Welcome to planDisney, Melina!
I am so happy that you stopped by with this great question. I was unlucky enough to have a few magical vacations not-so-magically canceled in 2020, so I am here to answer all of your questions about the current cancelation policy.
Melina, currently, Walt Disney World Resort is not imposing any cancellation fees charged by them up until the day that you are due to check-in, for those arriving before April 30th of this year. This
book with confidence policy means that if you book a Walt Disney World Resort hotel or vacation package, you can receive a refund up until the day before you leave; however, this policy is only for arrivals until April of 2021.
Before the book with confidence policy was introduced, you were able to cancel your reservation up to 30 days in advance for a 100% refund. You were also able to cancel your vacation package 2 to 29 days in advance for a full refund minus a $200 fee. You were not eligible for a refund cancellation less than 2 days in advance.
Since the book with confidence policy does expire at the end of April, I spoke to a few Cast Members who said that they anticipate the previous cancellation fee structure to be active, but they also advised that the book with confidence policy may be extended. Since these policies are subject to change, so be sure to read the fine print when booking your vacation.
If you book your hotel and
tickets separately, you should know that your tickets will be non-refundable, however, the amount that you paid is never lost. Simply call Guest Services at (407) 939-5277 and they will freeze your tickets in your
My Disney Experience Account. When you are ready to visit again, simply call back and they will update your tickets to the correct dates however a fee may apply if the ticket for the day that you are visiting is more expensive than the days that you originally paid for.
Because of the uncertainty around the book with the confidence policy being extended, I would recommend purchasing a travel insurance policy. Travel insurance policies are provided by many agencies,
including through Disney, and are sometimes even included with your credit card. Not only will your travel insurance policy cover the Disney portion of your stay, but it will often cover other ancillary expenses as well. See your individual policy for details.
I hope that this gave you some guidance, Melina. And even more than that I hope that you are able to visit in October. I personally feel like we could all use a little magic right now, and where better to get a little magic than at the Most Magical Place on Earth?
See you real soon!
Sarah B.