Thoughts about new CDC guidelines and how it might affect your Disney vacation.

[Linkura]

They certainly aren’t as protective as the vaccines which is what really confuses me - you’d go to the park with only masks before the vaccine, but now you won’t go even if you have the vaccine and wear your own personal mask?

No, there was no way I was going to WDW without being fully vaccinated first, masks or not.

 

[Laura72]

I am vaccinated and will still wear my mask if they are not mandatory. I had intentions of taking my grandson, who will be 1 in July. If masks are not mandatory, I will not take him. He cannot wear a mask nor get vaccinated. The chances of the virus spreading in the parks will increase. Everyone knows CDC rules will not be followed. FL Governor has passed a bill making it illegal for businesses to request proof of vaccinations. Joe Blow might not be vaccinated but he will be maskless. This is not a wise move for Florida

orlando can’t take much more of no Disney money and ripple effects of joblessness.

I completely understand I’m also worried about the children and people that can’t be vaxxed.

 

[Laura72]

CDC guidelines will not work anywhere in Florida. Governor DeSantis has passed a bill forbidding a business to request proof of vaccinations. Just how does any business determine who is vaccinated and who isn't. As it is now there are people refusing to wear a mask when required and there has been all along. Does the CDC actually think only those vaccinated will go maskless? This isn't just a Disney issue but an issue all over. In fact the 3rd largest cruise line in the world is considering pulling out of Florida because of this newly signed bill. They want all who board to show proof of vaccine.

highly doubt cruise line will pull out, too much money to lose. More then likely paper work will be processed before boarding outside of fla

 

[AndreaA]

No, there was no way I was going to WDW without being fully vaccinated first, masks or not.

That at least makes sense to me. It’s the people who’ve been multiple times already but now don’t want to go back, even though they’re vaccinated, because some people won’t have masks on that makes me confused.

 

[Brett Wyman]

That at least makes sense to me. It’s the people who’ve been multiple times already but now don’t want to go back, even though they’re vaccinated, because some people won’t have masks on that makes me confused.

Are you considering that those people may have children under 12 that aren't vaccinated yet? There is definitely now a greater risk for that one subset of guests. There are parents that believe their kids are at a greater risk of exposure now then they were with the previous policy in place.

But for anyone fully vaccinated, yeah this is good news. Without kids and as a vaccinated person, I would be marching around MK without a care in the world.

BUT, I think Disney overlooking that one very important demographic was a huge oversight. Masks should have stayed until everyone had the option to be vaccinated. Disneys lost 2 billion dollars and they want it back now and they were willing to throw that group under the bus because they know there is enough demand from parents who wont be bothered by the policy.

 

[lovethattink]

Are you considering that those people may have children under 12 that aren't vaccinated yet? There is definitely now a greater risk for that one subset of guests. There are parents that believe their kids are at a greater risk of exposure now then they were with the previous policy in place.

But for anyone fully vaccinated, yeah this is good news. Without kids and as a vaccinated person, I would be marching around MK without a care in the world.

BUT, I think Disney overlooking that one very important demographic was a huge oversight. Masks should have stayed until everyone had the option to be vaccinated. Disneys lost 2 billion dollars and they want it back now and they were willing to throw that group under the bus because they know there is enough demand from parents who wont be bothered by the policy.

Compared to the rest of the state, Disney’s rules are much stricter. Masks haven’t been mandatory in Florida most of the pandemic. They were in certain counties or cities though. It was a year ago that dining in Florida opened to 50% and has been 100% for months. I think Disney is being much more cautious than the rest of Florida.

 

[Brett Wyman]

Compared to the rest of the state, Disney’s rules are much stricter. Masks haven’t been mandatory in Florida most of the pandemic. They were in certain counties or cities though. It was a year ago that dining in Florida opened to 50% and has been 100% for months. I think Disney is being much more cautious than the rest of Florida.

I agree 100%, and I was very proud of the COVID choices they made up until Friday. We spent 14 days at WDW during the pandemic over two trips, so we felt safe. And I still respect many of their policies that are in place. But it also doesn't invalidate anything I mentioned previously. That demographic is now more susceptible than they were before the policy was changed. And I firmly believe it was nothing more than a financial bandaid thrown in place hastily by Chapek after the earnings call.

 

[OhBother1984]

Are you considering that those people may have children under 12 that aren't vaccinated yet? There is definitely now a greater risk for that one subset of guests. There are parents that believe their kids are at a greater risk of exposure now then they were with the previous policy in place.

But for anyone fully vaccinated, yeah this is good news. Without kids and as a vaccinated person, I would be marching around MK without a care in the world.

