Hurricane Canecllation Policy?

[GalDisney]

Doesnt wdw have a special cancellation policy regarding hurricanes?

 

[k_reile]

thats where trip insurance comes in...you would have to buy it.

 

[super_crunch]

do you need to purchase trip insurance when you book...or can you add it afterwards?

 

[grimley1968]

I believe you can purchase trip insurance as late as the time you make your final payment to WDW. That is, you can make many small payments to WDW, but not pay the majority of the price until 45 days from check-in. But I don't think you can purchase trip insurance after you make that final payment. It has to be done at or before the time you make the final payment.

If I'm wrong, someone please correct me. I'm in the middle of making payments for our upcoming October trip, so it's still somewhat fresh in my mind.

I suppose if WDW did not have this 45-day out rule, there would be abuse of trip insurance by people waiting to buy it until after they see a forecast 5 days away from their trip that shows a looming tropical system.

 

[Sammie]

This was last year's policy. I would expect it to be the same.


From June 1 to November 30, 2006, in the event a hurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area or for the guest's place of residence within 7 days before the scheduled arrival date, the guest may call in advance to reschedule or cancel their Walt Disney Travel Co. Magic Your Way vacation package without any cancellation or change fees imposed by Disney. This temporary policy also applies to most Walt Disney World Resort room-only reservations booked directly with Disney, as well as reservations at Disney's Vero Beach Resort or Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort in the event a hurricane warning is issued for those destinations.

The problem being most are never issued for Orlando.

 

[turkygurl]

While you do have to cancel outside of 5 days (last time I checked), they will let you postpone trips 48 hours in advance. If you are to arrive on Sunday, as long as you call by mid-day on Friday they will usually postpone the trip for you (not giving you a refund, but applying what you have already paid to another date). We had to do this several times in the past 3 years with all of the hurricanes. We live in Jacksonville, which normally does not get a hurricane warning, but do not want to travel through a hurricane to get there. That being said, the two best days we ever had at the parks were a Tropical Storm day in early September one year, and the day after Hurricane Charley. No crowds and we walked on to most rides.

 

[clemsondisneyfan]

You can buy travel insurance through outside agencies. We do that twice a year since we travel with 2 kids. You never know if they will get too sick to travel. It is a little over $100 for a family of four. The rate will go up the closer you get to your travel date...so book one as soon as you can.

Just do a google search for travel insurance policies and then look for a plan that suits your needs. We travel by plane, so we look for that on a policy as well.

 

[Disney*Dreamer]

The cm told me that you did not have to have travel ins in the case of a hurricane. She said, "Disney doesn't want you to come during a hurricane." She said the travel insurance was more for people who were flying in and their flights are delayed/canceled for whatever reason. Again this is what a CM told me.

 

[jsmla]

This was last year's policy. I would expect it to be the same.


From June 1 to November 30, 2006, in the event a hurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area or for the guest's place of residence within 7 days before the scheduled arrival date, the guest may call in advance to reschedule or cancel their Walt Disney Travel Co. Magic Your Way vacation package without any cancellation or change fees imposed by Disney. This temporary policy also applies to most Walt Disney World Resort room-only reservations booked directly with Disney, as well as reservations at Disney's Vero Beach Resort or Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort in the event a hurricane warning is issued for those destinations.

The problem being most are never issued for Orlando.

So, does this mean that if your home is in the path of a hurricane you can cancel? My mother is supposed to accompany DD and me for a trip in a little over two weeks. I know that if there is something in the Gulf headed for Louisiana there is no way she'll leave home. I don't know what a 70 year old 90 pound woman expects to do about a hurricane but she feels like she has to be there. Does anyone know if we could drop her from the ressie and not pay for her ticket should she back out because of a hurricane heading for Louisiana?

Thanks,

Jennifer

 

[PrincessSuzanne]

When I booked my packages, the CW said that you can add or delete trip insurance in the first 14 days of purchase after 14 days, you are stuck with it. But I think this only applies if you book more than 45 days in advance. I f you book within the 45 days, if you purchase the trip insurance, you are stuck with it.

Suzanne

 

[lookingforward]

The policy is great for Florida residents since my home is often under hurricane warnings. Especially great for room only (which is what many FL residents get since a lot get annual passes). It is not cost effective to buy insurance for a room ressie since all you lose is your first nights stay.

Jennifer, I think it would work with your Mom if the hurricane is in the gulf. Call and check. Your mom would be better off in Florida if that scenerio became reality though!

 

[jsmla]

Thanks for the info. We almost couldn't get my parents to leave for Katrina and they took a near direct hit on the LA/MS border. They left it too late to get to Baton Rouge and ended up somewhere in north Mississippi. We couldn't find them for two days. I love my parents, but they can be so stubborn.

Jennifer

 

[shmedly123]

" From June 1 to November 30, 2007, in the event a hurricane warning is issued by the National Hurricane Center for the Orlando area or for the guest's place of residence within 7 days before the scheduled arrival date, the guest may call in advance to reschedule or cancel their Walt Disney Travel Co. Magic Your Way vacation package without any cancellation or change fees imposed by Disney. This temporary policy also applies to most Walt Disney World® Resort room-only reservations booked directly with Disney, as well as reservations at Disney's Vero Beach Resort or Disney's Hilton Head Island Resort in the event a hurricane warning is issued for those destinations."

the site is below...it also answers a few FAQ's

disneyworld.disney.go.com/wdw/common/helpFAQ?id=HelpFAQHurricanePage

 

[shmedly123]

bump

 

[Sammie]

Thanks, I felt sure the policy was the same as last year's, I just could not get the DisneyWorld site to work for me today, it can be very stubborn at times.