Lots of health-based changes have made their way to Disney World since it reopened.
Disney Springs Reopening
Perhaps the most contentious of these changes is the required face coverings in all public areas of the resort. We’ve already shared what it’s like to spend the day in a face mask in the Florida heat and some tips for feeling comfortable. But everyone ages 2 and up has to wear one — which is leaving a number of parents wondering how on earth do you get your 2-year-old to wear a mask all day??? We’ve got some tips to help!
1. Choose the right mask.
If you think picking the right mask for you is tough, comfort is going to be about 9000 times more important when choosing a mask for your child! Disney has updated its requirements for the types of face-coverings allowed in the parks since reopening, stating that face coverings must be secured with ties or earloops in order to be acceptable.
American Threads Face Masks at Disney Springs
You don’t want to give your 2-year-old the same kind of mask that you’re wearing. First of all, you want their mask to fit their little faces. Forbes has a great list of masks for infants and kids. The better the mask fits, the fewer times your kid might try to rip it off in a fit of discomfort.
Tie-dye Mickey Face Mask
Kids respond to colors, patterns, and designs. Let them choose a few patterns they like — they’ll be more likely to wear it if THEY chose it themselves (but more on that in a bit!).
Disney-themed Cloth Face Masks ©Disney
If you opt for a traditional mask, REALLY put thought to how it secures. Members of our team with young kids had pretty bad results with masks with ties (they slip down your kid’s head, they’re too tight, too loose…basically they’re drove our kids [and us!] crazy!).
Worried about comfort in your mask? Click here!
2. Plan for and promise a LOT of breaks.
Once you’re in the parks, get ready to take a LOT of breaks. Like the URest Areas in Universal Orlando, Disney currently has “relaxation zones” in the parks where you and your toddler can remove your face masks and take a breather.
Relaxation Station
Promise your kid that you’ll take breaks whenever they need one and plan to take a LOT of breaks in the day. In fact, you might even take more than you had originally planned.
If those masks get irritating or your child isn’t used to them (especially the younger kiddos), you’re going to need to know where the nearest relaxation zone is FAST.
Remember that meals can be an option for a break, too! Guests can remove masks while seated at a dining table so factor that in when planning your theme park day. Order up some chicken nuggs and let your kiddo take a much-needed break at a quick-service spot or book a dining reservation (once they become available again) to let your tyke relax mask free over a long meal.
Click here to learn more about Disney’s proposed “relaxation zones!”
3. Give them treats as a break and a reward.
If there’s one thing that might work with getting a fussy kid to wear a mask, it’s bribery. Not speaking from experience or anything! 😉 So, if your little one is hanging in there with their mask, get ready to grab that Mickey Bar. Even if you would typically buy your littles a treat in the park, frame it as a reward so they feel better about keeping their masks on.
Premium Mickey Ice Cream Bar at Disney World
Plus, in Disney Springs, guests are allowed to pull their mask down while eating a grab and go treat. If the Disney parks follow a similar model, that Mickey Bar or rice krispie treat might act as both a reward and a mask break too.
Coconut Chocolate Rice Krispie
Consider alternative treats as well! Little ones might love a fun Mickey straw that they can sip under their mask, or let them have a piece of candy to keep them occupied and not so worried about their mouths being covered.
Want to learn more about eating on the go in Disney Springs? Click here!
4. Practice wearing a mask at home.
This next one is a BIG ONE. Before your trip, make sure that you AND your kiddo practice wearing a mask at home. Things might not go too well if your 2-year-old has never seen or worn a mask in their life and suddenly has to wear one for hours on end in the Florida heat.
Disney Springs Safety Ambassadors © Disney
In fact, some kids might not be used to having anything on their face in general. Consider starting with sunglasses or something else on the face that doesn’t impede breathing.
Once they’re comfy with that, move on to a mask. Start by having them wear it for a little bit at a time and work up to longer periods. This will help them to feel more comfortable and you can get a sense of their limits.
Advent Health Cast Member at Temperature Screening
Don’t just have them try their mask out inside either! Wear a mask WITH your masked kiddo so they see it’s a whole-family activity and go on a walk to get used to wearing one outdoors. If you feel comfortable doing so, you can also take them to a park, mall, or community area where masks are required to show them that others are wearing them as well.
Click here to learn about who is required to wear a mask in Disney!
5. Let them pick out their masks — and your mask!
We touched on this one initially, but seriously this can be the key for many parents — let your kids pick out not just their masks but yours as well! They might be more inclined to wear a mask if it has their favorite characters or a silly print on it. Disney has some awesome branded mask designs that your kid might love!
Disney-themed Cloth Face Masks ©Disney
Masks can be frightening for some small children so having them involved in the process of picking them out and making an event out of it makes it feel special. Plus, if you’re wearing a mask THEY select, they might respond better to seeing mom or dad decked out in a mask.
