Will WDW lift mask mandate?

[JakeAZ]

The line is when we reach a sufficiently low level of COVID that the CDC declares the pandemic is over and it’s ok to return to normal life. Our case levels in the country are close to what they were in the peak in August. It’s going to take some time. Just because things got better from the disaster around the holidays doesn’t mean that everything is good to go.

Exactly.

We're so "happy" levels have gotten back to the second wave numbers. Over 1000 people a day are still dying from this. Over 50k are still getting diagnosed with it daily. Are things better than Dec, Jan, Feb? Yes. Are we out of the woods? No, but we are on the right track. The more people, especially the vulnerable, who can get vaccinated, the better. Especially as the new variants start to take hold in the US...which will most likely be in the Spring / Early Summer....

 

[Joe in VA]

Numbers are near Fall numbers now but continue to drop. They will likely fall below Fall numbers very soon with vaccinations. We were warned the variants would cause huge spikes in March, but cases/deaths/hospitalizations are doing the opposite. We were warned for weeks about the UK and South African variants, but looking at the numbers in each country, Covid has fallen like a rock. We were told last month that 1/3 of Florida cases were of the UK variant and that they would skyrocket, the opposite happened. We were told that the maskless crowds before and after the Super Bowl would cause a spike in Florida, the opposite happened. The media is constantly doom and gloom because that is what sells, but things are beginning to look VERY good.

 

[buttersnix]

Effectiveness of masks in reducing spread is based on science. Who should Disney look to for information, guidance and facts?

1. Medical sources such as the CDC?
2. Politicians?
3. Anonymous posters on Disney fan sites?

Disney won't lift mask requirements until CDC suggests mask are no longer needed.

Disney would rather keep the mask rule and reduce social distancing, increasing capacity, then eliminating mask mandates.

I kinda understand what you are saying but, but the CDC also recommends not going to large gatherings, which obviously Disney is ignoring. So they aren’t even following all the CDC guidelines now, just some. I get that they are doing what they have to do to survive, and while I’m glad they opened, you could still argue they really should have been closed this whole time, per CDC suggestions.

 

[JakeAZ]

The media is constantly doom and gloom because that is what sells, but things are beginning to look VERY good.

I'd say Dec-Jan met the definition of doom and gloom.

Yes, things are looking better...that doesn't mean they can't go in the opposite direction if we take our eye off the prize though.

 

[buttersnix]

The

Not true at all. This has happened to many people. The vaccine does not prevent you contracting Covid. It helps prevent severe effects of Covid.

There have been two studies that have shown it greatly reduces infection rates and that it doesn’t just reduce symptoms. Out of Britain and Israel.

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

Will WDW lift mask mandate?
Probably not anytime soon. It's a dog and pony show. We have been back to WDW 3 times since reopening and Universal once. WDW did pretty good with masks but social distancing is a joke. We were always within 6 feet of people. Switchbacks in all the lines are completely ignored by guests and not enforced by CM's at all. Bottlenecks are impossible to distance 6 feet. Yes they do clean rides every so often but not between each ride so you touch what the person was touching right before you get in a ride. Mask requirement makes WDW look good. That's it. Either way, we will be going back masks or no masks. We do follow the rules so if they are required, we will be smiling under our masks, all hot and sweaty, and won't complain about it. If they lift the mandate, that's fine too.

 

[chewlocca]

Masks protect others from the wearer not necessarily the other way around. I can’t believe we are a year into this discussion and it’s not understood that masks protect others more and offer the wearer only some protection themselves.

I hope you know how to remove your mask without it contaminating your hands. I hope you place it in a red bag after each use and dispose of it properly. I hope you don’t re-use the same mask. Everyone that is very pro mask, nothing wrong with that, I hope you realize that using the same mask is no good.

 

[AvidDisReader]

The reason governments did this is to make it easier on private business to enforce theirs. If a business could point to the state, it makes it easier on them. The reason they had to do this is because of the "let everyone decide for themselves argument". That's fine when your decision only affects you, but sorry, when it affects the people around you, government needs to step in and help. The government mandates you don't drive under the influence. Not so much to protect you, but the other people on the road.

Just like it's been said on here...the mask protects others, not you. If the mask offered full protection to the person wearing it, I think you'd have seen more of the "let everyone decide for themselves" approach.

If society was full of responsible people, we wouldn't need to have laws or rules or mandates...but that's just not the case.

