Earlier today, the Walt Disney Company held their quarterly earnings call for Q2 of their 2021 fiscal year, giving us a better idea at the company’s financial status at the moment.
Disney Mask
During the call, we got some news about how Disney is already increasing capacity. And Disney’s CEO made a comment about the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s updated mask guidance which was just issued today.
Earlier today, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention shared updated mask guidance for those who are fully vaccinated. Keep in mind that the CDC defines people to be “fully vaccinated” 2 weeks after their last dose of the COVID-19 vaccine (the 2nd dose in a 2-dose shot series, or the 1st dose in a 1-dose shot series).
According to the CDC’s updated guidance, those who are fully vaccinated may once again resume many indoor and outdoor activities without a mask, except in certain settings, such as when a settings where a mask is required by certain government regulations or business policies.
©CDC
When discussing parks and capacity, Chapek briefly mentioned this updated guidance. Specifically, he noted that the guidance released by the CDC about masks is “big news” for Disney. He said that this was big news “particularly if anybody’s been in Florida in the middle of the summer with a mask on.”
Chapek indicated that he thinks that’s “going to make for an even more pleasant experience,” presumably referring to the updated guidance.
New Mickey Face Mask
In an interview with CNBC’s Fast Money Chapek also said “there’s gonna be a lot more comfortable people this summer in Orlando. You can only imagine what it’d be like in 95 degrees and 95% humidity wearing a mask so we’re thrilled to be able to do that.”
Demand at Walt Disney World is already back to 2019 levels in terms of forward bookings, says $DIS CEO Bob Chapek. Here's his outlook as the CDC loosens mask rules. pic.twitter.com/pcs99Z9dRV
— CNBC's Fast Money (@CNBCFastMoney) May 13, 2021
Disney World is still requiring all guests ages 2 and up and Cast Members, including those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine, to wear a mask at all times, except when specifically permitted to be removed.
©Disney
We’ll continue to keep an eye out for more updates from Disney and let you know what we see.
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Really hope if they take away the mask mandate they will offer guests who do not feel comfortable going without a mandate refunds. I have a trip planned for the end of June that I will not feel comfortable making without the mandate. They will have no way of knowing who in the parks have been vaccinated.
This uncertainty and lack of knowing what to expect with plans to visit the parks in early July has me more stressed than anything else. I understand that Disney is doing their best but this is an international destination and every country isn’t where the US is some better some worse. I might be in the minority but significant changes to park capacity and rules right now would have me contemplating cancelling.
They were far too hasty in cancelling Mickey’s Not So Scary Halloween Party! I wish they would reconsider but I guess that’s not happening now that they’ve already announced the Boo Bash. I don’t know what they were thinking. Universal is having Halloween Horror Nights as usual. We would have gone back for MNSSHP! But not for the watered down Boo Bash. So disappointed.