BUT, I think Disney overlooking that one very important demographic was a huge oversight. Masks should have stayed until everyone had the option to be vaccinated. Disneys lost 2 billion dollars and they want it back now and they were willing to throw that group under the bus because they know there is enough demand from parents who wont be bothered by the policy.

You are forgetting there are many kids that have been in school all year with no masks, in youth activities with no masks and so on. Yes there will be some that will now be more worried but in the end the risk outdoors for kids under 12 is so little that its time to start moving toward normal. Plus no one is forcing anyone to go to disney.

 

[emcarle27]

We arrive in 3 weeks and we are still comfortable going even with the now relaxed guidelines of not having to wear masks outdoors (aside from que lines). But we've both been vaccinated for over a month. I'm sure I'd feel differently if we were not vaccinated.

 

[Brett Wyman]

You are forgetting there are many kids that have been in school all year with no masks, in youth activities with no masks and so on. Yes there will be some that will now be more worried but in the end the risk outdoors for kids under 12 is so little that its time to start moving toward normal. Plus no one is forcing anyone to go to disney.

Im literally NOT forgetting that. That is one of the main concerns as our district is still full masks and only half day and already announced masks are required the rest of this year. And we love them for it.

 

[luv2cheer92]

You are forgetting there are many kids that have been in school all year with no masks, in youth activities with no masks and so on. Yes there will be some that will now be more worried but in the end the risk outdoors for kids under 12 is so little that its time to start moving toward normal. Plus no one is forcing anyone to go to disney.

There have also been school districts that have required or not required masks that have had several outbreaks (more than several around me). It's not the same everywhere.

 

[OhBother1984]

Im literally NOT forgetting that. That is one of the main concerns as our district is still full masks and only half day and already announced masks are required the rest of this year. And we love them for it.

But it's the fact that others havent makes it easier for Disney to change as they did. Again no one has to go. And schools around me already said no masks next school year and the vast majority are happy with it and pushed for it.

Can't make both groups happy, but thank goodness we have the ability to choose what and where we go.

 

[Mango7100]

You are forgetting there are many kids that have been in school all year with no masks, in youth activities with no masks and so on. Yes there will be some that will now be more worried but in the end the risk outdoors for kids under 12 is so little that its time to start moving toward normal. Plus no one is forcing anyone to go to disney.

One thing that needs to be remembered is there is a difference between unvaccinated kids being around other unvaccinated kids and unvaccinated kids being around unvaccinated adults. A 6 year old playing soccer outside with other unvaccinated 6 year olds is different than a 6 year old standing in a line next to 5 unvaccinated adults. While outside is definitely is much less risky than indoors, we also know that adults are more likely to transmit to children than a child is to another child.

We are going on Friday and will still have our 8 year old wear a mask in crowded areas. I am still a bit unsure of how outdoor lines are working with masks—like do you put it on as soon as you pass the CM with the end of the line wait time sign? I hope you do—we may have to avoid some things if that’s not the case. We will be wearing ours even though we are vaccinated just because she will be. But walking in the parking lot or walking down a pathway—nope.

 

[luv2cheer92]

One thing that needs to be remembered is there is a difference between unvaccinated kids being around other unvaccinated kids and unvaccinated kids being around unvaccinated adults. A 6 year old playing soccer outside with other unvaccinated 6 year olds is different than a 6 year old standing in a line next to 5 unvaccinated adults. While outside is definitely is much less risky than indoors, we also know that adults are more likely to transmit to children than a child is to another child.

We are going on Friday and will still have our 8 year old wear a mask in crowded areas. I am still a bit unsure of how outdoor lines are working with masks—like do you put it on as soon as you pass the CM with the end of the line wait time sign? I hope you do—we may have to avoid some things if that’s not the case. We will be wearing ours even though we are vaccinated just because she will be. But walking in the parking lot or walking down a pathway—nope.

Most people seem to be reporting that you only have to put your mask on once you enter the official queue. Like where the attraction sign is that has the wait time, the FP sign (when it was there), clock, the CMs stationed, etc. If the line extends past that, then you wouldn't need a mask until you get to that point.

 

[kevgraub]

I may be fully vaccinated so I shouldn't die, but I can still spread covid and I don't need the risk.

Completely understand if you want to stay away, but I think it is important to point out that according to the CDC, there is almost no chance of you spreading covid if you are fully vaccinated.

According to the CDC, fully vaccinated people have an extremely low risk of catching covid to begin with. In addition, if you did happen to be one of the few that did catch it, the odds are again extremely low that you would build a sufficient viral load to be contagious and pass it on to someone else.

