Disney World, Disneyland Reverse Mask Policy: Everything You Need To Know

Disney (DIS) has rolled back its face mask policy, now requiring all guests to wear masks in all enclosed locations regardless of whether or not they have been vaccinated.

The new mask policy takes effect Friday at both Disney World in Orlando, Fla., and Disneyland in Anaheim, Calif., for all guests ages 2 and up.

Disney said on its website Wednesday that the mask requirement is effective when “entering and throughout many attractions and in enclosed transportation vehicles, including shuttles and buses.” The entertainment company maintained that face coverings are optional for park attendees in outdoor common areas.

The reversal in policy comes as the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its face mask guidelines for fully vaccinated people, saying that it recommends wearing masks indoors where there is a “high” or “substantial” transmissibility of COVID-19.

The agency also provided a map to help Americans determine what areas of the U.S. were deemed high or substantial risks for the transmission of the virus.

Disney World had eliminated its face mask requirement on June 15 for fully vaccinated guests but did not require proof of inoculation. It is still recommending masks for those individuals attending its theme parks that have not yet received the COVID vaccine.

Disney’s website details what it considers an acceptable mask, saying that it should be made with at least two layers of breathable material and not contain valves, mesh material, or holes.

The news from Disney also followed an announcement from Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings, who said the county is in “crisis mode,” CNN reported. Demings called for all public and private sector employers to require face masks indoors, declaring a state of emergency, USA Today said.

“These numbers are extraordinary. We are seeing nearly 1,000 new cases in Orange County daily," he said. "Those are the numbers we saw at the highest peak last year.”

Disney’s parks were closed at the height of the COVID pandemic to prevent the spread of the virus. Disney World reopened on July 11, 2020, while Disneyland suffered a more significant closure, not resuming operation until April 30, 2021.

Shares of Disney were trading at $179.58 as of premarket hours on Thursday, up 48 cents, or 0.27%.