Masks no longer required outdoors at WDW

[PlutoTheDog89]

Masks no longer being required outdoors is a huge step for Disney. We have a trip booked for Christmas week. We've been during Christmas - every year from 2009 - 2018. Hoping Disney brings back fireworks and/or some more entertainment to make it worth it. Otherwise, I think we may push to Easter, a less-expensive time, and do something different during Christmas.

 

[kevgraub]

Masks no longer being required outdoors is a huge step for Disney. We have a trip booked for Christmas week. We've been during Christmas - every year from 2009 - 2018. Hoping Disney brings back fireworks and/or some more entertainment to make it worth it. Otherwise, I think we may push to Easter, a less-expensive time, and do something different during Christmas.

Obviously none of us know how things will shake out, but if you consider the fact that the pandemic was at an all-time high in the US about 4 months ago - and we are now to the point where mask mandates are largely being eliminated because vaccinations are up and cases are way, way down - I cannot imagine that things will not be largely back to normal at WDW (and the rest of the country) seven months from now.

 

[PlutoTheDog89]

Obviously none of us know how things will shake out, but if you consider the fact that the pandemic was at an all-time high in the US about 4 months ago - and we are now to the point where mask mandates are largely being eliminated because vaccinations are up and cases are way, way down - I cannot imagine that things will not be largely back to normal at WDW (and the rest of the country) seven months from now.

Yeah... I think I've gotten so used to doing smaller, less expensive trips that I'm almost looking for a reason to postpone the Christmas trip to Easter and save some money haha

 

[Pens Fan]

Some, not all of the AP and DVC discounts are in place. Many of the higher end locations, like Topolinos do not have them right now. Look at them under MDE if you do not believe me. They show no discount link.

According to the DVC website, Topolinos still has a 10% discount for blue card members.

Edited to add: I just spot checked a few restaurants on MDE (website version, not the app) and did not see DVC listed under the discounts on any of the ones I checked. However, those same restaurants do show the discounts listed on the DVC website. For some reason MDE may not be showing them, but if it's on the DVC website you should be able to get it. I would certainly ask. We got a lot of restaurant discounts using our blue card back in October.

 

[marikujawa]

Some, not all of the AP and DVC discounts are in place. Many of the higher end locations, like Topolinos do not have them right now. Look at them under MDE if you do not believe me. They show no discount link.

It may not be on MDE, but we dined at Topolino’s on Monday, May 3 and actually received the DVC discount. In fact, we got this discount at every table service restaurant and we even got DVC discounts on bottles of water at AK.

 

[kanerf]

According to the DVC website, Topolinos still has a 10% discount for blue card members.

Edited to add: I just spot checked a few restaurants on MDE (website version, not the app) and did not see DVC listed under the discounts on any of the ones I checked. However, those same restaurants do show the discounts listed on the DVC website. For some reason MDE may not be showing them, but if it's on the DVC website you should be able to get it. I would certainly ask. We got a lot of restaurant discounts using our blue card back in October.

I did ask, was told no.

 

[Pens Fan]

I did ask, was told no.

Wow - I'm really sorry about that. That's just wrong. It clearly says on the DVC website that Topolino's gets a 10% discount at both breakfast and dinner. They should have honored that.

 

[Jaybrad]

I keep reading post about "Proof of vaccination". How can that happen with the current HIPAA Law?

 

[Jennasis]

I keep reading post about "Proof of vaccination". How can that happen with the current HIPAA Law?

Google HIPAA. It does not mean what you think it means.

 

[hrhdhd]

I keep reading post about "Proof of vaccination". How can that happen with the current HIPAA Law?

You can share your own health info with whomever you please.

 

[rotlex]

I keep reading post about "Proof of vaccination". How can that happen with the current HIPAA Law?

HIPAA law does not cover what you are thinking it does. A private company, employer, school district etc. can require anything they want, or ask you to provide proof of anything they want. A quick Google will provide pages of information to read regarding it. Whether a place like Disney would go through the hassle of asking each guest, or figuring out how to avoid arguments is another story. Pretty good article on it here https://healthblog.uofmhealth.org/wellness-prevention/who-has-a-right-to-ask-if-youre-vaccinated

 

[Jim Libasci]

Obviously none of us know how things will shake out, but if you consider the fact that the pandemic was at an all-time high in the US about 4 months ago - and we are now to the point where mask mandates are largely being eliminated because vaccinations are up and cases are way, way down - I cannot imagine that things will not be largely back to normal at WDW (and the rest of the country) seven months from now.

