Orange County Mayor lifts mask mandate for everyone when outdoors - the implications for Disney World

May 14, 2021 in "The Walt Disney Company"

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Posted: Friday May 14, 2021 3:21pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

In a late Friday afternoon media briefing, Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings has announced that he is lifting the requirement for individuals to wear masks when outdoors.

Orange County says that masks no longer need to be worn outdoors

The decision was made after Orange County reached the 50% vaccination level among Orange County residents that the mayor had set out in late April.

This is a significant development for Walt Disney World as it allows Disney to follow that guidance for its theme parks and eliminate some mask use for the summer. At the same time, it makes it slightly easier for Disney to fall short of the CDC's new guidance to allow those who are vaccinated to eliminate masks both indoors and outdoors. Disney of course has no way to identify those who are vaccinated and those who are not, making following the CDC guidance difficult if not impossible. If Disney chooses to follow the Orange County guidance, masks are still required when indoors.

Bob Chapek indicated yesterday that masks use will be reduced during the summer, but fell short of specifying exactly where mask use will be eliminated.

As of now, Disney has made no changes to its mask policy at Walt Disney World, and facial coverings are still required both indoors and outdoors.

Universal Orlando has announced that it will drop the mask requirement for guests when outdoors effective May 15 2021. Universal will still require masks when indoors, including on attractions.

The next Orange County milestone is when 70% of the population 16+ has received their first dose of the vaccine and/or Orange County's 14-day rolling positivity rate is 5% or below. The current 14 day positivity rate is 5.7%. Mayor Demings expects that this next milestone goal is possible by July 4 2021.

Discuss on the Forums

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wdwmagicApr 14, 2022

This thread is going to take a break for a while until any changes are announced at Disney in regard to the last remaining mask requirements on transport.

Andrew CApr 14, 2022

If we are talking about WDW, put the blame on the company for keeping this silly rule in place. For airplanes, put the blame on the feds. When people realize stupid rules are in place and have no impact, they are going to be challenged. That’s just human nature and the reality throughout history. On the other end, when rules tend to make sense, people are more receptive. WDWs transportation rule is illogical. The feds 14 day extension of the public transportation rule at this point is the same. Expect more push back. It’s all about appearances than anything else and more and more people will pick up on that.

Chip ChippersonApr 14, 2022

No, you're not following the rules. You're planning the mask version of holding your finger an in from your siblings face and saying, "I'm not touching you!" And for the record, on my recent flights, the message was that masks had to be replaced between bites/sips, so unless you plan on holding g a drink to your mouth for the entire flight then you're not following the rules - but if you do that, please report back and let us know of how that worked out for you during turbulence.

Club CooloholicApr 14, 2022

I already explained it. It slows things down and makes it harder for the employees. And some might not really want to sit for 3 hours on a flight next to a guy sipping coffee the whole time.

Nonsensequitter75Apr 14, 2022

I don’t understand why you’re mad at me.

G00fyDadApr 14, 2022

There. Fixed the stupid. Now, go create ANOTHER account for me to ignore. :rolleyes:

Nonsensequitter75Apr 14, 2022

Thanks for understanding

G00fyDadApr 14, 2022

Okay.

Nonsensequitter75Apr 14, 2022

God bless, but no thank you.

G00fyDadApr 14, 2022

They are flag carriers for the socially inept and the self-important. They have one job here. It's stupid but they're going to do it.

G00fyDadApr 14, 2022

Just go back to your regular account. Please? For everyone.

Nonsensequitter75Apr 14, 2022

What can I say? I’m so lonely at this stage in my life, that the (virtual) company of people who hate me is better than the alternative, which is no company at all.

DisneyCaneApr 14, 2022

Hence why I asked the poster if they were intending to only experience outdoor attractions with outdoor queues. If yes, then I can at least understand their logic. If no, then the obsession about people not masking on transportation doesn't make any sense.