It’s breaking news across the internet that Disney just announced they will no longer require face coverings for most outdoor areas in its Walt Disney World theme parks, Disney Springs, and other select areas of the Walt Disney World Resort starting tomorrow, May 15th, 2021.
This news is the newest in a string of announcements from Disney regarding to updated policy and procedure including Disney relaxing physical distancing requirements in select locations across the Orlando parks, and the Disney CEO, Bob Chapek, announcing an imminent boost in Walt Disney World park capacity. These new changes stem from vaccination rates rising, and updated information from the CDC that it is now safe for vaccinated individuals to be forego wearing a mask and gather in close proximately.
When discussing the newest information from the CDC, Bob Chapek, Disney CEO, stated that he believes that a more lenient mask policy will lead to an increase in park attendance for the upcoming summer months.
Please keep in mind this optional mask policy is only for guests that are outdoors. Disney’s face coverings policy is still in present on their website, and will still be enforced upon entering and throughout all attractions, in all theaters, including theater entrances, while on all transportation, including transportation entrances, in all indoor locations, including restaurants, except when actively eating or drinking while stationary. Also, Disney has clarified that Cast Members will still need to wear their face coverings while outdoors, just as they have been since the parks reopened.
| Face Coverings Required | Face Coverings Optional | |
|---|---|---|
| Upon entering and throughout all attractions | ✓ | |
| All theaters, including theater entrances | ✓ | |
| All transportation, including transportation entrances | ✓ | |
| All indoor locations, including restaurants, except when actively eating or drinking while stationary | ✓ | |
| Outdoor common areas | ✓ | |
| Pool decks | ✓ | |
| Please note, face coverings are not permitted while experiencing water slides or in the water. |
In the cases where masks are still required Disney will still be enforcing their face covering policies which we’ve have quoted below:
Face Coverings
Face coverings are required for all Guests (ages 2 and up) and Cast Members. Please bring your own face coverings and wear them in all indoor locations, except when actively eating or drinking while stationary and maintaining appropriate physical distancing. Face coverings are optional in outdoor common areas at Walt Disney World Resort, but are still required upon entering and throughout all attractions, theaters and transportation.
- All face coverings (whether disposable or reusable) must:
- Be made with at least 2 layers of breathable material
- Fully cover the nose and mouth and secure under the chin
- Fit snugly but comfortably against the side of the face
- Be secured with ties or ear loops and allow the Guest to remain hands-free
- At this time, based on guidance from health authorities, neck gaiters, open-chin triangle bandanas and face coverings containing valves, mesh material or holes of any kind are not acceptable face coverings.
Costume masks are also not considered appropriate and are prohibited from being worn, in alignment with our existing rules.
Face coverings may have an integrated transparent plastic panel to aid in viewing the wearer’s mouth. These face coverings must:
Be a fabric face covering featuring a solid plastic panel containing no openings that is attached to the fabric on all sides using tight knit stitching
Meet all face covering requirements listed above
The use of face coverings is not a substitute for physical distancing.
Although there are still many places that guests will be asked to wear their face masks, this is a huge step in things returning back to normal. Especially with the summer heat approaching, guests will be able to enjoy the breeze on their face while walking around outside the happiest place on Earth again.
Written by
Rachel Van Norman
Contributing Writer
Rachel fell deeply in love with all things Disney as a little girl. Now as a wife and a mother herself, she shares this Disney obsession with her son and everyone around her. From her love of princesses to eating all the Disney food, Rachel spends her time radiating Disney magic and keeping everyone up to date on Disney news.