This is why we aren't going until at least then. We've got our return to Florida trip planned for 15 months out because of the very poor response to Covid-19 down there. We want to sure that AS many people, kids to adults are vaccinated BEFORE we try that again.

 

[Jim Libasci]

I keep reading post about "Proof of vaccination". How can that happen with the current HIPAA Law?

Please read the current HIPPA laws before commenting again. That is not how it works. That's why your allowed to the schools that you are vaccinated.

 

[eleven24]

ETA: Just trying to inject some levity into the mask topic which, even now, can become quite contentious.

The fact that wearing a mask during a global pandemic turned political is a statement on how divided we are. Spending this past weekend in Disney with my kids reminded me how good we can all be. Chatting with total strangers in line is the return to normalcy I was happy to have for a few days, masks or no masks.

 

[eleven24]

Now that Disney is inching closer to normalcy, can we talk about the people in line who run into you because they can't pick their heads up out of their phones long enough to notice that the line stopped moving? We had one group behind us on Sunday that I wanted to peel the "Please Wait Here" decal off the ground and wrap it around their forehead

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

Don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but abuse of cast members who are asking guests to comply with indoor mask wearing is at an all time high. It's so bad in fact, that Disney has brought in therapy dogs to help cast members cope with the constant barrage of verbal abuse.

Please folks, be kind to cast members. They are just trying to do their jobs in a difficult time. Even if you don't agree with indoor mask wearing, it is Disney's current policy.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

Don't know if anyone has mentioned this, but abuse of cast members who are asking guests to comply with indoor mask wearing is at an all time high. It's so bad in fact, that Disney has brought in therapy dogs to help cast members cope with the constant barrage of verbal abuse.

Please folks, be kind to cast members. They are just trying to do their jobs in a difficult time. Even if you don't agree with indoor mask wearing, it is Disney's current policy.

I mentioned about how having indoor/attractions/theaters/dining mask requirements but not outdoors (although that excluded outdoor attractions as far as I know) would now make it more difficult for CMs on another thread because of more places to look out for rather than just a more "you need a mask" period and a poster told me no it would make it easier. People don't like differing rules and it's easy for me at least to see how someone would start up an argument on why they should still have to do this or that. I completely agree with you on being kind to CMs, be kind to all workers really (your retail, food industry, just everyone). They didn't make the rules but they are the ones who have to deal with them.

 

[Sargeant Tibbs]

I mentioned about how having indoor/attractions/theaters/dining mask requirements but not outdoors (although that excluded outdoor attractions as far as I know) would now make it more difficult for CMs on another thread because of more places to look out for rather than just a more "you need a mask" period and a poster told me no it would make it easier. People don't like differing rules and it's easy for me at least to see how someone would start up an argument on why they should still have to do this or that. I completely agree with you on being kind to CMs, be kind to all workers really (your retail, food industry, just everyone). They didn't make the rules but they are the ones who have to deal with them.

What baffles me is that these abusive guests would had to have booked their vacations while the outdoor mask rule was still in place, so they knew going in they would have to mask up. I know exactly what words and slurs CMs are being called, and they are truly horrible, especially having to hear it all day every day. It's cruel.

I second your call to being kind to all retail workers. My husband manages a grocery store, and he has been at a breaking point for months.

 

[Mackenzie Click-Mickelson]

What baffles me is that these abusive guests would had to have booked their vacations while the outdoor mask rule was still in place, so they knew going in they would have to mask up. I know exactly what words and slurs CMs are being called, and they are truly horrible, especially having to hear it all day every day. It's cruel.

I second your call to being kind to all retail workers. My husband manages a grocery store, and he has been at a breaking point for months.

People can just be awful sometimes

 

[TLSnell1981]

People can just be awful sometimes

I still believe in the basic goodness in most people. There are always an exceptions but they are not the rule.