Disney World Reportedly Adding Digital Masks to Ride Photos

Image: PHOTO: Disney guests on ride with masks. (photo via Walt Disney World Resort Media)
Image: PHOTO: Disney guests on ride with masks. (photo via Walt Disney World Resort Media)
Donald Wood
by Donald Wood
Last updated: 9:45 AM ET, Fri December 11, 2020

Update: December 14, 2020 at 12:30 p.m. ET

A recent rule change at Walt Disney World called for ride photos to be altered when guests aren't wearing a mask, but issues with the software have resulted in the theme park abandoning the plans.

According to USA Today, the technology used to virtually add facial coverings to riders who took theirs off for the photo opportunities started to put the fake masks on riders who were already following the rules.

"In response to guest requests, we tested modifying some ride photos," a Disney spokesperson told USA Today. "We are no longer doing this and continue to expect guests to wear face coverings except when actively eating or drinking while stationary."


The Walt Disney World Resort has reportedly started digitally adding masks to people in ride photos who removed their mandatory facial coverings.

According to WDW News Today, a photo was obtained from the private Facebook group Disney World Junkies that shows a woman on the DINOSAUR ride in the Animal Kingdom park with what appears to be a mask photoshopped over her face.

The theme park's previous policy banned maskless riders from seeing or purchasing the photos, but by digitally adding a facial covering, everyone onboard will be able to buy a copy of the images.

While Disney did not provide a comment to TravelPulse about the updated practice, the Disney World website does say that guests who don't wear facial coverings will not be allowed to have their picture taken by PhotoPass photographers.

Last month through the IAAPA Expo: Virtual Education Conference, Josh D'Amaro, the Chairman of Disney Parks, Experiences and Products announced new updates for each of Disney's theme parks' current projects.

New information was released for Disneyland Resort and Disneyland Paris' Avenger's Campus, Disneyland Paris' Disney's Hotel New York - The Art of Marvel, Walt Disney World's EPCOT transformation and work on Guardians of the Galaxy: Cosmic Rewind, Shanghai Disney Resort's Zootopia and more.

Disney also announced the Park Hopper option for theme park tickets and annual passholders would return on January 1, 2021.


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