Here Now & Just Back - A Place To Share Your Recent Experiences

[disny_luvr]

Will the outdoor Relaxation Stations be removed now and the indoor Stations remain until indoor mask mandates are removed?

I would think so. There really isn’t a need for the outdoor ones anymore. Is there really even a need for the indoor ones?

 

[leannak]

I don't think they spelled it out, but since the only reason you couldn't eat or drink while walking was that you had to have a mask on, it stands to reason that you can now eat or drink while walking outdoors because the mask is no longer required.

There goes my diet.

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

Will the outdoor Relaxation Stations be removed now and the indoor Stations remain until indoor mask mandates are removed?

It would seem odd to have indoor relaxation stations at this point. Since you don't have to wear the mask all day outdoors, relaxation stations probably shouldn't be needed much at all. The point of the relaxation station is to be able to take your mask off, but you wouldn't have it on anyway prior to entering that indoor area.

Since they will be reminding people to put their masks ON when entering an indoor area, it may be contradictory to designate an indoor space where you can take them off when entering.

Also, restaurants will continue to be indoor "relaxation stations" of a sort once you are seated and I'm sure Disney prefers us spending money on food in those indoor locations vs. just sitting around.

ETA: They should probably keep some stations for guests who ARE wearing masks all day, but I still wonder if any of those will continue to be indoor locations.

 

[scrappinginontario]

Will the outdoor Relaxation Stations be removed now and the indoor Stations remain until indoor mask mandates are removed?

I have a friend at a park today and she is reporting the relaxation stations are still open.

Masks are not mandatory outdoors but that doesn’t mean everyone will feel comfortable removing their masks. Personally I can see the relaxation stations going away in time but right now I feel they’re needed so that those who are more comfortable wearing masks and booked trips thinking masks were mandatory at all times, have locations they can go and get a break.

Each person has their own comfort levels.

 

[FinallyFL]

If you are in the park today, can you please come back to let me/us know if you see people still choose to wear masks outdoor? Although my husband and I are vaccinated but my kids cannot get vaccinated yet, my family will choose to wear masks outdoor especially in the crowds. Hope my family won't be the only one doing that. Thank you and have a great day at WDW!

I was at Animal Kingdom this morning and there were a few people still wearing masks while walking around. I asked a CM and he said that masks are still required once you enter the queue of an attraction even if it is outdoors.

 

[lovethattink]

Relaxation Stations are open today.

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

I was at Animal Kingdom this morning and there were a few people still wearing masks while walking around. I asked a CM and he said that masks are still required once you enter the queue of an attraction even if it is outdoors.

Even though some queues are outdoors, I think (at least I hope) they will continue to interpret the start of the queue to be the actual ride entrance and not outdoor "spillover" lines that extend far beyond the entrance.

Some have reported that's how they're handling things currently, but we all know how good Disney is at consistently applying the same standards from day to day.

 

[Sarahslay]

Honestly, you're really not missing much right now. They're using the the front area for queuing into the building, so it's hard to really look at the exhibits. I mostly went in there out of curiosity to see the cardboard cutouts of Donald, Jose, and Panchito (in place of the animatronics) at the end of the ride - but, in hindsight, I would have been fine not doing that had I known.

View attachment 575101

I've never felt like waiting in line to get in to the pavilion was really my jam to begin with which is why I've stayed away. If I want a margarita I'm just gonna get one outside. I've ridden the ride enough pre-covid to know I didn't need to stand in that line longer than the ride warrented. Oh well, it won't be like that forever.

 

[Sarahslay]

Even though some queues are outdoors, I think (at least I hope) they will continue to interpret the start of the queue to be the actual ride entrance and not outdoor "spillover" lines that extend far beyond the entrance.

Some have reported that's how they're handling things currently, but we all know how good Disney is at consistently applying the same standards from day to day.

And even if CMs remind people we all know how good some guests are at continuing to listen once they walk away.....

 

[Grumpy by Birth]

And even if CMs remind people we all know how good some guests are at continuing to listen once they walk away.....

True, but that's been happening since day one, so I wouldn't expect that this policy will make things any different.

 

[Magnoliafan]

I was at Animal Kingdom this morning and there were a few people still wearing masks while walking around. I asked a CM and he said that masks are still required once you enter the queue of an attraction even if it is outdoors.

This is what I’m seeing at Hollywood Studios. Lots and lots of faces, but still a few masks. The Cast Members at the park entrance were calling out the new rules and basically telling people to take off their masks (if they wanted). Some people were surprised and the kids in front of me cheered. I’ve only done ROTR so far, but didn’t see any noses or mouths in the queue.

 

[Sarahslay]

This is what I’m seeing at Hollywood Studios. Lots and lots of faces, but still a few masks. The Cast Members at the park entrance were calling out the new rules and basically telling people to take off their masks (if they wanted). Some people were surprised and the kids in front of me cheered. I’ve only done ROTR so far, but didn’t see any noses or mouths in the queue.

I'm hoping it'll help people comply in line since they won't be so exhausted from walking around with the mask outside. There is only so much mask wearing in the heat most people can deal with. So hopefully people will be like "Ok, this is fine, I can keep it on for the line and ride". It's the one thing my 10 year old is worried about, but walking around isn't a problem for her thankfully. She may or may not wear a mask walking around, she's had covid so we'll see, just hopefully people keep being compliant where they're supposed to be.

