Yesterday, we learned that Walt Disney World would stay closed until further notice amid the unprecedented global health emergency. A new update to their main website indicates that Disney World now plans to remain closed until at least June 1, 2020 although they reserve the right to open sooner or later than that date.
So what do you do if you need to adjust your travel plans or book a new trip?
Here’s the wording of the announcement:
Walt Disney World theme parks, Disney Resort hotels and the Disney Springs area are currently closed and a reopening date has not been identified. For Guests who are interested in modifying their existing travel dates or making a new reservation for a future vacation, reservations are currently available for travel dates June 1 and later. As always, Guests are able to modify these bookings if Walt Disney World Resort opens before or after that time.
You won’t be able to book anything new or rebook your existing travel for a date before June 1st.
As we previously shared, unexpired multi-day theme park tickets with unused days, or date-specific theme park tickets with a valid use period beginning March 12, 2020 through the closure 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.
There will be no change or cancellation fees for any resort or package stay between now and June 30.
Some incentives for rebooking packages, such as a free dining plan, are expected to be offered when you book through DIsney or an authorized travel planning agent.
Usual disclaimers apply. This is for packages made via an authorized Disney travel agent or the Walt Disney Travel Company. If you booked through another service you’ll have to call them.
Those who just have tickets and will be staying off-site, will be able to use those tickets on any day before December 15, 2020 or apply the value of the unused portion of your ticket to a future purchase if you can’t visit before that date.
The announcement is carefully worded so that Disney isn’t declaring they’ll be reopen on June 1st, but rather that they could open before or after that date depending on circumstances and guidelines from the state and local authorities.
But at least it does give guests who have a Walt Disney World vacation in April or May some clear guidance as to whether they should cancel or rebook their trip. The answer is almost certainly yes.
What does this mean for employees who Disney has only promised to pay through April 18? We await further clarification from Disney on that matter.
If you’re ready to book a trip, we hope you’ll use our in house authorized Disney travel planning expert, Stacey Frost at Pixie Vacations. Your use of this complimentary service will help support The Disney Blog with a portion of your purchase price.
If you would like more information on booking a Walt Disney World vacation, please send an email to Pixie Vacations authorized Disney travel agent Stacey Frost ([email protected]), call (407) 454-1477 or fill out this form for complimentary travel planning. Your use of this free service to book your travel will help support The Disney Blog. Thank you.
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I don’t think this means the parks will remain closed until June 1. I think it means that at this point, they are unsure and don’t want many re-booking for a time in late April or May because of no definite reopen date that will just have to change again. It will also ensure that when the parks open (if earlier than June 1) the crowds won’t be so bad that people are on top of each other.
I hope you’re right, but I think June 1st is probably a bit early in the timeline for a return to operations considering all of Florida still hasn’t entered the Stay at Home phase. So be optimistic, but prepare for the worst.
I pray they open the parks and Disney Springs before then but I understand if they don’t. I also guess I’ll have a couple months added to my AP…. works for me but my Snowbird mother is normally back home by the middle of April so no help for her really.
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