Realistically, when do think Disney will no longer require masks?

[soniam]

OMG!!! Totally off topic, but I just happened upon my 1st dose vaccine appointment in 3.5 weeks about an hour away!!! Sorry, but I am just thrilled and shocked. I was thinking that I would be lucky to get one in June and probably have to go to Oklahoma to do it.

 

[jlwhitney]

Disney’s target audience includes kids younger than your teen. People won’t be comfortable with their unvaccinated children being around lots of maskless strangers. Disney is going to keep the mask requirement for a while. Especially given that Disney can probably eventually cut down on social distancing (and thus increase profitability) only by having the mask mandate in place. If anyone is trying to plan a trip this year thinking there is not going to be a mask mandate then you are in for a rough surprise. This reminds me of the debate back in February of 2020 when a lot of people thought the parks would never close.

You are making assumptions on what people are willing to do. Kids in many areas are in large groups of maskless people everyday between activities, parties and such and even some with schools. There are also ones that one get the vaccine for their kids because kids have generally been low risk anyway.

Now I do agree that trips need to be planned based on what is known or be willing to push back if need be.

 

[Jimmy Mouse]

Haha, Florida never had a statewide mask mandate. They also would have let Disney open up at full capacity in the summer. The party ruling the state doesn't care.

Good thing it's not the same party running California, if so, this thread wouldn't exist.

 

[LSUmiss]

Masks will be the last to go. "Herd Immunity" takes place when 95% of the population is vaccinated or has had the virus and has antibodies. Considering the child population isn't getting vaccinated yet this won't occur for some time. Also, you still have roughly 35% of the adult population saying they won't get vaccinated. Masks will be around for some time. I agree with OP that everything else might drop or reduce, including social distancing, but masks will be around. On the good news side, if the rate of vaccinations continues at the current pace, and the pharmaceuticals continue to deliver (including J&J), by Memorial Day 80% of the US adult population will be fully vaccinated. (If we can get them to take the shot!) The potential for things to be somewhat back to normal by Memorial Day is there.

But once the vaccine is readily available to anyone who wants it, all restrictions should be lifted. If someone won’t take that shot, that should be on them.

 

[LSUmiss]

Disney’s target audience includes kids younger than your teen. People won’t be comfortable with their unvaccinated children being around lots of maskless strangers. Disney is going to keep the mask requirement for a while. Especially given that Disney can probably eventually cut down on social distancing (and thus increase profitability) only by having the mask mandate in place. If anyone is trying to plan a trip this year thinking there is not going to be a mask mandate then you are in for a rough surprise. This reminds me of the debate back in February of 2020 when a lot of people thought the parks would never close.

Why? Young children seem to get very mild cases if anything? So if I’m vaccinated why should I be afraid of my child being around ppl w/o masks?

 

[sandlsmom]

Exactly and from everyone I personally know with small kids, NONE are getting them vaccinated. So if that is the thought process on when masks will go away, we will be wearing them for a LONG time.

Why? Young children seem to get very mild cases if anything? So if I’m vaccinated why should I be afraid of my child being around ppl w/o masks?

 

[TomMorrow71]

Exactly and from everyone I personally know with small kids, NONE are getting them vaccinated. So if that is the thought process on when masks will go away, we will be wearing them for a LONG time.

None of the vaccines are approved for use in children. Pfizer is 16 and up. Modern a and J & J 18 and up. Like adults, most cases are mild in children. However parents should note the symptoms of MIS-C, the rare and serious syndrome seen post covid and on the rise in children.

 

[Fido Chuckwagon]

But once the vaccine is readily available to anyone who wants it, all restrictions should be lifted. If someone won’t take that shot, that should be on them.

The shot is not available to kids and most likely won’t be available to kids until 2022.

 

[Karin1984]

Why? Young children seem to get very mild cases if anything? So if I’m vaccinated why should I be afraid of my child being around ppl w/o masks?

Because the vaccin is not 100% effective. You can still get it, and that will probably be milder than without the vaccine, but still. Being vaccinated or having a mild case, doesnt mean you cannot spread it. Regardless of age.

 

[jlwhitney]

But once the vaccine is readily available to anyone who wants it, all restrictions should be lifted. If someone won’t take that shot, that should be on them.

Because common sense and personal responsibility seem to be a thing of the past. I agree fully with you. I also think there will
Be many un happy dis members when masks are lifted before they are ready.

 

[jlwhitney]

Because the vaccin is not 100% effective. You can still get it, and that will probably be milder than without the vaccine, but still. Being vaccinated or having a mild case, doesnt mean you cannot spread it. Regardless of age.

Experts are leaning that it’s unlikely vaccinated person will spread. More solid conclusions hopefully will be out by fall.

