Disney World, Universal drop outdoor face mask requirements

Several major Florida theme parks are loosening their mask rules, following the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention’s announcement Thursday that fully vaccinated people could go without masks in most settings.

Locally, Busch Gardens Tampa and Adventure Island will no longer ask fully vaccinated guests to wear masks, though they are not requiring proof of vaccination. Employees will continue to wear masks.

Disney World and Universal Orlando are no longer requiring masks in outdoor common areas, while SeaWorld is dropping its mask requirement for fully vaccinated guests, Florida news outlets reported. The changes were announced Friday, according to the Orlando Sentinel.

Disney is still requiring masks upon entrance to all attractions, as well as in theaters, transportation and indoors, but they are not mandated in outdoor common areas and pool decks. Universal is requiring masks on all attractions, including while waiting in line.

According to the Sentinel, Universal was the first Orlando theme park to drop its mask requirement, before Disney updated its website and SeaWorld sent out a statement saying it was dropping the mask requirement for fully vaccinated guests. It is not asking for proof of vaccination, but asking guests to respect the new rules.