Masks will still be required for visitors aged 2 and over at all of the park’s indoor locations and attractions. AP
Masks will still be required for visitors aged 2 and over at all of the park’s indoor locations and attractions. AP
Masks will still be required for visitors aged 2 and over at all of the park’s indoor locations and attractions. AP
Masks will still be required for visitors aged 2 and over at all of the park’s indoor locations and attractions. AP

Travel

News

Walt Disney World updates policy to allow visitors to forgo face masks on outdoor rides

Previously, masks were required for all rides and queues at the Florida theme park

Sophie Prideaux
Sophie Prideaux

August 21, 2021

  • English
  • Arabic

Walt Disney World has updated its face mask policy, allowing visitors to choose whether or not to wear face coverings in outdoor lines, outdoor theatres and outdoor attractions.

Until Thursday, when the new rules came into play, masks had been required in order to enjoy all of the Florida theme park’s attractions.

Masks will still be required for visitors aged 2 and over at all of the park’s indoor locations and attractions, including restaurants, theatres and transportation, with the exception of ferry boats.

Previously, masks were optional in all shared outdoor areas, but they were still required to be worn onboard attractions and in queues.

Disney World closed its doors for two months last year at the start of the Covid-19 pandemic and reopened more than a year ago with strict safety guidelines that involved wearing masks, social distancing and limiting crowds.

Earlier this year, Disney World officials started allowing visitors to go without masks in outdoor common areas.

Guests arrive at the transportation center at the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World on the first day of reopening, in Orlando, Florida, on July 11, 2020. AFP
Guests arrive at the transportation center at the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World on the first day of reopening, in Orlando, Florida, on July 11, 2020. AFP
Guests snap souvenir photos at the entrance to the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World on the first day of reopening. AFP
Guests snap souvenir photos at the entrance to the Magic Kingdom theme park at Walt Disney World on the first day of reopening. AFP
Guests wear masks as required to attend the official reopening day of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World while taking the big plunge on Splash Mountain. AP
Guests wear masks as required to attend the official reopening day of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World while taking the big plunge on Splash Mountain. AP
Guests wear masks as required to attend the official reopening day of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. AP
Guests wear masks as required to attend the official reopening day of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. AP
A guests gets her temperature taken before entering the official reopening day of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. AP
A guests gets her temperature taken before entering the official reopening day of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. AP
Guests arrive to attend the official reopening day of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. AP
Guests arrive to attend the official reopening day of the Magic Kingdom at Walt Disney World. AP
Visitors to the Disneyland Resort head toward the exit after a morning of shopping on the reopening day of the Downtown Disney District. AP
Visitors to the Disneyland Resort head toward the exit after a morning of shopping on the reopening day of the Downtown Disney District. AP
Disney annual passholders get a peek at the coronavirus-inspired changes inside the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. AP
Disney annual passholders get a peek at the coronavirus-inspired changes inside the Magic Kingdom in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. AP
Maria Delgadillo takes a selfie with her mother Rosa Torres at the entrance to Disneyland on the reopening day of the Downtown Disney District on its reopening day in Anaheim, Calif. AP
Maria Delgadillo takes a selfie with her mother Rosa Torres at the entrance to Disneyland on the reopening day of the Downtown Disney District on its reopening day in Anaheim, Calif. AP
Guests wear masks at Disney's Animal Kingdom during an annual passholder preview Thursday, Lake Buena Vista, Florida. AP
Guests wear masks at Disney's Animal Kingdom during an annual passholder preview Thursday, Lake Buena Vista, Florida. AP
A view of Mickey Mouse at the Walt Disney World theme park entrance in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The theme park is scheduled to reopen on Saturday despite a surge in new Covid-19 infections throughout Florida. AFP
A view of Mickey Mouse at the Walt Disney World theme park entrance in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. The theme park is scheduled to reopen on Saturday despite a surge in new Covid-19 infections throughout Florida. AFP
Wait times were low for Expedition Everest Thursday, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. “The Most Magical Place on Earth” is reopening after nearly four months. AP
Wait times were low for Expedition Everest Thursday, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. “The Most Magical Place on Earth” is reopening after nearly four months. AP
Disney annual passholders get a peek at the coronavirus-inspired changes such as plastic dividers on the Kilimanjaro Safari ride at Disney's Animal Kingdom. AP
Disney annual passholders get a peek at the coronavirus-inspired changes such as plastic dividers on the Kilimanjaro Safari ride at Disney's Animal Kingdom. AP
Lacey Robinson, left, and Erica Shaw relax after an early morning drive from Bakersfield to attend the reopening day of the Downtown Disney District on its reopening day in Anaheim, Calif. AP
Lacey Robinson, left, and Erica Shaw relax after an early morning drive from Bakersfield to attend the reopening day of the Downtown Disney District on its reopening day in Anaheim, Calif. AP
A Disney employee runs a line to get in to the virtual queue for World of Disney on the reopening day of the Downtown Disney District on its reopening day in Anaheim, Calif. AP
A Disney employee runs a line to get in to the virtual queue for World of Disney on the reopening day of the Downtown Disney District on its reopening day in Anaheim, Calif. AP
Disney annual passholders get a peek at the coronavirus-inspired changes inside Disney's Animal Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. “The Most Magical Place on Earth” is reopening after nearly four months. AP
Disney annual passholders get a peek at the coronavirus-inspired changes inside Disney's Animal Kingdom, Lake Buena Vista, Fla. “The Most Magical Place on Earth” is reopening after nearly four months. AP

