Disney World and other amusement parks to relax their mask policy

On Thursday, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) issued a new guideline on wearing masks. According to the agency, fully vaccinated people need not wear masks when engaging in outdoor activities as well as in some indoors in most places.

Following this announcement, Disney World and some amusement parks have updated their face masks policies too. It’s now optional to wear masks in outdoor areas at Disney World starting May 15. Outdoor areas where you don’t need to wear a mask are Theme park entrances/tapstiles/turnstiles. However, you’re required to wear a mask at indoor locations like theaters and attractions or when entering rides.

Similarly, Universal Orlando has updated its mask policy. In its statement on Friday, the company said, “Face coverings will remain required at all indoor locations, including restaurant, shops, and indoor hotel public areas.” Further, travel parties must wear a face covering at all attractions and maintain social distance of 1 meter or 3 feet.

In the same way, SeaWorld Entertainment Inc announced that fully vaccinated guests will not have to wear masks when visiting SeaWorld Orlando, Discovery Cove, Aquatica San Antonio, Aquatica Orlando, Water Country USA, Busch Gardens Williamsburg, and Busch Gardens Tampa Bay.

However, a SeaWorld spokeswoman said, “All park employees will be required to continue wearing face coverings.

In its quarterly earnings call, Walt Disney’s CEO, Bob Chapek, stated that it has begun increasing its capacity limits following CDC’s past guidelines. Walt Disney World will soon relax its face mask rules because wearing a mask in the middle of the summer is a daunting task.

Most amusement parks only lift the outdoor mask rule even if the CDC has allowed fully vaccinated Americans not to wear masks outdoors and in certain indoor activities. The reason is that they don’t want to have two categories of guests; those fully vaccinated and unvaccinated ones.