 

[jlwhitney]

None of the vaccines are approved for use in children. Pfizer is 16 and up. Modern a and J & J 18 and up. Like adults, most cases are mild in children. However parents should note the symptoms of MIS-C, the rare and serious syndrome seen post covid and on the rise in children.

MIS C is still very rare. no one is forcing any one to go to Disney so if they lift the mask rule it’s the parents decision to go if one is that worried about it then they don’t have to go.

 

[LiveLifeLoud]

About the same amount of children that died from covid in a year died from the flu the year before. That’s with no covid vaccine but we do have a flu vaccine. I don’t think children not being vaccinated is going to play into mask mandates.

As for the original question....I think Disney will end masks abruptly and around early 2022. It makes no sense to say “masks end next week.” So masks are saving us today but won’t tomorrow? People will start relaxing and it’ll be harder to enforce leading up to the day. Yes it’ll upset people but for the ones who will cancel due to being upset, there will be just as many happy and ready to schedule a trip due to no masks. It’ll also be optional I’m sure. You can still wear a mask if you want.

 

[FinnsMom7]

I would honestly hope that they can at least drop them for MM photos. If you can stop off to the side to eat and drink maskless why can't certain photo areas be set up to take a maskless photo? the CM is 6ft away, and set the area up just for maybe park icons and off the path type places. I find it odd seeing so many people post photos on skyliner with a mask, you are alone with your party only.
I went in Jan/Feb and it was cold so I didn't mind the mask but got home and ended up with strep. I dont wear a mask normally and hated it, couldn't imagine that in June with humidity at all.

 

[jlwhitney]

About the same amount of children that died from covid in a year died from the flu the year before. That’s with no covid vaccine but we do have a flu vaccine. I don’t think children not being vaccinated is going to play into mask mandates.

As for the original question....I think Disney will end masks abruptly and around early 2022. It makes no sense to say “masks end next week.” So masks are saving us today but won’t tomorrow? People will start relaxing and it’ll be harder to enforce leading up to the day. Yes it’ll upset people but for the ones who will cancel due to being upset, there will be just as many happy and ready to schedule a trip due to no masks. It’ll also be optional I’m sure. You can still wear a mask if you want.

I think you will also see the weeks leading up to when they formally make the call there will be less and less enforcement to make it look more subtle.

I am fully with you kids aren't going to make a huge difference on mandates. Maybe schools will choose to keep masks longer but that is about it.

 

[LSUmiss]

Because the vaccin is not 100% effective. You can still get it, and that will probably be milder than without the vaccine, but still. Being vaccinated or having a mild case, doesnt mean you cannot spread it. Regardless of age.

Right but all the vaccines have been said to be close to 100% effective in preventing disease serious enough to require hospitalization. Once everyone 16 or older has access to the vaccine, then enough is enough.

 

[LSUmiss]

About the same amount of children that died from covid in a year died from the flu the year before. That’s with no covid vaccine but we do have a flu vaccine. I don’t think children not being vaccinated is going to play into mask mandates.

As for the original question....I think Disney will end masks abruptly and around early 2022. It makes no sense to say “masks end next week.” So masks are saving us today but won’t tomorrow? People will start relaxing and it’ll be harder to enforce leading up to the day. Yes it’ll upset people but for the ones who will cancel due to being upset, there will be just as many happy and ready to schedule a trip due to no masks. It’ll also be optional I’m sure. You can still wear a mask if you want.

That’s what I expect too that before there is an official retraction of the policy, they just start getting more & more relaxed about non compliance.

 

[LSUmiss]

None of the vaccines are approved for use in children. Pfizer is 16 and up. Modern a and J & J 18 and up. Like adults, most cases are mild in children. However parents should note the symptoms of MIS-C, the rare and serious syndrome seen post covid and on the rise in children.

On the rise perhaps but still VERY VERY rare!

 

[MeridaAnn]

I think it's likely that Disney will wait until Universal and other local parks lift their mask requirements first, just like they waited longer than those parks to reopen in the first place last summer. They have no lack of demand for the parks, so it doesn't hurt them financially to come across as overly cautious and I expect they would much rather let the other parks take the brunt of the news reporting on the initial removal of mask requirements.

 

[Imbris]

Right but all the vaccines have been said to be close to 100% effective in preventing disease serious enough to require hospitalization. Once everyone 16 or older has access to the vaccine, then enough is enough.

Right. Even if 5-10% of vaccinated adults can still get and spread COVID (even if their own cases are mild)...what's the difference if they have no one vulnerable to spread it to because all other adults who want to be vaccinated have been vaccinated and are 100% protected against the worst COVID can offer? We're sure as heck not going to hold back the lifting of restrictions because of the 20% of adults who just don't want to get vaccinated.