Disney World has made many updates to its mask requirements since reopening last summer.
Face Mask Signs
The parks have strictly upheld their face mask policies to promote safety for all guests and Cast Members in line with health guidelines. Masks must be worn at all times, with the exception of eating and drinking while stationary, swimming, or sitting in a mask relaxation station. Now, there’s been a change regarding when guests must wear face masks.
The newest change will affect how guests wear masks when dining at a Disney World restaurant.
Garden Grill
The new policy shared on Disney’s website states that when dining at a restaurant, guests must wear face coverings while standing, waiting, or sitting in dining locations. This means that the only time guests are permitted to remove masks is while they’re actively eating or drinking.Â
©Disney
Previously, guests were allowed to remove masks once seated at their tables. Now, according to the Disney World website, they must remain intact unless eating or drinking.
Plaza Restaurant
In our experience asking Cast Members about this policy in Disney World today, full roll-out of this policy hasn’t yet happened in all restaurants.
Chef Mickey’s
A few weeks ago, Bob Chapek, CEO of The Walt Disney Company, shared that required masks and social distancing within the parks are expected through the end of this year.
Distancing Barriers
We’ll be sure to share any more updates regarding Disney World’s mask policies. Check back with us for more Disney news!
Mask Requirements for Water Parks in Disney World
Join the DFB Newsletter to get all the breaking news right in your inbox! Click here to Subscribe!
WE KNOW DISNEY.
YOU CAN, TOO.
Oh boy, planning a Disney trip can be quite the adventure, and we totally get it! But fear not, dear friends, we compiled EVERYTHING you need (and the things to avoid!) to plan the ULTIMATE Disney vacation.
Whether you're a rookie or a seasoned pro, our insider tips and tricks will have you exploring the parks like never before. So come along with us, and get planning your most magical vacation ever!
Have you dined at Disney World since it’s reopened? Tell us in the comments!
Our handy (and portable!) ebook guides make sure you get the best deals and can plan a vacation of a lifetime.
Oh good Lord.
The new mask policy is completely ridiculous.
I can only hope this is short-lived as a rule. It indeed will have no impact on reducing the spread of anything but happiness.
That would be ridiculous. Haven’t the restaurants prepared for social distancing table to table. Makes it very difficult to be a DVC member.
That is the most ridiculous thing I’ve ever heard of. Disney is simply giving me more reason to not come there anytime soon. Such a shame
We were there last weekend and I will not be going again until masks are a thing of the past. It’s just not Disney for me and my family.
We won’t be visiting Disney until this mask nonsense is over. I can’t believe they are getting more strict rather than less strict.
Sadly, if this is true, we won’t be returning until it’s lifted. Very draconian; especially with the heat of summer. Makes no sense either if they have socially distanced tables and their staff are masked. Sorry Disney; we love you, but not enough for this.
I would love to hear a follow-up about how this goes and the specifics. Do you put your mask back on between the entree and dessert at a table service while the table is cleared, but you still have drinks?
Amy, we updated on this today. Here’s the link. We’ll keep checking on this policy in real life.
Terri, that was our experience today. We will keep updating as we see how the policy is applied.
JD, our experience today was once drinks and food were delivered, we were able to remove our masks. But we’re going to keep updating as we see how the policy is applied.
A complaint about a teenage guest who was asked no less than seven times to put his mask on in the Adventureland area in December, yet was never removed and ended up also taking off his shirt in the same area, scored us an upgrade to a one-bedroom villa from a studio villa two weeks later. We were also assured cast members in that area would receive re-training. While I think the cast members, overall, did a fine job with safety throughout the parks and resorts, the expectation that cast members will confront a peer or older adult about masks isn’t always realistic. I’m sure that same guest moved on to other areas of the park with the same behavior, and sadly, older adult members of his party were behaving similarly. I think cast members are limited as to their success with upholding these policies, despite good intentions.
JM, we only tested the policy at a Table Service restaurant today, but we will check into all the various kinds of dining to see how the policy is applied.
Eric, here’s our experience as of earlier today.
Stella, Disney says no exceptions.
Now I’m canceling for sure…. Cases are dropping, vaccines are available, therapeutics are proving effective and safe… WHY is Disney still putting the chains on a good time????? Seriously out of hand now. Stupid….
I think wdw has a few more months of mask goodwill left. But, after that, with summer heat and humidity, States reopening, and the vaccine in full swing, disney doesn’t want to get caught being recalcitrant or being perceived as petty and authoritarian. That’s NOT the way M. Mouse would want it.
