We reported last week that a brand new face mask policy was in place at Walt Disney World. The policy states that guests over 2 years of age must be wearing a face covering while “standing, waiting or sitting in dining locations” and at all times unless they are “actively eating or drinking”. This rule differed from before, where guests typically could remove their masks as soon as they were seated at their table. Now, the rule is written so that guests must remain wearing a mask until after their food has been ordered and at least until their drinks have arrived.
This new policy can still be found on the My Disney Experience app, however it does not seem to be enforced across the Walt Disney World Resort. A multitude of guests (including ourselves) have reported that the policy is not being enforced at many locations, and that many still remove their masks immediately once seated at the table, as well as linger after their meal is finished without replacing their mask. A lack of new signage at restaurants across the resort would further indicate that this policy may not be heavily enforced, or even stay in place at all.
We don’t know whether this new policy will stick around, or if it’s just being ignored. Perhaps it it simply there for legal reasons, or maybe enforcement just hasn’t started yet.
Stay tuned here at WDWNT for more updates.
What do you think of the new face mask policy? Let us know in the comments below.
Good!
Ditto—good!
‘Murica!
?
Agree!
It was ridiculous anyway
At San Angel Inn last night (February 28), we were asked to keep our masks on until our drinks arrived.
I applaud CMs for not enforcing yet another ridiculous mask “rule” that not only takes away from the Guest experience but treats people like sheep. Why on earth would you require people to mask up when already stationary at tables 6+ feet apart??? And don’t say because of “science” because that doesn’t fly anymore – Fauci and the CDC have proven they cannot be trusted.
It’s an aerosolized virus. Eating inside is a risk if exposure lasts long enough to get viral load to come down with COVID-19
my body my choice
I think it’s just there to try and get the California legislature to let them reopen. It doesn’t even sound like something that would be enforceable anyway.
It makes very little sense, to me at least, for them to go much more extreme with mask rules right now. We’re about to reach a point within a matter of months that they will be able to slowly roll back the policies as more and more people get vaccinated.
If things have really gone smoothly to this point, I don’t see the reason in making trouble when it’s been fine. People do need to be careful and mindful, some are not, but as an enforcer of rules, you have to know when to pick your battles.
To expand on that, people tend to argue back when they’re wrong and approaching unmasked people about a technicality is more dangerous than letting it be. When people get heated, they talk louder and get closer, right or wrong. It’s just not smart when it’s probably a matter of minutes before their food will be there anyway, or they will be masking up to leave the restaurant.
I think it’s ridiculous that you would have to sit there and wear a mask once you are seated at your table and away from others! I can see possibly putting it on while server is next to you but not while waiting for your food!
Good! Disney is starting to fall a part anyway. I’m not wasting thousands of dollars to have half the access to entitled vacation incentives and a ridiculous dining experience.
It’s likely being briefly trialed in some locations to assess the feasibility of such a policy in advance of Disney Cruise Line resuming operations.
DCL would have to have such a policy and could face penalties for noncompliance, as federal mandates state “the mask must be worn between bites and sips.”
Oh I hope not! That would be horrible to be “Californianized” with their eat sip mask on the cruise ships for Thanksgiving! Can’t wait to be cruising again, miss the aquaduck!
Are you getting paid on the side to “rat” out the restaurants which do not “force feed” this policy
Just plain stupid. Maybe just put it back on when your server is near.
Because Roma knows when your food is at the table…..?
I mean…yeah. It knows when you are eating in an restaurant vs gathering in an indoor space when no chewing is involved. It knows which party one is affiliated with and does not get passed during approved political gatherings in which masks are not worn. I’m fairly certain my eyes are going to pop out of my head if they roll any harder. The continued stupidity of this mask BS is starting to get difficult to abide. A group sitting six feet from another group is a group sitting six feet from another group regardless of cloth masks being pulled up between bites and sips. Is Covid passed during the time between swallow and the next bite? If people are going to be allowed to dine indoors, let them dine. If it’s so effing dangerous then close the restaurants. It’s so ludicrous I’m starting to wonder if disney isn’t pulling some massive social experiment to see just how idiotic they can get before people say “WOW. I’m not paying $10K for a limited experience, no service and constant mask police interference. Bye Mickey!!! Universal is happy to have my money and they aren’t quite as obnoxious!!”. Stop. Seriously. It’s enough.
I’ll be vacationing in Texas this year. They have no restrictions on anything and more importantly, no mask mandates.
Just ate in Epcot today and the new standard was definitely being enforced.
Where were you dining?
We go out to eat every Sunday morning here in Colorado, we’ve had no problems with sitting down, removing mask ordering food, wait for food, eat food, chill a bit, pay and (leave with used mask back on), but I’ll be damned if I’m told to keep it on, while maintaining 6 feet from other customers in the restaurant, being from “California” to being “Californianized” in Florida.
