Wearing a Mask at Disney World: What’s it Really Like?

We just returned from our visit to Walt Disney World, and the question we are asked most frequently is “What was it like wearing a mask at Disney World?”. During the phased reopening, Disney World put many changes into place. The biggest change to the Disney experience are the new health and safety policies. Most notably, having to wear a face covering. With all the questions we’ve been getting, we want to share our experience with you. Hopefully, our experiences can help you decide whether it’s something you’re comfortable with. Here is what it was like for us wearing a mask at Disney World!

Who has to wear a mask at Disney World?

At Disney World, all guests (age 2+) have to wear a face covering at all times, with few exceptions (see below). All Cast Members are also wearing a mask, and many of them are also wearing face shields as well.

Wearing a mask at Disney World: when can you take it off?

You have to wear your face covering at all times, with a few exceptions. You can take off your mask when you are actively eating or drinking but you must be stationary and physically distant from other guests while doing so. If you are dining in a restaurant, you can remove your mask while seated at your table. Additionally, they have mask relaxation areas throughout the parks where you can remove your mask while you sit at your physically distanced table. At the resorts, you can also remove your mask while swimming and of course you don’t need to wear a mask in your own room.

How did it feel wearing a mask at Disney World?

For us personally, we really got used to wearing a mask throughout our trip. We didn’t have a lot of mask experience beforehand. We were pretty isolated before our trip (we both work from home), so we only wore masks for short periods of time, such as just to run into a store. While a bit difficult and uncomfortable at first, by the end of our trip it felt as normal as putting on our shoes before heading out the door.

We did have a big range of weather during the trip, which I think affected our comfort levels in the masks, too. On the hottest days of our trip, where temperatures reached 87-91°F it definitely did get hard. We ended up leaving the theme parks early those days (we were at Universal) and the heat in the masks definitely contributed to why we left. However, the rest of our trip, including our whole time at Disney World, the temperatures were more comfortable, between 77-85°F, and we found it much more manageable. We really got used to it and it was not as bad as we thought it would be!

What type of masks should you wear?

Disney has strict requirements on what types of masks you can wear. You cannot wear neck gaiters, triangle bandanas or any that have valves, mesh material or holes. Masks must have at least 2 layers, fully cover the mouth and nose, fit properly and be secured with ties or ear loops. Here is Disney’s full policy on face coverings.

We prefer to use reusable cloth masks rather than disposable ones, in order to reduce waste. We have tried several different types of masks, and our favorites are Athleta and BioSkin. Many people wore masks they purchased at Disney (they have tons of cute designs!) but we didn’t find them comfortable. The ear loops were very thick and we didn’t like how they pulled on our ears. Many people were wearing them though, so maybe you’ll have better luck than we did!

How can I prepare for wearing a mask at Disney World?

Regardless of which type of mask you prefer, we highly recommend you get used to wearing one before your trip. If you aren’t used to wearing one (like us), wear it around the house or outside for extended periods of time to get comfortable with it. We also recommend trying out a few different types to see what is the most comfortable for you! Everyone is different and will have different preferences. Finally, we recommend bringing extra so you always have a spare one to swap out. If your mask gets wet (whether it’s rain, sweat or a water ride), you’ll be happy you have an extra.

Conclusion

Overall, wearing a mask at Disney World was not nearly as bad as we expected! We definitely felt a lot safer being around crowds of people when they all had masks on. In fact, if Disney wasn’t requiring it, we wouldn’t have felt comfortable visiting. While we would try to avoid the peak of summer and those hotter temperatures, we would definitely visit again knowing we had to wear one. If you’re on the fence about traveling to Disney World because of the mask requirement, we hope you’ll practice wearing one and find it’s not as bad as you think. Even with having to wear a mask at Disney World, we’re sure you’ll have an amazing time!

If this post was helpful, please pin it!

Fairytale Wonders