If you are heading to one of your favorite theme parks anytime in the near future you will want to make sure you still pack that mask with you. Now before you get too upset you will want to check out the rules for each park, This week many Orlando theme parks updating their mask rules and are starting to see more areas they are not needed.
The response comes from Orange County’s announcement from this week that the county has achieved a 50% COVID-19 vaccination rate for everyone that is eligible for the ages of 16 and older for at least one dose. Also with the big shockwave of news from the CDC that masks can be eased up and not worn outside.
As a reminder that Orlando’s theme parks don’t follow based off of the CDC guidelines and are based on the local and state guidelines for their “own discretion” for how to enforce the policy rules.
So the next time you want to vacation to Orlando’s theme parks here’s a roundup of the new updated policies for the parks’.
DISNEY WORLD
Disney World has made a visual chart for what is required and what is optional for mask wear.
Here’s what they detailed on their site from the following:
“Face coverings are required for all Guests (ages 2 and up) and Cast Members. Please bring your own face coverings and wear them in all indoor locations, except when actively eating or drinking while stationary and maintaining appropriate physical distancing. Face coverings are optional in outdoor common areas at Walt Disney World Resort, but are still required upon entering and throughout all attractions, theaters and transportation.”
Social distancing is in the mid-process from being reduced from 6-feet to 3-feet for markers being put into place. For now, it’s 6-feet as guests are expected to follow the current attraction or show’s markers within the coming weeks ahead.
However Orlando’s theme parks as cast members are still “required” for their safety to wear masks for “indoors and outdoors”.
Chairman and CEO of Disney, Bob Chapek did elaborate about the mask mandate for the theme parks from this week’s earnings call for this summer but didn’t detail when they are going to be dropped for cast members.
Universal Orlando
If you’re wanting to hop over to Universal Orlando Resort and their respective theme parks, their new adjustments aren’t so much different from Disney’s.
Universal’s new mask policy
“Face coverings are not mandatory outdoors. Guests are required to wear face coverings while at indoor locations, indoor hotel public areas and at all attractions when visiting Universal Orlando Resort, including those who have received a COVID-19 vaccine. Face coverings are available for purchase online, as well as at select merchandise locations in City Walk and the theme parks. Children under the age of three are not required to wear face coverings during their visit.”
“Since Volcano Bay is an outdoor experience, face coverings are not mandatory. As a reminder, for the safety or our guests, face coverings are not permitted on slides and in pools.”
Note: social distancing guidelines still apply in all cases
Same as Disney, team members at Universal will still remind guests about the new mask update change, especially inside of the Hogwarts Express for example to Islands of Adventure and Universal Studios Florida vice versa.
SeaWorld Orlando
SeaWorld Orlando and their company-owned theme parks from SeaWorld San Antonio, Busch Gardens Tampa Bay, Discovery Island, and Discovery Cove/Aquatica are different for the mask changes, unlike Disney and Universal.
Both SeaWorld Orlando and SeaWorld San Antonio are dropping the mask requirements completely for fully vaccinated guests where Disney and Universal are still “required for masks indoors and certain areas”.
A statement from a SeaWorld spokesperson released to WESH 2 News about the changes:
“Based on the recently announced guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, we are modifying our policy regarding face coverings at some of our SeaWorld parks. Face coverings will no longer be required for guests at SeaWorld Orlando and SeaWorld San Antonio who are fully vaccinated in accordance with CDC guidance. We will not require proof of vaccine, but ask our guests to be respectfully comply with our revised policy.
In California where the state and local guidance mandates face coverings, we will require all guests at SeaWorld San Diego to wear face coverings until further notice. All SeaWorld park employees will be required to continue to wear face coverings at this time. The safety of our guests, Ambassadors and animals in our care remains our top priority. We will continue to monitor and address this changing environment as necessary. For more information, guests can stay up to date on our park policies by visiting our dedicated safety website.”
For Discovery Cove/Aquatica as same rules apply:
“Based on the recently announced guidance from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control, we are modifying our policy regarding face coverings at Discovery Cove. Face coverings will no longer be required for guests at Discovery Cove who are fully vaccinated in accordance with CDC guidance. We will not require proof of vaccine, but ask our guests to be respectfully comply with our revised policy. All Discovery Cove employees will be required to continue to wear face coverings at this time. The safety of our guests, Ambassadors and animals in our care remains our top priority. We will continue to monitor and address this changing environment as necessary. For more information, guests can stay up to date on our park policies by visiting our dedicated safety website.”
SeaWorld Ambassadors (park employees) still apply for the same rules as Disney and Universal, which are still required for indoor and outdoor settings.
This a big step towards some sort of normalcy for an optimistic summer ahead, especially within the Orlando area to recover the local economy again.
We Want To Hear From You
There are a lot of mixed responses on social media that have been buzzing about these changes and we curious about your thoughts? Also, will these policies affect your plans for going on vacation? Leave in the comments section below!
For more on Disney, and all other theme park news make sure to check back to That Hashtag Show.
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