To find out where you can buy Disney masks, click here!
6. Give them an incentive if they wear the mask all day.
Remember that bribery thing we talked about? Yeah, it’s gonna be your best weapon in your “keep my toddler masked” arsenal! Consider coming up with an incentive if your kid will wear their mask all day, and stick to it. If you promise them something, give it to them if they do well and withhold it if they don’t so that they know you expect them to do better the next day.
Once Upon A Toy
Opt for something you wouldn’t normally get them like a super cool toy from a Disney gift store. Sorry mom and dad, you might be spoiling junior this trip to entice them to follow the rules! If they feel like it’s special or they HAVE to have it, you might see their sense of restraint kick in. Mask on all day? You can get anything you want from the gift shop (within reason 😉)!
Bribery=Your Best Friend!
Keep in mind that for many kids, their greatest weakness comes in the form of a chance to play in your resort pool (we totally get it — Disney’s pools are mega fun). Guests do NOT need to wear a mask while swimming so this is a way to give your kids a (free!) reward they’re probably already begging for AND a chance to go mask-free for a while.
Disney’s Riviera Resort Pool
If your kid is practically a mermaid, like many of ours, plan on heading back to your resort mid-day for a dip in the pool and remind your kid if they wear their mask all day, they have swimming to look forward to!
Does wearing a mask all day sound like no fun? Click here!
7. Keep your kiddo cool!
We’ve got another big one for you here. Keep your kid cool! This is an important tip for any time in Disney World (Florida is HOT!) but it’s going to be especially important with those masks! Most face masks don’t impede breathing but they will trap heat on your little one’s face.
Avoid paying for overpriced water!
There are a few ways to help mitigate the effects of this. Grab a clip-on fan for your stroller or a handheld fan that you can use to give your kid some extra air when they need it. Remember, you can get free ice water from any quick-service location, so stop for a cool drink whenever you can. Plus, you can always duck into gift shops or attractions for an AC escape!
Click here to see other things you didn’t know you could do in Disney World!
8. Show them that wearing a mask is normal, and even fun!
Ok, so wearing a mask isn’t normal and it would be a stretch for most of us to call it fun. But you know the same way you might put a big smile on and eat those brussels sprouts in front of your kiddo so they realize it’s not a bad thing, and they can do it, too? Same thing here. We’ve touched on this already with letting them pick their mask design and taking them somewhere that masks are mandatory, but we figured it deserved its own point too.
Cast Member with required face mask
If you think it will work, try enlisting an older sibling (one they look up to or think is cool!) to help with encouraging the younger one to wear a mask. Or, go about it in a cute and fun way! Consider getting them a new Mickey plush to bring on the trip and buy or sew a little mask for their new Mickey! This can help normalize the idea of masks and make them less scary.
For choosing the BEST mask for your Disney summer, click here!
Overall, you need to take your kid’s individual needs into account when considering a return to Disney. Know their limits; for some, wearing a mask all day in a theme park just might not be feasible. Gauge in advance whether the trip is worth the effort for your family, if it is, get ready to have fun! If not, consider holding off until masks are no longer required, or your child gets more used to them.
Worried about wearing a mask in Disney World? Click here!
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Have any plans for getting your little one to wear a mask? Share some tips in the comments!
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A two year old wearing a mask is ridiculous. Kids are not dying from it at all. Kids do not show transmission at all. I’m a pediatrician and wearing a mask is not advised from any other dr that I know.
3. Do not pretend to be above bribery 😂
JT & the Sea, bribery could probably be 1-8.
The fact that this article is trying to say and wanting you to convince your 2 year old that wearing a mask is “normal” is completely disgusting! There’s nothing normal about it. Do you know why most operating rooms are set at almost sub zero temperatures. Because wearing a mask sucks even for the doctors and nurses. And for Disney and all other theme parks to think it’s ok to force their customers to wear one is dumb. Just wait to open until everything can be normal. I’m so glad I took my 2 year old in March before the shutdown because he LOVED it. His favorite part was the character meet and greets. He’s begged to go back since. I hope I get to take him again someday but I won’t be spending thousands of dollars and not get to feel the magic that Disney offers. No parades, no character greets, forced masks in 100 degree weather. No thanks! I’ll wait. Hopefully Disney gets in their right minds again someday and opens the parks up to normal standards again!
Highly unrealistic. A two, or even three year old will not keep a mask on no matter how many snacks you bribe them with!
I can understand the requirement, but it breaks my heart to think of taking my two year old back to Disney and not be able to see his precious smile while experiencing the magic.
Or just be a parent and tell them this is a rule. Period end of story. There are a lot of rules our 2 year old will have to follow in life. This is one of them.
My children are 7,5,1 and the older two have accepted we won’t go if they have to wear a mask because they don’t want to nor do my husband or I want to. We were all so excited to go go this August!
