Orange County Mayor and Walt Disney World say no changes to mandatory mask usage rules despite Florida Governor Executive Order

May 03, 2021 in "The Walt Disney Company"

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Posted: Monday May 3, 2021 4:49pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

Walt Disney World and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings have this afternoon moved to distance themselves from the Florida Governor's latest executive order.

Health and Safety signage for COVID-19 at the Magic Kingdom

Florida Governor Ron DeSantis said earlier today that he was immediately suspending all local COVID emergency orders via an executive order. This would limit the measures that local mayors can take during pandemics, which would appear to include the Orange County mandatory mask mandate which impacts Walt Disney World. The text of the Executive Order released late Monday appears to indicate however that it is effective July 1 2021.

Special teams of Cast Members enforce mask use at Magic Kingdom

Orange County is currently under a mandatory mask mandate, which this state-level executive order may try to undo. However, this afternoon both Walt Disney World and Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings have stated that there are no changes at this point.

In a statement on My Disney Experience Disney has said, "We are aware of the state of Florida's plans announced today to modify COVID-19 guidelines. We will evaluate this latest guidance and maintain our current health and safety measures at this time, including face covering requirements. We will contuse to make thoughtful adjustments to our policy. As COVID-19 vaccines become available, we encourage people to get vaccinated."

Disney World statement on Florida Governor Executive Order lifting local mandates

Mayor Jerry Demings said in a 4pm press conference that he has not seen the DeSantis executive order. He left the press briefing by saying that he would release a written response should the executive order be published which appears to have happened shortly after the press briefing concluded.

Orange County released details last week on the steps forward to remove COVID-19 restrictions.

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wdwmagicApr 14, 2022

This thread is going to take a break for a while until any changes are announced at Disney in regard to the last remaining mask requirements on transport.

Andrew CApr 14, 2022

If we are talking about WDW, put the blame on the company for keeping this silly rule in place. For airplanes, put the blame on the feds. When people realize stupid rules are in place and have no impact, they are going to be challenged. That’s just human nature and the reality throughout history. On the other end, when rules tend to make sense, people are more receptive. WDWs transportation rule is illogical. The feds 14 day extension of the public transportation rule at this point is the same. Expect more push back. It’s all about appearances than anything else and more and more people will pick up on that.

Chip ChippersonApr 14, 2022

No, you're not following the rules. You're planning the mask version of holding your finger an in from your siblings face and saying, "I'm not touching you!" And for the record, on my recent flights, the message was that masks had to be replaced between bites/sips, so unless you plan on holding g a drink to your mouth for the entire flight then you're not following the rules - but if you do that, please report back and let us know of how that worked out for you during turbulence.

Club CooloholicApr 14, 2022

I already explained it. It slows things down and makes it harder for the employees. And some might not really want to sit for 3 hours on a flight next to a guy sipping coffee the whole time.

Nonsensequitter75Apr 14, 2022

I don’t understand why you’re mad at me.

G00fyDadApr 14, 2022

There. Fixed the stupid. Now, go create ANOTHER account for me to ignore. :rolleyes:

Nonsensequitter75Apr 14, 2022

Thanks for understanding

G00fyDadApr 14, 2022

Okay.

Nonsensequitter75Apr 14, 2022

God bless, but no thank you.

G00fyDadApr 14, 2022

They are flag carriers for the socially inept and the self-important. They have one job here. It's stupid but they're going to do it.

G00fyDadApr 14, 2022

Just go back to your regular account. Please? For everyone.

Nonsensequitter75Apr 14, 2022

What can I say? I’m so lonely at this stage in my life, that the (virtual) company of people who hate me is better than the alternative, which is no company at all.

DisneyCaneApr 14, 2022

Hence why I asked the poster if they were intending to only experience outdoor attractions with outdoor queues. If yes, then I can at least understand their logic. If no, then the obsession about people not masking on transportation doesn't make any sense.