Everyone who thinks like this misses the point. This country is built on civil liberties and self determination. The worst of this pandemic is over, the numbers tell us that. It is NOW time for the individual to make up their own minds. I just do not understand the thinking of so many that after over 200 years of fighting for individual freedoms we are now willing to throw them out. Be careful for what you wish for, the next liberty they go after could be something much worse.

 

[Jennasis]

I hope you know how to remove your mask without it contaminating your hands. I hope you place it in a red bag after each use and dispose of it properly. I hope you don’t re-use the same mask. Everyone that is very pro mask, nothing wrong with that, I hope you realize that using the same mask is no good.

You are referring to disposable masks and not cloth ones that can be washed, I assume.

 

[Eric Smith]

Everyone who thinks like this misses the point. This country is built on civil liberties and self determination. The worst of this pandemic is over, the numbers tell us that. It is NOW time for the individual to make up their own minds. I just do not understand the thinking of so many that after over 200 years of fighting for individual freedoms we are now willing the throw them out. Be careful for what you wish for, the next liberty they go after could be something much worse.

This country is not built totally on self-determination. If that were the case, we wouldn't have seatbelt laws, environmental laws, minimum wage, child labor laws....etc. The government's job is to set a baseline of what is acceptable. As the previous poster correctly said, the government rules are partially in place to give businesses something to point to when they put their own COVID rules in place. Wearing a mask isn't giving away 200 years of individual freedoms, that's hyperbole. This is a slippery slope logical fallacy. There's a demonstrable threat in COVID and we are taking appropriate steps to mitigate that threat. Once the pandemic ends, you'll be free to go everywhere maskless again and crowd in to theme parks and stadiums. Those rules aren't going to stay around forever. Yes, the worst we've seen of the pandemic is over, but that doesn't mean that the case numbers aren't still bad. Florida is still above their fall levels and the drop appears to be leveling off. I expect those numbers will keep going down as more people get vaccinated, but we're not there yet.

 

[AvidDisReader]

This country is not built totally on self-determination. If that were the case, we wouldn't have seatbelt laws, environmental laws, minimum wage, child labor laws....etc. The government's job is to set a baseline of what is acceptable. As the previous poster correctly said, the government rules are partially in place to give businesses something to point to when they put their own COVID rules in place. Wearing a mask isn't giving away 200 years of individual freedoms, that's hyperbole. This is a slippery slope logical fallacy. There's a demonstrable threat in COVID and we are taking appropriate steps to mitigate that threat. Once the pandemic ends, you'll be free to go everywhere maskless again and crowd in to theme parks and stadiums. Those rules aren't going to stay around forever. Yes, the worst we've seen of the pandemic is over, but that doesn't mean that the case numbers aren't still bad. Florida is still above their fall levels and the drop appears to be leveling off. I expect those numbers will keep going down as more people get vaccinated, but we're not there yet.

As I have stated over and over again, Covid is dangerous and should be treated as such. Get your vacinne. This country has for the most part been patient and obeyed the COVID restrictions. What I am saying is the NUMBERS are down and it is time to remove them. You state laws that have been enacted by a legislative body and signed by Governor/President/County/Mayor, there is NO such law that has been enacted-NONE. Not one state or federal law has been enacted, only mandates by individuals. This is totally unAmerican and third world. It has been a year since the outbreak, plenty of time to introduce legislation and have signed into law. You know why it has not been done, because it would NEVER be upheld in court for the very issues stated above, they violate our most basic civil liberties. Once again I find myself giving a civics lesson.

 

[ENJDisneyFan]

I kinda understand what you are saying but, but the CDC also recommends not going to large gatherings, which obviously Disney is ignoring. So they aren’t even following all the CDC guidelines now, just some. I get that they are doing what they have to do to survive, and while I’m glad they opened, you could still argue they really should have been closed this whole time, per CDC suggestions.

Exactly, and to take this point further, the CDC also recommends not traveling AT ALL right now. Clearly Disney is not trying to discourage anyone from traveling. So they pick and choose the CDC guidelines that are most convenient for them to follow.

 

[Makmak]

The topic of the thread is when masks will go away. Please don’t get it shut down because I assume many would like to keep it active to learn more about what’s going on with park policies.

 

[mi*vida*loca]

Exactly, and to take this point further, the CDC also recommends not traveling AT ALL right now. Clearly Disney is not trying to discourage anyone from traveling. So they pick and choose the CDC guidelines that are most convenient for them to follow.

And Disney offered deals to certain states to travel to their parks. It’s not only Florida residents flocking to Disney.

