Based on a few comments below where this post is being misinterpreted, we need to clarify that our goal with this meal was not to test Disney restaurants to see how well the rule is being enforced, or to try to not wear our masks throughout the meal. Our job, as always, is to describe our experience with the restaurant and the policies and to do so in an honest, thoughtful way. We wrote a post after the parks reopened where we discussed forgetting to put our mask on to walk to the restroom at California Grill. That was a mortifying mistake, but it was not intentional. And we think it’s important to share those errors with our readers so that they can be aware of just how easy it can be to break the rules when you have no intention of doing so. It’s good, valuable information, and so we share it in order to keep more people safe on their trips to Disney World.
We’ve seen a lot of updates made to Disney World’s face mask policy since the parks reopened.
Guess where we’re eating?
Disney World has strictly upheld these policies to adhere to appropriate health and safety guidelines. Guests must wear masks all the time when on Disney property, except when eating and drinking while stationary, swimming, or in a relaxation station. However, Disney recently announced an update on its policy regarding eating in restaurants.
The new policy requires guests to wear masks when dining in restaurants, except when they’re actively eating or drinking. This means masks should be worn when sitting, waiting, or doing anything other than actively eating or drinking in a restaurant.
Current Face Mask Policy
So, we visited a Disney World restaurant to see what the experience is like now. We moseyed over to the 50’s Prime Time Cafe in Hollywood Studios. When we were seated, the Cast Member thanked us for wearing our mask and told us to keep it on unless we were eating or drinking.
Sit down, eat, and watch TV? Don’t mind if we do.
Previously, guests were allowed to take off their masks as soon as they were seated at a restaurant. But, now, unless you are actively eating or drinking, you are expected to keep your mask on. That means keeping your mask on until your drink arrives, and essentially at any other points during your meal when you’re not actively eating or drinking anything. A family was seated nearby and they kept their masks on while seated, even after ordering their drinks.
Lunch with a view!
In our experience asking Cast Members about this in Disney World today, full roll-out of this policy hasn’t yet happened in all restaurants. This is likely due to the fact that today is the first day with the new rule in place.
We had a couple of instances where we legitimately forgot to put the mask back on after taking a bite or a drink, so there will likely be an adjustment period for many guests. But, this is in fact the new mask policy and it’s something to be aware of the next time you eat at a Disney restaurant. In our experience, most Cast Members were doing their best to enforce the policy, but it’s also new for them.
This new mask policy is certainly an adjustment from Disney’s previous rules, and it’s an adjustment from other restaurants outside of Disney. In our experience, most restaurants outside of Disney World do in fact allow guests to remove their masks once they sit down. So, it might take a little bit for guests to remember and adjust to this new policy. But, we did notice other guests doing their best to keep their masks on during the meal.
We still haven’t seen any signs out notifying guests about the updated policy. We’ll be checking out other dining locations for more updates and keeping tabs on any further changes to Disney’s face mask policies.
Disney, Haven’t We Seen These “New” Face Masks Before?
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We were at Yak & Yeti today for lunch, and no one mentioned the new policy.
Why does it seem like they are going backwards instead of forward to try and get things back to a normal park experience? None or very little cases have been traced back to the parks so why make the rules even more strict? If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it
Thanks for keeping us updated! We have some character dinning scheduled in the near future, and this could be the difference between keeping those reservations and canceling… I have no problem following the rules, but it can be tiring trying to keep up with the rules!
Kim, thank you for bringing that up. We were told today that it’s rolling out and not necessarily in place at every restaurant yet. But we will keep checking and updating.
Very disrespectful to not wear a mask when you know the policy! It only makes sense!!! It’s thoughtless to have a mask off when a worker(waiter) is close to you. They see hundreds of customers a day. Why should they be put at risk when you’re eating in their restaurant, working!!!! If you don’t want to wear a mask, stay home!
Seems like a step backwards with no real reasoning why. Very disappointed in Disney and won’t be back until it’s normal.
PS, that isn’t Dick Van Dyke, it’s Walter Brennan (older guy) from The Real McCoys.
We’ve pretty much been following this rule in all restaurants already. Masks are on until drinks are served. No big deal really.
They wouldn’t be rolling out this new policy unless they thought it was necessary. Disney is doing everything they can to keep things magical for us – we should do everything WE can to make that easier on the cast members.
The fact that you are actively advocating for people to break the rules by testing them and encouraging people to leave their masks off because the cast members don’t say anything is disgusting. Cast members don’t say anything because it’s not worth the headache that comes with anti maskers pushing their luck and then throwing fits when they’re challenged. We have more communicable strains hitting the US now, including the strain that doesn’t respond to the vaccine. You don’t want to do your part in ensuring the cast members serving you remain safe by mitigating their exposure? This article, and its comments, are extremely disappointing.
