Wearing A Mask At Disney & What Works Best
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The past few weeks have brought about a lot of changes when it comes to health and safety protocols here in the United States. Though some states have been relaxing requirements for some time now, it seems like the availability of vaccines and the rate at which people are getting them has given others reason to relax a bit as well. What exactly this means differs from place to place, but includes everything from reducing social distancing to eliminating the need for capacity limits or even masks. However, there are still some companies and businesses who have chosen to keep health and safety protocols in place for the time being; Walt Disney World is one of them.
Of course, there have been some health and safety measures that Walt Disney World has pulled back in the past month of so including eliminating hand washing stations around the parks as well as temperature checks. Other measures, such as social distancing, have stayed in place and don’t seem to be going anywhere. Face covering requirements is one of the items on that list. Though there has been some speculation as to when Walt Disney World will pull back on those requirements, nothing seems to be official as of yet. That said, even when they do eliminate the requirement, we anticipate that face coverings will remain present in the parks for quite some time.
This having been said, I wanted to take some time today to talk a little bit about wearing a face covering at Walt Disney World and how to make it work for you. . . . especially if you’ll be wearing one during your next visit.
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Wearing a face covering at Walt Disney World can most certainly be difficult, especially if you haven’t been wearing one regularly at home. Between the heat and the extended amounts of time that you’ll be wearing your mask, it can be a challenge or flat out uncomfortable for some Guests. Fortunately, there are lots of different mask options and tips you can use to make the experience a better one. In fact, we had a conversation about this here on 2 Foolish Mortals earlier this year. [Check out “Tips & Tricks For Wearing Masks” by clicking HERE.]
Today’s discussion comes from a bit of a different perspective though. Rather than sharing some general tips about wearing a mask, I want to share my personal experience wearing all different types of face coverings at Walt Disney World and tell you which ones worked best for me.
KN95 Folding Protective Mask
The first type of mask that I decided to bring on this adventure with me was the KN95 Folding Protective Mask. This is a disposable valveless mask that is very similar in construction to an N95. These masks [both the N95 and KN95] are rated to capture 95% of 0.3 micron particles. In my opinion, this made it a good choice for the flight down to Orlando. My thought process? A little extra protection while in an enclosed space with other people is worth the minimal effort.
The protection that these KN95 masks afford the wearer are thanks to 5 layers of material that fit snugly around the nose and mouth. Because of the fit and filtration, putting this mask on for the first time can make it seem a little bit more difficult to breath than usual. This doesn’t last long though and it’s easy to adapt to having the mask on after a minute or two.
I found that these KN95 masks were a great option, especially for travel. Unlike similar types of masks, these fold flat and can easily be stored in a pouch or pocket. They fit well and can easily be adjusted around the bridge of the nose for a secure fit. The elastic ear loops on these masks are also soft and comfortable, even wearing for an extended amount of time.
I also very much like the shape of these KN95 masks. Because the mask is shaped like a cone or beak, it holds its form away from your nose and mouth allowing you to breathe deeply without sucking in the material from the mask. This is something that I found very useful while on the plane, especially while I was dozing off, but would also be great for those who will be riding roller coasters or other high speed thrill attractions while at Walt Disney World.
Disposable 3 Layer Masks
The second type of mask that I brought along were standard 3 layer disposable masks. These are the masks that most people are familiar with and look similar to what you might see worn by medical professionals under normal circumstances. These masks are rectangular in shape, have a wire that can be adjusted around the bridge of the house and are pleated.
Of all the masks that I brought along with me, these disposable 3 layer masks were by far my favorite. They were lightweight and breathable, but also fit securely over my nose and under my chin without any discomfort whatsoever. They also could easily be adjusted in a way that prevented them from fogging up my sunglasses, which was a major plus!
Now, I brought 2 different types of disposable masks along with me during this trip. The first were standard black, but I also brought along a pack of WeCare Assorted Animal Print masks. I originally got these masks because I wanted a few fun animal prints to bring along, but they turned out to be a new favorite of mine and a top recommendation for guests who will be visiting Walt Disney World in the future.
These masks not only come in fun prints, but they are also individually wrapped. This means that there’s no tangled ear loops to deal with, which I encountered a few times with my other set, but there’s also protection against moisture. . . . or general grossness you’d rather not put up against your face. I found it very convenient to toss a few of these wrapped and ready to go masks in my bag without having to worry about whether or not they’d get wet from condensation on my water bottle or if they accidentally shared a pouch goodness-knows-what in my backpack.
Disney Cloth Face Coverings
Much like other Disney enthusiasts, I’ve collected quite a few face coverings from shopDisney since this whole thing started over a year ago. There are 2 styles of face coverings that Disney has released and I brought along both versions.
