Hi there, Insiders! It’s no secret that my family and I are big fans of the shopDisney face masks, and also the ones they sell in the parks and resorts (they’re the exact same product). Like it or not, these face masks made their way into every theme park photo this summer,and in a way, became the season’s hottest accessory. Who am I kidding? Face masks are the hottest accessory for all of 2020.
Despite your feelings about face masks, and while trying to avoid a political uproar in the comment section of this article, I think we can all agree that for the time being, face masks are here to stay. Here’s the thing, and I’ve said this all along, my love for being with my family at Walt Disney World is much stronger than strong dislike for face masks. The day I decided to change my attitude about having to wear a mask was the day Disney announced they would be selling face masks on ShopDisney, and ultimately in their parks and resorts. Because let’s face it if we have to wear these annoying (yet, highly effective) pieces of fabric, why not wear them while showing our Disney style?
I have to give it to them, only the folks at shopDisney merchandising could make face masks a fashion statement. Edna Mode would be so proud.
Our experience with shopDisney’s face masks has been a positive one. Having visited Disney in July and August (literally, the two hottest months of the entire year in central Florida), I was relieved to find out how breathable the fabric was. That being said, Disney has switched up the fabric and the newer masks are a different material. I have yet to purchase a new mask, but I’ve heard rave reviews about them. Fans of the face masks have said this fabric is even better and more breathable than the other, which they still found extremely comfortable wearing in the parks.
Here’s the thing, these masks run small. I mean, really, really small. For reference, I wear a size S/M in the two-pack I purchase at Target (my second favorite mask to wear). And even those run on the larger side, I can even throw them in the dryer after washing them. In shopDisney’s face masks, I take a large and my children take a medium. My husband doesn’t have one, but without a doubt, I would purchase the extra-large for him. In fact, the only reason he doesn’t have one is the XL has always been sold out when we’re in the parks and resort shops. Likely because it’s the most popular size. I’ve also struggled to find size large masks, so when I do, I snatch it up right away.
Despite the fabric being extremely soft and very easy to breathe through, the face masks have little to no stretch to them. I noticed on our last trip, which was 3 weeks ago, that my 7-year old’s mask had begun pulling on his ears. At first, it wasn’t bothering him, but after a couple of hours, I noticed the back of his ears were red from it pulling and he was complaining about it hurting. If you’re wondering what size to buy your 7 or 8-year-old, I would suggest buying up one size, and then if it’s a little big, you could always throw it in the dryer. Next time I purchase masks for my kids, I will be buying a large for my 7-year-old.
One thing I don’t do with these masks is, I never throw them in the dryer. Unless of course, you’re trying to shrink it, then be my guest and throw that baby in the dryer all day. These masks will shrink. Trust me, I know from experience.
I took the above images this morning after I realized that I had accidentally thrown the Mickey mask in the dryer last night. Don’t judge me, my brain is fried, it’s tough being a mom, wife, and e-learning teacher to my Kindergartener and 1st Grader, but never the less, I had a mom-brain moment and threw the mask in with the rest of the clothes. Please note, both of these masks are a size medium. It’s visibly obvious that the Mickey mask shrank a considerable amount, after just one cycle in the dryer. It’s not only too small for my 7-year-old, but also my 6-year-old. But hey, now I have a reason to go on shopDisney today and buy a few more!
I’ll also fill you in on a little Disney Mom hack- once I remove the masks from the washing machine (I wash them on delicate cycle), I gently pull on the top and bottom of the mask and stretch it out a little. Not so much on mine, the large is a perfect fit, but more so on my children’s masks. After I give them a stretch, I lay them flat to dry.
The face masks do not have a bendable nose piece, to assist with it staying in place, but trust me…they don’t need one. Because they run on the smaller side, the masks are automatically fitted to your face. They not stretch out or fall at any point during the day, despite wearing them on water rides or being caught in a mid-day shower. Every other mask we’ve tried has stretched throughout the day, which leads to it constantly falling off our noses. It’s very easy to talk and have a conversation while wearing one, as opposed to other masks I’ve worn that I feel like when I talk, the mask is going into my mouth.
The best part is, these masks actually stay on while riding every ride at Walt Disney World. We made sure to put them to the test this Summer, and they certainly passed!
I’d be remissed if I didn’t mention the story behind the shopDisney masks. When they were initially launched on shopDisney, we learned that the Walt Disney Company would be donating one million cloth face masks for children and families in underserved and vulnerable communities across the U.S. that will be distributed by MedShare (www.medshare.org). Would you believe that within a short amount of time, and due to overwhelming demand, Disney has reached their goal of raising $1 million in profits from the sales of our cloth face masks, which will be donated to MedShare to support the medical community’s ongoing efforts to provide lifesaving care to those in need.
During these challenging times, I strongly support Disney using the power of theirr timeless stories and beloved characters to address their guests’ needs for family-friendly reusable cloth face masks. To read my first-hand account of what it’s like wearing a face mask on a Walt Disney World vacation, check out the article I wrote after being at reopening day of Disney’s Magic Kingdom HERE.
To purchase my family’s favorite face masks from shopDisney, CLICK HERE!
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