It’s good they are not actively enforcing this policy, yet. However, it still seems like an unnecessary measure to inflict on guests. We are postponing our two trips to WDW this year until 2022 . Hopefully by then it will return to an enjoyable experience.
No surprised I just came back for Disney and they allowed people in line to take off their masks and drink and eat while the line was moving. Not many cast members monitoring people with their masks down below their nose either.
Not Dick Van Dyke. More like Richard Crenna and Walter Brennan.
Honest question: Why is Disney making their policy more stringent when every metric is going down? Can’t be for the benefit of the servers because they are eligible to get the vaccine if they want. So why?
This is a ridiculous policy. It’s no wonder they aren’t enforcing it, how exhausting it must be to watch people every second to make sure the mask is on between sips. It’s in humane to require this. I’m pretty disappointed in Disney for this policy. In fact, have decided not to go this year, which stinks because I had planned to go as my kids are getting older (9 & 11). I really hope they will drop this mask nonsense soon so we all can get back to leading normal lives again.
I have been to Disney a few times during the pandemic, most recently as November and even more recently to Disney springs in February… I will say, I am always the person who has my mask up when ordering, when they bring food, etc. and cast members have ALWAYS thanked me for wearing masks while talking to them. All of that to say, I think cast members appreciate being respected and taken care of as well by guests. These rules are not just about us. They’re to protect everyone.
This seems more like a clarification than a change. I have always heard that masks are to be worn unless eating or drinking. Not that you have to put it back on after every sip and bite. My take is that you aren’t supposed to be lounging too long without a mask. Hopefully someday we won’t have to worry about it!
I’m not sure what angle the author is taking here? Sounds like you took your mask off after your drink arrived at your table but you noted that you weren’t asked to put your mask back on in between sips of your drink. Were you expecting to be asked to put your mask back on in between sips? Were you disappointed that you weren’t asked to put your mask back on between sips? Are you inferring that the cast member violated the new policy by not asking you to put your mask back on between sips? Would you feel safer if everyone in the restaurant had their masks on between sips of their soda prior to the food arriving?
This is frustrating to me. We are going in April with our 2 1/2 year old granddaughter and having to wear a mask while you are sitting at the table is just ridiculous. You have to give kids a break and we aren’t paying all that money to have to sit in our room so we don’t have to wear a mask. Let’s go forward not backwards.
We had no problem with this new policy, we were there a week ago. Ordering on app, eating in restaurants, having snack where we had to sit dow, we planned when we needed a rest I appreciate them so the best they can to protect us. Of course we want it to go back to normal, but it isn’t there yet.
I’m interested in what prompted this stricter policy. Have cases of COVID been attributed to indoor dining at WDW? Is it also applicable to outdoor dining?
We are at several restaurants from Feb. 24-27 and kept our masks off the entire time we were seated at our table. Not one server mentioned anything to us about putting our masks on
I notice that people are NOT wearing their masks the proper way when they are on their faces…too many noses not covered. This should be brought up to people
I get the feeling from many of you that you want fewer restrictions, that you are hoping to “get away” without having to follow the rules and that it is an inconvenience to wear a mask…getting COVID is inconvenient, dying is inconvenient. Wearing a mask to protect others and yourself is a respectful, caring act that is an easy and proven way to stop spreading COVID, prevent deaths and help us all get back to some semblance of normal
I will be postponing my WDW trip until this policy is no longer in place.
I think it’s a great policy and should absolutely be Enforced! Better safe than sorry. What does it take to wear a mask to keep ourselves, the workers and guests protected. If you want Disney to be #1 in every aspect, support their decisions.
Definitely all about tile following for this. We do this in California and also at downtown Disney. Very important to leave the mask on as long as possible.
I’m all for anything that’s meant to keep us safer. Hopefully the new rules will be enforced. If wearing a mask disrupts your pleasurable experience, imagine what a ventilator would do.
People think this is outrageous? You should wear a mask when your interacting with people outside of your party. Cast Members are people too and should be protected. It’s not that big of a hassle.
I wonder if this is a way for Disney to address those who may be sitting in quick service restaurants who have finished eating or just getting out of the heat and taking off their mask. I have seen quite a few, as it heats up, doing that. They have no food or drink on the table but are just taking a break. Just a thought.
I don’t think it’s too much to ask to wear your mask while seated. The people who work in the restaurants deserve that respect. They are around multiple people everyday, and sometimes at a table for an extended period of time. If everyone remains patient, and does their part, the country will be able to fully open sooner rather than later.
