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Credit: Disney (left) ITM (right)Disney World has come a long way since the beginning of the pandemic, and the Guest experience is continuously improving as operations return to normal!
Over the course of the past month or so, we have seen Disney World remove mask mandates for fully vaccinated Guests, increase capacity, rid social distancing, and now, Cast Members’ rules and regulations have lifted for many. When the rules initially changed, Disney allowed certain Cast Members who did not interact closely with Guests to remove their masks outdoors if fully vaccinated. That rule evolved to all outdoor Cast Member roles being able to remove their mask if fully vaccinated, and now, Cast Members who are fully vaccinated can remove their masks while indoors!
The change began on Friday, and now that Cast Members have had a few days to adapt, many have removed their face coverings! Cast Members are the working force behind the magic Guests experience while at Disney, and seeing their faces light up can give a Guest who is having an average day a reason to smile as they emulate positive energy.
Below are some photos of Cast Members being able to greet Guests at Disney’s Grand Floridian without masks!
When Cast Members had their masks on, we were unable to see their smiles, and although they were all still positive through the challenges of the pandemic, seeing their faces finally creates a much more normal theme park experience for Disney Guests. With all of the changes being made to return the parks to normal as quickly and safely as possible, many Guests at Disney World can experience a version of life that is much closer to “normal” than many have been able to see in quite some time.
From our experience, it seems that most Cast Members no longer wear masks at Disney World — however, there are still some who are wearing masks. I, for one, am thrilled to see Cast Members smile again. With Happily Ever After and EPCOT Forever returning in just a few days, things are finally starting to feel like they are returning to normal again at Disney World.
Of course, there still is a long way to go, especially in terms of entertainment returning to the theme parks, but it is great to see Disney taking strides and progressing as the world continues to conquer the pandemic.
What do you think of Cast Members being able to remove their masks while indoors? Let us know in the comments below!