Masks no longer required outdoors at WDW

[GoingSince1990]

On the one hand, EXCELLENT news and a big step back towards normality. On the other hand I'm a bit bummed that we just returned from WDW and just missed this relaxation of the rules!

 

[Harmacist]

I am booked for late June, I am happy to lose the outdoor requirement, I just hope they keep the indoor requirements. Working in healthcare during all of this has shown that many people will lie and do the wrong thing if it avoids them even the most minor of inconveniences.

 

[atricks]

SeaWorld dropped the masks entirely, everywhere.

"Based on the recently announced guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, we are modifying our policy regarding face coverings at some of our SeaWorld parks. Face coverings will no longer be required for guests at SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando, and Discovery Cove who are fully vaccinated in accordance with CDC guidance. We will not require proof of vaccine, but ask our guests to respectfully comply with our revised policy.

All SeaWorld park employees will be required to continue to wear face coverings at this time. The safety of our guests, Ambassadors, and animals in our care remains our top priority. We will continue to monitor and address this changing environment as necessary. For more information, guests can stay up to date on our park policies by visiting our dedicated safety website.”

 

[Grumpy Mouse]

Fantastic! The June trip is saved!

I see the pictures of the lanyards - that is a great idea - but the pics don't show where we can get them. Where do I get a mask lanyard?

 

[rotlex]

Here’s hoping by our August trip the mask stupidity is dropped completely. Fantastic news!

 

[brockash]

Correct. Once you enter a queue all the way to the exit

We'll see...I'm betting in practice this will only be required once entering the "real" que.

 

[DLgal]

SeaWorld dropped the masks entirely, everywhere.

"Based on the recently announced guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, we are modifying our policy regarding face coverings at some of our SeaWorld parks. Face coverings will no longer be required for guests at SeaWorld Orlando, Aquatica Orlando, and Discovery Cove who are fully vaccinated in accordance with CDC guidance. We will not require proof of vaccine, but ask our guests to respectfully comply with our revised policy.

All SeaWorld park employees will be required to continue to wear face coverings at this time. The safety of our guests, Ambassadors, and animals in our care remains our top priority. We will continue to monitor and address this changing environment as necessary. For more information, guests can stay up to date on our park policies by visiting our dedicated safety website.”

Sea World said "hold my beer."

 

[sdeut]

We'll see...I'm betting in practice this will only be required once entering the "real" que.

It will probably be wherever the CM is stationed to get people to put it on. Plus they are decreasing from 6ft to 3ft so those lines may not extend out as long as they do.

I guess whatever it is we need to follow the rules and be nice to the CM.

 

[1lilspark]

This is good news. I am very surprised that there are people mad about it.

I think the big reasons people are mad is that technically you can be maskless per CDC guidelines if you are “fully vaccinated” and in Florida a) it’s illegal to ask for proof and b) children can’t be vaccinated yet

I know me personally hopes they keep it required for indoors a bit longer where as outdoors it will be nice to hydrate while on the go again

 

[sdeut]

I think the big reasons people are mad is that technically you can be maskless per CDC guidelines if you are “fully vaccinated” and in Florida a) it’s illegal to ask for proof and b) children can’t be vaccinated yet

I know me personally hopes they keep it required for indoors a bit longer where as outdoors it will be nice to hydrate while on the go again

Yep this - plus I thought they would give a bit of a heads up if people want to cancel. I am glad that this is only when you are walking around. I am glad they are keeping mask requirements at the entrance and in lines (whether inside or outside).

 

[ChanaC]

I just hope everyone who is excited about not wearing masks are also excited about getting their vaccines.

Seriously, just get vaccinated, people. The more people who are vaccinated, the better chance we'll have of getting back to 100% normal.

