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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I’m a rabid masker, but theoretically the outside of the mask is not sanitary – so after you remove your mask (and don’t just put it on your table next to your food) so then you santize your hands and eat your app, do you then put your mask back on, sanitize your hands, oops there’s your main, remove the mask, sanitize your hands, eat your main repeat? does this make sense???
Thank you for sharing updates and also your experiences. We are heading next week to MK and want to make sure we follow the proper guidelines.
First, and most importantly, SCIENCE shows that COVID transmission in restaurants is almost nil! Second, if I’m going to pay Disney prices for food I’m going to enjoy it. We visited Disney in November and January with no problems, once in a group of 8 and once just two of us. I don’t mind keeping my mask on in the park but it’s coming off while seated and dining as long as there is sufficient distance between me an others not in my party.
So ridiculous and unnecessary. I believe with the women that just commented that this is so backward.
That’s not Dick Van Dyke it’s Richard Crenna and Walter Brennan!
I for one am happy about it, it’s not a drastic change. Up here in IL we’ve had this policy and stricter ones since March 2020, a year in-welcome to the new normal. If it means everyone stays safe, especially cast members whom we sometimes forget make stops at our table even briefly, then it’s a good rule. Honestly, we were there in August, it was hot and sticky, but probably one of our best trips ever, in 30+ years.
It’s nice to see that Disney is taking our safety seriously and while it may not be as convenient, it is a relief to those of us who are a little nervous about eating indoors. I work in a high school and we have the same policy for eating – it’s not difficult and it’s greatly appreciated.
Interesting to watch will be if more tables are opened in each restaurant and this is to make folks feel safe while they eat closer together with other folks who have their masks off…
Not to be nit-picky, but that’s not Dick Van Dyke. That’s Richard Crenna & Walter Brennan in The Real McCoys. 🙂
It’s really sad when you have to report on under what conditions one is allowed to eat and drink in the parks.
We are supposed to go in September and are hoping that restrictions will slowly be lifted so that by the time we go there won’t be any masks. Really if the vaccination is offered to most people by June as they are saying, then why do masks still need to be worn. It’s overkill and over reach. This is going way overboard. Give a person a break from the masks at least while you are eating!!
Cast Members have come down with COVID-19 since WDW first opened back up last summer. If anyone thinks differently, they need to open their eyes and do some reading.
It’s a shame that Disney isn’t enforcing their new Face Mask Policy. It’s designed to help keep things safer for their Cast Members. For those here who are whining about doing the right thing and wearing a damn mask, stay home where you belong, you selfish jerks.
Eating in other places, not just Disney World, one shouldn’t take the mask off when seated. It is ‘recommended’ not to take your mask off until your food…or drink is served.
Hi! Love you guys but can’t resist (sorry), that’s not Dick Van Dyke. It’s Walter Brennan and Richard Cremona in The Real McCoys
I’m glad they have this policy in place. It is for the health and safety of the cast members who have to stand there next to people who have their masks off. I am happy to do anything it takes to protect people who are taking a risk so that I can have a meal out.
We have been following this policy in Delaware since last December’s spike. We are a couple 65&59. It has not been a big deal pulling the mask down to take a drink. We take the mask off when the food arrives. Sometimes a server will approach and we don’t have a chance to put it back on. I actually prefer the added precaution as others around us do not seem to comprehend the text of the guidelines clearly displayed.
Not gonna lie, that’s how my family always interpreted the mask policy. We call it the “Disney rule” at home and it really helped prepare our kids for being out in public places with their masks. 🤷🏼♀️
I have been dead set against masks from the beginning (multiple reasons) but I obey rules. However, doesn’t this take away from having a conversation? I mean I can barely hear cast members in the loud restaurants with all the noise either from the kitchen or other guests or the music for the character stuff. So we just sit and stare at our family members. I guess if u want to talk about your fun experience you do it back in the hotel room. Or go off property to a chain restaurant. They are going backwards. SMH.
Disney isn’t “inflicting” anything on anyone. Being there and following their rules during an unprecedented pandemic is a choice. So don’t go until you’re ready. The fact is gathering indoors is a risk, and this isn’t over yet. Disney has been in the forefront of responsible safety mitigation. The happiest place is also one of the most responsible, which is saying a lot.
