Certain Guests will now have to sign Health Waivers to enter Disney World

Disney World has been dedicated to doing its part to protect Guests who visit the Florida parks from the dangers associated with contracting a COVID-19 infection, though no precaution can provide full protection against the dangerous virus.

From requiring masks to be worn in the parks to encouraging social distancing and cleaning attractions more frequently, Disney World has implemented a myriad of measures throughout the pandemic and continues to monitor the situation and make adjustments as necessary.

Some Guests chose to take further precautions, such as wearing gloves at times and carrying disinfecting wipes with them into the parks, especially as the pandemic was in its earlier stages.

Now Disney World is taking a new measure designed to hold harmless the parks in the event a Guest becomes ill after being exposed to COVID-19 at Disney World. The verbiage begins with “I agree to forever waive . . . ”

Forever’s a long time.

Disney World will require certain Guests to sign the new health waiver, which removes a Guest’s ability to sue Disney in the event he or she becomes ill, and it further removes the potential for a Guest to try to seek reimbursement for medical costs associated with care in the event he or she becomes ill after visiting the parks.

The new health waiver reads as follows:

“I agree to forever waive, covenant not to sue, release, and discharge the Released parties from any and all liability, claims, causes of action, damages, costs, or expenses of every kind, including all claims and clauses of action based on the sole, joint, active or passive negligence of any of the Released Parties, arising out of or in any way relating to exposure of COVID-19 and any other communicable or infectious disease during my visit to and/or participation in attractions, transportation, activities, tours, meetings, and events at the Walt Disney World Resort, and that I am solely responsible for obtaining any mandatory or desired life, travel, accident, property, or other insurance-related to my visit and/or participation in attractions, transportation, activities, tours, meeting and events at the Walt Disney World Resort, at my own expense.”

A similar waiver can be found on the Disney World website under “Park Pass System.” Under its terms of use, Guests agree to certain terms–including those related to COVID-19, simply by participating in the Park Pass System. (And there’s no option not to participate in the reservation system that was first implemented in July 2020.)

So who are these certain Guests?

At this time, Guests who are required to sign the health waiver are those who are in the parks for private events, such as weddings, corporate- and company-sponsored events in the parks, etc.

On its website dedicated to wedding parties and wedding planning, Disney states specifically which Guests within the wedding party and invitees will be required to sign a waiver and explains the downside to refusing to sign one:

“You and your guests (including any third party vendors you hire to provide services at the Walt Disney World Resort for your wedding) will be required to sign a waiver prior
to your wedding. Your Disney Weddings team will provide you with further information regarding this process. Guests that do not sign a waiver will not be allowed to attend
your wedding events (or any portion thereof, including any on-site planning activities).”

Would you sign a waiver to attend a wedding or other event at Disney World?

Would you sign a waiver if Disney World extends the requirement to all Guests? Let us know!