Disney World: Face masks optional for all areas of resort
Associated Press
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AP Photo/John Raoux, File
Mickey and Minnie Mouse perform during a parade as they pass by the Cinderella Castle at the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World in Lake Buena Vista, Fla.
ORLANDO, Fla. (AP) — Walt Disney World has lifted the last of its mask requirements, meaning face coverings will be optional for visitors at all locations on the central Florida Disney property.
The rule change was posted Tuesday on Disney’s website. Masks are still recommended, though not required, for guests who are not fully vaccinated in indoor locations and enclosed transportation.
In February, the park made face coverings optional for fully vaccinated visitors in all indoor and outdoor locations, with the exception of enclosed transportation, such as the resort’s monorail, buses and the resort’s sky gondola. The new rule change removes the transportation exception, as well as the requirement to be vaccinated.
The change comes a day after a federal judge in Florida threw out a national mask mandate for public transportation. The ruling gives airports, mass transit systems, airlines and ride-hailing services the option to keep mask rules or ditch them entirely.
Major airlines were some of the first to update their rules after the court decision. United, Southwest, American, Alaska, Delta and JetBlue announced that effective immediately, masks would no longer be required on domestic flights. The ride-sharing companies Lyft and Uber announced on their websites Tuesday that masks will now be optional while riding or driving.
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Delta Air Lines says it is making masks optional, and warned travelers they "may experience inconsistent enforcement during the next 24 hours as this news is more broadly communicated."
"Given the unexpected nature of this announcement, please be aware that customers, airline employees and federal agency employees -- such as TSA -- may be receiving this information at different times," the airline said.
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United Airlines said in a statement that "masks are no longer required at United on domestic flights, select international flights (dependent upon the arrival country's mask requirements) or at U.S. airports."
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Alaska Airlines similarly said face masks are now optional and asked for passengers to be considerate.
"While we are glad this means many of us get to see your smiling faces, we understand some might have mixed feelings," the airline posted on its website. "Please remember to be kind to one another and that wearing a mask while traveling is still an option."
Alaska Airlines said some of its passengers who were banned from the airline during the duration of the mask policy will continue to be prohibited from its planes.
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American Airlines said "face masks will no longer be required for our customers and team members at U.S. airports and on domestic flights."
"Please note face masks may still be required based on local ordinances, or when traveling to/from certain international locations based on country requirements," it said.
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Southwest Airlines, meanwhile, said on its website that employees and customers could "choose whether they would like to wear a mask, and we encourage individuals to make the best decision to support their personal wellbeing."
It also said it would "continue supporting the comfort of those who travel with us by offering additional layers of protection."
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JetBlue said in a tweet Monday that mask wearing will be optional within the United States. "While no longer required, customers and crewmembers may continue wearing masks in our terminals and on board our aircraft," the company tweeted.
