New Updates From Walt Disney World
Some important news coming from Walt Disney World today:
New Walt Disney World Vacation Package Offered to Select Guests
There is a new offer available for Walt Disney World guests who booked a vacation package or room reservation from March 16 through May 31, 2020.
Eligible Guests can take advantage of a Walt Disney World package offer that includes accommodations at a select Disney Resort hotel, park admission and one of the Disney dining plans. While some unofficial websites are reporting this is a free Disney dining offer, I have not heard that officially.
This offer is valid for arrivals most nights June 1 through September 30, 2020 and you must book by May 31, 2020. The reservation, regardless of your previous reservation, can be between 2 and 14 nights. I minimum 2-day theme park ticket is required.
This offer is subject to availability. Everyone in the same room must be on the same package.
Sun & Fun Offer Extended for all Guests
Disney has also extended the Sun & Fun Offer that was intended to entice spring travelers. Now everyone can take advantage of this offer through August 31, 2020. Guests can save up to 25% on rooms at select Walt Disney World Resort hotels.
Offer excludes the following room types: campsites, 3-bedroom villas, Cabins at Copper Creek Villas & Cabins at Disney’s Wilderness Lodge and Bungalows at Disney’s Polynesian Villas & Bungalows. Click here to get a quote today!
Update on Final Payments
Also, Disney has announced that for those Walt Disney Travel Company packages with final payments coming due 30 days prior to arrival, guests will have until 7 days prior to arrival to make final payment until further notice.
For other Walt Disney World discounts, visit the Walt Disney World Current Offers Page.
What’s life like in Orlando? An FAQ with a Travel Advisor
During this difficult time, I have received so many wonderful emails from my clients, many who aren’t currently booked to visit Walt Disney World, just checking on me, the status of Walt Disney World, and even our agency. It’s been wonderful to see how many people care about us!
I have been getting a lot of questions from people so I thought it would be a good idea to share them out for anyone who is curious about what life is currently like in Orlando. Here’s a quick FAQ I put together today while social distancing:
So how’s it going in Orlando? What’s it like down there?
Well, it’s like most places, almost everything is closed. Restaurants are either closed or take out only. All the entertainment venues on I-Drive and 192 like mini-golf and gift shops are closed. I-4 which is usually stop-and-go traffic is wide-opened. It’s really a ghost town. Most of the hotels are closed, all of the Walt Disney World hotels and restaurants are closed.
Is there anything to do in Orlando right now?
No. Literally nothing to do. I’m hearing that a lot of folks from New York, New Jersey and Connecticut want to come down and enjoy the Sunshine State. And those of you living in a stay-at-home community have that for a reason, right? This is not the Florida you would recognize and I would highly encourage people to save their money and come back when the time is right.
Have you been to Walt Disney World since it closed? What’s it like?
I live 2 minutes from Walt Disney World and drive through every other day just to get out to do something. There’s no one around except for security and police who are patrolling. Security has the hotel entrances blocked off with cones, no cars on the roads and parking lots are empty except for the fleet of WDW buses.
Is Disney using this time to get work done in the parks?
There are some small construction projects taking place, the old entrance to Disney’s Hollywood Studios is coming down for example. No work can be seen on the new Tron ride. I’m told that Disney is following CDC recommendations to avoid gatherings, so that would include most construction projects.
When do you think Disney will reopen?
I wish I could say for sure, we are all waiting on that news. The Orange County mayor will enact a stay-at-home order on Thursday March 25th. This means that all non-essential businesses, public parks, and government offices are to close through April 19, 2020. While we have not yet heard anything from Disney, Universal Orlando has announced it will adhere to the mayor’s order and remain closed.
Disney already canceled the Star Wars Half Marathon that was set to take place in May. But it’s worth noting that this event is poorly attended anyway compared to the other Disney races that sell out in minutes.
What do you think the parks will be like when they reopen?
Hard to say but I do know Disney is very good about making things work. When the time is right, Disney will have something in place to reassure guests that they are taking every precaution. I don’t think we are there yet, but once we see things getting back to normal, I expect to see some new policies in place.
Should I hold off on booking my summer or fall vacation to Walt Disney World?
No. I have so many clients rebooking and I am already seeing very limited availability in summer and fall dates, even without discounts. The cancellation policy on a package is 30-days prior to arrival for a full refund of the $200 deposit. On room-only reservations, the cancelation policy is 5-days prior to arrival for a full refund of the deposit. The deposit on a room-only reservation is equal to one night’s lodging.
I am still booking Walt Disney World vacation packages. Visit the Current Offers page to see what we have for special rates.
I know we cannot wait for all this to be over, to know that we are safe to travel again and to have fun once again at Walt Disney World. And please remember to support small businesses as much as you can, like restaurants, food delivery, mom and pop stores, and travel advisors! We are all eager to get back to work.
