Packing for a trip to Disney World looks a bit different now than it did a few years ago. Face masks are no longer required on enclosed transportation at Disney World, but you may still be required to wear one in select areas of first aid centers, or you may choose to wear one simply because you want to!
Disney also notes, “It is recommended Guests who are not fully vaccinated continue wearing face coverings in all indoor locations, including indoor attractions and theaters and on enclosed transportation.” We’ve talked about actually wearing face masks in Disney World, but just HOW MANY masks should you plan on bringing with you? We have a series of questions you need to ask yourself to find out!
*Again note that mask rules have changed and masks are largely not required in the parks, though they are recommended in certain areas for those who are not fully vaccinated. Keep in mind that this post is mainly for those who will be following that recommendation or otherwise want to wear masks during their trip.
How many masks do you need in the parks each day?
Whether or not you prefer disposable masks or cloth masks, you’re going to want to plan on bringing multiple masks to the park with you each day if you plan on using them, so plan for AT LEAST two per person, per day.
Your mask may go missing! Like sunglasses, hats, or any of those other “loose items” Disney warns us about all the time, your mask could mysteriously vanish! Whether it somehow flies off of your face on a ride or you leave it behind at a restaurant, you will want to make sure you already have a backup in your bag, ready to go!
Another major issue we’ve discovered after hours upon hours in the theme parks is that not all masks are created equal. And sometimes that’s a GOOD thing! Masks are like shoes — some of them can get uncomfortable after hours of wear, pulling on your ears, or sitting weird on your face. Maybe they even steam up your sunglasses and just won’t quit. So, we’ve found that it’s good to have several different styles of masks available so that you can switch them out if one becomes uncomfortable.
Finally, it can be really good to have a couple of masks in case you want to double up. If you’re not already using a medical grade mask, you may feel more comfortable doubling up on your masks if you’re inside and around a lot of people.
See EVERYTHING you need to know about wearing face masks in Disney World!
How many days is your trip?
The length of your trip will have a big impact on the number of masks you pack. This number may also vary depending on whether you prefer to use disposable masks or reusable cloth masks, so we’ll break down the numbers for BOTH.
Disposable Masks
If you are using disposable masks, you’ll want to multiply the number of masks you’ll need each day in the parks (at least two per day) by the number of days of your vacation.
So for example, if your vacation is one week long (seven days), and you bring two masks to the parks each day, then you will need to pack a minimum of fourteen disposable masks per person. If you are on a shorter trip, say three days, then you will need a minimum of six masks per person.
Remember, it’s always a good idea to bring a few spares, just in case!
Cloth Masks
If you use cloth masks, the number that you need to pack will all depend on how often you want to wash your masks.
According to the CDC, reusable cloth masks should be washed as soon as they become wet or dirty, or at least once a day. It is also recommended to always wash your hands after handling or touching a used mask.
This doesn’t mean you have to machine wash your masks every night; you can wash them with hot water and soap in your hotel room sink at the end of the day and let them air dry. They should dry overnight just fine!
If you don’t think you will have time to wash masks, you’ll want to consider bringing as many masks as you can pack. By packing this way, you are essentially treating cloth masks as “disposable” masks that you only use once per trip. This way, you would do the same math that we recommend for using disposable masks above.
If you prefer to disinfect and wash your masks EVERY night, then you COULD get away with only bringing a few masks per person — but we still recommend you bring more than you think you need per day, just in case you get back to your hotel room super late and the LAST thing you want to do is wash your masks, or they go missing, rip, etc.
Also, keep in mind that if you’re particular about the soap you wash your mask with, you can fill a travel-sized bottle with your preferred laundry detergent from home. Otherwise, you might be scrubbing those masks in the sink with your H2O Spa Disney shampoo (which is totally fine, btw!).
What if I’m traveling with young kiddos?
Getting a young kid to wear a mask may be challenging. You may want to plan on bringing EXTRA extra masks for the youngest travelers in your party and let them pick their favorite mask each day as a way to help them enjoy the process.
Plus — you never can truly predict when a mask-related meltdown may happen in the parks. Having extra in a variety of styles can be a lifesaver if your kiddo decides they suddenly can’t stand that style of mask on their face and want a different option. We recommend being OVER-prepared here, even if it means you have a bag full of kid masks each day!
There are TONS of masks out there for sale (including some cuties we whipped up!). Have fun with your young ones and have them select their favorite masks they can look forward to wearing.
How can you REALLY get a 2-year-old to wear a mask in Disney World? Find out here!
Are you planning on purchasing masks while you’re there?
Face masks can be found at a variety of stores throughout the Disney theme parks, resorts, and Disney Springs. Previously, more general cloth masks were available (like the ones pictured below).
However, as of around April of 202 we’ve generally not really seeing many of those masks sold in stores. You may, instead, find just a limited supply of a specific style of mask or none at all. This is something to keep in mind as it might mean you’ll only have very limited choices when it comes to buying a mask in the stores.
In some locations (especially in the front of some of the parks or at Disney Springs), you may find a vending machine with disposable masks available. These will likely be more expensive than what you would pay at a local store or online, but they are available if you need them. You may also find disposable face masks for sale inside some of the stores in Disney World.
If you are planning on purchasing masks, you COULD pack FEWER masks with the expectation of getting more once there. We still recommend you pack enough masks so you aren’t stuck washing your cloth masks every day (meaning at LEAST two per person, per day). Also, there might not be the sizes or styles you need available in the store, so plan ahead!
Still looking for more masks to shop for? Check out our very own DFB face masks!
So, just HOW many masks do you need to pack?
Plan on packing enough cloth masks so you can go at least two days without having to wash them, so at least 4-5 masks per person. You can certainly pack more so that you NEVER have to wash them while on vacation, but we recommend you don’t bring only one mask if you plan on wearing masks throughout your trip. We also recommend bringing more than one style, and testing them out before you leave!
And always, always, ALWAYS have at least one spare mask with you in the parks each day (again, if you plan on wearing masks throughout your trip)! Pack more than you think you’ll need, and you shouldn’t have to worry. Stay tuned to DFB for more Disney World news, updates, and info.
Click here to see EVERYTHING you need to know about wearing a face mask in Disney World!
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Have you been stocking up on Disney-themed face masks? Let us know in the comments!
Shayne says
We are on day 2 of our vacation. We have discovered that how many masks you need will depend somewhat on your body. I’m by far the sweatiest one in my family and I easily soak 2 masks per day. Today I wished I had a third one. I’ve been switching to a fresh one after lunch. The others in my family don’t sweat as excessively as I do, and they’ve mostly made it through the day without having to switch. We’re staying at Copper Creek Villas so we just wash them every night since we have a washer/dryer in the villa.
DFB Sarah says
Shayne, I hope you’re enjoying your trip!