Update: Disney now Waiving Change & Cancellation Fees thru June 30

[CarolMN]

www.disneyworld.disney.go.com/travel-information/

Sounds like they expect parks & resorts to be closed beyond June 1?

 

[Darklord77]

I would say June 1st is a best case scenario right now. However, life will have to go on at some point. The cures impact on society can't be more damaging than the virus itself.

 

[SpaceMountain77]

I had not thought about this until I had read several posts from insiders on other discussion boards, so I will share it here.

Even if the parks are able to resume operation on June 1st, they will likely not be positioned to do so. Currently, all flume/river attractions have been drained, to ensure that water would not stagnate. Moreover, upon opening, kitchens will need to be cleaned and food and beverages ordered from vendors. Because the parks are not open, kitchens are not being stocked. There are additional discussions about attraction testing and maintenance.

For whatever it is worth, some insiders are stating that a June 1st guest opening was projected based on a May return to work. If the return to work is June 1st, then the parks may be positioned for a July 1st opening. The parks will not open overnight.

 

[GADisneyDad14]

Just FYI, waiving resort/package change and cancellation fees for arrivals through 6/30 has been a part of Disney's various announcements since 3/13 (right after they first announced park closures), so that part isn't something new.

 

[drusba]

I doubt that update on cancellation policy is actually designed to indicate June 1 may not be the current planned date. It likely instead indicates Disney is now trying harder to get people to reserve the month of June by telling them they will not be stuck with change or cancellation fees if those reservations have to be cancelled. My personal view is that June 1 is likely a too ambitious goal, but everything Disney is saying now, including adding that cancellation fee waiver, is designed for a hoped for June 1 re-opening.

 

[The Prophet]

If news reports are correct in predicting the peak in Florida will happen May 3rd, than a June 1 opening is very optimistic

https://www.winknews.com/2020/03/30...ojects-floridas-coronavirus-peak-to-be-may-3/

 

[The Jackal]

There are some medications that are showing promise. Hopefully the trials get done soon and it helps.

 

[zorro77]

Lots of good info, my question is if Parks, Resorts opening is not till August/September 1and our Annual passes end in November 20th are they add 150days to our annual pass. What is happening to our fees we are paying for up keep of home resort. Its much less to maintain, will they start to wave these fees.

 

[Chuck S]

Lots of good info, my question is if Parks, Resorts opening is not till August/September 1and our Annual passes end in November 20th are they add 150days to our annual pass. What is happening to our fees we are paying for up keep of home resort. Its much less to maintain, will they start to wave these fees.

I doubt they will waive them. More than likely there will be a credit applied to 2021 dues.

 

[dismedvc]

I doubt that update on cancellation policy is actually designed to indicate June 1 may not be the current planned date. It likely instead indicates Disney is now trying harder to get people to reserve the month of June by telling them they will not be stuck with change or cancellation fees if those reservations have to be cancelled. My personal view is that June 1 is likely a too ambitious goal, but everything Disney is saying now, including adding that cancellation fee waiver, is designed for a hoped for June 1 re-opening.

However, DVC is not trying harder to get DVC members to keep their June reservations, if those members have an August, and soon to be September UY. Members with those UY's would be "stuck" if they did not cancel their June reservations before their banking deadline.

August UY has already had to cancel June if they wanted to be able to bank current UY points. September UY will have to cancel by April 30th, and I doubt we will know by then if the parks are going to be open in June.

 

[Sandisw]

However, Disney is not trying harder to get DVC members to keep their June reservations, if those members have an August, and soon to be September UY. Members with those UY's would be "stuck" if they did not cancel their June reservations before their banking deadline.

August UY has already had to cancel June if they wanted to be able to bank current UY points. September UY will have to cancel by April 30th, and I doubt we will know by then if the parks are going to be open in June.

