Theme parks have been implementing and adjusting safety procedures throughout the pandemic.
Cinderella Castle
Most recently, Disney World adjusted its mask policy to allow guests to remove their masks while taking photos outdoors. And as COVID-19 vaccinations continue throughout the country, states such as Florida are considering making changes to mask and social distancing rules. Now, another theme parks has adjusted its procedures, too.
As of April 12th, Dollywood has changed its mask policies. Guests were previously required to wear masks while indoors and outdoors; however, the new policy states that visitors can remove their face coverings when they are outside and able to maintain 6 feet of space from others. Temperature checks will also no longer take place.
©Dollywood
All guests are still required to go through ticketing areas and enter the park with approved face coverings. They are also required to keep their masks on while on rides, in queues, indoors, and outdoors when social distancing can’t be maintained. Dollywood has stated that they will mark areas where masks are required to help eliminate confusion. You can read the full policy here:
©Dollywood
As before, children 1 and under do not need to wear masks. Additionally, guests don’t have to wear masks while actively eating or drinking, while taking photos, or while on water rides.
©Dollywood
Dollywood’s new policy differs from Disney World’s, which requires guests to wear masks at all times when outdoors. Additionally, guests at Disney World are not allowed to remove their masks while walking and eating: they must be standing still. Bob Chapek, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, has also previously stated that masks and social distancing are expected to be required in the parks to some degree through the end of the year. So do keep this in mind if you’re planning a visit to Disney World.
Health and Safety Signs in Disney World
We’ll continue to keep you posted as theme park procedures change, so stay tuned to DFB!
Read More About Disney World’s New Mask Policy!
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We are going to Pigeon Forge the last week of June till 4th of July.
I was planning to go to Dollywood this spring since it seemed like they had safety in mind, but decided against it with this update. We’re not anywhere near herd immunity and this is way too soon.
I live about 3 hours from Dollywood, and this premature change does not surprise me. The bulk of their visitors are from Tennessee and the surrounding states, being one of the major local parks(the other for my part of Virginia is Carowinds in Charlotte, NC). I have no doubt this is largely due to local pressure in the form of slow ticket sales. A lot of people in Southwest Virginia, Northeast Tennessee, and Eastern and Central Kentucky won’t wear masks or get vaccinated, so I have no doubt this will turn out badly.
I’ve never been to Dollywood so I have no idea how that park is set up, but I’m trying to imagine how you would be in a park and have some areas outside where you were able to keep 6 ft between people and weren’t required to wear a mask and other areas where you were required to wear it. Seems like a logistical nightmare and very hard for those poor employees to enforce.
Wow Brad,
You are inferring something about a vast majority of the Flyover part of our country, very nice of you sir.
Please note that the majority of the places you are referring to have not seen any type of major COVID related issues.
Amazing stuff….but true.
If only other parks would follow …. wearing a mask outdoors for hours on end is not good for you as you continue breathing in bacteria already stuck to your mask, including germs and bacteria you may have sneezed or coughed out. There is NO EVIDENCE that outdoor masking is necessary at all.