 

[PaladinButters]

I think the big reasons people are mad is that technically you can be maskless per CDC guidelines if you are “fully vaccinated” and in Florida a) it’s illegal to ask for proof and b) children can’t be vaccinated yet

I know me personally hopes they keep it required for indoors a bit longer where as outdoors it will be nice to hydrate while on the go again

I also think it’s not “mad” at Disney so much as in general but as a mix -
Part a lot of us who would very much like to be fully vaccinated are still waiting to be and the illusion of protection band aids are being ripped off quickly everywhere. We just needed a few more weeks. Especially those with kids.
And part we all know these new guidelines are about to descend into a free for all of obviously not vaccinated people in our personal space breathing in our faces everywhere we go. Risk just went up a ton for a lot of still vulnerable people and Disney is just the on- topic target for these boards.

 

[Grumpy Mouse]

Yep this - plus I thought they would give a bit of a heads up if people want to cancel. I am glad that this is only when you are walking around. I am glad they are keeping mask requirements at the entrance and in lines (whether inside or outside).

You do realize this is just the first step? This goes into effect tomorrow and will likely be quickly expanded to other areas in just a few weeks. Disney's competitors have already 'one-upped' them. As someone fully vaccinated, I'm ready for full compliance with the CDC guidance - drop the mask completely except public transportation - but this is a good first step.

And remember, no one is preventing you from wearing a mask at all times should you personally feel the need to do so.

 

[Grumpy Mouse]

I also think it’s not “mad” at Disney so much as in general but as a mix -
Part a lot of us who would very much like to be fully vaccinated are still waiting to be and the illusion of protection band aids are being ripped off quickly everywhere. We just needed a few more weeks. Especially those with kids.
And part we all know these new guidelines are about to descend into a free for all of obviously not vaccinated people in our personal space breathing in our faces everywhere we go. Risk just went up a ton for a lot of still vulnerable people and Disney is just the on- topic target for these boards.

May I ask which state you live in where the vaccine hasn't been available to you? In my state, all adults (down to 16 years of age), have been eligible since the end of March. All of the US vaccines are highly effective at just 15 days after the first shot; the second shot for the mRNA vaccines increases the efficacy some but primarily makes your immunity durable.

Children have a very low risk of contracting symptomatic COVID, and an even lower risk of a bad outcome. Lower than the seasonal flu.

And as I just posted to another person, no one is preventing you from wearing a mask at all times should you personally feel the need to do so.

 

[sdeut]

You do realize this is just the first step? This goes into effect tomorrow and will likely be quickly expanded to other areas in just a few weeks. Disney's competitors have already 'one-upped' them. As someone fully vaccinated, I'm ready for full compliance with the CDC guidance - drop the mask completely except public transportation - but this is a good first step.

And remember, no one is preventing you from wearing a mask at all times should you personally feel the need to do so.

We are going soon so I expect it to be this way. My kids cannot be vaccinated yet. I am using my DVC points and am within my 30 days so I would pretty much lose my points. I didn’t say don’t do this I said give a heads up so people could make a decision. We made a decision based on the rules when we booked now we cannot change that decision without losing our points. Obviously everyone has a different level of comfort and no one should be rude to others about their feelings. My kids (and us because I wouldn’t make them wear one without wearing one even though I am vaccinated) will wear a mask in areas we cannot social distance.

 

[PaladinButters]

May I ask which state you live in where the vaccine hasn't been available to you? In my state, all adults (down to 16 years of age), have been eligible since the end of March. All of the US vaccines are highly effective at just 15 days after the first shot; the second shot for the mRNA vaccines increases the efficacy some but primarily makes your immunity durable.

Children have a very low risk of contracting symptomatic COVID, and an even lower risk of a bad outcome. Lower than the seasonal flu.

And as I just posted to another person, no one is preventing you from wearing a mask at all times should you personally feel the need to do so.

Yes, we all know what we can wear you don’t have to keep telling people. It’s weird and comes off condescending. It doesn’t really matter anyway. I did freely call it an illusion of protection.
But since you asked - here ya go:
Vaccines opened mid April (the 16th I think) and appointments were hard to get. Finally snagged one after days and days of refreshing. Had the appointment cancelled the night before because it was for J&J.
Had to start over and get another slot. Finally get one shot. Supply finally tips over and appointments are now available no problem after the rush but it doesn’t matter because you have to wait four weeks to get the second and then two weeks after that to be “fully vaccinated” which is what the quide lines are for. So here we are - just needing a few more weeks to be fully vaccinated. Why is it so weird to want to wait just a little bit to be better protected? Why is it weird to not want to get sick at all even if it’s not “severe”?
I’m not even currently at Disney but since it just became riskier in my area to go to the grocery store where they’ve abandoned precautions overnight, I can surely empathize with anyone who just had that happen to them in any situation including Disney (and I’m certainly not going to touch any of if they were worried they shouldn’t have gone talk - the point being they made a risk assessment, made that choice and then things changed dramatically, even mid trip for some).