That is because Disney doesn’t deal with points based rooms

 

[dismedvc]

That is because Disney doesn’t deal with points based rooms

When I said Disney was referring to DVC. (I have edited my post)

However, it does seem strange that If the Hotel division is trying harder to get people to reserve the month of June, the DVC division would also want to get people (in this case members) to reserve the month of June.
Right now, there is a lot of availability in June for DVC points based reservations

 

[Sandisw]

When I said Disney was referring to DVC. (I have edited my post)

However, it does seem strange that If the Hotel division is trying harder to get people to reserve the month of June, the DVC division would also want to get people (in this case members) to reserve the month of June.
Right now, there is a lot of availability in June for DVC points based reservations

I think this is a result of canceling, possibly by Aug and Sep UY, who don’t want to be caught outside banking window if they stay closed.

I am booked in June and a few months ago, there was a lot booked.
Not sure there would be a benefit of encouraging because there isn’t any incentive for doing that.

 

[dismedvc]

I think this is a result of canceling, possibly by Aug and Sep UY, who don’t want to be caught outside banking window if they stay closed.

I am booked in June and a few months ago, there was a lot booked.
Not sure there would be a benefit of encouraging because there isn’t any incentive for doing that.

Exactly my point. There is now availability in June because of cancelations from members with August and September UY's.
It seems strange that the Hotel division is trying harder to get people to book the month of June, but the DVC division is effectively forcing members with August and September UY's to cancel in order to avoid possibly having points expire.

 

[Sandisw]

Exactly my point. There is now availability in June because of cancelations from members with August and September UY's.
It seems strange that the Hotel division is trying harder to get people to book the month of June, but the DVC division is effectively forcing members with August and September UY's to cancel in order to avoid possibly having points expire.

Two completely different situations, as you mention. Hotels with cash guests and owners of a timeshare.

ETA: And, by keeping banking rules in place right now, it also will give them a better idea on how to deal with it later because there could be more banked then typical.

 

[dismedvc]

I agree it is two different situations.

However, I would think if the TWDC wants guests on property in June, they would want both cash Guests and DCV members.
The only two reasons it would make sense to effectively force some DVC members to cancel June, are
1. DVC is confident those rooms will be booked by other members if the parks do open
2. Since DVC already has our money, it would be slightly less expensive for them if those rooms are vacant. In fact the most profitable scenario for DVC would be if members bought points and paid maintenance fees but never used their points

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

I doubt they will waive them. More than likely there will be a credit applied to 2021 dues.

There's an issue if they do that though. Not all members are being adversely impacted. Applying the overage of MF's is typical and normally fair but in this case it's questionable that it would be appropriate unless DVC does something that "saves" the points people are losing from resorts being closed.

 

[Sandisw]

I agree it is two different situations.

However, I would think if the TWDC wants guests on property in June, they would want both cash Guests and DCV members.
The only two reasons it would make sense to effectively force some DVC members to cancel June, are
1. DVC is confident those rooms will be booked by other members if the parks do open
2. Since DVC already has our money, it would be slightly less expensive for them if those rooms are vacant. In fact the most profitable scenario for DVC would be if members bought points and paid maintenance fees but never used their points

I think it’s more that they have currently decided on what rules they are enforcing and what they are bending. In order to encourage DVC members with Aug and Sept UY to not cancel, they would need to change the policy to allow banking late.

That would include then allowing April and June UY late banking too. At this time, they have said they are not adjusting as they need to evaluate full effect on the system,

The hard part is that trying to compare what Disney is doing in reference to their guests with what DVC is doing is tough Because they really arent related to each other in any in terms of use.

 

[Sandisw]

There's an issue if they do that though. Not all members are being adversely impacted. Applying the overage of MF's is typical and normally fair but in this case it's questionable that it would be appropriate unless DVC does something that "saves" the points people are losing from resorts being closed.

Unless they can find a way to consider it a special assessment that is allowed when emergency powers are enacted and damage happens at the resort?

Granted, this is not physical damage, but wonder if this could apply? The payback of dues from loss of use points would be applied to the entire membership?

 

[KAT4DISNEY]

Unless they can find a way to consider it a special assessment that is allowed when emergency powers are enacted and damage happens at the resort?

Granted, this is not physical damage, but wonder if this could apply? The payback of dues from loss of use points would be applied to the entire membership?

You'd have to explain that a little more - I'm not quite understanding that premise.