Will Universal Follow Easing of Mask Restrictions?

[Erica Ladd]

After the announcement of Disney easing mask restrictions this week (for photos) do we think Uni will follow suit and start easing mask requirements? More or less than just for photos and eating/drinking?

 

[macraven]

Usually the parks follow suit to each other

 

[Lashed34]

I think Universal has led the way throughout the pandemic. They have continued to provide all kinds of entertainment, fireworks, water shows and Mardi Gras, they even had a couple of houses for HHN last year and people have felt safe and had a great time. I doubt they will follow Disney for the sake of it, but I'm sure it's something they're likely to do in the coming days.

 

[Erica Ladd]

I’m interested to see as we will be there in less than 3 weeks!!

 

[Bethany10]

I'm watching this with interest as we will be there at the end of May. I'm VERY curious how they'll handle the increasing summer crowds, masks etc.

 

[CAPSLOCK]

Well, since Universal has allowed maskless photos since at least Nov, I don't think there is anything for them to "follow suit" about for this.

 

[Erica Ladd]

I was wondering if they have seemed to be one step ahead they might be here as well

 

[CAPSLOCK]

When you think of it from the theme parks' perspective, stepping back on mask requirements is really going to be a challenging situation. Regardless of when a park announces that they are no longer required, they'll have people who are upset. People who booked 8 months prior and now they are uncomfortable going because they were expecting everyone around to be wearing masks.

But also once they've announced it, then there is a whole set of people who will disregard the current rules in the interim. Plus they've got another set of people rescheduling because they've been waiting for the mask requirement to drop.

I'd be thrilled if they dropped the mask requirement in time for my trip, but I'm going regardless. A lot of people are in the other boat and would absolutely not go if they found out their trip would be "masks optional."

So do they announce it with plenty of lead time, so those people can adjust plans (or at least expectations)? What's a "fair" amount of notice for a major change like that?

 

[Erica Ladd]

It gets crazy logistically I can only imagine. I e been to Universal twice, both times under mask mandates so that’s all I know. Just curious to see how/when it gets rolled back with all the parks. But I’ve found happiness at Uni

 

[nouvellefleur]

With the pace that American vaccinations are proceeding, I can't imagine making a hard prediction - I think everything will continue to change as they nail down the practical effects of widespread vaccination. But, I wouldn't be surprised if the parks hold onto at least some mask requirements through 2021. It's a tricky situation for sure and I don't envy the committee/department that has to make these decisions and deal with the loudest detractors. I'm personally hoping for fall 2021 being a safe, science-backed return to normalcy or near-normalcy. :/

 

[macraven]

I can’t see the virus going away anytime soon.
I’m seeing articles and speculations it will be with us for the remainder of this year
Possible longer

If we all follow the cdc requests, masks, hand washing, etc, we have better chance to be protected.

The virus is world wide
It will be a long time before we can let our guard down

But we are allowed to travel, take vacations, go to work, stores, and connect with family and friends.

I am thrilled the parks are open
I went in February and have plans to return in September

What ever rule UO has in place, I can live with it

 

[davper]

I can’t see the virus going away anytime soon.
I’m seeing articles and speculations it will be with us for the remainder of this year
Possible longer

The virus will never go away. It will be just like the Flu, which is still listed as a Global Pandemic, and come around every year. 10s of thousands die every year from the flu in the US.

 

[keishashadow]

do we think Uni will follow suit and start easing mask requirements? More or less than just for photos and eating/drinking?

If you are asking “other than just for photos & eating/drinking”, then...

Nope, the parks are reaching capacity just fine with the current requirements in place.

Until all park employees have been offered/received vaccines, it’s unconscionable to expect them to mandatorily report to work in a mask optional environment IMO.

Politics should have nothing to do with this.

Guests have the option to ‘opt out’ of visiting the parks. It’s different when you work there and merely expect to see basic WHO/CDC protocols followed for safety’s sake.

 

[ksdaveb2003]

Personally, I have been wearing my mask whenever I go out in public, even though I have been fully vaccinated for a couple of months. The last few days I have noticed about 50% of people in our stores, etc. not wearing any masks. Another 10-20% are wearing them below their noses. Me, I am still wearing it because not everyone has been offered the vaccine yet.
However, once the President or some other government official says that everyone in the USA has had the opportunity to receive the vaccine, I am done wearing masks. If someone chooses not to get vaccinated, then that is their choice. But, just like them driving down the interstate at 80 miles per hour without a seatbelt, they are the one choosing to take the risks and I should not have to permanently change my lifestyle because of their choices. I just hope the themeparks, etc., follow this same type of rational thought.

 

[TwoMisfits]

In good news, everyone in Florida 16+ has been eligible for a vaccine since April 5...so May 1-15 may be a good time to see the next phase of easing, which will likely be outdoor use...

 

[CAPSLOCK]

In that vein of thought though, you also have to take into consideration that being eligible to get the vaccine does not mean that one is able to get the vaccine, since appts are still hard to get for loads of people. So you're really talking about waiting until the vaccine is widely available to everyone - which I hope we get to very soon! Because I totally agree that we should be opening everything up just as soon as everyone who chooses to be vaccinated has the opportunity.

 

[ClapYourHands]

Me, I am still wearing it because not everyone has been offered the vaccine yet.
However, once the President or some other government official says that everyone in the USA has had the opportunity to receive the vaccine, I am done wearing masks. If someone chooses not to get vaccinated, then that is their choice.

A lot of the people who simply choose not to get vaccinated are the conspiracy-theory folks who think the virus is a hoax and the vaccine is going to inject everyone with a microchip. Those people don't care if you wear a mask or not because they're not going to, either.

Other people will want to get the vaccine, but be unable to for medical reasons. I feel bad for those people because their only protection is in the choices of people around them, and a lot of people are not very considerate (see conspiracy theory nut jobs above). I don't think the immunocompromised state of some imposes a moral obligation on everyone else to wear masks forever, but I do think we need something closer to herd immunity before we get rid of the masks.

There is currently no approved vaccine for children. Although kids typically have less severe symptoms, some do get very sick and some have died. Additionally, they can be vectors to transmit the virus to more susceptible people. Full vaccination opportunities have to include children.

Eligibility to receive the vaccine is not the same as opportunity to actually get it. There are a lot of logistical hurdles to overcome before we can really say all unvaccinated people are that way by choice. The first is obviously supply, which is increasing, but isn't there yet. The second is accessibility, which will take longer.

Finally, no vaccine is 100%. Even at 95% efficacy, that still means 1 person in 20 is susceptible. Vaccines are definitely a key component to getting us back to normalcy, but we need to pair them with other mitigation measures until the virus is under better control. Vaccines are not just individual protection, but are a public health strategy to get us to herd immunity that can offer a reasonable amount of protection to those who cannot be protected by a vaccine.

 

[TheGatekeeper]

Uni has allowed maskless pictures outside since they opened in early June. They do not allow you to take off your mask for pictures inside, like with a minion after the minion ride. We have many pictures outside from June 2020, including the raptor experience and all the characters in Seuss Landing.
Don't really understand why this has devolved into a debate about vaccines. The distance for pictures outside is well outside of 6 feet. If people feel the need for more stringent rules regarding this, they should not come to the parks as they will not feel safe.