Walt Disney World's Hurricane cancellation policy

Sep 26, 2022 in "Severe Weather impacts to Walt Disney World"

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Posted: Monday September 26, 2022 9:45am ET by WDWMAGIC Staff

With severe weather looking increasingly likely to disrupt the central Florida theme park area this coming week, you may be considering canceling or rescheduling your Walt Disney World vacation.

Disney introduced a Hurricane Cancellation policy in 2006 to give guests peace of mind in the event of tropical weather impacting operations.

Note that the policy only applies when the National Hurricane Center issues a hurricane warning. This is not yet in effect for Hurricane Ian.

The standard Walt Disney World cancellation policy available throughout the year is up to 5 days prior to arrival without penalty.

If a hurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area—or for your place of residence—within 7 days of your scheduled arrival date, you may call in advance to reschedule or cancel your Walt Disney Travel Company Disney Resort Hotel Package and most room-only reservations (booked directly with Disney) without any cancellation or change fees imposed by Disney.

If you have products and services provided by third-party suppliers included in your vacation—such as airlines, hotels, car rental agencies or travel insurance companies—you will continue to be responsible for any non-refundable payments, as well as cancellation or change fees assessed by those suppliers. The policy does not apply to certain special events or dining experiences.

This policy also applies to Disney's Vero Beach Resort or Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort in the event a hurricane warning is issued for those destinations.

If you have questions or you wish to reschedule your vacation due to a hurricane warning, please call (407) 939-7675.

Walt Disney World has a flexible hurricane cancellation policy

If you booked with a special rate can you cancel your reservation, be aware that you may not be able to receive that same rate on a rescheduled booking.

All amounts you paid to the Walt Disney Travel Company for rooms, park tickets, dining plans and other Disney products and services will be applied toward your new reservation.

Any discounts or special offers applicable to your original confirmed vacation may not apply to the rescheduled vacation travel dates. You are responsible for applicable package pricing for the new vacation dates.

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CosmicCarolNov 13, 2022

Thanks! We got a reservation at around 3pm, so worked out well! :)

TrainsOfDisneyNov 12, 2022

MK opened at noon - I got on a Disney Springs resort bus at 11:00 to the TTC.

ILoveWDW4everNov 12, 2022

Ok so you were not here. The weather was FINE.

CntrlFlPeteNov 12, 2022

I felt the winds in the area where still kicking until at least 2 PM. I cannot imagine how tough it must be to drive a high profile vehicle such as a bus with those winds and those gusts. I am sort of surprised to hear they had busses running at what noon? I am also certain it must have been tough to get folks into work for many reasons that day.

TrainsOfDisneyNov 12, 2022

i waited 40+ minutes for a bus back to Disney Springs. Finally someone else (who had waited longer than me) talked to a driver of another bus and he said he would take us there. I think there was a lack of drivers yesterday, which makes sense. Could be some of the data wasn’t working as well? I know the mobile ordering wasn’t working at the contemporary.

HauntedPirateNov 11, 2022

No. I only watched the radar off and on for hours, tracking the storm as it made its way across Florida, not to mention checking weather stations in and around the property. I'm sure that provided zero pertinent weather information for the area. :rolleyes: I'll bet you would have thought the parks should have been opened the afternoon after Ian came through because, "it looks fine to me, no storm here!". Have a magical day.

ILoveWDW4everNov 11, 2022

They did not offer anything like this.

ILoveWDW4everNov 11, 2022

Were you here yesterday?

wdwmagicNov 11, 2022

Disney to resume enforcing cancellation policies at Disney World suspended during Storm Nicole https://www.wdwmagic.com/other/severe-weather-information/news/11nov2022-disney-to-resume-enforcing-cancellations-policies-suspended-during-storm-nicole.htm

HauntedPirateNov 11, 2022

I do as well, but you still are out a full-day admission for 6 hours of park time. If they have any semblance of a clue left when it comes to customer service, they would have granted anyone visiting a park yesterday a complimentary park day on the DME account, expiration at the end of 2023. That would have been the old-guard response, because they valued guests. The new guard just sees consumers and wants their money. It costs them nothing to do that, plus they have to book a trip if they want to use it.

MagicHappens1971Nov 11, 2022

While I agree with what is being said, I highly doubt anyone bought a one day ticket for MK yesterday.

HauntedPirateNov 11, 2022

"There was no storm yesterday" The storm passed through the area in the early morning, but you do you. I was there for Ian, so I have a frame of reference. However, I agree with the sentiment of MK being only open for 6 hours, yet they gladly charged full price. That's criminal, for lack of a better term at the moment.