Last updated May 27
How Will the Coronavirus Affect your Disney Trip?
We want to help you stay up-to-date throughout this evolving situation with latest information to decrease any anxiety you may be feeling and to help make the best decisions for you and your family.
We’re only sharing information once it’s confirmed by an official source. This will be updated as we go. We also recommend these sites for staying up to date:
The Latest Updates
Walt Disney World to Reopen July 11
Walt Disney World Resort has submitted a proposal to Orange County and Florida state for Magic Kingdom Park and Disney’s Animal Kingdom to begin a phased reopening to the general public on July 11, followed by EPCOT and Disney’s Hollywood Studios on July 15. Disney has begun reaching out to Cast Members to call them back to work.
This phased reopening will limit attendance and control Guest density that aligns with guidance on physical distancing.
- Experiences that draw large groups (such as parades and fireworks) will not return until a later date.
- Experiences considered “high-touch” (such as makeover opportunities, playgrounds and character meet and greets) will not be available, though characters will be active in the parks.
- Attendance will be managed through a new theme park reservation system that will require all Guests to obtain a reservation for park entry in advance.
- New ticket sales and hotel reservations are paused so Disney can focus on existing guests.
- Existing ticket holders and Annual Passholders will be able to make reservation requests in phases before new tickets are sold. New ticket sales and hotel reservations will be available after that.
- Theme park reservations will be limited due to attendance limitations and will be subject to availability.
- Cast Members as well as Guests 3 years of age and older will be required to wear appropriate face coverings in theme parks and common areas of resort hotels.
- All Guests will also undergo temperature screenings prior to entering a theme park; Cast Members will also have temperature checks.
- Cashless transactions are recommended, and cleaning and disinfection procedures will be increased in high-traffic areas.
Disney Refunds – Frequently Asked Questions
Adapted from the FAQs on the Disney Travel Agents website, March 13
Given the heartbreak of having to cancel a Disney vacation, the following refund policies will hopefully help to relieve any anxiety about what happens next.
Will I get a refund on my ticket?
Unexpired multi-day theme park tickets with unused days, or date-specific theme park tickets with a start date on or before March 31, 2020 will automatically be extended to use any date through December 15, 2020. If you are unable to visit by December 15, 2020 you may apply the value of a wholly unused ticket toward the purchase of a ticket for a future date.
Florida Resident Discover Disney Tickets may be used through July 31, 2020.
If you have purchased tickets for Disney After Hours, Disney Villains After Hours and Disney Early Morning Magic from March 16, 2020 through March 31, 2020 they will be automatically refunded.
How does the closure of Walt Disney World impact annual passes?
Walt Disney World annual passes will be extended by the number of days the parks are closed, March 16, 2020 through March 31, 2020.
I have a future stay while the park is closed. What does that mean for my vacation package?
For stays between March 16, 2020 through March 31, 2020, if you have not checked in, you may modify or cancel your Disney Resort room reservation or Walt Disney Travel Company package up to the original check-in date. If no action is taken, Disney will automatically process a refund to the original form of payment within seven days of the original check-in date.
What if I want to cancel a resort reservation after the parks reopen?
We will waive all Disney imposed change and cancellation fees up to the date of check-in through June 30, 2020.
I have a pre-paid dining reservation or experience reservation like Build a Droid during the time when the parks are closed. Will I receive a refund?
Yes. All pre-paid dining and experience reservations will be automatically refunded if scheduled between March 16, 2020 through March 31, 2020.
What happens to dining reservations that required a credit card at the time of booking?
Reservations made at locations impacted by the closure will not be charged a cancellation or no-show fee.
Screenshot of March 12 tweet announcing closure
Official Statement by Disney World
March 5, 2020
“We have very stringent sanitation procedures in place at Walt Disney World Resort. We are in close contact with health agencies for information and guidance, and at this time, we are continuing to communicate to our Cast the importance of preventative measures such as frequent hand washing and rigorous cleaning processes.
“For guest convenience, we have placed additional hand sanitizers throughout our parks and resorts and will adjust our protocols as the situation warrants.”
Chief Medical Officer Dr. Pamela Hymel shares more detail on preventative measures for Coronavirus/COVID-19 in the Disney Parks Blog, excerpted below:
Walt Disney World, Disneyland and all of our parks and resorts around the world have high standards of cleanliness, which assists with illness prevention, and we have health and safety protocols in place, such as:
- Training for cast members, with ongoing reinforcement on a regular basis
- Defined cycles for frequent cleaning and disinfection of targeted areas
- Easy access to handwashing facilities and hand sanitizers
- Quick response to spills, trash and other situations
- End of day sanitation procedures for restroom, kitchen, and other facilities
- Frequent cleaning and “wash down” of outdoor locations, including walkways and queues
Disney Cruise Cancellations & New Refund Policies
Updated May 27
Disney sailings cancelled through July 28
In light of this cancellation, Disney Cruise Line is offering the choice of a 125% future cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 15 months of the original sail date, or a full refund, for those who have paid in full.
The credit is automatically added to each account.
Details from Disney’s official announcement:
Yesterday, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced it would extend its suspension of cruise departures from the United States. In line with this direction and with the wellbeing of our guests and team members as our top priority, Disney Cruise Line is reaching out to all guests booked on departures of the Disney Dream, Disney Fantasy and Disney Magic through Sunday, May 17, 2020, to advise that these sailings have been cancelled.
