T.D. Nine...does Disney let you change plans without a fee because of weather?

[CFioren317]

I was wondering if Disney allows you to change your plans without a fee because of possible inclement weather. I am specifically talking about this that popped up this morning...

http://www.weather.com/news/weather-hurricanes/us-threat-ahead-20120821

Went onto to weather.com to see what the 10-day is like since I'll be down there Sunday, and I see this. You can plan for everything except a hurricane. I'm thinking of moving it back to late October since they still have the free dining plan at that time.

 

[laceemouse]

It depends. Here is the Disney policy: http://disneyworld.disney.go.com/faq/hurricane-policy/

 

[Jestocost]

I was wondering if Disney allows you to change your plans without a fee because of possible inclement weather. I am specifically talking about this that popped up this morning...

http://www.weather.com/news/weather-hurricanes/us-threat-ahead-20120821

Went onto to weather.com to see what the 10-day is like since I'll be down there Sunday, and I see this. You can plan for everything except a hurricane. I'm thinking of moving it back to late October since they still have the free dining plan at that time.

I doubt that Disney will be allowing changes outside the normal policy due to TD9 at this time. IF it turns in to a TS or hurricane and IF it appears that there is a possible impact in Orlando they likely will do so at that time.

 

[irishdadx4]

Official DIsney Hurricane Policy

Disney only allows "no change fee" if a warning for either the Orlando area or your place of residence has be declared by the NHC within 7 days of your arrival date. No warning yet from NHC. This also only applies to trips booked directly with Disney. If you went through a travel agent, you will have to contact them and are subject to whatever policy they have. Good luck. We are in same boat. Leaving Friday for the week. We were in WDW last year when Irene came through..we had to cut our trip short three days. While it ended up missing Orlando, it's ground zero land fall path was right on our house.

Mike

 

[KELLY]

I have gone this time of year for the past 10 years. I have only been on lockdown once. In 2004 honestly it isn't that bad. We are talking a few things with us to pass the time if need be. Last year because of the hurricane we left a day early. As long as I get there I'm good. We go for 11 days so. A couple of days of really bad weather don't bother us. Usually at most it is a bit over a day.

 

[Valley Twin]

Official DIsney Hurricane Policy

Disney only allows "no change fee" if a warning for either the Orlando area or your place of residence has be declared by the NHC within 7 days of your arrival date. No warning yet from NHC.

Considering that the NHC issues doesn't issue warnings until 36 hours before expected impact, the whole 7 day thing is kind of ridiculous. So really, Disney's official policy is that you can cancel your vacation 1 1/2 days in advance.

 

[TheRatPack]

I think the travel insurance used to have a different policy though didn't it? I don't remember but it seems like if you had the insurance it covered the storm/weather factor.

I would think that if your flights were cancelled due to a hurricane or something that you'd be given an option to reschedule....otherwise you're probably just out of luck. I've heard if you're there during a tropical storm or hurricane that they are great about making sure the guest are comfortable and well taken care of....so that's nice to know.

 

[TDC Nala]

I would think that if your flights were cancelled due to a hurricane or something that you'd be given an option to reschedule

Most airlines have the option to cancel or reschedule without penalty, but only if the area of departure or arrival is under a hurricane warning or travel advisory - not if a hurricane "might" go in that direction.

When rescheduling, also keep in mind that many flights are full and the next flight you can get onboard may end up being days after the original flight.

 

[mylildarlings]

I'm flying out Friday, but won't be going into the parks till Monday. I don't plan to change anything. We shouldn't have a problem flying in. So, we'll just plan to take a deck of cards with us

 

[NHKristy76]

We were there a couple years ago during Hurricane Jeanne (coincidentally this is my MIL's name so I'll never forget it) and my husband and I were in lock down at the WL. In my opinion, if there ever was a place to get locked it, that was it!

I've stopped wishing for things to delay our return trip home (We were scheduled to head home on 9/11) but if it happens, it happens. I could use an extra couple of days!

