fbpx
News

NEWS: Disney World Provides Full Updated Details on Closures Across Property, Operational Changes & Procedures in Light of Closure – March 15

With the threat of the spread of COVID-19, Walt Disney World and other Disney Parks are closing down in the best interest of guests and Cast Members. There are a lot of questions and confusion regarding the closings. Below you’ll find information on the closings and operational updates from Walt Disney World website. We will update this page as new information is released.





 

Operational Updates

1 – Theme Parks and Water Parks

In an abundance of caution, Walt Disney World is closing the theme parks and water parks beginning March 16 through the end of the month. The Walt Disney World will pay its Cast Members during the closure period.

Click here for the original news announcement.

2 – Resorts

Disney owned-and-operated hotels at Walt Disney World Resort and Disney’s Vero Beach will close beginning at 5:00 pm on Friday, March 20 through the end of the month. This will give guests the ability to make other arrangements.

  • Disney’s Magical Express will continue transfers to and from Orlando International Airport through Friday, March 20.
  • Character dining and dinner shows at Disney Resort hotel locations may have modified experiences and characters present from March 16 through March 20.
  • Effective March 16, the Electrical Water Pageant around Magic Kingdom area Disney hotels will be temporarily canceled.
  • The following Disney Resort hotel offerings will temporarily stop offering services effective March 16–
    • Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Disney’s Grand Floridian Resort & Spa
    • All Spa and Salon Locations
    • Character Coture services at Salon locations.

3 – Disney Springs

All Disney owned-and-operated locations will close beginning Tuesday, March 17, through the end of the month. Select restaurants and retail locations at Disney Springs may remain open and guests should call the location they wish to visit for operating hours.

Be aware of the following exceptions for Monday, March 16:

  • Bibbidi Bobbidi Boutique at Disney Springs, temporarily closing March 16-March 31.
  • Specific locations and operating hours are subject to change.
  • Character appearances, interactions, and entertainment at Disney Springs are also subject to change.

4 – Transporation

All Disney transportation will be suspended beginning the morning of Wednesday, March 18, 2020, through the end of the month.

5 – Other Experiences

ESPN Wide World of Sports Complex and miniature golf locations at Walt Disney World Resort are closed from March 16-March 31.

Disney will automatically cancel and refund experiences occurring near or adjacent to theme parks, including fireworks cruises and special dining events, that will not take place during the parks closure. Most guests with impacted reservations will be notified directly.

The following experiences are temporarily canceled:

  • All fireworks cruises
  • Highway in the Sky Dine Around
  • Pirates & Pals Fireworks Dessert Voyage
  • Ferrytale Fireworks: A Sparkling Dessert Cruise
  • Celebration at the Top – Savor, Sip, and Sparkle
  • Day Cruise Around the World
  • Disney Vacation Club Seven Seas Tasting Cruise
  • Grand 1 Yacht Rentals

Golf and FootGolf operations remain available on their regular schedule.





 

Modification, Cancellations, and Refunds

6 – Tickets

Unexpired multi-day theme park tickets with unused days, or date-specific theme park tickets with a valid use period during the period March 12, 2020, through March 31, 2020, will automatically be extended to use any date through December 15, 2020. If you are unable to visit by December 15, 2020, you may apply the value of a wholly unused ticket toward the purchase of a ticket for a future date.

Florida Resident Discover Disney Tickets may be used through July 31, 2020.

Guests who have purchased tickets for Disney After Hours, Disney Villains After Hours, and Disney Early Morning Magic from March 16, 2020, through March 31, 2020, will be automatically refunded.

7 – Resort Rooms and Packages

Guests who have not checked in for stays between March 16, 2020, through March 31, 2020, may modify or cancel their Disney Resort room reservation or Walt Disney Travel Company package up to their original check-in date. If no action is taken and Guests have not checked in, Disney will automatically process a refund to the original form of payment within 7 days of the original check-in date. If you did not book through Disney directly, please contact your travel professional.

Disney will waive all Disney-imposed change and cancellation fees up to the date of check-in through June 30, 2020.

Note: Refunded amounts for Walt Disney World Travel Company packages will be less cancellation fees imposed by 3rd-party suppliers, including airlines, rental cars, and 3rd-party hotels, as well as non-refundable products like travel protection plans.

8 – Annual Passes

  • All active Walt Disney World Annual Passes will be extended for the number of days the parks are closed.
  • Passes with renewal windows ending during the closure will also receive an extension of time to renew.
  • For Passholders participating in the Annual Pass Monthly Payment program, your monthly payments will continue as scheduled. Once your payments are completed, you will still have the extra days as provided above.

9 – Dining & Other Experiences

  • All pre-paid dining and experience reservations will be automatically refunded if scheduled between March 16-March 31.
  • Reservations made at locations impacted by the closure will not be charged a cancellation or no-show fee.
  • Character dining and dinner shows at Disney Resort hotel locations may have modified experiences and characters present from March 16-March 31.
  • All active Tables in Wonderland members will be extended by the number of days the parks are closed.

10 – FastPass+

All FastPass+ reservations scheduled for March 16, 2020, through March 31, 2020, when parks are closed will be automatically canceled.

For a no obligation, FREE Quote on a Disney vacation package, please contact our travel partner Magical Vacation Planner at 407-442-0227 (407-442-0215 for Spanish). You can also request a FREE quote online by Clicking HERE.



 

 

Chad & Cindy Nykamp

After years of multiple Walt Disney World vacations, Cindy and Chad's dream of living in Orlando came true in 2010. After friends and family made them their go-to-people for Walt Disney World advice, Cindy and Chad launched DisneyLists.com in August 2015 to share their knowledge and love of Disney. Chad and Cindy have been Disney World Annual Passholders for years, DVC members, together have raced more than 70 runDisney races, and particularly love cruising on the Disney Cruise Line. Chad and Cindy also regularly represent DisneyLists.com at Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line media events. While attending these events, they get an insiders view of all the new things that have come to Walt Disney World and Disney Cruise Line. These experiences have helped them gain knowledge and expertise they happily pass on to their followers. They still can't believe how lucky they are to have such an amazing opportunity and will continue to share Disney with anyone who will listen!
Back to top button