Earlier this year, Disney released a line of face masks on shopDisney.com. We immediately ordered a bunch in all three sizes that were available at that time. You can find our original review here. A few months later, possibly in response to customer feedback, Disney made revisions to the sizing on their masks and added a fourth size, XL. Of course, we had to check out the new size and see if the sizing revisions resolved the sizing problems we observed in our original review. Here is our Disney Face Masks Review (Updated), to reflect both the new sizing and our actual experiences wearing the masks inside the theme parks.
Note: This post contains some links to shopDisney.com. If you follow any of our links and make a purchase, we earn a small commission on your purchase. This does not affect the price you pay in any way.
Sizing
Originally, Disney offered their masks in three sizes: Small, Medium and Large. Buyers quickly learned that the masks ran SMALL, and in response, Disney resized these original three sizes to be Youth Small, Youth Medium, and Adult Large. They also (thank goodness!) added a fourth size, Adult Extra Large.
In our original review, we found that the Youth Small is very small–best for toddlers and young children. Our test subjects, ages 6 and 7, found the Youth Medium masks the perfect size for them. Our teens and most of our adult testers found the Adult Large to be too small. We have one petite adult who found the Adult Large fit her perfectly, but she was definitely the exception.
Fortunately, we have found the new size, Adult Extra Large has solved our problem. This size fit comfortably on all the adults we tried it on. In addition, during our Disney World vacation last month, I had anecdotal conversations with MANY guests wearing Disney masks, and found, almost without exception, that most adults preferred the Adult Extra Large.
Disney has released a chart, helpfully showing the measurements for each size. Not as helpful? They refer to Small and Medium, instead of Youth Small and Youth Medium, which could confuse some shoppers.
Comfort
Over the summer months, I tried a LOT of different masks. In working over the last few months, I found I often needed to wear a mask for most, if not all of the day. I tried disposable masks, gaiter-style masks, reusable masks with filters, handmade masks, etc. I tried them all, pretty much. The Disney masks are by far my favorite and not just because they are so cute (which there are, but we will get to the cute in a minute). They are really soft, and comfortable to wear. Disney masks have two layers, and are made of a very soft cotton blend fabric. These masks are not abrasive to the skin, and have stayed soft even after many washings.
I hand wash my masks and hang to dry, but you can machine wash and dry if you prefer. The only recommendation from Disney is NOT to use bleach on them. They are lightweight, and dry fairly quickly. On vacation, I washed each day’s mask that night and hung it to dry. It was always dry and ready to go in the morning.
We did surprisingly well with the masks in the Disney heat. For us Mid-westerners, that Florida heat can really be a challenge! The masks were not clingy, and the fabric was surprisingly cool and comfortable.
Effectiveness
There has been some debate on the internet about whether the Disney masks are as effective as they could be against COVID-19. I am not a doctor, but I will say this: ANY face mask is more effective than NO face mask. However, Disney masks are not medical grade, nor do they have a pocket for a filter.
The Disney face masks do meet the published recommended requirements for masks. They are comprised of two layers of breathable fabric. They cover both your nose and your mouth, with the bottom fitting snugly under your chin. The sides lay flat against your face with no gaps, and the ear loops secure the mask to your face comfortably. In addition, if you really wanted to add a filter, I think you could do that pretty easily by cutting an insertion point on the interior layer. You could then insert a filter between the layers, which would make the mask more protective. It would probably also make the mask less comfortable, but that may be a trade off you are comfortable with.
The Disney masks clearly meet all of Disney’s requirements for guests visiting the Disney theme parks. We wore ours all week long quite happily as we visited the parks.
I continue to wear one of my Disney masks every time I go out now that we’re home. As I mentioned, these are not just really cute. They are soft and very comfortable.
Cuteness Factor
Let’s face it, it’s pretty difficult to out-cute Disney. The Disney face masks are all pretty cute! You can purchase Disney’s face masks at shopdisney.com in packs of either four or two, depending on the “theme”. The four packs are $19.99, and the two packs are $11.99. For comparison, inside the theme parks, you can purchase ONE mask for $9.99.
Disney seems to be changing designs fairly frequently. There are designs we purchased in the first round that are no longer available. Also, there were some masks we saw for sale individually in the parks that are not currently available online. For example there was a “The Child” themed mask that was VERY popular in the parks that is not (currently) available online. The Haunted Mansion themed masks we got are not currently available online. The moral of the story is that if you see a design you really like, I recommend you buy now because it may not be available next time you shop.
Here are the current available mask designs.
Holiday Themed
The holiday face masks are sold in two packs, and each two pack is $11.99.
Character Themed
There are several face mask packages themed to particular characters. These are all four packs, and sell for $19.99 per pack. Take a look at these options.
Mickey Mouse
Minnie Mouse
Donald, Goofy, Pluto and Chip and Dale
Stitch
Movie Franchise Themed
Are you a Star Wars fan? Love Pixar movies? Dying for the next Marvel movie? Enjoying National Geographic documentaries on Disney+? Disney has a face mask package for you! (maybe even two!) Each four mask package sells for $19.99.
Star Wars
Marvel
Pixar
National Geographic
These are really gorgeous in person!
Limited Edition Two Packs
There are a variety of limited edition mask two packs available at shopdisney.com. Each two pack is $11.99.
Nightmare Before Christmas
Mulan Live Action
Disneyland – Vintage Style
Walt Disney World – Vintage Style
Snacks!
Ariel and Tiana
The Bottom Line
Now that Disney has fixed their sizing issues by adding a larger size that fits most adults, we highly recommend the Disney face mask line. They are comfortable to wear when sized correctly. The designs are fun and colorful, and are terrific for Disney fans. If you are planning a Walt Disney World vacation, I highly recommend buying your masks online before you go. It’s more economical to buy from shopDisney.com at $19.99 for a package of four ($4.99 each) or $11.99 for a package of two ($5.99 each) than to pay $9.99 per mask in the parks. Once you get there, you WILL want one (or more), I promise. And you’ll convince yourself $9.99 isn’t that bad. I know I did!
Seriously, though. Experts say that our single best defense is to wear a mask, followed by social distancing. If you are going to be out in the world, wearing a mask is highly recommended for both your safety and for the safety of others. If you are going to wear a mask, it might as well be comfortable AND Disney themed, right?
Happy Dreaming!
Brooke
P.S. YES, you do have to wear your masks at all times when you visit Disney theme parks. Even when you are taking pictures or riding attractions. Did it detract from our experience? Not at all! And ten years from now, the pictures from THIS vacation will definitely stand out from the others.😉 Have questions? Email me at brooke@disneycastledreaming.com.