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Credit: DisneyWhen Walt Disney World Resort began its phased reopening in mid-July 2020, Guests at the property’s four theme parks — Magic Kingdom, EPCOT, Disney’s Animal Kingdom, and Disney’s Hollywood Studios — were met with a number of changes.
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For example, all Guests aged 2 and up are now required to wear appropriate face coverings, social distancing measures are enforced, and some attractions and experiences remain unavailable even now.
Walt Disney World Resort officials have continually updated their face mask policy throughout the COVID-19 pandemic. The most recent change involves an online update to the information about dining and face masks. Now, it states Guests must wear their face coverings while “standing, waiting or sitting in dining locations.”
The official website now reads:
Before you dine at Walt Disney World Resort, please be aware that you’ll need:
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Face coverings for each Guest age 2 and up, which must be worn in all public areas and can only be removed while actively eating or drinking. Face coverings must be worn while standing, waiting or sitting in dining locations.
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It is worth noting that this policy has been in place at Disneyland Resort in Anaheim, California. Although Disneyland Park and Disney California Adventure Park remain officially closed, both Downtown Disney and DCA’s Buena Vista Street are open for outdoor dining.
The updates to the Walt Disney World Resort face mask policy are now written on the Experience Updates webpage for dining. Disneyland Resort does not have a similar webpage published just yet, and the face mask policy on the Experience Updates webpage for the Downtown Disney District does not yet outline the policy of not removing face masks at dining tables until food or beverages arrive. However, we can confirm that the Disney-owned restaurant Carthay Circle has been enforcing this policy ever since it reopened for outdoor dining on November 19, 2020.
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Disney-owned restaurants like Carthay Circle Lounge – Alfresco Dining [pictured above] are fully enforcing the policy — Guests are not to remove their face masks until their beverages and/or meals arrive and they are actively consuming them. Disney’s Carthay Circle Restaurant waitstaff tells Guests as soon as they arrive at their tables that they are not permitted to remove their face coverings until their drink orders arrive.
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Many third-party establishments, such as Ralph Brennan’s Jazz Kitchen at Disneyland’s Downtown Disney District [pictured above], are also abiding by this face mask policy due to California state regulations.
The notice on the table reads in part:
When dining in a restaurant, the state of California requires masks to be worn at all times except when actively eating or drinking.
Please wear your mask when not actively eating or drinking; when intending to interact with staff at your table; and when entering, exiting, or moving around the restaurant.Â
It is important to note that non-Disney-owned establishments may or may not actually enforce this policy, as they are not subject to Disney Parks’ specific regulations.
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Prior to this update, many Walt Disney World Resort Guests reported that they were allowed to remove their masks as soon as they were seated at their dining tables and were allowed to leave their face coverings off for the duration of the dining experience.
officials have not yet announced if updates to the face mask policy will be made prior to ‘s , which is set to begin on October 1, 2021 and extend for 18 months. The festivities will include additional embellishments for Cinderella Castle, new looks for Mickey Mouse and Minnie Mouse, special EARisdescence colored merchandise, and much more!
What do you think about this updated Disney World dining face mask policy?