We were at San Angel Inn for dinner tonight and no mention of the new policy either. We were just asked to keep masks on until after ordering.
That’s fine if they ask us to keep our masks on when we’re ordering or speaking with a cast member. We have to remember that when WE wear a mask, we’re protecting the other person, in this case, the cast member. So shouldn’t we just be kind and keep them on until the cast member/server leaves our table. We want to be courteous to the person. Remember they have families too and they’re just trying to do their job.
The photo of a TV at Prime Time Cafe captioned, “Just having lunch with Dick Van Dyke…no biggie.” is incorrect. The actors are Richard Crenna and Walter Brennan from the TV series, “The Real McCoys”.
I have booked for sept. I really hope disney will start to relax a bit on the masks. This really looks like a crazy act on disney , If they want people to come back.
Just to be clear, you went to a restaurant on the day this policy was instated, didn’t adhere to it, and watched others who did.
If they want you to keep your mask on even while seated then they should not bring your drinks until the food comes.
That is just ridiculous to expect us to move our mask for every six then put it back on in between.
This rule is just ridiculous.
Thanks, Peggy. I had the editors update.
Will do what ever it takes. Not so self centered to be Inconvenience by this rule.
Just a question to make sure I understand correctly. Is it:
1. Food / drink comes, I am now eating, take it off, or
2. I move my mask, stick the fork in my mouth, remove fork, put mask back on, chew, repeat.
Asking again since my question was deleted:
1. Is the rule “pull mask down, insert fork, remove fork, pull mask back up, chew, repeat”?
Isn’t food going to get on the inside of the mask?
We dine at disney regularly, and elsewhere.
We typically try to leave our mask on until we place our order. Expecting not to talk to the server again until the food is delivered. It is really not that big of a deal to leave it on,
Until the food arrives.
They are working hard and have families at home. Least we can do is show some respect and try to wear our mask.
We just had lunch today, 3/2/21, at Via Napoli and the hostess brought us to our seat and told us to go ahead and remove our mask. This was before ordering and we left it off the whole time until we got ready to leave. Same thing at Whispering Canyon yesterday. No complaints here 😄
Why are my comments / questions being deleted?
I guess my concern with all these strict mask policies is that AJ always talks about how people need to remember to stay hydrated in the parks, so when people are standing in line for hours for a ride and can’t take their mask down to take a drink of water to keep hydrated are we supposed to just deal with being dehydrated until we get off the ride and find a stationary spot to sit in away from people to take a drink of water? I don’t see a good outcome for anyone in that situation and I have a toddler who does things on his own time, usually the most inconvenient time (drinking water and eating).
Going in May and I hope they realize the over kill. However, once my drink arrives the mask is off until I leave.
I think this is a little crazy. It is enough to make me cancel my trip.
This is absolutely ridiculous! Straw that broke our camel’s back, so Universal and Legoland here we come!!
It’s draconian and unnecessary. This is NOT a CDC regulation, which is why no other restaurants are doing it. This is Disney pandering. I am an avid follower of the cdc regulations and in fact, have to follow it religiously in my line of work. But this is over the top and illogical given that they have rest stations all over. In saying all that, it’s their rule and they can do what they want. I will just choose to not go until Disney finds their magic and happiness again.
I have no problem wearing my mask until my food comes. My question is are we gonna be expected to put it back on between bites? The article said something to that affect, I think.
Again, they are not staying you have to put your mask back on between bites, they are saying that unless you have food or drink in front of you that you are actively consuming, you need to put your mask on. Once you have finished your meal, you need to out your mask back on, even if there is food still on your plate if you aren’t going to eat it. You also will need to keep your mask on until your drinks arrive. This is to match the policy in California and is what we have throughout the entire state.
Putting the mask on and off at every bite is actually dangerous as it will contaminate the mask and make it useless.
Ed, they aren’t being deleted; I hadn’t moderated the comments yet.
Ed, our experience thus far has been that it’s acceptable to remove the mask once you receive drinks and/or food. But we’ll keep checking on this.