 

[kevgraub]

I have a friend at a park today and she is reporting the relaxation stations are still open.

Masks are not mandatory outdoors but that doesn’t mean everyone will feel comfortable removing their masks. Personally I can see the relaxation stations going away in time but right now I feel they’re needed so that those who are more comfortable wearing masks and booked trips thinking masks were mandatory at all times, have locations they can go and get a break.

Each person has their own comfort levels.

My thought is that current outdoor relaxation stations will be gone extremely soon. Really no point in them at this point, as they are nothing more than an area to sit down and take your mask off, which you can now do anywhere outdoors if you want to. For people that wish to continue wearing masks, basically all of WDW just became an outdoor relaxation station.

The indoor ones will probably stick around until Disney feels the need/desire to reopen the area for its original purpose, which may not be much longer. For example, if Disney is going to keep Askershus or Pizzafari closed for a few more months, might as well leave them open for a relaxation station for a while longer. However, with the increase in park capacity, I suspect there is going to be pressure to get those restaurants opened back up sooner than later.

 

[scrappinginontario]

My thought is that current outdoor relaxation stations will be gone extremely soon. Really no point in them at this point, as they are nothing more than an area to sit down and take your mask off, which you can now do anywhere outdoors if you want to. For people that wish to continue wearing masks, basically all of WDW just became an outdoor relaxation station.

The indoor ones will probably stick around until Disney feels the need/desire to reopen the area for its original purpose, which may not be much longer. For example, if Disney is going to keep Askershus or Pizzafari closed for a few more months, might as well leave them open for a relaxation station for a while longer. However, with the increase in park capacity, I suspect there is going to be pressure to get those restaurants opened back up sooner than later.

While I see what you’re saying, the benefit to the relaxation stations is the distancing that the other areas don’t offer. I’ve heard of many places where someone sits down for a snack or break and someone sits directly beside them. The relaxation stations offer ‘forced’ distancing right now.

They won’t be here forever but right now we’re also working with the majority of people who booked/arrived when masking outside was mandatory. Allowing them a comfortable place to relax is needed right now.

 

[lovethattink]

I’m at AK. Masks weren’t needed at security or tapstiles.

 

[anomamatt]

I am interested to hear whether you must wear a mask in the outdoor portion of a queue. Can anyone there now please report back about that? Thanks!

We are here now. Plenty of people wearing masks outdoors. My family wore masks today and will also tomorrow.

 

[lovethattink]

I am interested to hear whether you must wear a mask in the outdoor portion of a queue. Can anyone there now please report back about that? Thanks!

Yes you must wear a mask in outdoor section of queue. I’m melting right now in the Kilimanjaro Safari queue.

ETA cm giving verbal reminder

 

[sdeut]

If you are in the park today, can you please come back to let me/us know if you see people still choose to wear masks outdoor? Although my husband and I are vaccinated but my kids cannot get vaccinated yet, my family will choose to wear masks outdoor especially in the crowds. Hope my family won't be the only one doing that. Thank you and have a great day at WDW!

This is us too. We will be there in a little over 2 weeks. When we are in crowded area we will have our kids put on their masks. And even though we are vaccinated because our kids are not when we make our kids put them on we will too.

 

[lovethattink]

If you are in the park today, can you please come back to let me/us know if you see people still choose to wear masks outdoor? Although my husband and I are vaccinated but my kids cannot get vaccinated yet, my family will choose to wear masks outdoor especially in the crowds. Hope my family won't be the only one doing that. Thank you and have a great day at WDW!

Seeing both at AK, today, mostly not masked. Attractions and outdoor queues are enforcing policy.

 

[1GoldenSun]

I left today. This morning at the Poly they were taking a decal off the glass doors--the decal/sticker with all the Covid protocol listed on it. It didn't come off easily and involved one "maintenance" CM and one "white-collar" CM and several minutes while some of us stood there waiting to go through that door. Another guest said "those are coming down?" and the white-collar CM paused for a second and said "let's just say we'll be making some changes."

I was coming home from MK last night when the notification came through on the app saying that masks were now optional except for inside, on transportation, and in lines. Another guest I talked to the next day said things at Hollywood Studios changed in an instant--one minute they were socially distancing on the rides and the next minute they filled every row of ToT and she actually was seated next to a stranger on SDD. Of course, I don't know for sure that she was telling the truth; I have no reason to doubt her but she was a little...excitable. I thought about it and the last few rides I rode at MK were Mine Train, the teacups, and Pooh. They did put someone in the seat behind me on Mine Train, and they filled every teacup, but I don't know if that was anything new. I had my own honeypot on Pooh. I've never ridden that solo before so I don't know if that's normal or not either.

My trip overall was great. It would have been nice to not have had to wear the mask the whole time but I got lucky and the weather was so nice most of the trip that the mask didn't bother me. The only bad part was transportation. The buses were pretty bad. When I checked in they recommended that I use my own car, and I heard them warning others who were checking on that the bus service was slow. Buses were NOT coming every 20 minutes.