Now that face coverings have become a part of our everyday lives and local health officials have mandated them in both Orange County, Florida, and Anaheim, California, it’s more important than ever to get CRYSTAL CLEAR on what constitutes an acceptable face covering before visiting Walt Disney World and, eventually, Disneyland. We’ve done the research and learned that not all masks are created equal — nor are all face coverings acceptable.
Rainbow Mickey Face Mask
We’d hate for your to go through the effort of traveling to Disney World and arriving at the park gates, hotel entrance, or Disney Springs only to find that the face covering you brought is not allowed. So we’re breaking down exactly what DOES NOT count as an acceptable face mask at Disney World right now.
There’s a huge huge variety of face masks out there — different styles, sizes, materials — you name it. By now, you probably have a favorite. But, what if the face mask you’ve grown accustomed to doesn’t get the green light at Disney World? Better to find out NOW rather than when you get there!
Cast Members
Check out these 7 helpful tips for wearing a face mask at Disney World!
When Do You Have to Wear a Mask at Disney World?
Disney World is requiring guests (ages 2 and up) and Cast Members to wear face masks at all times with just a few exceptions. You can take off your mask when swimming or eating and drinking (either seated in a restaurant or on-the-go).
DFB branded Orange Bird Mask
But you should definitely approach your time at Disney World with the expectation that you’ll have your mask on the vast majority of the day when you’re not in your hotel room.
In the market for a new face covering? Check out these Disney Food Blog masks here!
So Which Face Coverings Aren’t Acceptable at Disney World?
Disney World has detailed very specific guidelines on their website about what they consider an acceptable face covering. These three types don’t make the cut and won’t count as a face mask at Disney World.
Gaiters
Disney recently updated their face covering policy to confirm that gaiters can not be worn in the parks.
Gaiters
While these were allowed for some time in Disney Springs, they will no longer count as an acceptable face covering in Disney World.
You can read more about Disney’s decision to not allow gaiters in the parks here.
Bandanas
Face masks must fit snugly around the nose and mouth to be accepted at Disney World. While most face masks with elastic or tie-on straps will do the job nicely, bandanas have been deemed by several cast members we’ve spoken to be too loose to provide adequate coverage.
Monsters Inc. Bandanas
There are ways to turn your bandanas into acceptable face masks and you don’t have to be a seamstress to do it! Learn how here!
Click here to learn more about Disney World’s proposed “relaxation zones” where guest might be allowed to briefly remove their masks inside the parks!
Face Shields
These plastic face coverings are becoming more common and some Cast Members are being issued them when they return to the parks. They’ve been popular with the medical community for some time since the shield acts as a protective barrier for the eyes as well as the nose and mouth. However, when worn without a mask, face shields are not an acceptable form of face covering at Disney World.
©Bauer
So if you want to wear a face shield for extra protection, they’re allowed — but you have to ALSO be wearing an acceptable mask underneath it.
Since Disney World is private property, they can deny any guest service if that guest does not comply with their policies. We understand it might take some extra convincing (and maybe a little bribery!) to get your 2-year-old to wear a mask at the parks all day, but we’ve got some tricks up our sleeve to help you with that!
See which face masks are the most comfortable to wear during a long day at Disney World here!
Disney Cloth Face Masks
Because Disney World’s guidelines could change, we’ll make sure to keep you updated on what does and doesn’t count as an appropriate face covering at Disney World. If you’ve got any questions about what makes the cut, make sure you drop them in the comments below and we’ll get you some answers!
Click here to read what it’s like to wear a mask in a theme park all day!
Disney Park Reopening Details and Info
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What’s your go-to style of face mask? Let us know which ones you’ve tried and liked the best in the comments below!
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Still waiting for confirmation re: neck gaiter style face coverings?!
Becky, we’ve been told they’re fine. They are close to the face and can cover the nose and mouth.
So, neck gaiters are fine to be worn at Disney Springs and Walt Disney World? My husband and I have bought tons for our September/October trip and for myself I work at a school with a Summer Program.
According to above guidelines, all masks must be secured with ear loops or ties.
Face shields should be allowed as an alternative for people with asthma.
As soon as one asthmatic person gets told it’s not allowed and hits Disney with an ADA complaint, they’ll change their minds.
How much are your Disney facemasks?
Having spent a few hours at Universal last week, it really doesn’t matter because there is no comfortable way to wear a face mask outside in Florida in July. Bring extras if you can, because within a very short time, your mask (n9 matter what kind) is going to be SOAKED to the point where it becomes difficult for it to stay up on your face. I’ll wait till fall / winter before I go back.
Karen, you can check them all out here.
Tacocat, yes, that’s what the policy says. That’s why we have specifically asked about gaitors, bandanas, etc.
Lanie, we have asked about gaitors multiple times and been told they’re acceptable. We have also seen lots of people wearing them.
It says gaiters are not allowed unless secured with ear loops. I don’t think they should open right now with Florida’s numbers at an all time high. Not worth losing your life over. Disney will be there next year and the year after. No one will follow the correct distancing especially during fire works. I’m not going til next year if the virus has gone away by then. IT will be miserable all day wearing a mask and who wants to be miserable all day. And you won’t have much alcohol in the parks with the bar bans in Florida right now. Just wait people.
