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Storms to be less threatening to vacation plans
Disney, Universal unveil new policies about hurricanes
Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted August 4, 2006
Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World want to ease tourists' fears about hurricanes by promising that if a storm gets in the way, people can get their money back.
Both parks announced new policies Thursday that allow vacationers to reschedule or cancel their theme park vacations, without any penalties, in the event of a hurricane.
SeaWorld also has a general policy allowing people to cancel or reschedule because of hurricanes, but it's informal. Still, SeaWorld officials insisted that they consider tropical storms and hurricanes "exceptional circumstances" that call for special consideration.
In Disney's case, vacationers can cancel or reschedule if the National Weather Service posts a hurricane warning for Orlando, or for their hometowns, within seven days of their planned arrivals.
Universal is offering people a chance to cancel or reschedule anytime a named storm threatens, whether or not a specific hurricane warning is issued for Orlando or their hometowns. Universal calls it a "no questions asked" policy.
Both companies said the new policies reflect their old practices, but now are formalized so that people booking vacations can be assured in advance that they can opt out if a hurricane bears down. Both companies posted their policies on their Web sites this week.
"The goal here is to eliminate stress and worry in the way people plan their vacations," Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said. "We've been doing the right thing for a long time. This just formalizes it."
Disney's policy covers people who booked their vacations through Disney, and includes most Disney World resort hotels.
"This is really about our guests being able to make reservations without reservation," Disney spokesman Rick Sylvain said.
Those Disney tourists who booked through travel agents or others might still be able to get their vacations rescheduled or canceled without penalties, but there may be some third-party rules to deal with, Sylvain said.
Universal's also covers hotels; Schroder said the time needed to make those arrangements is one reason the policy was announced now instead of in May, just before hurricane season began.
Schroder said Universal has not seen any dip in bookings associated with hurricane fears. Disney officials declined to discuss their bookings. But others watching the industry have noticed alarming trends.
A new Harris Interactive study finds that up to 23 percent of the 1,400 travelers surveyed would have concerns about visiting Orlando during the height of hurricane season, August and September.
The Central Florida travel research and advertising firm Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell this spring released a survey that reported that California had surpassed Florida for the first time as the vacation destination of choice -- and hurricane fears appeared to be an undercurrent.
"It was obvious to us that there is a concern in the marketplace tied to the unpredictable nature of summertime weather in Florida," Peter Yesawich, the agency's chief executive officer, said this spring.
The Harris study, released Thursday, also finds that people are most reassured if they know they can book with some sort of storm guarantee.
Walt Disney World President Al Weiss pointed out in a news release Thursday that since 1971 Disney parks failed to open only on two days due to weather.
Unfortunately, in the past two years Central Florida, like the entire Gulf Coast, has had its fill of hurricanes. Disney parks lost a full day to Hurricane Frances in 2004, along with one to Hurricane Floyd in 1999, and also had to close for partial days for Charley and Jeanne in '04 and Wilma last year.
Scott Powers can be reached at 407-420-5441 or spowers@orlandosentinel.com.
Disney, Universal unveil new policies about hurricanes
Scott Powers | Sentinel Staff Writer
Posted August 4, 2006
Universal Orlando and Walt Disney World want to ease tourists' fears about hurricanes by promising that if a storm gets in the way, people can get their money back.
Both parks announced new policies Thursday that allow vacationers to reschedule or cancel their theme park vacations, without any penalties, in the event of a hurricane.
SeaWorld also has a general policy allowing people to cancel or reschedule because of hurricanes, but it's informal. Still, SeaWorld officials insisted that they consider tropical storms and hurricanes "exceptional circumstances" that call for special consideration.
In Disney's case, vacationers can cancel or reschedule if the National Weather Service posts a hurricane warning for Orlando, or for their hometowns, within seven days of their planned arrivals.
Universal is offering people a chance to cancel or reschedule anytime a named storm threatens, whether or not a specific hurricane warning is issued for Orlando or their hometowns. Universal calls it a "no questions asked" policy.
Both companies said the new policies reflect their old practices, but now are formalized so that people booking vacations can be assured in advance that they can opt out if a hurricane bears down. Both companies posted their policies on their Web sites this week.
"The goal here is to eliminate stress and worry in the way people plan their vacations," Universal spokesman Tom Schroder said. "We've been doing the right thing for a long time. This just formalizes it."
Disney's policy covers people who booked their vacations through Disney, and includes most Disney World resort hotels.
"This is really about our guests being able to make reservations without reservation," Disney spokesman Rick Sylvain said.
Those Disney tourists who booked through travel agents or others might still be able to get their vacations rescheduled or canceled without penalties, but there may be some third-party rules to deal with, Sylvain said.
Universal's also covers hotels; Schroder said the time needed to make those arrangements is one reason the policy was announced now instead of in May, just before hurricane season began.
Schroder said Universal has not seen any dip in bookings associated with hurricane fears. Disney officials declined to discuss their bookings. But others watching the industry have noticed alarming trends.
A new Harris Interactive study finds that up to 23 percent of the 1,400 travelers surveyed would have concerns about visiting Orlando during the height of hurricane season, August and September.
The Central Florida travel research and advertising firm Yesawich, Pepperdine, Brown & Russell this spring released a survey that reported that California had surpassed Florida for the first time as the vacation destination of choice -- and hurricane fears appeared to be an undercurrent.
"It was obvious to us that there is a concern in the marketplace tied to the unpredictable nature of summertime weather in Florida," Peter Yesawich, the agency's chief executive officer, said this spring.
The Harris study, released Thursday, also finds that people are most reassured if they know they can book with some sort of storm guarantee.
Walt Disney World President Al Weiss pointed out in a news release Thursday that since 1971 Disney parks failed to open only on two days due to weather.
Unfortunately, in the past two years Central Florida, like the entire Gulf Coast, has had its fill of hurricanes. Disney parks lost a full day to Hurricane Frances in 2004, along with one to Hurricane Floyd in 1999, and also had to close for partial days for Charley and Jeanne in '04 and Wilma last year.
Scott Powers can be reached at 407-420-5441 or spowers@orlandosentinel.com.
