is an absolute garbage policy! I mean seriously, Disney makes accommodations for virtually every special needs person ranging from Autism to people needing support animals for depression, but gave me a hard time because I was sitting alone on a bench with nobody around taking a “mask break”!!! Allergies and asthma were acting up and they wouldn’t even let me get a good deep breathe without harassment!!! Someone had to come flying out of a building to tell me I was required to put that mask back on! I have never been so disappointed in Disney as I am with their handling of the current situation! It’s a shame because my family and I are DVC members and are seriously considering selling our points because of this absolute nonsense! Yes, nonsense!!!
Yes all must wear masks but I will tell you when we were there we saw many many young children and all had masks on and during my 7 hour visit I did not see one try to take off their mask. I think that even at that age children know if they don’t keep it on they have to leave. Most had decorated Disney Masks that they enjoyed wearing.
I do not have a problem with this policy but they will need to increase sitting/ table availability around world showcase. It has always been stingy and with this change they really need to increase it alot!
Good for Disney! I hope they continue the policy til the pandemic is over. If only our states were as tough on face mask policies. I can’t wait for our trip!
Nope, not going until no face mask are required, parades and fireworks start up. In short let me know when things get back to normal. Btw if this is the “new normal” then I guess it’s time to go our separate ways. I’m not spending thousands of dollars for 1/2 the magical experience. I know I’m the only person thinking this way, and no matter how much Disney spins it they are losing millions.
Although the new mask policy may seem cumbersome and having to remain stationary while eating or drinking seems excessive I think it is a great idea. Many people use the eating and drinking to keep moving their masks up and down and this is not good for the person who is doing it who may contract more germs just with the act of doing this and also just use eating and drinking as an excuse not to wear the mask. With something like this it is really hard to mandate the rule. In my 6 visits to Disney Springs I observed this many times and it gets to the point where the masks are useless as everyone is using a coffee or soft drink as a ticket not to follow the rules. I did not see this at Disney World however I am sure it was probably happening. I am hoping that Epcot has enough room with their limited capacity to allow people the space to eat as I could see this really hurting the festival. As unfortunate as this is I think this is the only way this can be monitored and they probably made this change because people were taking advantage of this to not wear the mask. Unfortunately everyone has to pay for these decisions.
I was just there for opening day and was able to go to all 4 parks. 99 percent of the people were wearing their mask. The small children had there’s on as well . I noticed if someone wasn’t wearing their mask they were approached by cast member and said princess please put your mask on. For the most the children were better than adults.
Since this is your job I guess you have to keep it all unicorns and rainbows. Doesn’t sound the least bit delightful.
As expensive as it is to visit Disney World, and with all these restrictions, I WILL NOT return there until mask requirements are lifted, Fast Pass+ is reinstated and the Park Reservation System is eliminated. I can spend my vacation dollars elsewhere. I am a HUGE Disney fan and have visited annually for the past 10 years (love the Food & Wine Fest). That stops now. I will wait until I can truly enjoy myself again at the parks/hotels.
I’m ready for this to be done.
And they need to start counting cases and deaths like EVERY other virus in the world. Seasonally.
If they counted seasonal flu deaths and cases like the Coronavirus, there would be 140 million people dead with 1 billion cases.
But that’s not how we count.
Ugh 🤦🏼♂️
I’m guessing they had to update their policy due to someone using the “mask may removed while eating or drinking” as their way to walk through the parks without a mask. Just follow the rules people before you mess it up for all.
Will you be selling masks or have the appropriate masks available if a guest is not wearing the correct mask?
Yet another reason it will not be worth the cost for us until all this has blown over. No thank you. I will wait years if I have to.
Right now – I would not take my kids to the park. Florida has an explosion of Covid-19 cases. As an Annual Pass Holder, I am beyond saddened that we as a family will not be going back to Disney Parks for a while.
Disney in force the rules people need someone to tells them the rules peoples not all there needs big brother !
It’s a no brainer. You need to stay in one place to eat or drink. I saw videos of people licking their ice cream while walking past people. Why would you think that would be ok?
Moving the goal posts again. Does not engender faith or trust in Disney.
This change makes sense as someone who did not want to wear a covering would just walk around with a drink in their hand all day. This will be inconvenient for some but because others will always try to bet the system, this is needed.
What is the policy regarding neck gators with ear loops, are they permitted?
So glad I canceled our trip.
AJ & Team, you guys are really good at reporting ” the glass is half full instead of half empty.” For this, you all deserve a big thank you for a job well done. We can count on you for honest posts and I really like seeing DFB showing up in my email.