Well about ear savers that use buttons in the back to make a sorta band around the back of your head converting ear loops for less discomfort?
We just spent July 4th weekend at Universal. It was hot and masks got soaked with sweat. Very quickly. I picked up chiffon material masks and it helped some. Just be prepared.
Crystal, not only do I have severe asthma but also only one lung and have not found a problem wearing a mask all day, my oxygen levels haven’t dropped (use a pulseox to check) I have been experimenting with different styles for our trip in September. People with asthma can and do wear a mask quite comfortably if you find the right one.
Good luck keeping a mask on a two year old all day. That is laughable. Even for a 4,5,6,7 etc year olds. Not gonna happen.
We were at the Beach Club yesterday for lunch and someone with me was wearing a gaiter and a manager approached him to tell him that was no longer an acceptable face covering and told him she would provide him with a paper mask from the front desk of he didn’t have a different (suitable) one with him. We had previously worn these to Disney Springs but she told us they had recently updated their policy.
Randytfitz, thanks for the info. I’ll have the team look into this.
@crystal ADA does not supersede pandemic guidelines when they pertain to public health. Look at the laws. As a person who is covered by the ADA, I am very familiar with what is and what is not allowed to be altered, and when it comes to a massive public health catastrophe, modifications that are seen as dangerous to others are not deemed against any rights. Simply having asthma does not preclude a person from having or spreading COVID-19, and going to a Disney park is not a civil right, so the ADA does not apply in this situation. Public health comes first and masks are critical. If a person cannot handle the heat/humidity/perceived inconvenience of a mask, they should not go. That’s the basic reality. Their health problem does not give them the right to threaten the health and well-being of everyone else who is there and complying with the guidelines.
Nick, the language says ties or ear loops. What you’re describing seems like it would be okay because it would “tie” behind the head. But we’re seeing lots of inconsistency on-site and in chats with Disney.
where can i buy the disney masks? the black and white one in the photo.
Crystal, Disney’s official position is that if you cannot or will not wear a mask, then you should delay your trip until it is safe for you to travel. I don’t think anyone is going to sue under ADA because Disney isn’t prescribing specific masks, just that you need one that meets basic fit guidelines. You can request a reasonable accommodation under ADA rules, but I would do so prior to going to Disney or any other entertainment venue to be sure you will be accommodated. For example, a shield MAY be an accommodation for someone with asthma, but there may be other options as well.
Also, my late husband, an RN who spent hours every shift in masks, had asthma and did fine in them, even while doing things like CPR, so unless you have additional impairment of lung function, you should be able to find a mask that works for you.
The mask police are all over Disney.
I may be uneducated but what is a GAITOR ??
And for Mary Ellen. There will be NO fireworks at WDW for the forseeable future as well as Parades.
Living in NJ and having gone through the worse of the COVID-19 shutdown, I can tell you from experience (and lots of local ER docs and nurses) that ANYONE using Asthma, or any other “excuse” for not wearing a mask is a member of the Flat Earth Society. Cloth or disposable masks DO NOT, I repeat D O N O T hinder your oxygen levels. You don’t want to wear a mask? We have a saying here in NJ — DON’T BE A KNUCKLEHEAD and feel free to Stay Home! Case in point, today, I was at the grocery store and an older man was twice escorted out of the store for refusing to wear his face mask. He finally came back with a cone-shaped mask (Madonna would be proud) and the Manager let him shop.
Will they allow “vented” face masks? I haven’t heard anything about these. They may seem more comfortable to wear but they defeat the purpose of wearing a mask because air vents directly out.
Steven, you gave me a chuckle with “Madonna would be proud.”
George, we saw these in World of Disney in Disney Springs.
The website has been updated to explicitly forbid gaiters.
“At this time, based on guidance from health authorities, neck gaiters and open-chin triangle bandanas are not acceptable face coverings.”
Gwen, you’re right. That change was made recently.
Are ventilator face mask allowed at Disney?
It looks like they removed the vented masks off not allowed is them at true? Can we wear our masks with vents?
Megan, I still see this language on disneyworld.com: “At this time, based on guidance from health authorities, neck gaiters, open-chin triangle bandanas and face coverings containing valves, mesh material or holes of any kind are not acceptable face coverings.”
I have a rare form of asthma and one of my lungs is not working at all right now. While I can appreciate the fact that the mask sucks in and out of your face when you breathe it does not alter the amount of oxygen you get or your oxygen levels. I bought these little plastic shields that fix inside my mask that keeps the mask off my mouth and it helps me so much. I’m not sucking in the mask each time I breathe in. We did find that when I wear the mask that allergens don’t trigger my asthma as much. Except for the cold. That triggers it all the time.
We are planning on coming in June of this year. We have clear plastic face masks that hook over our ears and do cover our noses and mouths. They open at the bottom for better breathing. Will these masks be allowed?
Beckers 76, the official language says “Face coverings may have an integrated transparent plastic panel to aid in viewing the wearer’s mouth. These face coverings must:
Be a fabric face covering featuring a solid plastic panel containing no openings that is attached to the fabric on all sides using tight knit stitching
Meet all face covering requirements listed above”
Here’s the link to the info.