CDC updates guidance and recommends masks when indoors, even for those who are fully vaccinated, with likely implications for Walt Disney World

Jul 27, 2021 in "The Walt Disney Company"

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Posted: Tuesday July 27, 2021 2:55pm ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

The U.S. Centers for Disease Control (CDC) has announced new guidelines which recommend that those who are fully vaccinated resume wearing masks when indoors in areas of high transmission. Florida is currently a COVID-19 hotspot and rated at the highest level of transmission by the CDC, with 20% of the nation's cases being reported in the state.

This is a reversal of the decision made two months ago where the CDC said that those who are fully vaccinated do not need to wear masks in any setting.

Disney moved quickly to follow the relaxed CDC guidelines at that time, and Walt Disney World rapidly became a mostly mask-free environment, even though many guests are likely not fully vaccinated.

May 2021 - Guests entering Disney's Animal Kingdom without masks for the first time in a year

Orange County is seeing a rapid surge in COVID-19 cases, prompting the Orange County Mayor to say yesterday, "We're now in crisis mode." Current numbers of new cases are similar to January 2021, before the vaccine was widely available. More than 1000 new cases are being reported daily, and testing sites are hitting capacity early in the afternoon. AdventHealth, the area's primary healthcare provider, has said its ICUs are at capacity, and the system has moved to a red alert level.

With Orange County facing significant barriers imposed by the state governor to introduce a new mask mandate, it may fall to Disney to act on CDC guidelines alone.

Disney is yet to make any comment or change its mask policy, but based on previous CDC guidance, it would seem likely that Disney will have to respond in the coming days.

Signage from May 2021 when Disney relaxed outdoor masking but still required indoor masking

Disney's current mask policy is: "While face coverings are required for all Guests while in Disney buses, monorail and Disney Skyliner, they are now optional in most areas for Guests who are fully vaccinated. While we do not require proof of vaccination, we expect Guests who are not fully vaccinated to continue wearing face coverings in all indoor locations and upon entering and throughout all attractions and transportation except ferry boats. "

While it seems likely that Disney will have to revise its mask policy, it will be interesting to see if the company moves to mandatory masking indoors or simply to a recommendation that masks are worn indoors.

We may soon see a return of masks at Walt Disney World

Discuss on the Forums

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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.