Doing Disney During a Pandemic (Part 1: Is Disney Safe?)

So we went to Walt Disney World…during a global pandemic…with three kids…one of which was eight months old. And we would totally do it again!

Let’s jump right into what is the biggest question we received when we got back.

How was wearing a mask the entire time?

No matter where you fall on the mask scale, mask are currently a controversial topic. Disney does not care about your feelings though. They want everyone to stay safe, and the guidance they are using is that everyone needs to wear a mask.

Let’s talk about the kiddos first, and how they did.

Youngest to oldest, the eight month old did not need to wear a mask. Right now, Disney’s policy is that anyone under the age of two does not need to wear a mask, and everyone ages two and up is required to wear a mask…no exceptions.

Our other two are five and seven, and they did great! You know your kids, and you know how they do now, and how they would do.

We did our best to set our kids up for success with mask. How you ask?

1) We practiced
While there are many places that don’t require mask, or at least don’t require them for children, we took the kids out and made them wear mask.

2) We had them play outside in mask
It sounds a little crazy, and it didn’t happen often, but we wanted them to get used to moving around, outside, while wearing a mask.

3) We took a trip during a cooler time of year
We have all been doing this long enough to know that wearing a mask when it is hot and humid is not any fun. Wearing a mask when it is cold outside, or at least cooler outside, isn’t terrible. In fact, it can be nice because it keeps your face warm.

4) We took a lot of snack breaks
If you are off to the side and socially distanced, and you are actively eating or drinking, you can take off your mask. We used this as much as possible to our advantage. Kids were tired of wearing a mask, we would stop somewhere, pull out some water, pull our some snacks we brought, go buy a snack, have a meal, etc. Whatever was needed, to ensure they got plenty of breaks, we did for them.

Truly, our kids had no problem wearing them. You knw your kids though, and you know how they would be. We do have to admit, ours did surprise us with how well they did. Even we underestimated that, but that is just the power of Disney magic.

As for us, well we are adults. We know when we need to wear a mask. We know what the rules are if we want to take off our mask. We know the consequences if we choose not to listen to the rules and guidelines around masks that are in place.

So, if you, as an adult, can follow the rules and handle wearing a mask. Test it out on your kids, and if they can handle it as well, you will be fine. If that is your biggest and only concern, don’t let that hold you back from heading to Walt Disney World.

With that out of the way. Let’s talk about the next biggest group of questions we got from friends and family.

Is Disney being safe? Did we feel safe at Disney World? Is Disney actually enforcing the rules you have heard they put in place?

100%, emphatically and vehemently Disney World is the safest place we feel we could go right now!

Why? They not only have rules in place for the people coming, but they are enforcing those rules. You don’t want to follow the rules, a cast member will ask nicely for you to reconsider your stance. You remain firm that you don’t like the rules Disney has in place, Disney will give you a personal tour of the quickest way to exit the park.

What are those rules? Mainly, it is the wearing of mask. Which we talked about above. To summarize though, if you are walking around on Disney property, you need to wear a mask. The only excepts are if you are stationary and socially distanced while eating, or if you are at one of the relaxation stations. Otherwise, plan on wearing your mask the entire time.

The other rule, that is up to both us, the guest, and the cast members, are to follow social distancing guidelines. These guidelines will be broken from time to time. There are plenty of markers on the ground, and reminders are played over the loud speakers. We will all forget that we shouldn’t get too close to someone else, and we should stay on our marker. Part of this is because of excitement. We are excited to ride the ride! We are excited to get on the Skyliner! We are excited to get our quick service food! We are excited to buy our souvenirs! The other reason is simply that this is all still new. Sometimes we still forget from time to time, that we are in a pandemic. Despite all the reminders, despite the mask, and despite this has been going on for a year, we still forget, and our instincts take over, and we simply forget.

A simple reminder though (we were on both the giving and receiving end of them), and apologies are made and social distancing resumes. Not a big deal.

Now for the things Disney is doing to keep you safe.

Temperature checks. If you go to any one of the parks, or if you head to Disney Springs to do some shopping your temperature will be taken. We did not have to have our temperature taken at our hotel, however we did when we ate at a restaurant requiring a reservation at a resort. It is quick and easy. These are high tech scanners. The heat, the walk, holding a baby, etc. should not affect the readings on these internal body temperature scanners.

Additionally, sanitizing procedures and protocols are in place for ride throughout the park, areas where guest may sit or dine. Bathrooms are constantly being cleaned. Hand sanitizer stations are located even closer together than trash can throughout the property.

In summary, Disney is doing everything possible to take care of you, and to ensure that you have the ability to take care of yourself as well.

We are going to end this post here, and invite you to come back and check out part two. Until then, we want to leave you with this quote…

“Life is a journey to be experienced, not a problem to be solved.”

— Pooh (Winnie the Pooh)