This is to get California open. I do not want to come to Disney. I was there last fall and could not enjoy myself with the mask. We were (past tense) hosting our extended family of 12 to 14 and I am not planning. At first it was two weeks and now it is a year. Not one mask but two. Masks don’t work now they do. If they do work why is it a year later? I need to stop. The fun is covered with a mask.
Just got back from WDW.
The mask thing is crazy. Cast members have gone from spreading the Magic to yelling at you if you take a sip while walking. Gone are the youthful sincerely enthusiastic cast members mostly from the college program.
Some of the cast members left are quite a bit more stern and not friendly. We were there for 5 days. Had a much better experience at the OTHER park. And they had fireworks!
A huge compliment to the HC workers taking temps at WDW. They were all so friendly and welcoming.
I would wait for the post Covid Magic.
Disney corporation is seeing how far they can go.When you play with fire, you eventually get burned.
I believe the policy is meant to mirror California’s policy and what it is at Disneyland, which basically means if you have food or drink in front of you, that is considered actively eating or drinking u til your drinks are empty and plates are clean. Basically no taking off the mask before drinks arrive or after you finish eating and drinking masks must be put back on while waiting for the check and paying.
This is the policy throughout California and that would include Disneyland, so I think that is how they are defining actively eating or drinking.
Ridiculous. Just as everything is getting better Disney does this. I will not be going again until the masks are optional. May not be until 2023 but oh well.
In my mind, this policy isn’t so much for people who already have a drink and are drinking on it (like they don’t expect you to wear a mask between sips and bites at your table) but more about people who abuse the tables to try to get out of wearing their masks and closing that loop.
I think it may also be to show CA how well they will adhere to best best practices to try to open those parks (the new variants being more prevalent in FL may play in as well)
I do hope soon enough we can lose the masks at least outside, but don’t expect to see that for a while. Wearing a cloth mask is a minimal hassle that won’t keep me away.
Richard Creena and Walter Brennan in the “Real McCoys”…. not Dick Van Dyke… 😉
That’s Richard Crenna and Walter Brennan, not Dick Van Dyke. Just thought you should know. The TV series, The Real McCoys, was very popular in the late 50’s. No big deal though. Most of us weren’t alive 60 years ago.
So, basically if you had a consumable item in front of you, no face covering.
Did you put it on at all while at the table other than to leave?
This could just be an attempt to turn the tables faster.
I have no problem if this is what they meant. Like you should have food or drink in front of you to take off your mask. But if they police every sip and bite you take it would be really unpleasant.
If we were going to WDW this year, which we’re not, we’d avoid the sit-down restaurants because of this new policy. I’m not keeping my mask on between bites of food or sips, especially with the cost of these places. The costs are only worth it because of the experience, without the fun experience and the mask policy, sit-downs are just not worth the money right now.
I hadn’t thought about the part where you get served drinks. I think pulling down a mask between sips of your drink would be non sensical. To constantly be touching the mask. I hope that doesn’t become the case. I fully support following rules but they should be reasonable.
That wasn’t Dick Van Dyke on the TV. It was the Real McCoys ! Richard Creena & Walter Brennan. Kim, you are just too young !!
It doesn’t make sense to sit at your table with your family and are asked to keep your mask on until your beverages and food arrive. Disney is taking two steps back instead of moving forward. I’ll probably cancel my upcoming reservation for spring break and head out side the park for dinner.
One reason they’re being more strict now is because of the more contagious variants that are in the US now. P.S. That’s not Dick Van Dyke on the TV 🙂 Looks like Richard Crenna.
I just cancelled a May 3 to May 13 Disney World vacation. I was hoping for a miracle that just did not materialize regarding the status of the pandemic. Maybe 2022!
I am deeply saddened to read comments from so many people who fail to understand the importance of wearing masks to protect the other Disney fans in the room. Dining indoors is one of the highest COVID-19 risk activities, and Disney is working hard to help keep us safe. Wearing a mask is a simple act that protects you and the other guests in the Park. As the new variants begin to appear across the country, this is the time to redouble our efforts to bring this pandemic to an end.
Please wear your mask whenever possible.
What if the policy is not meant for full service restaurants? Could it be for people that linger at pick up restaurant’s tables too long with their masks off? Maybe we are missing the true reason for this policy?
Just a small note : There was a caption error where you quoted ( at Prime Time 50’s ) ” Just having lunch with Dick Van Dyke ..no biggie ” Actually the actors are Richard Crenna and Walter Brennan from the old series ” The Real McCoys ”
p.s. You do a great job —— I envy you.
Sincerely, Steve