What should I do?

[BroadwayHermione5]

Can I jump on and ask when masks were dropped late last year, did this include while in indoor ride queues or just outside?

It was dropped everywhere on UOR property. Reinstated inside in December. Disney was dropped outside and has been required inside since august I think.

 

[mamapenguin]

I’m not sure about initially, but there was no mask requirement anywhere on our July and October trips.

 

[FinnsMom7]

Can I jump on and ask when masks were dropped late last year, did this include while in indoor ride queues or just outside?

end of May Universal dropped mask requirement for all indoor areas for guests (hotels included) then on Dec 24th reinstated the indoor rule.

 

[DoryGirl1963]

We booked our 12/23-26/22 trip in Aug 2022 after all mask requirements were dropped. Found out literally the day before our arrival that they were reinstated for indoors effective 12/24/22. Sad faces all around & we did consider not going, but it was a birthday trip for my husband so I let him decide. We went & enjoyed one blissful mask-free day & made the most of it but we weren't one bit happy about it - after 2 vacations with full mask requirements in Aug 2020 & May 2021, we were really looking forward to a completely mask-free vacation. Very disappointing in that regard.

 

[chicagodisneyguy]

We were at US this weekend and with temps in the 30s we actually wore them outside for a while because it was so cold

Being from Chicago and having to wear them pretty much everywhere it doesn't really bother us. But I can empathize for those who don't have to wear them that much and have the policy change after booking. I think for the next couple years when booking theme parks or other travel like cruises people need to almost expect the rules to change many times. It's just the nature of the beast I guess.

 

[lisam70]

Mask mandates where I live were just dropped so fingers crossed UO will get rid of mandate soon since numbers are really falling

 

[tinkerbell1991]

It was dropped everywhere on UOR property. Reinstated inside in December. Disney was dropped outside and has been required inside since august I think.

end of May Universal dropped mask requirement for all indoor areas for guests (hotels included) then on Dec 24th reinstated the indoor rule.

Thanks both, I never knew that - I always thought indoor was kept. At least there's a chance it could be dropped again but either way, I'm just glad to be coming back in Oct

 

[trompettecon]

end of May Universal dropped mask requirement for all indoor areas for guests (hotels included) then on Dec 24th reinstated the indoor rule.

They dropped it but recommended that non-vaxxed individuals wear them. We all know how that turned out.

 

[FinnsMom7]

They dropped it but recommended that non-vaxxed individuals wear them. We all know how that turned out.

Key word recommended, cant blame people for not wearing them when it's not required.

 

[bchbetha]

Key word recommended, cant blame people for not wearing them when it's not required.

It wasn’t recommended. They were requested. People should be expected to follow the guidelines.

 

[sandyplayer]

I booked our first theme park trip in early December for late February through a travel agent. One of the reasons I picked Universal over Disney is bc of the freedom to choose to wear a mask.
A few weeks later the mask requirements changed.
I wrote a lengthy email to Universal, one of three, none of which have received any response.
I decided to try and wait it out but at this point I'm not expecting anything to change.
My agent says it would be like $400 if we cancelled and $100 if we moved the date. However, I have no guarantee anything will change if we move the date. I'm pretty torn on what to do.
At this point, we won't go if we have to mask. Just our personal views. And the fact that Universal will not communicate with me at all gives me a sour taste in my mouth. Super disappointed that I have to deal with this.

I totally understand how you feel. One of the reasons I booked all as separate (for February break) was that I could cancel without penalty if they don't change the mask policy. Like you it is a deal breaker. I am escaping NY as just that, an escape. We can put it off if needed.

 

[Kestryl]

Personally, I’m wondering when the British announcer will drop the “We ENCOURAGE” mantra. Maybe she’s already gone? It was something like “We encourage all guests to keep a safe distance between your travel party and others.” But the way she says encourage. And the number of times it’s played. Worse than any mask requirement by far.

 

[dez1978]

Any at all would be nice.

I mean, they can't predict what day they will stop requiring masks. It's sort of a fluid situation with the different variants, so I'm not sure what kind of response you want. They gave like 1 day notice when they started requiring them again so I'd guess when they drop the requirment it will be the same.

 

[FinnsMom7]

Personally, I’m wondering when the British announcer will drop the “We ENCOURAGE” mantra. Maybe she’s already gone? It was something like “We encourage all guests to keep a safe distance between your travel party and others.” But the way she says encourage. And the number of times it’s played. Worse than any mask requirement by far.

When we were there in Nov and I heard the recording I paused my husband laughed and said did they use British hoping people would hear it more or hoping they would listen better. I said either way no one is being encouraged to do anything in the mob scene that was 3 days of Hogsmeade delayed openings and 1 without any power at all.

 

[trompettecon]

Key word recommended, cant blame people for not wearing them when it's not required.

Of course I can.

 

[Rory607]

You should probably cancel if it’s that important to you. I truly cannot fathom canceling a trip due to mask requirements, but it’s your decision. No one has the power to predict the future. Covid has taught me that much, if nothing else.

 

[Kestryl]

When we were there in Nov and I heard the recording I paused my husband laughed and said did they use British hoping people would hear it more or hoping they would listen better. I said either way no one is being encouraged to do anything in the mob scene that was 3 days of Hogsmeade delayed openings and 1 without any power at all.

Real answer: probably so they could play it in the Harry Potter areas for immersion.

But yeah, the entire time I was like, WHY. Especially when paired with the crowd favorite, “Fill in all available space.” I’m getting conflicting answers, so I listen to the team member or the disembodied British voice, because I am confused.

 

[BroadwayHermione5]

Real answer: probably so they could play it in the Harry Potter areas for immersion.

But yeah, the entire time I was like, WHY. Especially when paired with the crowd favorite, “Fill in all available space.” I’m getting conflicting answers, so I listen to the team member or the disembodied British voice, because I am confused.

So it actually sounds like the voice actress of the secretary who sends Harry the message in the beginning in HP and the order of the Phoenix (#5) and I thought that was a very cool touch. Then I realized it was around the whole park and was like “huh”

 

[kbelle8995]

So it actually sounds like the voice actress of the secretary who sends Harry the message in the beginning in HP and the order of the Phoenix (#5) and I thought that was a very cool touch. Then I realized it was around the whole park and was like “huh”

I loved it just sounded cool. There's a guy who does it out in Citywalk (or I thought it was)

 

[FinnsMom7]

Real answer: probably so they could play it in the Harry Potter areas for immersion.

But yeah, the entire time I was like, WHY. Especially when paired with the crowd favorite, “Fill in all available space.” I’m getting conflicting answers, so I listen to the team member or the disembodied British voice, because I am confused.

Inside HP I will say it was fitting but as you walked through other parts of the park it was def odd. But then in line for Hagrid's it was fill in all space which would cut into the social distance announcement.