The first is the old version that Disney released when they first started making face coverings. These masks are rectangular pleated masks that are made of what I believe to be 3 layers of a cotton based material. Of all the masks that I brought along with me, these were the least comfortable. Though they fit well and I find them easy to wear in day to day life, they did not work out that well at Walt Disney World. The main problem that I found myself having with these masks centered around the piping that is used around the edges of the mask as well as for the ear loops. This piping was not very forgiving or stretchy which made the mask rather uncomfortable behind my ears and over the bridge of my nose. The mask being taught over my nose not only left me with a red mark, but it also made it so that my glasses fogged up easily. Though the prints that I have in this style of mask were very fun, I found myself needing to save them for the nighttime when I wouldn’t be wearing them for long stretches of time.
The second version I had with me was the newer polyester face coverings. These are the masks that you can currently purchase on shopDisney, The Disney World or Walt Disney World. These face coverings are made out of two layers of a polyester and spandex blend. This makes them lightweight and breathable, but also more comfortable. The material on these masks offer a bit more stretch eliminating the problems that I encountered with the cotton style masks. The ear loops were comfortable and there was enough stretch over the bridge of my nose that I could adjust accordingly to prevent my glasses from fogging up, even without a wire. These face coverings were ideal for almost every scenario, with the exception of riding roller coasters and high speed thrill rides. Though they are rectangular and pleated, they are a less stiff material; meaning that they’re the most likely to get sucked into your mouth. Though this wasn’t an issue while strolling through the parks, it did take me by surprise while riding Expedition Everest.
What I Didn’t Bring, But Should Have
After having spent a couple weeks at Walt Disney World I realize that there are a few things that I should have brought along with me that I simply wasn’t thinking about at the time. Both of these things are recommendations that I’ve made in the past, but neither of which were on my radar when I was packing for my trip. That said, I think both would be very useful. . . . which is why I’m bringing them up once again.
First up on the list are mask frames. Also referred to as supports or forms, these frames are lightweight silicone forms that can be worn under a face covering. These frames support the material that the face covering is made out of, preventing it from sitting directly on the nose and/or mouth. This is ideal for those who feel claustrophobic from the closeness of the fabric to their nose and mouth, but would also be great for wearing on high speed thrill rides.
Though I do not personally have any of these mask forms at home, as I don’t struggle with day to day mask use, I have recommended them to a family member who uses them regularly. Since the beginning of the pandemic, they’ve used these forms in all different manner of face coverings and found them to make wearing a mask both casually or when doing physical activity [like riding a bike or walking] a breeze.
Again, I think that this would be a great accessory to have for those who might not want to wear a cone or dome shaped N95 or KN95 [similar to what’s pictured above], but also want the benefits of that shape. Better yet, the price reasonable enough that you might just want to give it a try!
The next accessory that I didn’t bring along with me, but I definitely should have, is a mask strap. Mask straps are essentially necklaces, similar to what you might wear on reading glasses, that can be attracted to the ear loops of your mask. The are affordable and come in a wide range of styles.
There are a lot of reasons that you might want to consider having a mask strap while visiting Walt Disney World. What it really comes down to for me though is convenience. Look, as much as I’d love to say that everything at Walt Disney World was perfect. . . . . it wasn’t. There were plenty of times when I found myself sitting on the ground in a shady corner or at a table that hadn’t been cleaned. In those cases, it would have been great to simply hang my mask around my neck rather than having to figure out how to set it down on goodness-knows-what. Fortunately, I had a lot of extra masks with me. However, if you’re planning on sticking to cloth masks and don’t intend to change the out every time you eat then a mask strap would be a good accessory to have.
A mask strap would also be a good accessory to have if you’ve got kids who fiddle with their masks a lot. One thing I did notice more than once during my visit were kids adjusting their mask and them falling off onto the ground. This was usually followed up by parents who hurried to pick up the mask and put it back on to their child’s face so that they weren’t reprimanded by Cast Members. To me, this isn’t something I’d advise. [Pandemic or otherwise, putting something on my face that was just on the ground where thousands of people had been walking doesn’t seem like the best plan.] Changing out the mask for a new one would be the route I’d go, but I also know that not everyone brings along a stockpile. That said, if this is something that you think might be a problem for you or the kids you’re traveling with, a mask strap might reduce that possibility.
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At the end of the day, much of what I said when we first discussed this topic still stands true. The best mask to wear while at Walt Disney World is going to be the mask that you’re most comfortable in and that’s not always easy to figure out before leaving for your vacation. With that being the case, having a few different masks to choose from while you’re on vacation is a good idea and can make your experience a much more positive one.
I hope that today’s discussion has been helpful for those of you who are visiting while Walt Disney World’s requirements for face coverings are still in place or those who choose to continue wearing a face covering thereafter. Of course, I’d love to know your thoughts and what works best for you. Be sure to share your tips, tricks and the products that you like best in a comment down below!