As the situation with COVID-19 has developed, a number of changes have been announced by local businesses, government agencies, theme parks, and more.
Florida Palm Trees
Previously, Orange County, Florida (where part of Disney World is located) announced a phased approach to reducing distancing and mask requirements in the county. Most recently, Orange County reached phase 2 of its plans, but it’s expected to move into its last phase tomorrow, when all restrictions will be removed.
Just as a quick summary, Orange County, Florida previously announced a 3-phased plan to reduce mask wearing and distancing in the county. Once the county reaches certain COVID-19 vaccination and/or case rate related markers, it may then transition into the next phase of the plan. Orange County is currently at phase 2, where masks are no longer required outdoors.
Florida Sunset
Phase 3 begins in Orange County, Florida when 70% of the Orange County, Florida population ages 16 or older have received their first dose of the vaccine and/or Orange County’s 14-day rolling COVID-19 positivity rate is 5% or below.
At that point, ALL mandates in Orange County, Florida will be lifted. This includes the indoor mask mandate.
©Orange County, Florida
Orange County has not yet reached that 70% vaccination benchmark. However, according to Mayor Demings, Florida Department of Health projections indicate that Orange County will reach that 14-day rolling positivity rate of 5% or below tomorrow. That means the county will transition into phase 3, where ALL mandates are lifted.
Mayor Demings also announced that as of today, Orange County is no longer under a local state of emergency. The county has been in that state of emergency for 15 months.
Florida Palm Trees
Just keep in mind also that Orange County’s phased plans and restrictions were effectively made unenforceable due to the Florida governor’s Executive Order suspending all local COVID-19 restrictions.
Also, Disney World, while located in Orange County, does not have to follow Orange County’s move and lift its restrictions since it is a private business and is allowed to enforce its own rules. Masks are currently required in indoor locations and certain other places in Disney World, and distancing is still required as well (though it is being phased out).
We’ll keep an eye out for more updates.
Click here to see how physical distancing has been reduced at one show in Disney World.
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It’s about time. Most other states removed the silly mask mandates months ago.
It is time for Disney to face reality and realize they are the LAST place with the stupid and ineffective mask rule.
Get rid of masks for all and just go back to 100% normal Disney.
Please don’t come to Disney and give cast members a hard time if you don’t want to wear a mask. There are many other theme parks that you can go to.
And that is where the problem begins. At first everyone was required to follow the mask mandates, and they did. But now that the mandates have been lifted, it seems companies can do whatever they want, because they are private companies. For anyone who didn’t see this coming, I have a bridge for sale. In my opinion if a company or a business had to follow the mandates when this all started, then they should be required to end them also! Not do whatever they feel like doing…
Disneyland needs to release the disabled to not wear a mask if they are fully vaccinated. This sucks! I have a daughter with Down syndrome and won’t wear one. We were planning to go in July 2021 and now we can’t sue to this stupid rule!!!