Final payments for select summer sailings automatically extended by 30 days
The impacted sailings are:
Disney Dream: Sailings embarking from June 17 – to August 30
Disney Fantasy: Sailings embarking from July 18 – to August 31
Disney Wonder: Sailings embarking from July 20 – to August 31
Disney Magic: Sailings embarking from August 5 – to August 30
The following policies apply:
– Guests will not be able to complete Online Check-In or book Cruise Activities/Port Adventures if they have not paid in full
– Disney Cruise LineAir will continue to follow existing policies (Payment due at time of final for Flexible Air; Restricted Air is non-refundable once paid)
The cancellation policy will shift by 30 days for all non-suite/non-concierge staterooms
*There are no changes to the cancellation policy for Suites and Concierge Staterooms
Alaska Sailings Cancelled Through June
Disney was unable to find an alternative port after Canada’s shutdown of its ports. All sailings departing from Vancouver are cancelled. Guests will receive the choice of 125% future cruise credit on a future sailing within 15 months of the original sail date, or a full refund.
Credits will be automatically added to each account. Reservations for future sailings can be placed on hold by applying the credit as a payment option when booking a new reservation online. The future cruise credit can be added to the booking on the checkout screen.
The Canadian government announced that it will not allow any ship with more than 500 passengers to dock in any Canadian port until July 1, at the earliest. See Canada’s official statement.
Disney Offers Choice Between a 125% credit for Travel within 15 Months or Full Refund
Customers have been contacted directly to rebook and apply the credit.
Disney Cruise Line will offer guests the choice of a 125% cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 15 months of their original sail date, or a full refund. If you select a future cruise credit and are not able to use it, you will be eligible for a refund up to the amount you paid in full. Standard prevailing rates will apply for future cruises.
Note: Disney representatives are working overtime to provide excellent customer service through these unprecedented events. To enable them to provide timely support for customers with cancelled cruises, they have set up a triage system.
Disney Cruise Line Coronavirus (COVID-19) Travel Alert
March 13, 2020 – 12:00 AM
In an abundance of caution and in the best interest of our guests and employees, Disney Cruise Line has decided to suspend all new departures beginning Saturday, March 14, 2020, through the end of the month. This precautionary measure applies to all four of Disney’s cruise ships.
While we know this decision may be disappointing, the health and wellbeing of our guests is of the greatest importance. We are equally committed to the wellbeing of our incredible crew members who live and work aboard our ships and on Castaway Cay. During the suspended operations, Disney Cruise Line will continue to compensate our Crew Members and shoreside Cast Members.
The Disney Dream will depart on a three-night cruise from Port Canaveral as scheduled on Friday, March 13, and will return to Port Canaveral on Monday, March 16. The Disney Fantasy and Disney Magic will return to port on Saturday, March 14. The Disney Wonder, which is currently in the midst of a westbound Panama Canal cruise, will continue on its scheduled itinerary, with guests disembarking in San Diego on Friday, March 20.
Disney Cruise Line will offer guests affected by this decision a future cruise credit or a full refund, the details of which will be provided directly to them. Given the higher than normal call volume at our Call Center, we ask that affected guests or their travel agent wait to contact us until after they receive an email from us.
Disney Cruise Embarkation & Sailing Date Change Policy
March 6, 2020
Guests scheduled to sail between now and May 31, 2020, can now change their reservation up until the day before embarkation and receive a 100% cruise credit to be used for a future sailing within 12 months of their original sail date…read more.
Travel Protection
What You Need to Know
Given the potential stress of planning travel in the midst of continual uncertainty, we’re sharing the basics what travel insurance can and can’t cover.
3rd-Party Travel Insurance
- Insurance will not cover “fear of traveling” due to the coronavirus outbreak.
- Insurance can cover trip cancellation, interruption, and delay due to illness, as well as the costs of medical evacuation, if that is deemed necessary.
- Costs associated with being quarantined may be covered but don’t assume anything. Coverage may also depend on who ordered the quarantine and other circumstances specific to each situation.
- Third-party travel insurance policies usually exclude coverage for epidemics and pandemics so always check the fine print.
- It appears that “Cancel-for-Any-Reason” (CFAR) policies may offer the best protection against unknown future events (as long as you don’t use “epidemic” or “pandemic” as your reason for cancellation). These policies usually require purchase within a few weeks of placing a deposit on your trip. Companies offering this include: Travel Insured, Travel Guard and Allianz Travel.
- March 7 UPDATE: Travel Guard has just updated their CFAR policy in direct response to this situation and will still offer this option but at a maximum of 50% reimbursement, up to $25,000.
Standard Disney Travel Insurance Options
Note temporary modifications to the standard policies above
- Disney Cruise Line offers a “Cancel-for-Any-Reason” plan which will give you a future cruise credit of 75% of the cancellation fee, which is good for up to a year from the day it was issued. The cost of adding the Disney Cruise Line travel protection plan is 8% of the cruise fare. It can also be purchased for individuals sharing a stateroom and the cost would be calculated based on their fare only.
- The Disney Protection Plan for Walt Disney World must be purchased before final payment is made. The cost is $77.50 per adult, and $5.50 per child 17 and under. Given the flexibility of Disney World reservations, this option isn’t always necessary. View policy details here.
More Resources on Travel Protection
- State Department Website: Insurance for traveling abroad
- Insuremytrip Website: Resources and tools to compare travel insurance plans
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