The global pandemic remains a fluid situation when it comes to Disney World vacations.
When the parks first opened, face masks were required at almost all times, social distancing markers were all over the place, and there was limited capacity in the parks. Most of those things have gradually faded away as things began to shift nationally and vaccines became widely available. But recently, safety measures like face masks were put back into place, regardless of vaccination status.
COVID-19 vaccines are currently only approved for people ages 12 and up. So, we asked our readers on Instagram if they are comfortable bringing their kids under the age of 12 to Disney World right now, as they can’t be vaccinated. Here are the results:
6,107 people voted “yes” and 4,469 people voted “no.” So, there’s a good chunk of people on both sides, but the majority of our readers who answered the poll say they are comfortable bringing their kids under the age of 12 to Disney World.
Disney World does have safety regulations in place, like face masks being required for all guests ages 2 and up while indoors and there being no character meet and greets right now.
That’s our look at what our readers said about bringing kids under 12 to Disney World right now. Stay tuned to DFB for Disney World news, updates, and info.
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How would you have answered the poll? Tell us in the comments!
Tara says
We have been very, very COVID-cautious. We went back and forth many times about whether to cancel our trip next week and ultimately decided to go after seeing how sparse the crowds have been this week (and are projected to be next week). We cancelled most indoor dining and won’t do any indoor shows. We will stay masked at all times unless we’re able to be distanced from others or we are actively eating and drinking. Our kids go back to school the following week in a masks optional situation (they’ll be masked), so it seemed a little silly to cancel the trip when they’ll be exposed soon anyway. We know what tools can help keep us safe (masks and distance) and we will use them and have fun while we do it.
Heather says
We’ve been several times since the pandemic and I always told everyone I feel more safe at Disney than anywhere. However when we went July 25-28 there was no distancing anywhere and masks weren’t enforced. We wore kn95 the entire time but my 9 year old still tested positive after we got home and he got really sick. It definitely wasn’t the way it had been in terms of safety measures that was there in our previous trips.
SAKAFA says
I went in early August after they reimposed the mask indoor rule. About 80% of people followed the rule and the cast members. It was better earlier in the day than later in the day.
Because of the jerks who don’t follow the rules and cast members telling me they are now allowed to do anything than say pull it up we will not be returning until my 7 year old is vaxxed. It is not magical if I have to constantly tell CM and guests to wear a mask indoors.
We wore masks 100% of the time, indoors and out. When we ate or took a food break we found corners and basically stayed away from others. Mask breaks happened in our hotel room only. We tested negative.
But MCO is also just full of jerks who don’t follow federal rules. They remove shoes without an ahem but wearing their mask properly not so much.
Disney should do more. Maskers and vaxxers have more money to burn in Disney because we won’t be spending it on incubators and cow medication treatments.
Steve P. says
I feel completely safe at Disney. It’s interesting, as a data scientist we see the more locked down, the more rigorous protocols, the more masking doesn’t really play out in reduced epidemiological curves. At the end of the day, a respiratory virus will do what it does, spread. Treating it with effective treatments is the key. I’d go to Disney everyday if I could!!
KD says
Too many people are outright ignoring what is known to be safe. There is no social distancing at the parks, and even that is not enough. Masks should be work both inside and outside with everything so crowded! How can you increase capacity and not adjust the requirements? No, it’s not safe.
SML says
Absolutely not! I would not take a non-vaccinated child to any place in Florida right now, especially Disney. We had planned to book a 20 day vacation with all the bells and whistles and have cancelled all plans indefinitely. Florida is a hotbed of infection at this point in time, as are many other states. I would not visit them either.
FL-Dad says
Amazing how we have forgottent he ACTUAL SCIENCE, that says children, for the greatest part, are NOT vectors for the virus. That is, they (for the greatest part) do not pass it to other kids nor adults, and don’t get it from adults. Also recall the science that told us that C19 attacks the EYES as it’s vector of choice. So we wear masks over the nose and mouth?