 

[jlwhitney]

Exactly, and to take this point further, the CDC also recommends not traveling AT ALL right now. Clearly Disney is not trying to discourage anyone from traveling. So they pick and choose the CDC guidelines that are most convenient for them to follow.

They pick and choose just like everyone else. They also ignore the social distancing guidelines overall by allowing so many in where its basically impossible to social distance in many spots, not talking queues where they do okay at it. For many people if everyone wears a mask they seem to think it's safe. But most of it is just appearance to make people feel better about going out.

 

[Eric Smith]

As I have stated over and over again, Covid is dangerous and should be treated as such. Get your vacinne. This country has for the most part been patient and obeyed the COVID restrictions. What I am saying is the NUMBERS are down and it is time to remove them. You state laws that have been enacted by a legislative body and signed by Governor/President/County/Mayor, there is NO such law that has been enacted-NONE. Not one state or federal law has been enacted, only mandates by individuals. This is totally unAmerican and third world. It has been a year since the outbreak, plenty of time to introduce legislation and have signed into law. You know why it has not been done, because it would NEVER be upheld in court for the very issues stated above, they violate our most basic civil liberties. Once again I find myself giving a civics lesson.

Yes, the laws I listed were enacted by legislative bodies. I didn't say anything about COVID laws.

The "NUMBERS" are down from an all time high. They're still pretty high and higher than most of the fall. COVID restrictions have been put in place as part of public health policy which the executives in the various states have the ability to put in place. This isn't un-American at all. It's about trying to keep people safe, especially those who are most vulnerable to the disease. These emergency powers are based on legislation. If the executives in the states that have enacted COVID restrictions overstepped their authority, a court would have stopped them (this actually happened in Wisconsin). This is the way the system works. Legislation doesn't work fast enough to react to emergencies like these, that's why these emergency powers exist. Wearing a mask doesn't violate any of your "basic civil liberties". It's a piece of cloth you put over your face. Do you wear clothes when you go out? Why don't those also violate your civil liberties? Have you been upset about a "no shirt, no shoes, no service" sign?

 

[Eric Smith]

The topic of the thread is when masks will go away. Please don’t get it shut down because I assume many would like to keep it active to learn more about what’s going on with park policies.

The policy is you have to wear a mask at all times on Disney property unless you are stationary and actively eating or drinking. There has been no news about that policy changing. This is all speculation, not rumors or news.

 

[Jellybass]

I sure hope this gets resolved before I go in August. This is a site for people who love Disney and the arguments, passive aggressiveness and tension makes me worried about how the average traveler to Disney is going to react. I am truly looking forward to a year from now when we can, hopefully, just be worried about the size of the Harmonious barge.

 

[AvidDisReader]

Yes, the laws I listed were enacted by legislative bodies. I didn't say anything about COVID laws.

The "NUMBERS" are down from an all time high. They're still pretty high and higher than most of the fall. COVID restrictions have been put in place as part of public health policy which the executives in the various states have the ability to put in place. This isn't un-American at all. It's about trying to keep people safe, especially those who are most vulnerable to the disease. These emergency powers are based on legislation. If the executives in the states that have enacted COVID restrictions overstepped their authority, a court would have stopped them (this actually happened in Wisconsin). This is the way the system works. Legislation doesn't work fast enough to react to emergencies like these, that's why these emergency powers exist. Wearing a mask doesn't violate any of your "basic civil liberties". It's a piece of cloth you put over your face. Do you wear clothes when you go out? Why don't those also violate your civil liberties? Have you been upset about a "no shirt, no shoes, no service" sign?

Now there is a very interesting point, how long does the emergency powers good for? I saw on C Span that a governor was stating it was coming up on one year and he was going to need Legislative help to keep mandates in place. So, does that mean that most emergency power have a one year shelf life, which means like it or not in April/May most if not all will expire? These emergency power are not intended to be forever, and again I remind you it is a full Year since these first measures were put in place. At some point laws will need to be enacted. Finally, how do you know forcing a person to wear a mask is not a violation of their civil liberties. So let us see some legislative body pass a law requiring a mask -- I WANT to see what the courts will rule. Only than will we really know.

 

[Alicefan]

The people who "feel unsafe" are not going to theme parks to begin with. The people who are out and about tend to be the same people who want to get back to normal as quickly as possible.

I wouldn't go so far as to say that. Based on how many people gripe and complain on here about people not wearing their masks correctly at the parks, and want to know "how safe did you feel at the parks" and this person did this and this person did that etc... oh people are going to the theme parks, but now they are sticklers for "how safe is every person and every business going to keep ME, WHILE I'm out doing the things I want to do."