You all add some much needed Pixie Dust to our days.
Thank you so much
Glad they quickly caught on to the guests trying to get around the rules.
I had a hard time keeping clothes on when my kids were two. It is just ridiculous.
Our Birthday trip was cancelled (mid-April), everything was refunded EXCEPT our park tickets. These restrictions make it impossible for us to visit WDW, I sure hope they will refund now. Sadly, last year may be our last visit, ever. I have been going since 1971 when they opened, I am grateful for the visits I have had, but so sad that it has ended.
Interesting to see how this all plays out. We love coming every year but had to cancel coming this year (due 6/25-7/10). Travelling from the UK, I have no intention of coming until normality is resumed; alternative holiday already booked for next year. We are all gutted but the pics I see along with the updates make me fear for the financial stability of the parks. There must be plenty like us (USA & non-USA regulars)
Is Disney cleaning the tables between guests? If not, the virus can be transmitted more easily than walking around — especially if they lay their mask on the table and then you unknowingly touch that area while dining next.
When face mask are no longer required people will return to the parks. Until then no one really cares about policy updates.
I “chatted” with a cast member about the jogging/biking/exercise policy. During the chat, I asked if Disney will follow the county guideline “no mask while exercising as long as social distancing is followed”. The cast member said that WDW would be following the county policy. He did advised me to contact the resort for specific information. I called Fort Wilderness – but was transferred to guest relations. I was told the opposite. The guest relations person just restated the mask policy and interpreted it as meaning “while on property” as while jogging or biking. Is it possible to get official confirmation about an exercise policy for WDW. (specifically Fort Wilderness if possible). Thanks.
I hope that all park visitors b mindful at all times that Disney has everyone’s best interest at heart my husband and myself appreciate what Disney is doing the cast members r working so hard to keep everyone safe god bless them for all they do to keep us safe and we all need to keep them safe also for they too have people that love them too
I’m glad they changed this policy. Walking with masks down is not a good idea.
While knowing it is necessary, I don’t know how comfortable it is to wear a mask when it is 90 degrees (and higher).
I think they are holding the parents accountable for keeping the masks on children. We played a game weeks ahead of time to make it fun and teach him to wear it thankfully. But I do have friends that have decided to reschedule their trip until their little one is older and more likely to wear one.
Does that mean you can’t drink water while you are in line for a ride or walking from place to place? I don’t understand the guideline.
Christie, it means you can’t remove your mask unless you’re stationary, physically distant, and actively eating/drinking. So you can take a drink while you’re in line, but you can’t take your mask off entirely to do it.
Michael, I will pose this to the team, but getting inconsistent answers is par for the course these days, unfortunately.
Thank YOU, Poly Lady 2020! So happy to hear this!
Austin, so far we’re hearing no on gaiters of all kinds.
Lucia, Disney has both reusable and disposable masks for sale in the Parks.
Gail, they have significantly increased the number of tables in World Showcase.
Each time you have to tell someone to ‘wear a mask’, ‘keep your distance’, etc., scan their magic band …three scans and your told to leave.
I bet if I was wearing a morally objectionable TShirt they would be quick enough to tell me to change it or leave! …I bet if I was threatening the life/wellbeing of another guest /verbally/, I would be ejected immediately! …Just set masks as another Disney standard and be seen to stand by it.
But for as long as Disney are only cleaning high-touch rides (eg. Buzz Lightyear, Speedway, etc.) once every 2 hrs – it’s all a bit moot really …There must be a zone between “disembark” and “embark” on most rides – (other than cost) why not just install UVC bulbs in that area?
Susan although I go to Disney and follow the rules technically if you are 6 feet away from someone the mask does nothing and I don’t really see anything wrong with eating and drinking as long as you are social distancing and yes this even means licking an ice cream cone. This is Disney rule not a state of Florida rule. I live in Florida and we are wearing masks in business only not walking outdoors or doing any outdoor activities where social distancing can be maintained.
I have heard from several people that have been to Disney World in the last week or so that if you are sitting at a dining table to eat and take your mask off, cast members have been coming up to them and telling them they have to have their masks on unless they are actively eating. We have been eating out since day one of when FL allowed restaurants to open (May 4th I think). We sit down and take off our masks and keep them off until we get up. Have you heard anything about this?
Vicki, sharing with the team so we can look into this.
We have been there a lot since they opened with the most current being yesterday and this is definitely not true. We were never asked to pull our masks up between bites lol or while waiting for our food. That sounds absolutely absurd. Where did you hear that?
Vicki, just popping back in to let you know that our on-site reporters have not experienced this. We will update if anything changes.