The 9 BIG Updates From Walt Disney World (and Beyond) This Week (May 10-16, 2021)

Sunday, May 16, 2021 - 00:59

This week at Walt Disney World, Disney makes BIG changes to mask and social distancing policies, after hours testing suggests that nighttime spectaculars could be coming back soon, plus all theme parks raise capacity!

Outside Walt Disney World, Universal reopens another hotel, plus a new Tribute store is set to open soon!

1. Masks now optional for guests in outdoor areas

The biggest change this week at Walt Disney World has been the removal of the mask mandate for all outdoor areas of the resort. Guests will still have to wear a mask upon entering the theme parks and throughout all attractions, in all theaters, theatre entrances, in transportation, transportation entrances and all indoor locations.

Walt Disney World has updated its website here to reflect this change in policy, and has included a handy graph that includes when and where guests can remove masks. For the time being, Cast Members will still need to wear masks in all settings.

Individually-packaged disposable masks are being distributed to attraction entrances at Magic Kingdom for guests who may have misplaced theirs while outdoors.

2. Social distancing winds down on rides and at shows

In addition to the new mask guidelines, Disney is also winding down social distancing measures on several attractions, including the newly reopened Celebration of the Festival of the Lion King, which is now seating parties closer together and the Twilight Zone Tower of Terror, which is now seating guests in every row.

3. All Walt Disney World theme parks increase capacity

Guests looking to visit Walt Disney World in the next few weeks may be pleasantly surprised to find additional availability for Disney Parks Passes as Disney has announced that it has already raised the previously announced 35% capacity cap to a higher percentage and added that theme park capacity will be raised even more in the near future. No specific numbers have been released, but we'd guess the new capacity limit is fairly high considering the availability of Disney Parks Pass reservations right now.

Amanda KondolojyView Profile

Managing editor of Theme Park Tourist and dark ride enthusiast. Amanda is a lifelong theme parks fan who lives just outside Orlando. When she’s not booking FastPass+ reservations, standing in a queue or eating the latest specialty cupcake, you can find her watching a Marvel movie, reading a book (probably by Neil Gaiman) or singing along to showtunes in her car. Contact: [email protected]