Looking to enjoy a Dole Whip while strolling through Adventureland? Or snack on a Mickey ice cream bar while walking to your favorite attraction? Well, you may need to start including a break in your park routine if you planned on enjoying those drinks or snacks while on the go.
According to multiple reporters that we’ve had around the Walt Disney World theme parks today, guests are now being asked to stop and remain stationary, standing off to the side, while consuming drinks and snacks. While moving throughout the park, masks must remain on.
We took a moment to stop and ask a Cast Member at EPCOT about the new rule, we were informed: “guests are now being asked to find a safe spot six feet from other guests before removing their masks to eat and drink.”
Do keep in mind that face masks are strictly enforced and guests not wearing the required face mask will be asked to either put one on or leave. If you find yourself needing to take a break from the mask, remember there are “relaxation stations” in every Walt Disney World theme park. Once inside these stations, guests may remove their face covering and have a socially-distanced sit-down.
Of course, follow along with us at WDWNT as we continue to cover the phased reopenings of the Walt Disney World Resort theme parks.
I don’t hate that idea totally. On my bus ride to MK this morning, a woman had her mask off the entire time because she had a drink in her hand. She never drank from it. She just talked the entire time. 🤦♀️
How strictly are they enforcing masks with 2 year olds that take them off frequently?
Are they letting people have a snack or drink in the relaxation zones if it looks like something that can be finished within ten minutes? I’d imagine a full meal could not be taken to that area.
That COVID-19 virus never takes a break.
I do think it funny bc people are not going to listen they walk around with a drink in there hand or ice cream they are not going to leave there mask on. I really don’t understand why they opened the parks it totally crazy people pay the same amount of money that did before all this and now half the stuff is closed and you have to walk around with mask on in 90+ weather.
It’s a shame WDW has fallen
Prey to the very disturbing and inaccurate agenda of this sniffles-19 over inflated numbers and fear mongering. They have hardly anyone in the parks and no one is getting near you so why tell people they can’t even sip water walking through the park in hot and very humid weather! I will never return until this ridiculous nonsense is over and done with. I hope they’re happy with losing so much money. They’ve completely destroyed the magic! They will never see another penny if my money until they come to their senses and stop this!
That’s legit false. Here now and eating and drinking without a mask. Report truth or just throw in the towel.
This didn’t age well lol
Ha! False. I was there today. Walked around for 20 minutes with a starbucks in my hand without ONE comment. In fact, one CM even joked…”this guy knows what he’s doin’!”
I like when I don’t get to approving these for a few days and then it’s confirmed by Disney and signage changed to match it.
We were at AK today and did not find this to be true at all. I even made a comment that ‘people act like if you buy a bottle of water you can just walk around without a mask on’. I think this SHOULD be an enforced rule IF masks are considered to be essential for everyone’s safety.
I think it makes sense
I’m actually surprised they didn’t outright just have designated eating areas.
For whatever reason, this put me down a train of thought: I bet a camelback backpack would be real nice for a theme park in the current situation. You could just feed the rubber hose under the mask. Keep hydrated. Not being able to keep drinking liquid constantly while in Florida just sounds like a nightmare to me.
How does this work with food and wine at Epcot? Every time you buy from a kiosk the expectation is to IMMEDIATELY eat it? Not every kiosk (from my memory at last years Food and Wine) had accessible seating areas to enjoy food.
You are right. We were there today and that was our biggest complaint. Disney makes you now stop walking, get away from everyone else before being able to take off you mask to consume their expensive food and beverages. There were no chairs set up, barely any tables. We are annual passholders and normally like Epcot the best, but not this year.
Wow, it sounds like a GONG SHOW. There is no way I would spend money to adhere to those restrictions. It doesn’t sound the like fun at all. I went in Feb 2020 and I can not imagine going with a mask on…I feel they should have remained closed especially since the State of Florida has such a high COVID case rate.
Yay about time
We need to find a safe spot 6 feet away from someone to eat or drink? Seriously? We’re in a THEME PARK. Even with reservations only, it’d still be crowded. What, is everyone just supposed to stop moving and wait for someone to finish eating so that they can stay 6 feet away? What’s next, only one person can use the bathroom before it shuts down for the day?
This is always been the case from DAY ONE of cast member previews.
It wasn’t.
Sounds like loads of fun… 🤦 Are people actually paying full price for this ‘experience’
Funny stuff. A result of folks walking around with a near empty cup mask off claiming their drinking
People are always looking for the loophole
People trying to get around the rule of wearing a mask by drinking water or eating a snack is why this happened. Too many people trying to find a way around the rules. Don’t worry the park will be closed again soon.
Unhappy worker
I’ve been going to Disney World since I was a kid, but with the draconian mask requirement, I will never go again, even if the mask requirement is ever lifted.
The Parks are open because ESPN has a contract with DISNEY for tons of cash. Disney has called back specific locations for reopening the Parks. Most of the guests who visit are members and locals. The Parks are relatively quiet. If you attend you are able to ride several of the rides multiple times. The cast members who have been called back are not receiving a full 40 hour weeks and they are calling for more cast members to return to work. Cast members are part of a union at Disney so not every person produces the same amount of work or has the same work ethic.
Florida is currently the epicenter of pandemic and the borders are all closed. The NBA is completing their play off season on Disney property. With Pandemic out of control People from other states will more than likely resist attending the Parks . What will Disney do to their cast members once NBA leaves ?
Where are your stats for the Parks? What type of article speaks about facial coverings verses the amounts of people at the Parks? How many people are attending the Parks and is Disney profiting on its reopening? They profit from .NBA at current moment in time.
This sounds… Awefull. I’m glad I cancelled my vacation plans. I’m definitely staying away until things get back to normal.
No one puts baby in the corner!…..except Disney.
TRULY PATHETIC
My family and I have been to WDW many times. It was always a “magical” place for us. The minute you exited the tunnel and stepped on to Main Street in the Magic Kingdom, you forgot about the “outside world.” Now, with the new “masking” rules, the Magic is gone. We go to WDW to escape the “outside world” for however long your length of stay is. As long the mask rules are in place, my family and I will stay away. Some of you may say, “Fine. More room for me.” If you can slog thru WDW wearing masks all day, more power to you. I’m not doing it.
Go home!
I watched a video taken yesterday at Magic Kingdom and majority was empty. Do they really need to be THAT restrictive that you have to stand somewhere to eat or drink now? It’s just getting to be too much anymore.
I knew there would be those types who’d try to skirt the mask requirement by walking around with food and/or drinks in hand. This is the way to go for Disney.
Isn’t one of the key enjoyment factors of an Epcot festival is to enjoy your food/beverage while walking around and exploring the countries? Ya know, taking in the sights, sounds and smells? Now they took THAT away from Guests.
How much more of hit to the Guest experience is Disney going to impose? Outside of die hard fans and Florida residents, who is going to put up with this nonsense at the parks? At this point, expect nothing less.