 

[Lsyves]

Yes, we all know what we can wear you don’t have to keep telling people. It’s weird and comes off condescending. It doesn’t really matter anyway. I did freely call it an illusion of protection.
But since you asked - here ya go:
Vaccines opened mid April (the 16th I think) and appointments were hard to get. Finally snagged one after days and days of refreshing. Had the appointment cancelled the night before because it was for J&J.
Had to start over and get another slot. Finally get one shot. Supply finally tips over and appointments are now available no problem after the rush but it doesn’t matter because you have to wait four weeks to get the second and then two weeks after that to be “fully vaccinated” which is what the quide lines are for. So here we are - just needing a few more weeks to be fully vaccinated. Why is it so weird to want to wait just a little bit to be better protected? Why is it weird to not want to get sick at all even if it’s not “severe”?
I’m not even currently at Disney but since it just became riskier in my area to go to the grocery store where they’ve abandoned precautions overnight, I can surely empathize with anyone who just had that happen to them in any situation including Disney (and I’m certainly not going to touch any of if they were worried they shouldn’t have gone talk - the point being they made a risk assessment, made that choice and then things changed dramatically, even mid trip for some).

My in laws in PA had to get a state senator involved to get their vaccines!

 

[Rick195275]

I think that since they dropped the requirement for guests, they should do the same for CMs.

Totally agree with you there that if CMs want to take theirs off they should be able to also. I think the problem there is many of them work indoors or entry points to queues etc so I’m not sure they can until they fully ditch masks.

 

[OregonDisDad]

Yes, we all know what we can wear you don’t have to keep telling people. It’s weird and comes off condescending. It doesn’t really matter anyway. I did freely call it an illusion of protection.
But since you asked - here ya go:
Vaccines opened mid April (the 16th I think) and appointments were hard to get. Finally snagged one after days and days of refreshing. Had the appointment cancelled the night before because it was for J&J.
Had to start over and get another slot. Finally get one shot. Supply finally tips over and appointments are now available no problem after the rush but it doesn’t matter because you have to wait four weeks to get the second and then two weeks after that to be “fully vaccinated” which is what the quide lines are for. So here we are - just needing a few more weeks to be fully vaccinated. Why is it so weird to want to wait just a little bit to be better protected? Why is it weird to not want to get sick at all even if it’s not “severe”?
I’m not even currently at Disney but since it just became riskier in my area to go to the grocery store where they’ve abandoned precautions overnight, I can surely empathize with anyone who just had that happen to them in any situation including Disney (and I’m certainly not going to touch any of if they were worried they shouldn’t have gone talk - the point being they made a risk assessment, made that choice and then things changed dramatically, even mid trip for some).

Sounds like quite an ordeal. Glad you were able to get your vaccine, and are just a few weeks away from being fully vaccinated.

I think the problem with Disney waiting is that for every person wanting them to wait, there is a person wanting them to change immediately. There is no winning. It thus makes the most sense to choose a medical authority that you are going to follow, and act in accordance with that authority as quickly as practical.

I actually think that Disney has been somewhat timid in their re-opening. They certainly have not been at the forefront of reducing restrictions. Florida, for example, has been fully open for some time, and there clearly has been a national trend in this direction. While I sympathize with those who are not yet ready to be in a park full of maskless people, it should not have been unimaginable that we would find ourselves here. I also expect that Disney would try to make some accommodation for people concerned for their safety.

 

[ScubaCat]

This is so dumb. If you can walk around without a mask then you can stand in an outdoor line 3 feet apart without one too.

I sure hope we can devolve into another mask debate!