This is shocking. I can’t believe Disney is doing this at this time when restrictions are being lifted in many places. Think about it, the people who go to Disney World and eat at restaurants are not living in fear. If they were they wouldn’t be there.
Our family went in February and it’s one thing to tolerate wearing a mask outdoors but I didn’t realize how there are no shows, no fireworks, parades and no character meet ups etc. If I had realized this when we planned it months earlier, we probably wouldn’t have gone. And certainly if they implemented masks in restaurants.
But adding more restrictions only discourages the people who don’t want to deal with it, it doesn’t encourage those more fearful to visit.
I can only guess they are doing this in anticipation of the California parks opening and keeping the rules aligned.
Unless they have had a rash of restaurant cast members getting ill from Covid (and they haven’t … the only reported illnesses were last year and it wasn’t determined they got them at WDW), this is intrusive, unnecessary, and aggravating. Not to mention the unsanitary conditions of touching your mask repeatedly.
Also, let me go on record again at how ludicrous it is to expect 2 year olds to wear a mask all day. Expectations for this are unrealistic, add to that there are NO (zero) cases of any small child transmitting Covid to anyone else. Anyone demanding a child under 8-10 wear a mask has not actually looked at the science.
This rule is overkill.
Well we al have choices and my choice was to cancel any in park dining reservations we have……Florida numbers are down and now disney thinks this is a good idea? Well it is not, it’s bad enough wearing the mask in the parks, but dining should be a reprieve from that torture, especially when disney is hosing me on the price of dinner.
I think this may partially be to discourage people from lingering in restaurants for longer periods of time to get a break from wearing their masks. With many restaurants still closed and reduced capacity at the ones that are open, they need to turn the tables in a reasonable amount of time to accommodate all of their guests. We have friends that just returned and they said that getting meals was a huge challenge during their trip. We, personally, are delaying our next visit until restrictions are more relaxed and the experience is closer to what it used to be.
Wait a minute- after each bite or sip you have to put the mask on? If true that is completely absurd and I will not pay for a Disney meal experience under those absurd , non-science based rule.
Thank you, AJ, for your article on this; this is a tough subject. I just think Disney is continuing to hurt its brand and alienate many of its loyal customers. This is way over the line and especially when the virus is going in the right direction and people are getting vaccinated at over 1 million a day.
We went in October and being scolded over and over for being too close, having our masks down for drinking water, or where there wasn’t another person in sight was too much. And, we canceled our trip for November. And, I was so sad for no real pictures. They are just not the same and we all know that.
I agree with a previous commenter that said “Think about it, the people who go to Disney World and eat at restaurants are not living in fear. If they were they wouldn’t be there.”
If this is truly about the cast members and they are concerned that one of them may die, they need to shut the whole thing down. And, those people don’t ever need to leave their house. I know many people who have got the virus and wear a mask religiously.
I’m trying to give Disney a break, but this just doesn’t make common sense. Masks on and off touching everything, then that same cast member comes and takes away all of the dishes you’ve touched (and they aren’t wearing gloves). The person who made this new rule is an executive that thinks window dressing works.
We were supposed to go in May and I’m just not sure now. The Disney I’ve loved has been replaced with a combative group of health warriors. I’m telling all of you who are praising this move that you get the virus from being around people. If you don’t want to get it or want other people to get it, then your only option is to stay home. It’s not Disney’s job to keep me safe–as they keep telling us–it’s Disney’s job to entertain, to delight us. They have lost their purpose, their mission and it’s sad.
Surprised Disney is not following the science or cdc recommendations because this rule is overkill and way beyond scientific logic. How about you pretend I have my mask on and I’ll pretend that your mask works?
I think the BLOG is misinformed, or the servers are. As it is here in Massachusetts…you keep masks on while waiting for seating, while seated with no food or drink on the table, when moving about in the restaurant, and while inside restrooms. NOONE expects you to wear mask…take a sip, wipe mouth, put on mask. OR remove mask…take a bite of food, wipe mouth, put on mask. SOMEONE needs to CLARIFY this to guests. STOP causing upsetting rumors. It’s no wonder people are starting to hate WDW.