I believe that played a huge role in the CDC's recent relaxation of recommendations for vaccinated people. The vaccine helps in 3 ways - (1) it provides amazing protection from you contracting the virus to begin with; (2) if you are one of the 5%-10% of people that have a breakthrough infection, you are most likely to have a mild case of symptoms; and (3) again if you happen to get a breakthrough case, you are considerably less likely to become contagious than a nonvaccinated person would be.

 

[AndreaA]

I agree 100%, and I was very proud of the COVID choices they made up until Friday. We spent 14 days at WDW during the pandemic over two trips, so we felt safe. And I still respect many of their policies that are in place. But it also doesn't invalidate anything I mentioned previously. That demographic is now more susceptible than they were before the policy was changed. And I firmly believe it was nothing more than a financial bandaid thrown in place hastily by Chapek after the earnings call.

Children under 12 have a much greater chance of dying from the common flu than from covid and their odds of dying from the common flu are extremely low. This has ALWAYS been the case. Having even SOME of the people vaccinated makes the chance of a kid catching it, nevermind becoming seriously ill, is extremely unlikely. This isn’t some made-up fact, it’s from the CDC and looking at actual child fatalities from 2020 and 2019.

 

[JoJoGirl]

Call me a cockeyed optimist but I think most people do their best to be kind and considerate, and be good parents. For the past year it’s been drilled into us that wearing masks, social distancing, and protecting our kids and anyone who is vulnerable, not just ourselves, was the way to be kind, considerate, and responsible. That belief was good and correct at the time because masks were shown to make a difference.

On Friday, The CDC came right out and said that now in the US, in many situations and for huge amounts of people, masks no longer make a difference. The vast majority of the most vulnerable - the elderly and people with medical conditions - have been vaccinated and are safe from contracting severe Covid and spreading it. Most adults who want it, and growing numbers of older children, have been vaccinated and are safe. Young children were always at minimal risk for Covid disease, but could have spread it to those vulnerable populations who are now safe. And we now know that outdoor transmission in freely circulating air is next to nothing, even when infected people are present. The risk for almost all people, young or old, of catching or spreading severe Covid in those situations is now no greater than being hurt or killed by many other everyday activities. That is the science.

Disney is following the CDC recommendations and the science with its new mask policy, so in black and white it seems pretty safe. Hopefully the feeling will come with practice. However, giving up the idea that masks = kindness and consideration feels strange. I guess we need to find ways to show kindness without masks.

I can’t wait to smile at people again and see them smile back! I want to be able to pick up somebody‘s sunglasses that they didn’t realize they dropped and hand them back without worrying. It will be great to say a nice word to someone that they can hear because we’re not six feet away behind masks. My next trip isn’t until December, and I am so excited about it!

If someone still feels more comfortable in a mask, that’s great too! Everybody has their reasons. I’ll probably take that as a sign to respect their space though, lol. It’s totally understandable after the past year.

 

[Brett Wyman]

Children under 12 have a much greater chance of dying from the common flu than from covid and their odds of dying from the common flu are extremely low. This has ALWAYS been the case. Having even SOME of the people vaccinated makes the chance of a kid catching it, nevermind becoming seriously ill, is extremely unlikely. This isn’t some made-up fact, it’s from the CDC and looking at actual child fatalities from 2020 and 2019.

All 100% true but still doesn't take anything away from my original point.

 

[AndreaA]

All 100% true but still doesn't take anything away from my original point.

True, but your original point is that the new rules make a group of people (kids 12 and under) “more susceptible” yet doesn’t contain the caveat that they were never particularly susceptible to serious illness to begin with and are now at almost a negligible level of risk, especially compared to other things. In fact it would probably be less dangerous for a parent to take their kids to Disney than it would be to let them swim in the ocean or even a backyard pool. I could understand being upset or thinking WDW company was being money-grubbing if they were truly putting kids at risk, but they really, really aren’t.

 

[Laura72]

Are you considering that those people may have children under 12 that aren't vaccinated yet? There is definitely now a greater risk for that one subset of guests. There are parents that believe their kids are at a greater risk of exposure now then they were with the previous policy in place.

But for anyone fully vaccinated, yeah this is good news. Without kids and as a vaccinated person, I would be marching around MK without a care in the world.

BUT, I think Disney overlooking that one very important demographic was a huge oversight. Masks should have stayed until everyone had the option to be vaccinated. Disneys lost 2 billion dollars and they want it back now and they were willing to throw that group under the bus because they know there is enough demand from parents who wont be bothered by the policy.

It’s not just Disney that lost 2 billion, it’s the whole Orlando area.