Although controversial at first, face masks have been a mandatory requirement for all guests at Walt Disney World since the resort began its phased reopening back in June. Since the initial requirement was announced, many updates to the policy have been made as the COVID-19 pandemic continues, with tighter restrictions now in place.
Now, according to the Orlando Sentinel, Orange County officials have suggested that the use of face coverings could be in effect until Spring 2021, or until a vaccine is available. Health Officer Dr. Raul Pino has stated that the need for masks could last “until maybe the spring, or until we have a vaccine.” Since we are only in summer, that makes for potentially a long wait until guests can freely visit the parks once more.
As time passes, alongside the addition of face-mask-free “Relaxation Stations” located throughout the parks to help guests relieve the discomfort of wearing masks in the hot Florida sun, wearing face masks has become a more tolerable part of our “new normal” of day-to-day theme park entry.
Most recently, guests were advised they must remain stationary while eating or drinking and wear their face masks at all times while walking around the park, and then the ruling was made to prohibit neck gaiters, or masks with valves or holes as suitable coverings.
Have you visited, or planned to visit, the Walt Disney World Resort since the new face mask rule was implemented? Or are you waiting for the restriction to be lifted and the parks to go “back to normal”? Let us know, we’d love to hear your thoughts.
Source: Orlando Sentinel
or it could last until COVID-19 Ends the world lol
To be honest, it is incredibly encouraging to have a date. Even a vague one. Something to indicate when this insanity will end. That there WILL BE an end. I actually cried a little bit. This is the first time i have heard any reference whatsoever to any kind of end to face mask requirements since the mandate madness swept across the country. To me that is a faint glimmer of hope for me to hang my hat on. To use as an emotional life raft on days when I’m pushed to my limits. That is what disney always was for me. A sunny place in my head where i could go when my current reality was too much. To have this again, even in a small vague way is a blessing. That being said My family and I will not pay disney prices to be told what to wear, where to stand, the manner in which we consume food and drink etc. I mean I get it. Covid is a monster that the world is afraid. Disney wants to be open at all costs so they are doing what they have to do and then some to be able to remain open. That’s fine. I’m not mad. And now i have a distant goal to focus on. And maybe just maybe it will be even sooner than that. Hope is such a wonderful thing.
Many health experts are saying masks are the new “norm” for the next 3-5 years. It is kind of anticipated that most vaccines don’t reach critical mass until around the fourth version of it is released. Even Fauci stated masks are here for a few years. Anyway, normal from 2019 is ways off.
Every day I regret our rebooked trip and knowing that they likely would pull this next year too I might try to have my credit card company refund my disney pass charge…waste of time and money at this point.
We’ve already been and we’ll be back in December! The masks aren’t that big of a deal (and we never take them off/pull them down/wear them incorrectly). We saw plenty of people using the relaxation stations, but wouldn’t get near them. I have a breathing disorder and autism, so it took a little getting used to the masks, but I just wore them all day when I was at home and never go out of my house without wearing one, so it really wasn’t that much of an issue. I forgot to breathe a couple of times, but it wasn’t that I physically couldn’t. It was just a cognitive thing. We got through it during a downpour in July. Wore our masks in the rain and the 103 degree heat. People can get through.
Ugh! I am not doing this for another year or too. Time to move back to the beach. The parks are no longer worth it.
Two.
Sure, back to the beach where everything is magically safer because who ever had a problem going to the beach.
Disney will never see “normal” attendance numbers until they lift the utterly ridiculous mask requirements, as well as suspension of parades, fireworks and character dining. These things make visits to the parks a lot less magical, and people will not pay full price for only a fraction of the true experience. Fools.
Just returned from DisneyWorld. The masks are a HUGE pain. Adults and older kids can manage but it’s crazy to require a 2 year old to wear them. However, the numbers are so low its worth putting up with a mask to ride everything with little to no wait! My husband and I will continue to use our passes but will not bring the little kids until the mask rule is lifted.