In this time of so many unknowns, Walt Disney World and Disneyland want to make sure you can keep playing the optimist for as long as possible. Especially when it comes to planning your next trip while the resorts and their theme parks remain closed until further notice.
The current situation has many would-be guests asking “Is it even worth it to book a trip not knowing if the Disney theme parks will be open?” Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World have answered “Yes!” and are attempting to prove it by providing the following answers to frequently asked questions.
Walt Disney World will Automatically Cancel and Refund Disney Resort Hotel Reservations If Necessary
Disney already waived all of its own imposed cancellation and change fees for all hotel reservations with check-in dates between now and June 30. But, they decided to go further and answered such lingering concerns by promising that if the parks turn out to be closed during your hotel reservation, they will take the initiative to cancel and fully refund your trip as you paid for it.
According to the Walt Disney World website,
“If no action is taken by you before your check-in date for arrivals during the closure period, Disney will automatically cancel your reservation within seven days of the original check-in date and process any refund due to the original form of payment. Please note that cancellation fees imposed by third-party suppliers, including airlines and rental cars, as well as non-refundable products like travel protection plans, are deducted from refundable amounts for Walt Disney Travel Company packages.”
In short, if you booked the trip, you can hold out hope that the parks will reopen in time. You can also be even more optimistic and book your next trip for this summer. As of now, guests can still book their Walt Disney World vacations beyond June 1, 2020. If things don’t pan out, Disney will do the depressing “dirty work” for you and refund the money through the channels you used.
The Disneyland Resort is not offering automatic cancellations and refunds for room-only reservations at a Disney Resort Hotel. However, the resort makes it clear that guests can cancel their upcoming reservation at any time and receive a full refund even if they go to cancel after guest arrival was originally scheduled.
Click here to learn more about Disneyland’s cancellation policies.
Extra-Ticketed Events and Pre-Paid Experiences at Both Disneyland and Disney World will be Automatically Cancelled and Refunded
Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World offer unique and unforgettable extra-ticketed events and pre-paid experiences that guests add to their vacation months in advance. Both Disney resorts have announced that they will be automatically canceling those tickets and reservations and refunding would-be guests.
Disneyland Events & Experiences Automatically Canceled and Refunded
- Savi’s Workshop – Handbuilt Lightsabers
- Droid Depot
- Disneyland VIP Tours
- Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
- Disney Princess Breakfast Adventures
- All separately-ticketed events for the 2020 Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival
All Disneyland dining and experiences reservations will also be automatically canceled and free of cancellation and no-show fees.
Walt Disney World Events & Experiences Automatically Canceled and Refunded
- “All pre-paid dining and experience reservations…scheduled between March 16, 2020, through the end of the closure period.” That includes:
- Cinderella’s Royal Table
- Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique
- Fireworks Dessert Parties
- VIP/”Keys to the Kingdom” Tours
- Disney Villains After Hours
- Disney After Hours
- Disney H2O Glow Nights
- Disney Early Morning Magic
All cancellation and no-show charges will also be dropped.
Other Incentives and Special Offers
This is also not the first time Disneyland and Disney World have tried to incentivize would-be guests to book or reschedule their next trip. Inside the Magic already reported that Disney World is offering a FREE Disney Dining Plan to all parties impacted by the park closure if they rebook later this year, and Disneyland is offering guests “a special Disneyland Resort offer” if they book a Walt Disney Travel Company vacation package that includes a reservation at a Disneyland Resort Hotel by Mary 31, 2020 for a time between June 1, 2020, and December 31, 2020. The Walt Disney Company has also waived all payments for Disneyland and Disney World Annual Passes monthly payment plan during the park closure as well as extended the validity of those passes so annual passholders can make up for the missed days.
No Theme Park Tickets will Be Refunded
Both Disneyland and Walt Disney World are electing to extend the validity of every unused ticket already purchased–including every Florida resident and Southern California resident ticket–and multi-day ticket that have already been activated in the hopes that guests will come back once the parks reopen and still use them.
Related: FAQ: Can I Still Make Dining Reservations For Future Disney Trips?
But while this is good news to report, this is yet another reminder of why it is so important to book your Disney vacations with a travel agent that is an authorized Disney vacation planner. That is why we continue to recommend our friends at Academy Travel. They are experts who learn all of this information first to communicate it to their clients as soon as possible.
So, not only will they get you the best deal on your vacation, but you will also understand all of the ins and outs of your vacation so these updates no longer come as a sudden surprise. Academy Travel will also work with Disney to do their part to take care of all necessary cancellations and refunds so you don’t have to do anything but watch the cash flow right back into your accounts. Click here to learn more and receive your free, no-obligation quote today!
Related: Planning a Disney World or Disneyland Trip Even Though the Parks are Closed
Does this news put you more at ease when booking or rescheduling your Disney trip for the near future? Let us know in the comments!
The post What Parts of Your Disney Trip Will Be Automatically Cancelled and Refunded? appeared first on Inside the Magic.
