ORLANDO, Fla. — Amid growing concerns over rising COVID-19 cases, Walt Disney World and Disneyland Resort are updating their face mask policies again, requiring all visitors and cast members to wear masks when indoors, starting July 30.


What You Need To Know

  • Disney World, Disneyland to require guests, cast members to wear masks indoors

  • The face coverings policy will go into effect July 30

  • Masks will remain optional for all guests in outdoor common areas

  • Disney World had lifted its indoor mask requirement in June

"Face coverings are required for all Guests (ages 2 and up) while indoors and in Disney buses, monorail and Disney Skyliner, regardless of vaccination status," the company said in update posted to the Disney World website late Wednesday. "This includes upon entering and throughout all attractions."

In outdoor common areas, masks remain optional for all visitors.

In June, Disney World lifted the indoor mask rule for vaccinated visitors except when on Disney transportation. That same month, Disneyland in California also lifted its face mask policy for vaccinated visitors as it welcomed back out-of-state visitors. 

The policy change comes a day after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention updated its guidance on mask wearing, recommending that everyone wear masks in public indoor settings, even if they have been vaccinated, in areas of "substantial or high transmission." 

Orange County, Fla., where Disney World is located, is in an area of high transmission, according to CDC data. The recent surge of COVID-19 cases prompted Orange County Mayor Jerry Demings earlier this week to say the county was in "crisis mode."

On Wednesday, Demings signed an executive order declaring a local state of emergency and urged residents and businesses to follow the latest CDC guidance.

So far, Disney is the first major theme park operator to reinstate a mask requirement for all visitors.

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