Updated CDC mask guidance may soon begin to pave the way for more relaxing of mask use outdoors at Disney World

Apr 27, 2021 in "The Walt Disney Company"

Posted: Tuesday April 27, 2021 12:30pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has today announced new mask guidance to recommend that fully vaccinated people can unmask outdoors if they are walking, running, hiking or biking alone or with members of their household.

However, the CDC is continuing to recommend avoiding large-sized gatherings, and fully vaccinated people should also avoid medium-sized gatherings. For the fully vaccinated who do chose to attend a crowded outdoor event, wearing a mask is still recommended.

Updated CDC Guidelines April 27 2021

In today's guidance, it has also been clarified that fully vaccinated people can also go mask free while dining at an outdoor restaurant with friends from multiple households.

Updated CDC Guidelines April 27 2021

The updated CDC guidance was announced in a briefing by the Whitehouse COVID team a few moments ago. The news was not unexpected, as top advisor Dr. Anthony Fauci hinted over the weekend that the guidance would be updated this week.

Special teams of Cast Members enforce mask use at Magic Kingdom

The updated CDC mask guidance could begin to pave the way for a further relaxation of mask use at Walt Disney World. Current face covering rules at the Disney theme parks mean that masks must be worn at all times, expect for while eating, drinking and taking photographs while stationary.

Assuming that Disney World theme parks fall under the crowded outdoor event category, the CDC recommendation continues to be masks for both fully vaccinated people and unvaccinated people, with those who are vaccinated being designated the safest, and those who are not vaccinated the least safe.

Health and Safety signage for COVID-19 at the Magic Kingdom

Any updated guidance coming from the CDC is especially significant because Disney has followed CDC guidance from the very first days of the pandemic.

Disney guests were allowed to remove masks for photos in early April 2021

Disney most recently relaxed its mask policy in early April, allowing guests to remove masks to take photographs while stationary. It should also be noted that Disney remains under Orange County mandatory mask usage rules, which Mayor Jerry Demings has said he expects to be lifted in the summer.

There is no update yet from Disney on this latest CDC guidance.

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.