Though masks in outdoor spaces have been optional for vaccinated guests for several months, Disney has announced that beginning Thursday, August 19, face coverings will also be optional for Guests in outdoor attractions, outdoor queues and outdoor theaters at Walt Disney World Resort. Face coverings remain required for all Guests (ages 2 and up) while indoors and in Disney buses, monorail and Disney Skyliner, regardless of vaccination status.
This announcement comes after Disney CEO Bob Chapek confirmed that the spreading COVID-19 Delta variant has had virtually no impact on guest levels at Disney parks in the US, saying that the company is continuing to “see strong demand for our parks continuing” throughout the remaining summer weeks and the fall.
Currently Walt Disney World is the only theme park operator in Central Florida that is requiring masks in indoor areas, as both SeaWorld and Universal Orlando Resort do not have any mask mandates in place for guests at all.
You can read more about the theme park mask debate in our recent poll results article here, which features your reader comments on the issue!
