If you’re here, you’ve probably planned a trip to Disney at some point in your life (or want to). But unfortunately, somehow you’re looking up information on the Disney cancellation policy.
Planning a vacation can be stressful enough, but what happens if something comes up and you have to cancel?
Canceling a Disney trip can be a daunting task, but with this guide, you’ll know exactly what to do! In this post, we’ll go over Disney’s cancellation policy for different types of reservations, as well as what to do in the event of a hurricane or other emergency.
Disney Cancellation Policy Overview
Disney World has different policies in place for cancellations, depending on when you cancel your trip.
The cancelation policy for Disney reservations can be tricky to understand, but there are different types of cancellations.
You have a room-only reservation that does not include travel or dining plans; this means that if you need to reschedule your trip because something comes up – like an injury- then all it takes is one day’s notice before the date you planned on visiting (or staying at).
Next, we’ve got Disney cruise or vacation packages where some parts may be refunded depending upon how long ago they were purchased and whether everything worked out perfectly during usage–but most people don’t realize until too late that they have to call and cancel everything as a set.
And finally, any special event/dining reservations.
The following is a breakdown of Disney’s cancellation policy according to the reservation type.
Understand what you’ve booked before
Before you cancel your Disney World trip, it’s important to understand what type of reservation you booked.
If you booked a room-only reservation, then you can cancel without penalty as long as you do so at least 5 days before your arrival date.
If you booked a vacation package, there are different cancellation policies depending on when you cancel your trip.
But you might also be curious about dining cancellations, special events, how to cancel your Disney cruise line, and more! Let’s get into it.
Disney Cancellation Policy – Room Only
If you have booked a room-only reservation at Walt Disney World, meaning that you have not added on tickets or other ancillary items, your cancellation policy is a little different. You have three choices when canceling:
It’s always a good idea to check the cancellation policy for any hotel you’re considering booking. This way, if something comes up and your plans change or someone just doesn’t show up as planned then there is no need of getting stuck with an expensive room bill!
Disney’s rules state that guests can cancel their reservation 5 days ahead before arrival date which ensures them 100% refund including tax.”
Again, as with hotel stays booked directly with Disney, these rules apply only to room-only reservations made through Walt Disney World. If you booked your room-only reservation with a discount travel aggregator such as Priceline or Expedia, you may be subject to an entirely different set of rules.
If you’ve booked your stay using Disney Vacation Club points, consult with DVC member services directly regarding cancelation rules and penalties. Additionally, some hotels are located at Walt Disney World but they’re not owned by the company; this means their cancellation policy may differ from what we’ve mentioned above!
Canceling a Disney Vacation Package
If you’ve booked a Walt Disney World vacation package, canceling is a little more complicated. You can cancel your reservation as long as you do so more than 30 days before your arrival date. If you cancel within 30 days of your arrival, you will be charged a cancellation fee, and any amount that has been paid toward the reservation will not be refunded.
If you cancel after arriving at Walt Disney World, you will not receive a refund for any of the package components. This includes tickets, hotel rooms, and dining reservations.
Disney Cancellation or Refund Policy for Tickets
Tickets for Walt Disney World can be canceled as long as they are canceled at least 24 hours prior to the first use of the ticket. If you do not cancel your tickets in advance and do not show up for your reservation, the tickets are forfeited and will not be refunded.
Again, these rules only apply if you have bought your tickets directly from Disney. If you have bought tickets from a third-party seller, the rules may be different.
Disney World Ticket Date Changes
Changing the use date on your tickets can be done! As long as the new ticket dates are more than seven days in the future.
If you need to change the name on your tickets, you can do so up to three days prior to the first use of the ticket. If you lose your tickets, Disney will replace them for a $20 per ticket fee.
Disney Cruise Line Cancellation Policy
To cancel a cruise reservation, you can do so as long as you give at least 90 days’ notice prior to the departure date. If you cancel within 90 days of the departure date, you will be charged a cancellation fee, and any amount that has been paid toward the reservation will not be refunded.
If you cancel after arriving at the port, you will not receive a refund for your cruise.
Special Event Dining Cancellation Policy
Canceling a special event dining reservation at Walt Disney World is more complicated than canceling other dining reservations. You can cancel as long as you do so more than 24 hours before the reservation.
