Disney World Drops Mask Requirement Starting Today

Disney World in Orlando, Florida is dropping its masking requirement starting today. Visitors who are fully vaccinated are free to go without masks, CBS News reports, though the staff won't require proof of vaccination from guests prior to entry.

Those who are not vaccinated (under the honor system) and children under 12 will still need to wear masks. And all visitors will still have to wear masks on buses, monorails, and the Skyliner gondola.

Disney eased its mask requirement for outdoor attractions last month, but this new change applies across more attractions. The company does note that "some experiences and entertainment may still be operating with limited capacity or may remain temporarily unavailable." It says it plans to ease other physical restrictions sometime soon, and that it "look[s] forward to to the day when Disney pals and princesses are able to hug once again."

Disneyland in Anaheim, California is also easing its requirements for vaccinated visitors, and like in Florida, proof of vaccination is not required. There guests will still need to wear masks for bus transportation to and from the parking structure.

Disney parks shut down in the midst of the coronavirus pandemic, then reopened with strict requirements for visiting. Those have been progressively eased as time goes on, and this latest change is the next step toward turning the experience back to normal. Disney has also had to close loopholes regarding its safety guidelines in the past.