Odd that one person replied about San Angel Inn, ugh that is our Taco Tuesday night in 2 weeks! 😪
If I remember this post, I’ll post who was enforcing for St. Patrick’s Week!
The numbers are going down without this ridiculous policy. You are sitting with your loved ones with whom you are sharing a room,so why must you wear the mask at the table?
Silly policy especially when NYS doesn’t even have such a restriction. I’m glad that it isn’t being enforced.
Number 1 rule if you want a good tip, don’t make your customers angry. Cast members are smart folks. Even they know this rule is ridiculous.
Why not just follow the rules rather than try to skirt them? Keeping your mask on for a few more minutes before you’re given your drinks or food shouldn’t be an inconvenience. If it is, stay home.
The masks are dumb…and believe you me there are LOTS of people staying away. Our huge family will not go back.
Good for them! The cast members know this is a ridiculous request and will further upset the guests. We had planned to stop by on our way to Club Med in Florida and won’t do it now. I don’t understand this move at the point when the cases are going down and millions of people are getting the vaccine every week. It almost seems political at this point. We all know their liberal bias, but it shows brighter every day as it seems they pander to the government (and maybe the unions) instead of being moderate in their approach.
We visited Club Med (Port St. Lucie) in December and they had a moderate, common-sense approach. Masks inside and around food–many activities outside without masks. They asked for people to social distance and then let you…wait for it…have FUN! Yes, it was wonderful. We canceled our November anniversary at Disney World because it was too combative and restrictive. My husband had been scolded in October for sitting and not having his mask on between drinks of water!
We were told that Disney’s #1 priority was safety, but I disagreed and said it was “Guest Experience.” We are responsible for our safety. I know many, many people who have gotten COVID 19 when wearing a mask everywhere. If you feel unsafe around lots of people, then you should not go to Disney World.
But Disney has got to decide who they want to please. It should start with the guests and then the shareholders. This is (not) the way!
Well considering it’s not based on any science. It’s dumb idea.
Cases are way down over the past 2 months, more than 50%. 15% of the US has had at least one dose of the vaccine. At least 10% of the US has had COVID and should have some antibodies. Restrictions should be getting looser, not stricter. We know the virus struggles to survive in direct sunlight, if you can social distance why the need for a mask outdoors?
Good!
Kids walk around the parks with them pulled down. Adults show their noses. Disney cast members tell them to wear them right. They comply until the cast member is out of sight. Social distancing in line, most of the time you are on your own. The rules in restaurants don’t make sense. Difficult for a thinking person to enforce.
This is easy….if Disney wishes to invoke this rule….I will eat elsewhere….The one and only thing that will change a business is loss of revenue.
There’s nothing more ignorant than someone who complains about people and businesses not enforcing wearing masks which are nothing more than a precautionary measure and nowhere guaranteed to work. Yet, these same people who claim to “care” are always the ones going to amusement parks where they are around thousands of people all while they are still crying how unsafe they feel. If you want to be safe, stay home so the rest of us can enjoy our Lives. Also, if Disney World “cared” so much about the safety of its visitors then why won’t they let us reschedule our trip that we booked pre covid? Now they are forcing us to take this miserable, mask filled trip in 90 degree weather to Disney or we will lose our money. Disney is a joke!
i havent seen anywhere if neck gaitors are ok to wear instead of masks? or did i miss it somewhere
They’re not ok.
With the current state of vaccinations, etc. it seems time now for WDW to modify their mask mandate to allow children age 5 and under and any individual with medical proof of autism not to have to wear a mask so families may enjoy the parks together again.
Just to update the status as to the masks at disney world for grumpy, intolerant, husband’s like myself, the mask policies at Disney at the restaurants are not being enforced what-so-ever. I am currently here now 3/23/21. As soon as we sit down our masks are off. Also, the parks as they seem. My mask has been below my nose the vast majority of the time so my sunglasses don’t fog up. I’ve been here 3 days now and have only been reminded 3times and I’ve been to 3 parks. Epcot, magic Kingdom, and animal kingdom. So to answer your question: the mask Nazis aren’t too crazy here as long as you pull up your mask when they remind you then carry on a bit and lower it again. Trust me! I’m about as intolerant to these mask as one can get. However, today was our first day in the 80s but it hasn’t been too bad.
Disney can go bankrupt for all I care. The mask mandate is abuse.
There should not be a mandatory mask rule. It should be if you feel comfortable wearing them you can. People have medical issues, get horrible headaches, over heat, and get dizzy when wearing one. This is also against our constitution. Where is our freedom to choose? Masks have been proven to not work anyways and they are now saying 3 ft apart is good instead of 6ft. So I don’t think they even know what they are talking about anymore. I say get rid of the rule and if people WANT to wear them then so be it.
Will you have to wear a mask at Disney World.
My son has severe autism he has troubled wearing a mask, he has been fully vaccinatedare we going to be able to visit Disneyland ?