Canceling Disney Dining Reservations
If you need to cancel a dining reservation, you can do so as long as you give at least 24 hours’ notice. If you cancel less than 24 hours before the reservation, you will be charged a cancellation fee.
How to cancel Disney Dining Reservations
The process of canceling a Disney dining reservation is very simple. You’re going to want to use My Disney Experience.
Log in to your My Disney Experience account.
On the main menu, select My Plans. This should look like three lines on mobile or it’s under My Disney Experience on the top right on Desktop.
Scroll down until you see the dining reservation that needs canceling. On mobile, you need to click on the reservation to see the cancelation button.
Disney discourages calling them directly regarding dining reservations, but you can still cancel that way.
Definitely call if it sounds like a good idea to call and make some changes or cancellations on your trip. The cast member will be happy to take care of everything for you!
Disney Plus Cancellation Policy
Did you have subscribed to Disney Plus and need to cancel? Log in and cancel at your convenience. Your subscription will be canceled at the end of the current billing cycle. No refunds or credits will be given for unused portions of a subscription.
Looking to just modify your Disney reservation?
Modifying a Walt Disney World reservation is much easier than canceling it! You can make changes to your reservation as long as you do so more than seven days before the first use of the reservation. If you need to make changes within seven days of the first use of the reservation, you will be charged a change fee.
Changing the name on a reservation can be done up to three days prior to the first use of the reservation, and changing the date can be done as long as the new date is more than seven days in the future.
Disney Hurricane Policy
Disney is at the heart of hurricane territory, so it’s no wonder that they have their own separate policy for canceling reservations due directly to a storm.
“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 packages 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. For more information, please call (407) 939-7377.” [Source]
If a hurricane warning is not issued, but conditions warrant alteration or cancellation of your plans, you should call Walt Disney Travel Company as soon as possible to discuss your options.
Policy for Other Emergencies
Walt Disney Travel Company will not charge any fees to guests who need to cancel or change their reservation as a result of other emergencies, such as:
-A death in the family
-A severe illness or injury that requires the guest to interrupt their trip
-Hospitalization of the guest or a member of their immediate family
-A mandatory evacuation order for the guest’s place of residence or for the destination where their trip is scheduled
These policies apply to Disney Resort hotel packages and most room-only reservations (booked directly with Disney) that have been canceled or changed on or after August 1, 2018. For complete details, please contact Walt Disney Travel Company.
How to Cancel a Disney Vacation
Call Disney Directly
If you need to cancel your Disney vacation, the best thing to do is call Disney directly. That way, you can speak to a human being who can help you with the cancellation process. You may also be able to get assistance with finding a new reservation if there is availability. Call 407-939-1936
Cancel Online
If you’d rather cancel online, you can do so on the Walt Disney World website. Just be sure to have your reservation number handy.
Cancel by Mail
If you don’t have access to a computer or a phone, you can also cancel by mail. Just send a letter to the address below and include your name, reservation number, and the date you would like to cancel your trip.
Walt Disney World Resort
P.O. Box 10000
Lake Buena Vista, FL 32830
Use My Disney Experience
If you have a My Disney Experience account, you can also cancel your trip through the website or the app.
Here’s how to cancel your reservation:
Log in to the My Disney Experience account of whoever booked the reservation. It will only show up if you’re a lead person on the trip.
On the main menu, select My Plans. This should look like three lines on mobile or it’s under My Disney Experience on the top right on Desktop.
Scroll down until you see your hotel reservation where you should see a button that says change reservation to start your cancellations.
Through Your Travel Agent
If you booked your trip through a travel agent, you’ll need to contact them to cancel. They may have their own specific process that they require you to follow.
What Happens if I Cancel?
If you cancel your Disney World vacation, there are a few things that could happen:
-You may receive a refund, depending on when you canceled and the type of reservation you had
-You may be able to change your reservation without any fees
-Your reservation may be canceled and you may not receive a refund
It’s important to know Disney’s cancellation policy before canceling your trip, as it can vary depending on the type of reservation you have.
No one wants to think about the possibility of having to cancel their Disney World trip, but it’s important to be aware of the company’s cancellation policy in case of an emergency. In this article, we’ve outlined what you need to know in order to cancel your reservation without penalty. We hope you never have to use this information, but it’s better to be safe than sorry!