If you have a question, feel free to ask. I’ll do my best to answer it.
Haunted Mansion Hotel Room at Walt Disney World?
Glowing footprints appearing on the ceiling, “Floating” Doom Buggy beds, A sliding bookcase / hidden passage to the bathroom, ghostly apparitions appearing in the mirrors to “follow you home” and of course the infamous Haunted Mansion wallpaper on the bed linens. These were all part of an idea that was being kicked around at Walt Disney World Imagineering back in 2010 but the idea never came to be.
The idea was brilliant: take the rooms furthest away from the lobby (the least desirable rooms) at Disney’s Caribbean Beach Resort and Disney’s Port Orleans Riverside and give them a magical makeover with a special Disney theme. Port Orleans. Riverside would be the perfect hotel, given that Disneyland’s Haunted Mansion is located in New Orleans Square. And of course, Caribbean Beach would be perfect for Pirates of the Caribbean, which of course did come to fruition.
A survey had been sent out to some guests asking about what type of themed rooms they would like to see at Walt Disney World. Options included a Pirates of the Caribbean room, a Disney Princess room, a health and wellness room, and one based on The Haunted Mansion.
Too bad the Haunted Mansion concept didn’t win out because there were so many creative ideas in the works. I think the Imagineers would have really had fun designing these rooms, more so than the Royal Rooms that we have now. They’re pretty neat too, though. Another nail in the coffin to the Haunted Mansion rooms is that they might not have appealed to all audiences. Can you imagine trying to get a toddler to go to sleep with ghosts waving at him in the mirror?
But they say no good idea ever goes away at Disney, so maybe we will see a version of these rooms return in the future.
What do you think? Would you want to stay in a room themed to The Haunted Mansion?
Important Information on the Temporary Closure of Walt Disney World Resort
May I get a refund on my ticket?
Unexpired multi-day theme park tickets with unused days, or date-specific theme park tickets with a start date on or before 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.
If you have purchased tickets for Disney After Hours, Disney Villains After Hours and Disney Early Morning Magic from March 16, 2020 through March 31, 2020 they will be automatically refunded.
How does the closure of Walt Disney World impact annual passes?
Walt Disney World annual passes will be extended by the number of days the parks are closed, March 16, 2020 through March 31, 2020.
I have a reservation while the park is closed. What does that mean for my vacation package?
For stays between March 16, 2020 through March 31, 2020, you may modify or cancel your Disney Resort room reservation or Walt Disney Travel Company package up to your original check-in date. If no action is taken, Disney will automatically process a refund to the original form of payment within seven days of the original check-in date.
What if I decide to cancel my resort reservation after the parks reopen?
Disney will waive all Disney imposed change and cancellation fees up to the date of check-in through June 30, 2020.
I have a pre-paid dining reservation or experience reservation like Build a Droid during the time when the parks are closed. Will I receive a refund?
Yes. All pre-paid dining and experience reservations will be automatically refunded if scheduled between March 16, 2020 through March 31, 2020.
What happens to dining reservations that required a credit card at the time of booking?
Reservations made at locations impacted by the closure will not be charged a cancellation or no-show fee.
To move your trip to later in the year, please check out the Current Offers page to find special offers for Walt Disney World.
New Experience at Epcot's The Seas With Nemo & Friends
You can become a sea-sleuth with Finding Dory’s Friends, a new self-led journey through The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion at EPCOT. You can grab a complimentary scavenger hunt booklet where you’ll follow a map through the pavilion to solve rhyming puzzles and look for clues to help Dory remember and locate her marine friends!
This new experience offers an interactive way for guests of all ages to learn more about our friends under the sea.
The booklets will be located on the first floor inside The Seas with Nemo & Friends pavilion.
Click here to view Exclusive offers for Walt Disney World
by Darren Wittko
New Tour at Disney's Animal Kingdom Theme Park
The new “A Path Less Traveled Tour” – a unique experience being offered at Disney’s Animal Kingdom Theme Park, celebrates the 50th anniversary of Earth Day and the 25th anniversary of the Disney Conservation Fund.
On this walking tour, you’ll learn more about the authentic details, clever construction and imaginative design throughout the theme park.
You’ll also have the chance to meet with animal care experts to learn how Disney cares for the hundreds of animals in the park and what we’re doing to save wildlife species worldwide.
This limited-time opportunity provides a glimpse into what it takes to bring the magic of animals, culture and conservation to life at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.
The tour will be $69.00, plus tax per guest. Check-in begins at 7:45 a.m. and the tour runs 8 a.m. – 10 a.m. daily from March 29 – May 2, 2020, with the exception of April 21, 2020. All guests must be 10 years of age or older to participate.
Tour participation requires park admission and ticket cost is not included in the tour price.
Check out exclusive hotel offers for Walt Disney World Resort here
Darren Wittko