Disney announces plans to drop mask requirements at the Walt Disney World theme parks and resort hotels

Feb 15, 2022 in "The Walt Disney Company"

Posted: Tuesday February 15, 2022 11:00am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Beginning February 17 2022, Disney will no longer require masks to be worn at the Walt Disney World Resort hotels and theme parks for fully vaccinated guests, except when on transportation systems.

Walt Disney World will not require masks to be worn at either indoor or outdoor locations from February 17 2022

Face coverings will still be required by all Guests (ages 2 and up) on enclosed Disney transportation, including Disney buses, monorails, and Disney Skyliner. This is likely due to The Transportation Security Administration face mask requirement for individuals across all transportation networks throughout the United States, including at airports, onboard commercial aircraft, on over-the-road buses, and on commuter bus and rail systems through March 18, 2022.

The new policy was announced via the official Walt Disney World website at 1:05pm on February 15 2022.

Currently, Disney requires all guests to wear masks when indoors at Walt Disney World theme parks and resorts.

Signs at the front of Magic Kingdom remind guests that masks are currently required indoors

The change in mask policy at Walt Disney World comes at a useful time for the company, with the imminent debut of the Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser among new offerings that will benefit from guests not being required to wear masks.

Star Wars Galactic Starcruiser will benefit from removing the mask requirement at Disney World

The latest Walt Disney World mask policy that comes into effect on February 17 2022 is as follows:

Beginning February 17, 2022, Face coverings will be optional for fully vaccinated Guests in both outdoor and indoor locations. We expect Guests who are not fully vaccinated to continue wearing face coverings in all indoor locations, including indoor attractions and theaters. Face coverings will still be required by all Guests (ages 2 and up) on enclosed Disney transportation, including Disney buses, monorails, and Disney Skyliner.

This latest development continues a return to normal for Disney's domestic resort operations. Still, we should remember that Walt Disney World has been in this position before, when on June 11 2021 Disney dropped all mask requirements for fully vaccinated guests at the parks and resorts. That lasted until July 30 2021, when updated CDC guidance meant that Disney reverted to requiring masks when indoors for all guests and Cast Members.

Masks will still be required on transportation systems at Walt Disney World

Numerous mask policies have been in effect at Walt Disney World since the parks reopened from the COVID-19 shutdown in the summer of 2020. Even with this latest change, one thing that COVID has taught us is that it's an ever-changing situation, and as we have seen before, Disney may have to revert to a mask policy if conditions require it.

Nearby Universal Orlando dropped its mask requirement on February 11 2022.

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.