Hey Howdy Hey Emily and welcome to planDisney!
Travel insurance has always been a touchy subject when it came to planning a trip to Walt Disney World. These trips can take a bit to save up for and is always a good idea to insure your vacation especially if those unexpected scenarios do come up as they did for many in 2020. As it seems that COVID-19 will be ever lurking for us, travel insurance and the flexibility of travel continue to be an issue many travelers are highly aware of. Thankfully, Disney has a lot of flexibility when it comes to changing or canceling your trip which may impact your decision. Let's jump in and review the terms and conditions first.
Based on the
2022 terms and conditions for vacation packages there are a few options when it comes to canceling and rebooking a trip. In order to secure your reservation, you need to put down a $200.00 deposit with the full amount due 30 days prior to your date of arrival. If you make any changes to your vacation before the final payment is due, no issues or penalties. If you cancel your trip between 2 and 29 days from your date of arrival, you will loose your deposit. Any cancelation less than 2 days forfiets your entire cost of the trip.
If you change the dates of your travel before your final payment is due, no issues at all. If you change your reservation details 30 days or less from your date of arrival, you will be charged a $50.00 fee for the changes. Of note, this charge and the deposit amount are as of this writing and are subject to change. There are no exceptions outline in the terms and conditions and any refunds are the sole descretion of the Cast Members if anything were to come up, such as a COVID diagnosis. This is where your travel insurance comes into play.
Depending on the specifics of the policy you purchase, these fees may be reimbursed by your travel insurance based on the specifics in your plan as well as any other expenses outline in the terms of the policy. I have heard that since COVID-19 came around, many insurance companies have specifically identified policies relating to just this, so make sure to really review your policy first.
With specific regard to travel insurance,
Disney has a great option for travel insurance they offer to all Guests booking vacation packages with them. The final selection of the purchase of this plan can be made at the 30 day from arrival date, so no rush if you wanted to really look into your options. May other insurance companies have their own travel insurance offerings as well, so you might want to shop around if you felt the need!
So to circle back to your question, it is entirely up to you if you feel the need to book travel insurance. Disney trips can come with a price tag you might feel more comfortable insuring for the unexpected but can be done without it as well. Look into the policies and see if they are the right fit for you and your concerns!
Hopefully this all made sense and was not too dry for you! If you do have any further questions about your trip please feel free to stop back and let us know, we would be happy to help!
Have a Magical Day,
Nick