Now.. where's my poncho?!

 

[bumbershoot]

Considering that the NHC issues doesn't issue warnings until 36 hours before expected impact, the whole 7 day thing is kind of ridiculous. So really, Disney's official policy is that you can cancel your vacation 1 1/2 days in advance.

Actually I think they are meaning to be generous. It doesn't say the hurricane has to HIT the area or your area, just that there's a warning. So 6 days ahead, there's a warning for one of the areas, and you get scared, you can cancel. Or if there's a warning and it does hit, say, your home area, you don't have to leave the clean-up and go on your vacation; you can cancel it. Seems generous to me, not ridiculous.



I don't know anything about *this* storm that's building. But I know that my Floridian family considers WDW to be their backup plan if they have to leave their coastal homes in a storm. They feel that it is THAT safe.

So really, in general, the main thing you have to plan for is the flights. Know the flights before and after yours. Watch the weather at home and in Orlando. If it's getting close and you can get out early, call the airline to see if their storm policies have kicked in, and if you can get an an earlier flight. Or get on a later flight before the masses do. Just prepare!

 

[Jestocost]

So 6 days ahead, there's a warning for one of the areas, and you get scared, you can cancel.

FWIW, the typical hurricane warning is issued 12-16 hours in advance of the expected storm arrival, but can be as short as 6 hours.

 

[Marthasor]

If your flight is canceled by your airline due to the weather, Disney will disregard their cancellation policy. I learned this last year when my flight from NY was cancelled due to Hurricane Irene. Disney told me I could cancel without penalty when my flight was canceled. I was, instead, able to schedule a flight two days prior to my original flight date, so not only did I go, but Disney got two extra nights $$ from me!! It was a win-win!

I am leaving for WDW again this Friday - I really know how to pick weeks don't I?!! I was also down during Tropical Storm Debbie. Oh well. I will keep watching the weather and will bring rain gear. My biggest concern is getting stuck there. Last year, the hotels really filled up with people trying to escape Irene and there was barely a room to be had. ugh.

 

[CFioren317]

We are driving down Friday night from philly area and the trip starts in Disney on Sunday. The way it looks now, we'll have a good day Sunday, which is when we have our Cinderella's castle breakfast already set up, and then may have some bad weather MOnday and Tuesday. If it is too painful, we'll just tack an extra day onto the end since we have Labor day weekend and an extra day to come home.

That, and like someone said, ponchos.

 

[dmoore718]

We are driving from Philly in January! Let me know what advice you have. I'm hoping we won't have snow to deal with!

 

[Valley Twin]

Actually I think they are meaning to be generous. It doesn't say the hurricane has to HIT the area or your area, just that there's a warning. So 6 days ahead, there's a warning for one of the areas, and you get scared, you can cancel. Or if there's a warning and it does hit, say, your home area, you don't have to leave the clean-up and go on your vacation; you can cancel it. Seems generous to me, not ridiculous.

Dunno about that. The policy reads that there has to be a warning for either Orlando or your home area in order for the policy to be effective. So with Isaac, coming up from south, there anyone headed in from, say, the Northeast or West Coast, would only be able to cancel once a warning was issued for Orlando. Like I said previously, they don't issue warnings until 36 hours before impact might happen. There would never be a warning 6 days ahead.

 

[goofyintoronto]

I arrive in disney on friday...park day starts monday. My only concern is arriving and departing safely. As long as i arrive ok, im happy.

Bring on the rain, i packed 8 ponchos for the two of us!


Posted from DISboards.com App for Android

 

[elfbo]

Disney resorts are made of poured concrete (bunker style), so you would be relatively safe there. We were there during a hurricane in early 2000. Being that im from tornado country I didnt find the experience any more frightening than that. Just keep an eye on info from your airline.

 

[aubriee]

Heck, stupid of me I know, but I haven't even been watching the weather. I'll be down there in 9 days. Anything in the forecast for Sept 1st-8th? I'll be flying Dallas to Orlando.