Disney is testing a feature to deal with a face mask issue in the parks.
Face Mask Signage
As you might know, masks are required in Disney World — including while taking photos and experiencing attractions. Apparently, Disney has run into an issue with their on-ride photo policy, and now they have an idea for a solution.
Up to this point, Disney has been withholding on-ride photos from those who are not wearing a face mask or incorrectly wearing a face mask. It is company policy not to give guests any photos where a face mask is not being worn correctly.
Splash Mountain
This policy has caused a slight issue. Some folks who are very interested in purchasing their ride pictures have been unable to due to an accident. A PhotoPass Cast Member told us that many folks explain improper mask use on rides was an accident, they didn’t realize, and/or their child removed the mask accidentally.
Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin
To help solve this problem and allow folks who accidentally appear non-compliant in the photos, Disney is testing a new solution. In these instances, the photos will be edited to show guests wearing a face covering.
A reader sent us a photo of this new feature in action (Thanks Kylene Wimpsett!). Her little guy was so scared on Dinosaur that he screamed his mask right off his nose, so Disney gave him a new one.
© Kylene Wimpsett | DisneyFoodBlog
This way, those who are accidentally incorrectly wearing a face mask at the time of the ride photo can still purchase and see their pictures. The edit will make it so that the pictures comply with Disney’s policy. Disney, still, of course, requires guests to wear masks at all times and those not wearing a mask will be asked to put one on, or will be removed from the park if they refuse to do so.
Currently, the feature is being tested on Dinosaur in Animal Kingdom and Buzz Lightyear’s Space Ranger Spin in Magic Kingdom.
Dinosaur
Again, this feature is only in a testing phase and it is unclear whether it will roll out to the rest of the park. We’ll be keeping an eye on this situation so stay tuned to DFB for all the updates!
Click here to learn more about Disney’s on-ride photo policy!
Want to Learn More About Face Masks in Disney World?
Our Tips for Wearing a Mask in Disney World
Everything You NEED to Know About Wearing a Mask in Disney World
Which Face Masks Are the MOST Comfortable to Wear ALL DAY at Disney World...And Which Should You Avoid?
10 Face Mask Accessories You’re Gonna NEED in Disney World!
How Many Face Masks Do I Need to Bring on My Disney World Trip?
8 Ways to ACTUALLY Convince Your 2 Year Old to Wear a Mask in Disney World
See 7 Masks Your Kids Won’t Hate Wearing on Your Disney Trip
Look at a Complete Timeline of Disney World’s Face Mask Policies
Click HERE for the Current News and Information About Travel to Disney World and Disneyland
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the latest Disney Park Closure News Delivered Right to Your Inbox Click here to Subscribe
What do you think of this new solution? Tell us in the comments!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
Do you know if Seven Dwarfs Mine train videos are still being done? They always appear in our photopass photos, but didn’t last month. We were assuming it was because someone’s mask may have slipped off during the ride.
Wait, if they do not have a mask on it’s it’s on wrong, shouldn’t they be asked to leave the park? That’s the rules. I see it every week people not wearing them correctly but I’ve never seen them asked to leave.
Nicole, if your pictures or videos don’t show up notify Disney and they will get them for you. I have had to do this multiple times and I have always gotten the ones that are missing. It is just a little work to get to the right place and let them know about it. I have had to do it on my computer, I don’t know if it is the same on the app.
First, I agree with what Dave said…..Second, this smacks of dishonesty on several levels, and will inadvertently cause MORE problems! Bad idea.
I guess it helps the problem of people taking their masks off for the picture, because it denies them the reward they were doing it to get.
However, as someone who’s been regularly wearing a mask since April and occasionally wore one beforehand due to being immunocompromised, I call BS on anyone who claims they didn’t realize it had come down or off. MAYBE it could happen to a VERY small child, but anyone else? If it came off without you knowing it, you didn’t have it on properly to begin with.
So, it doesn’t really disincentivize people who are just taking their masks off on rides because they just don’t want to wear them.
I don’t think they should make exceptions. Why do you want a photo of your kid screaming in fear anyway.
Have to agree with Dave above – we just returned from a visit to Animal Kingdom & Magic Kingdom & I was shocked at the amount of people not wearing face masks or not wearing them properly – we were in line for Pirates & the group that was 2 groups (about 7 member in their group) ahead of us in the line were not wearing face masks or not wearing them properly – 3 different cast member walked past them & no cast member said a word – my thought on this is if you are going to have a policy, enforce it at all times, or don’t bother to have the policy.
We were just there in October and understood the requirements, but to me it makes no sense seeing that when on a ride you are 6’ away from folks. We could not even get a picture from most rides as the system was shut off we were told.
The policy now of adding a digital mask to me is kind of ridiculous. If they MUST add the digital mask, at least make it a Disney character.
So how long until we can order a DFB mask that has a picture of the photo pass mask on it? 😂
…… Why? Why the need to put a computer generated “mask” on a guest? I’m not understanding what a computer generated “mask” has to do with a virus?
That’s ridiculous
If this is going to happen that Disney is going to doctor a photo up, everybody is going to try and get away with not wearing a mask or say it fell when it didn’t. We were there in November and a lady in front of us on the safari ride took hers off right after the guy made the enouncement and her man had his under his chin almost the whole ride.
This is a politically correct solution, but these photos taken on board should be enough to prove that those people are not wearing masks all the time in attractions. With that proof: I agree to kick them off the park without refund. The virus is very very very dangerous and mortal. It is criminal to not respect the rules.
Where were they when people flashed their boobs?
My guess is they are really doing this to discourage people from taking their mask off for the photo.
Unless you followed the people around all day you don’t know if they were approached by a Cast Member. You just happen to have not seen it.
Vanessa – with 2 of the groups (one group had 4 members & the other group had 7 members), we do know, as they were in front of us for 75 minutes in line for Pirates – they were even eating & drinking once you got inside the building, which is never permitted. Also, we saw the group of 7 about 5 hours later (we recognized them because of their unique t-shirts) & they were still doing the exact same thing.
This may be the dumbest thing I’ve heard today! If a little kid removes their mask, they aren’t doing it maliciously. Good grief! I don’t get people wanting a mask pic anyway.
Despite the fact that people here are saying people are not really complying like they should, there is STILL NO OUTBREAK from visiting Disney. So just get over it people.
@Mary Sunshine, they don’t want pictures out there of people without masks. If people see pictures of guests riding without masks, they think, “Oh, if they didn’t wear a mask I don’t have to, either.”
It was probably a more effective solution to just not let people have the pictures, but I imagine that the CMs had to put up with a lot of abuse over it.
They’re going to keep having problems with guests as long as they maintain low staffing levels. A higher CM-to-guest ratio is the only way they’re going to stop people from thinking they can get away with breaking the rules. The overworked staff can’t be everywhere.
Every rollercoaster I rode caused the mask to slip down my face, and I’m totally supporting mask wearing. My sons photo pass ride photos are not showing up. He called and this was the issue. Not just me, but his wife’s as well.
I’m in favor of “mask shopping” the photos.
This is probably one of THE dumbest things that Disney has ever done.
I was in Disney the first week in January. We rode 7 Dwarfs Mine Train. When I noticed pictures and video were missing, I called. Pictures were released but video was not. Another family on the train removed their masks. So I am being penalized for another family’s inability to follow Disney’s rules. So unfair, since my grandchildren were given strict instructions about wearing their masks. We followed all the rules and don’t have a video I was looking forward to.