James, your comment is interesting because every pediatrician office in Florida that I know of is TWO years old and up must wear a mask if they want to enter. And they do just fine.
Sorry but we have a 4.5 year old and a 1.5 year old. I know my 1.5 year old won’t keep a mask on. They don’t understand the reasoning behind it and it’s not healthy for them to be breathing in CO2 all day without fresh oxygen. That’s why the cdc suggest 3 & up.
Sarah, I think a lot can happen between now and August. Hopefully it’ll work out for you.
Ditto Courtney !!👍🏻
I won’t lie to my child nor will I try to convince her wearing a mask is normal. This whole mask thing is crazy! The mask does nothing good. It will however cause heat related problems and be a source of major annoyance. Already cancelled one Disney trip. Will not return to Disney until the ridiculous mask rule is lifted.
Wearing a mask in Disney is something that I will never do, and my wife and I are DVC members that went at least twice a year. Having said that, I believe that Disney is spot on requiring them, they actually do work when everyone is wearing them. I just don’t understand all the angry posts, a Disney trip is not a requirement, it’s supposed to be a pleasant experience. There can’t be anything pleasant about wearing a mask all day in Disney World, simple solution is to not go until you don’t need a mask.
I have 6 yr old twin grandchildren. One boy understands & will wear his mask with no problem. His brother has Autism. We have been practicing wearing a mask for weeks. He is up to 8 seconds until he’s over it.Many special needs kids that love Disney will not be able to attend any parks or Disney Springs, and will not understand why.
I have read every ‘tip and trick’ I can to get my 2 year old to wear a mask, and IT DOESN’T WORK! I believe wearing masks is important, that’s why I do. But my son will be 2 in 2 weeks, and he has no interest in choosing designs, he’s too young. He doesn’t understand bribery, he’s too young. He doesn’t understand promised breaks, he’s too young. He sees me wearing a mask and doesn’t feel inspired to wear his own, he’s too young. He doesn’t have a solid grasp of rules, he’s too young. He rips it off of his face as soon as I put it on, because, he’s too young. Seeing a trend? Maybe his respiratory system is capable of wearing a mask, but developmentally he’s not there. I would literally have to hold him down and hold the mask on his face to keep it on him. It’s a shame the things we will have to miss out on because the people making the rules are just not being reasonable.
Ashley, my son just turned two in July, and I agree with you: a young two-year-old is not going to be easy to keep masked up (if they put them on at all).
My 2 year old wears a mask no problem. We started in March (when we got home from our last Disney trip) to practice for our next Disney trip. She didn’t understand the reasoning, but she did understand the word “no” every time she touched her mask. Now she doesn’t take her mask off until we tell her it’s okay. We haven’t been back to Walt Disney World in several months due to an abundance of caution and avoiding crowds, but her ability to wear a mask has helped us function close to normally here in our state where there’s also a mask mandate (like in Orange county).
Yet another helpful article from DFB! Around age 2 or 3 many kids are a real behavior challenge, even without the mask issue. Your 8 ideas are appreciated, and worth trying, especially for kids who may be ahead of the curve in development…as most parents think theirs are. 🙂 NOTE: This piece was written before Disney banned “neck gators” so please consider an update.
I just got back from a week at Disney World with a two year old. He wore his mask all week and we had fun knowing Disney has made changes to keep us safe.
G Bird, I’m glad you had a fun trip!
Per the Disney website neck gaiters are not allowed. We went into the Disney store yesterday and my husband had to take his neck gaiter off and use one of their disposable masks because the cast member said they were not an approved face mask style.
My son is 6. He is special needs with severe sensory issues with things touching his face. He doesn’t undestand rules, bribery, breaks or the need to wear one. If I even touch his face with my hands or kiss his forehead, he can’t tolerate that. Its very dad but it what I have learned to live with. Whats even more sad is he loves Disney. He loves the characters (doesn’t want to get close) and he loves the rides. It breaks my heart that going for him isn’t an option right now. He loves it and doesn’t understand why he can’t go. Feels like he is being punished. Something really needs to give. This rule is non-compliant regarding ads standards and she fully be re reviewed.
When cast members get the vaccine, will the age limit be raised?
Ok, none of this information pertains to a 2 year old!! They are too young to understand breaks, bribery, and promises. My almost 2 year old is behind in speech and has trouble communicating as it is. I have been trying to get her to wear a mask and she will not! She just cries and pulls it off. I can’t even get it on her. If you don’t have a 2 year old or remember what a 2 year old is like , please do not comment. I do not know of any 2 year old that will keep a mask on. This is absolutely heartbreaking because I know we can not travel or visit somewhere because some idiot at the CDC said 2 year olds need to wear masks.
Yeah….a young 2 year old won’t understand any of this. They live in the moment. Forcing a baby or very young toddler to keep something over their face when they just don’t understand sounds torturous for both the two year old and a parent.