Either go to Disney and enjoy yourself, or stay home, bunkered in your home, afraid of the air your breathe. It’s really that simply.
Thomas says
i would be interested in you asking the follow up question to anybody who answered “yes” :
Explain your answer.
I am willing to bet for many if not most if not all, there’s little short of an actual natural, catastrophic disaster that would make them feel “unsafe” about bringing their under 12 children to Disney. With the advance planning required and the “expectations” once “little one” learns they are going to Disney the idea of trying to explain “vaccines” and ‘Covid risks” is more “unsafe” than rolling the dice given the percentage risk of “little one” catching Covid AND having a severe reaction.
Josh says
We went in February and my wife and I were very impressed with the mask wear and enforcement. We are headed back in 3 weeks and are a little nervous. Like Heather mentioned, our friends recently went and said there was not much mask enforcement and no distancing.
Ty says
Pfizer now has full FDA approval of their Covid vaccine. A vaccine mandate should be in place for all eligible guests! It will save lives!
Suzanne says
Hi x currently in the UK the vaccine has only been approved for over 17s what would happen if we come to Disney and they haven’t been vaccinated?? My son will be 14 when we come next year if rules allow us to come.
DFB Sarah says
Suzanne, we’ll have to see what happens between now and then, unfortunately. I don’t think we can assume Disney will make exceptions as they’ve drawn firm lines in the sand on a number of issues since last year. Hopefully it’ll all work out for you!
Ronald says
I WOULD NOT take my grand children younger than 12 to Disney at this time.
Kris says
We have a trip planned to Disney World in 3 weeks with our 4 year old but are going to cancel it. Florida COVID numbers are out of control and I do not feel comfortable going there.
Alyana says
Kris – smart move. Its too much anxiety and Disney Castmembers are not enforcing masks inside. We just got back – it was crazy making
Lisa H says
We just got back from a 2 week trip, August 8th – August 21st. Before we left, my husband and I discussed that had our 2 daughters not been old enough to receive the vaccine, we would have cancelled our plans due to the high number of Covid cases Florida is now experiencing. Having seen the complete disregard of Disney’s mask-wearing rules by NUMEROUS guests, I know that would have been the right decision. Rarely could I count up to 10 people in a row in a queue where all 10 had their masks over their nose and mouth (as the rule was when we were there, whether the queue was indoors or out). The complete attitude of “I don’t have to follow the rules” was so disheartening. I was shocked at not only how many people were there with young children, who commonly did not wear masks in the queues, but also with the number of babies, one as young as 3 months according to the parents. The risk would not be worth it to me. My family was diligent about wearing our masks and are all vaccinated. My older daughter and I got Covid tests upon our return (her because she got a bad cold while we were there, me, requirement for my return to work) and we were both negative.
Judy says
We were scheduled for a trip to Disney World in December. After the family talked we decided to cancel. The news and numbers from Florida are just scary and our grandchildren are not old enough for vaccination.
Disney is my favorite place and it breaks my heart but it just does not feel safe.
My husband and i are going to see how it is next year and if things are better the two of us will come down for the Flower and Garden show.
But for now, we’ll have to miss the magic.
Henry says
Disney should require COVID-19 vaccination or a negative COVID-19 test in the last 72 hrs. Better yet, if not vaccinated, you must receive your first shot before entry to any Disney park.
Jacqueline says
My family and I definitely feel safe at Disney.
Lori says
I don’t feel safe taking myself to Disney right now and I am vaccinated. I definitely would not feel safe taking kids. I hope things are going to improve by February because that’s when are vacation is set for.
Kris says
Alyana – Thanks for your comment, I felt a little guilty changing plans but now I feel better with your first hand experience.
Marianne says
We have 2 trips planned in October to bring our grandchildren. None of them are old enough to be vaccinated. We will be canceling in the next couple days. Very sad, but not willing to risk our grandchildren’s health. Especially after reading about all the COVID cases of children returning from WDW.
