Walt Disney World Resort just announced changes to their safety protocols. Disney will begin phasing out mandatory temperature screenings for cast members and guests based on guidance from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as well as local health officials.
The change will begin May 8 for cast members and then May 16 for guests, according to an update on the Disney World website.
“Since reopening, we have considered guidance from public health authorities, government agencies, and our own team of health and safety experts as we assess and update health and safety measures to help prevent the spread of COVID-19,” reads a notice on the website.
Temperature screenings have been required since the resort reopened last summer. Anyone with a temperature of 100.4 degrees or higher would not be allowed into the parks or Disney Springs.
This change comes as Disney begins to relax other measures. Last month, Disney updated its policy to allow guests to remove their masks when taking an outdoor photo.
For now, other measures such as face masks for guests ages 2 and older, limited capacity and physical distancing guidelines remain in place.
Following Disney's announcement that they would be removing temperature checks from theme parks and resorts, Universal Orlando Resort advised they would be following suit. Universal Orlando Team Members confirmed that the temperature check stations will be removed from the parking garages and hotels at Universal Orlando Resort effective tomorrow, May 6, 2021.
The Orange County Health Department declared temperature checks for businesses unnecessary and a waste of resources.
Universal will also be reducing their physical distancing requirements from 6 feet to 3 feet. This change comes after Orange County Mayor Jerry Demmings announced a 3-phase plan that allows theme parks to reduce the distance requirement.
Temperature checks and physical distancing markers were among the COVID-19 safety measures implemented when the Walt Disney World Resort and Universal Orlando Resort reopened last summer.
