NEWS! Updated Overhead Message Asks Disney World Guests to Remain Stationary While Eating

Walt Disney World has added many new health and safety procedures since the parks officially reopened.

Health and Safety Sign

EPCOT reopened with a modified version of the yearly International Food and Wine Festival. Normally, the small food portions and disposable dishes made it easy for guests to walk around the park while eating and drinking. This year, many guests were curious whether they can still walk and eat given the new safety procedures and mask requirements.

At first, we were allowed to pull our masks down briefly as long as we were actively eating or in a relaxation zone. We could walk around World Showcase (or anywhere else in Disney World) and take a quick bite before replacing our masks.

Disposable Masks

About a week later, the rules changed for mask removal. New signs went up that stated guests could only remove their masks if they were stationary and eating. Cast Members also enforced the regulation by carrying small signs with the same message.

Face Mask Sign in EPCOT

While visiting EPCOT today we heard a new way Disney is encouraging guests to properly wear masks and maintain the newly implemented health procedures. A new overhead message now asks guests to wear masks “unless while actively eating or drinking while stationary, wash your hands often and thoroughly, cover your mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing, and maintain physical distancing.” You can hear the new message in the Tweet below!

New overhead announcement at Epcot! pic.twitter.com/l4RN8jWWsJ

— AllEars.Net (@AllEarsNet) July 23, 2020

To accommodate the new regulations, Disney has added relaxation zones and more eating areas around Disney World. Specifically, there are more small tables placed around the World Showcase for the Food and Wine Festival. (We suggest visiting World Showplace for ample seating and the new mac and cheese booth!) Disney’s health and safety procedures continue to change so we will keep you updated as we learn more.

What do you think of the procedures? Let us know in the comments below!