Visitors to the newly re-opened Disney World will no longer be allowed to wander the parks maskless with the excuse of food or drink, thanks to new rules banning eating or drinking while walking. While the rule change didn’t merit an announcement from the entertainment giant, the change to Disney World’s face mask policy was picked up by Disney fan blogs, and reported by Variety.
Guests at the park are still allowed to remove their masks for the purpose of eating or drinking, but the rule change now specifies that they remain stationary and socially distanced from other patrons while doing so.
“Face coverings are required for all guests (ages 2 and up) and cast members. Please bring your own face coverings and wear them at all times, except when dining or swimming,” read the guidelines on Disney World’s website. “You may remove your face covering while actively eating or drinking, but you should be stationary and maintain appropriate physical distancing.”
It seems too many patrons were using the excuse of eating or drinking to avoid wearing a mask since the park re-opened on July 11, warranting the new addition to the rules.
Despite the new guidelines on mask-wearing, physical distancing and increased cleaning procedures, experts have slammed the decision to re-open Disney World in Florida, a current hotspot for COVID-19. The number of new daily cases detected in the state has fluctuated between 10,000 and 15,000 since Disney World opened on the 11th, with almost 5000 deaths now recorded in Florida.