Sounds good to me! Glad to see that Disney World is doing their part to keep people as safe as possible.
My daughter’s aunt had points for 3 nights given to stay. She loves Disney world but rated her stay there 2 on a scale to 10 , was not the happiest place she remember with the constant mask orders by staff
Waiting for mask removal for us return to Magic Kingdom
I’m glad Disney is taking this seriously. Too many people have bad information or are just selfish and willing to put others at risk. Wearing a mask when not eating is so easy and shows respect for everyone else. Thank you Disney World.
Back in December, 2020 my wife and I were in line for the Haunted Mansion and a grown man had his mask down below his nose. He was told by two different cast members to pull his mask up. The guy just nodded and the cast members moved on, one saying that they could not leave their station to get help. Bottom line is the mask policy is not always enforced. We also saw a party of five adults with masks completely pulled down and two of the individuals were smoking-not a cast member in sight. Disney is getting lazy in its enforcement of “rules”. My wife and I will be letting our annual pass expire in August and will be getting our fun at Universal Studios until Disney gets back to being Disney. Eliminating Magical Express was also another brick pulled from the wall.
This is the dumbest thing EVER. Money talks, you know what walks. It’s a way to get more people into restaurants ergo more MONEY. I’m glad I’m not the only one that recognizes this. And for anyone that thinks otherwise, they need to get their head out of the sand.
I wish I was not going to lose pints. I would cancel. But trips. I won’t be making new reservations after that though.
Why is Disney tightening their mask requirements when the incidences of Covid-19 infections are going down and the vaccination rate is increasing. Your message to the public is that the pandemic is worsening not improving. This decision is not based on science AND is Draconian. It is WRONG and should NOT BE IMPLEMENTED!
Short of having my own blog/blog/channel I love and promote Disney to friends and family. I’ve been going most years since 1972, amd lived there2 years post college and went weekly then. I’m 49, now a mother of 2 teenage/young adults and a DVC Member since 2009z I just got back last week and although I knew, and I prepared my family what to expect I was so disappointed in so many aspects of our trip. Pre-covid I would tell people who asked me about planing a trip, to only go if you want to be there. Now I would say to anyone including Disney lovers, wait. Just wait. It’s not the Disney you know and love…it’s a really clean theme park but it stops there. Cast members are really trying but they are very different than the people who took pride in there employment at one time. I would give a 1-2 on a 10 point scale. All our pictures were with masks on except for the one, when I told my family of 4 , on the count of 3 to pull down masks, as we quietly pulled off to the side and quickly did a selfie. Less than 5 seconds and away from public. But a nearby photographer saw us and told us very angrily that we could be asked to leave. We were walking out anyway, but it literally ruined my day. I am on board with the mask rule but I can take it off if I’m stationary and eating or drinking, which we were so why so angry.
Will definitely wait for mask removal for us return and for international employees to be aloud to work in the countries.
Epcot is by far my favorite place and this trip was a complete waste of money. Nothing to do or counties to visit and anywhere we did visit was an employee from Pennsylvania working in Germany who didn’t even know how to say thank you or your welcome in German…it’s not Disney.
I’m glad we went because we are diehards and felt like covid couldn’t keep us away bit it was definitely a mistake I won’t make twice.
Ken- I know that it’s frustrating to be there right now and that it definitely doesn’t feel like the Disney we all know and love, but I would seriously advise against not renewing your AP. We allowed ours to expire in February 2020 with a plan to buy a new one during an April visit. Obviously, that visit never happened and the Annual Pass program is suspended indefinitely. As DVC members, the AP is a really important part of us being able to enjoy our membership. We could have more than paid for new passes with how much it costs for tickets into the parks. I think that we’re so close to getting back to normal-Disney included. Hopefully, by the time August rolls around that will be the case.
Thank you! Thank you so much. I have been struggling with making my trip reservations and fighting with my husband for the past few months to get my Disney magic fix. However what you said is the most honest thing that I have heard from a Die Hard Disney fan like myself! I love Disneyland and I was really excited to see WDW For the first time. However heartbroken I am not being able to go, I am just happy I saw this. I am canceling the trip until after they have lifted the Mask mandate and the social distance restrictions. 2022, most likely. Take care and may we not lose sight of the family togetherness and kindness that we knew before Covid. #DisneyObsessionDiva
Done with Disney. Can’t take them anymore. Used to visit once a year. Won’t be visiting until this nonsense ends.