In July, Disney officials said the company will be requiring all salaried and non-union hourly employees in the US who work on site to be fully vaccinated.

The specs

Engine: 3.9-litre twin-turbo V8
Power: 620hp from 5,750-7,500rpm
Torque: 760Nm from 3,000-5,750rpm
Transmission: Eight-speed dual-clutch auto
On sale: Now
Price: From Dh1.05 million ($286,000)

Naga
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The Year Earth Changed

Directed by:Tom Beard

Narrated by: Sir David Attenborough

Stars: 4

UAE players with central contracts

Rohan Mustafa, Ashfaq Ahmed, Chirag Suri, Rameez Shahzad, Shaiman Anwar, Adnan Mufti, Mohammed Usman, Ghulam Shabbir, Ahmed Raza, Qadeer Ahmed, Amir Hayat, Mohammed Naveed and Imran Haider.

Company profile

Name: Oulo.com

Founder: Kamal Nazha

Based: Dubai

Founded: 2020

Number of employees: 5

Sector: Technology

Funding: $450,000

Specs

Engine: 51.5kW electric motor

Range: 400km

Power: 134bhp

Torque: 175Nm

Price: From Dh98,800

Available: Now

Company name: Play:Date

Launched: March 2017 on UAE Mother’s Day

Founder: Shamim Kassibawi

Based: Dubai with operations in the UAE and US

Sector: Tech 

Size: 20 employees

Stage of funding: Seed

Investors: Three founders (two silent co-founders) and one venture capital fund

SPECS
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Defence review at a glance

• Increase defence spending to 2.5% of GDP by 2027 but given “turbulent times it may be necessary to go faster”

• Prioritise a shift towards working with AI and autonomous systems

• Invest in the resilience of military space systems.

• Number of active reserves should be increased by 20%

• More F-35 fighter jets required in the next decade

• New “hybrid Navy” with AUKUS submarines and autonomous vessels

EA Sports FC 26

Publisher: EA Sports

Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S

Rating: 3/5

Mobile phone packages comparison
Jetour T1 specs

Engine: 2-litre turbocharged

Power: 254hp

Torque: 390Nm

Price: From Dh126,000

Available: Now

Dates for the diary

To mark Bodytree’s 10th anniversary, the coming season will be filled with celebratory activities:

  • September 21 Anyone interested in becoming a certified yoga instructor can sign up for a 250-hour course in Yoga Teacher Training with Jacquelene Sadek. It begins on September 21 and will take place over the course of six weekends.
  • October 18 to 21 International yoga instructor, Yogi Nora, will be visiting Bodytree and offering classes.
  • October 26 to November 4 International pilates instructor Courtney Miller will be on hand at the studio, offering classes.
  • November 9 Bodytree is hosting a party to celebrate turning 10, and everyone is invited. Expect a day full of free classes on the grounds of the studio.
  • December 11 Yogeswari, an advanced certified Jivamukti teacher, will be visiting the studio.
  • February 2, 2018 Bodytree will host its 4th annual yoga market.
The specS: 2018 Toyota Camry

Price: base / as tested: Dh91,000 / Dh114,000

Engine: 3.5-litre V6

Gearbox: Eight-speed automatic

Power: 298hp @ 6,600rpm

Torque: 356Nm @ 4,700rpm

Fuel economy, combined: 7.0L / 100km

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UAE currency
Updated: August 21, 2021, 1:15 PM

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