Erin says
We went with our 7 year old September 2020. We loved it. All the mitigations made it way safer than my local grocery store. Fast forward to now, when we would be planning another September trip. Nope. Not unless they require adults to be vaccinated, go back to major mitigations of last year, or my son can get a vaccine. We have heard of people getting covid during WDW trips. Regardless if from airports, hotels, parks, etc., we aren’t ready to go back.
Darlene Martin says
No one is making anyone go to the parks. If you don’t feel comfortable then don’t come. You cant blame the parks if you test positive, you know before you go what you might be getting in to. Personally when I went last December, I felt completely safe even if masks had not been mandated.
Ty says
WDW should mandate vaccines for all eligible guests and Covid testing for children under 12 and put back ALL mitigation measures into place!
It saves LIVES!
FL-Dad says
Re-posted due to “excessive moderation:”
Amazing how we have forgottent he ACTUAL SCIENCE, that says children, for the greatest part, are NOT vectors for the virus. That is, they (for the greatest part) do not pass it to other kids nor adults, and don’t get it from adults. Also recall the science that told us that C19 attacks the EYES as it’s vector of choice. So we wear masks over the nose and mouth?
For those who say “force vaccinations,” they can’t. Florida law PROHIBITS Vax Passports or requiring customers for proof of vaccination. The penalty is $5000.00 per incident. So unless you want to help Disney pay $5K per customer, please refrain from that statist, fascist comment.
Either go to Disney and enjoy yourself, or stay home, bunkered in your home, afraid of the air your breathe. It’s really that simply.
Alyana says
Agree require vaccines or proof of negative and enforce masks indoors.
It was the lack of mask enforcement that made it horrible.
Disney gets that when people die of covid they can’t return.
Do one video of some one getting banned for life for not follow mask orders and people will fall in line. Otherwise lose the money of people like us who don’t feel safe.
Alyana says
Darlene – it’s a bad business choice for Disney. The volume of people dying from covid aren’t vaxxed and didn’t mask. Their hospital bills are putting them into financial ruin ($75k to incubate someone) forget about loss of income. They won’t have the money to come to Disney IF they survive
PamV says
Yes, I would bring my child. Looking at the data, children are at a much lower risk of catching, passing the virus to others or hospitalization. I feel comfortable visiting the parks. I’d prefer indoor masking weren’t around but in the fall the heat won’t be as bad so we’ll spend more time outside on our upcoming trip.
Steve Murphy says
Disney is way too greedy to enforce a mask or vaccine mandate – it will never happen. Despite their own rule stating that masks are required for unvaccinated guests, they gleefully welcome unmasked children who are obviously also unvaccinated. Disney’s attitude toward civic responsibility is a magical myth.
Micah says
My kids have been 4 times since reopening. In the initial opening phase and just recently last week. We are all fine and had fun! No stress for us! For those nervous I agree they should stay close to home. But I am glad to be free to choose and am confident in our choices.
Anthony says
I am so thrilled at the number of people who have cancelled there trips and or, will not be going to WDW. For selfish reasons. I hope that this continues into 2022, when our next trip is scheduled.
We had visited at the end of August of 2020. That was such a fantastic time. I would say most attractions were walk – on. Not many folks/families were there.
We had spent 12 days at WDW in early May of this year. We did a split stay at the Poly DVC and the Riviera. My take away from this trip. More people were visiting at this time then in August of 2020. I had to laugh when my daughter told me that Disney had changed “Relaxed”, their Face Covering policy for outdoor, to start on our last full day (5/14) of that trip. The players for both trips, were 3 adults and 1 precocious 7 year old grandson. For my family, we needed to go on vacation in 2020 & 2021. I like to call it…Life goes on. You either get busy living…Or get busy dying. I heard that once in a movie, and I believe that.
What works for us, may not work for others. And I’m fine with that. That’s what it’s suppose to be, being an American. Freedom to make individual decisions.
That’s My2Cnts