What does Disney do if your flight is cancelled?

[jdb in AZ]

This time of year, hotel occupancy is rather low, so WDW shouldn't have any trouble extending your stay.

Last month my flight was canceled due to mechanical issues, and the airline's first attempt to reschedule me was for the same time a day later. If a flight is canceled due to weather it will probably take more than 24 hrs to resolve it.

My niece recently left on a semester-abroad program but due to the thousands of flight cancellations on the east coast after Irene, she was told it would be up to a week before they could get her large travel group on another flight. They eventually split the group (divide and conquer) and got part of them out two days later.

Anyway, if you have a cell phone to keep in touch with the airline while you're playing at WDW, there's not much point in sleeping at the airport. Enjoy your extended stay!

 

[HersheyKisses]

We were at WDW Aug 19th- 30th, we were informed by Jetblue on 27th August that our flight home to Boston had been cancelled due to Irene. When I called to reschdule Jetblue infomred me that as a party of 5 the first flight we could fit on (without my children flying alone into random airports) wouldn't be until the following Saturday!

The staff at the Yc were very helpful, and arranged a discounted rate for the next few nights, I only needed one as we ended up renting a car and driving home....1,315 miles

OMG that's ridiculous!! 1300 for TWO days?! You couldve rented a car at the airport and drove to a cheap motel anywhere in the vicinity for WAY less than a 1/4 of that!!!

 

[wmharley]

Currently Maria is forecast to follow the path of everyone else and veer away from FL. Granted, things can change, but I'd be more worried of storms that form in the middle of the Caribbean now, as that would have a great chance of veering into FL.

 

[DjdBrit]

OMG that's ridiculous!! 1300 for TWO days?! You couldve rented a car at the airport and drove to a cheap motel anywhere in the vicinity for WAY less than a 1/4 of that!!!

We drove home 1,315 miles not paid $1300. The room was $250 for the extra night which the trip insurance will cover.

 

[princessbrulee]

We got stuck during Irene, since we were supposed to fly into Newark, NJ on Sunday evening and the airports were all closed that weekend. I simply called down to the front desk (ask to speak to the real front desk, not the generic call center you often get when using the hotel phones - they gave me the run around until I called back and spoke to the real deal), and they set me up with a seperate room only reservation for two nights, in the same room. I then called Magical Express to change my pickup date and time. Everyone was very nice and extremely helpful. I was staying at Caribbean Beach Resort and yes, they did give out a special rate for those stranded due to weather. It was a good one too - somewhere in the area of 30%.

If you can't get a reservation with Disney (or it's too much), and you have the trip insurance, call the 24 hour help line printed on the booklet they give you at check in. They'll help you find a hotel and help with calling airlines as well if you need it.

Good luck and enjoy your trip!

 

[TheRustyScupper]

1) IF there is room availabilty, they will let you stay.
2) Usually at full rack rate, but will discount if resorts are not full.
3) If no spare rooms, they make you leave.
4) You may not stay in your room, by state law.


********************************************************
Per Florida Statute Annotated, FSA 509.141, immediate hotel evictions for
. . . Disorderly conduct
. . . Nonpayment
. . . Using the premises for an unlawful purpose or act
. . . Bringing property onto the premises that may be dangerous to others
. . . Failing to register as a guest
. . . Using false pretenses to obtain accommodations
. . . Being a minor unaccompanied by an adult registered guest
. . . Violating federal, state, or local hotel laws or regulations
. . . Violating a conspicuously posted hotel or motel rule
. . . Failing to vacate a room at the agreed checkout time

NOTE:
A hotel just needs to give a verbal demand to vacate.
Or, slide a notice under the door.
Then, they can call the sherriff to evict the guest immediately.
Tourism is too important to Florida.
The hotels get most things for which they petition lawmakers.

 

[mnmhouston]

Holy crap, I'd be sleeping in the parking lot!

Hell yeah! I'd rent a u-haul set it up like a nice hotel room, park it in the MK parking lot with a nice view of the fireworks and call it a night!

 

[mnmhouston]

I had a unique situation during Irene. We flew down on Tuesday 8/23 and were scheduled to stay until 8/31. DH had to fly home to NJ for a family emergency on Thursday 8/25 before we knew the storm was going to pummel NJ. He was scheduled to come back down to FL Saturday morning, but of course his flight was cancelled and he could not get another one until after our trip was already over, so he just stayed home and I was left at Pop with my DD2 and DD8.

I went to the front desk and asked if there was any type of credit (towards a deposit for our next trip, etc.) and what the Manager was able to do was to upgrade his ticket to a non-expiration at no charge and so now he has 5 days that he can use whenever. They couldn't give a credit or refund for his dining credits, so needless to say we ate ALOT!

This info may help someone who misses the first couple of days of their trip for cancelled flights or has to leave early to get out of town before a storm.