This post was last updated on: September 28th
When Disney officials announced Disneyland and Disney California Adventure would be closing Saturday, March 14th, it was only a few hours later that Disney World also made the decision to shut down its theme parks at the end of day Sunday, March 15th. While the parks were originally supposed to reopen April 1st, Disneyland and Disney World have both decided to extend their closures indefinitely. UPDATE: Disney World began a phased reopening of the theme parks on July 11th.
Magic Kingdom
Even if you’ve been following along with our coverage of how the global health crisis has been impacting Disney parks across the world, now that all the Disney parks and the Disney Cruise Line are closed, you might be at a loss for words, while also having more questions than you can possibly ask. That’s why we’ve been tirelessly searching for answers to help you make sense of this very difficult time.
From refunds to how to break the news to your children that your Disney vacation was canceled, we’re covering all of our readers’ concerns as best we can! Please feel free and continue to submit questions to us either on social or by leaving a comment on this post so we can keep getting you the answers you need!
Walt Disney World’s Magic Kingdom
What happens to my park tickets that are already paid for? Can they be used in the future when this passes?
Disney is not issuing refunds for park tickets at this time, however multi-day tickets with unused days or tickets dated between March 12th and the end of the actual closure period will automatically be extended until December 15th, 2020. UPDATE: Disney has extended the expiration date of unused tickets through September 26th, 2021.
If you’re unable to use your tickets by that date, Disney will credit the value of your unused tickets towards another ticket purchase for a future date. Click here to read more about Disney World’s policy for theme park tickets affect by Coronavirus closure.
Florida Resident Discover Disney Tickets may be used through September 30th, 2020.
Guests who have purchased separate tickets to Disney’s After Hours, Disney Villains After Hours, Disney Early Morning Magic, and H20 Glow Nights for events between March 16th and the end of the actual closure period will automatically be refunded.
Leaping Libations
Read more about Disney’s policy for tickets affected by Coronavirus here!
What if I purchased Memory Maker in advance?
A Cast Member we spoke to told us if you purchased Memory Maker as part of a package, you will be refunded for it. If you purchased it separately, they will be able to put an extension on it for you to use at a later date.
PhotoPass outside of Tower of Terror
I heard only the Disney theme parks and Cruise Line are closing while Downtown Disney, the Disney World Hotels, and Disney Springs are staying open? Is this true, and if so, how does this affect my refund?
UPDATE: Disney Springs began a phased reopening on May 20th.
UPDATE: Like much of the world, Disney is constantly refining its approach to dealing with the outbreak as this situation keeps unfolding. Initially, Disney’s temporary closure announcement didn’t apply to the Downtown Disney or Disney World’s Resorts or Disney Springs, but as things have progressed, their response has changed.
Resort Hotels
Disney World’s Hotels closed at 5PM on Friday, March 20th. They will remain closed until further notice. Disney is advising guests who had reservations booked at any Disney World Resort between March 16th and the end of the actual closure period to cancel online through My Disney Experience under “My Reservations” or call (407) 934-7639.
Disney Beach Resorts
Disney Vacation Club members visiting Disney Beach Resorts with travel plans between March 16th and the end of the actual closure period should also call to “modify or cancel their Disney Resort room reservation or Walt Disney World Travel Company package up to their original check-in date.” Disney Vacation Club points will be credited back into the member’s account.
Click here for more details about Disney Vacation Club and the Disney Beach Resort and Aulani closures.
Disneyland Hotels
The reopening of the Hotels of Disneyland Resort has been delayed indefinitely.
Disney Cruise Line
Disney Cruise Line will offer the use of a future cruise credit or a full refund to guests whose vacations are impacted, but guests should wait to contact them until after they have received an email from Disney or their travel agents regarding their trip.
Indiana Jones Adventure
Click here to read more about what Disney World is refunding, here for what Disneyland is refunding and here for what Disney Vacation Club is refunding!
What About Disney World’s waterparks? Are they closing as well?
UPDATE: Blizzard Beach closed alongside the rest of Disney World on March 16th. Disney has announced that the water parks will not reopen until 2021.
Typhoon Lagoon has already been closed while it undergoes a scheduled, seasonal refurbishment. At this time only Blizzard Beach has remained open and no formal closure announcement has been made. Looking at Blizzard Beach’s website, however, the webpage is showing “no times available” starting March 16th which is indicative the waterpark will be closed during this timeframe as well.
Screenshot of Blizzard Beach’s Website
What About Military Disney World Tickets?
Military Disney World tickets will expire at the beginning of January 2021. If you’re unable to travel before then, you can contact Disney World’s Ticketing Services for further assistance by calling (407)566-4985 and selecting option 4.
Dapper Dans
My 60-day window to make my FastPasses starts tomorrow! Will I still be able to book them?
UPDATE: The Fastpass+ Service is currently suspended.
You should be able to make your 60-days out FastPasses just fine. Right now, the only FastPasses you can’t make are during Disney World’s temporary closure dates which run from March 16th through an indefinite date.
The My Disney Experience app will still show the four Disney World theme parks, but they’ll be grayed out and you won’t be able to tap on them. When we tried to see if we could schedule FastPasses beyond March 31st, we found out we could do so without any problems.
If you’ve made any FastPasses between March 16th and the end of the actual closure, they will automatically be canceled.
Screenshot from My Disney Experience App
I know Disney is refunding prepaid dining but does this count for any prepaid at hotels/outside parks?
You will need to contact any non-Disney affiliated hotels or restaurants directly to ask how they assess the situation and if they will refund you for any prepaid reservations.
Disney World is automatically processing refunds for all pre-paid dining and entertainment experiences reserved between March 16th through the end of the actual closure with no further action required.
2020 Food and Wine Festival Passport
Will Annual Passholders and Tables in Wonderland Members get an extension for lost time?
Yes. According to Disney’s website, Walt Disney World Annual Passes and Tables in Wonderland memberships and will be extended by the number of days the parks are closed (which is currently March 16, 2020 through an indefinite date). Disneyland Annual Passholders “will have their Passport expiration date extended based on pass type and level of access due to the impacts of the closure.”
Walt Disney World Annual Passholder
Get all the Disney World AP extension details here, Tables in Wonderland extension details here, and the Disneyland AP extension details here!
Will construction still be going on during this time?
UPDATE: As of May 7th, Disneyland is set to resume some limited, essential construction projects. Disney World has resumed construction as well.
Construction on Disneyland and Disney World’s numerous projects has halted during the temporary closure.
Cinderella Castle Refurb
Recent stay at home orders issued by the state of California and Florida as well as federal guidelines not permitting groups of more than 10 people from assembling have made it nearly impossible for Disney’s large-scale construction projects to carry on as scheduled. While it’s possible we might be able to see smaller, less-intensive projects being worked on in the future such as Cinderella Castle’s refurbishment, the majority of Disney’s projects have come to a halt at this time.
I have tickets to see the new Cirque de Soleil show, Drawn to Life, at Disney Springs. Are they canceling the show?
UPDATE: As of July 1st, Cirque du Soleil tickets are on sale for dates beginning in November.
A representative from Cirque de Soleil recently informed us that all future performances of Drawn to Life have been temporarily postponed. A letter has been sent to the email accounts used by the ticketholders who have already purchased tickets.
©Disney Drawn to Life
What will Disney do with all the food in its parks during the temporary closure?
Disneyland will be donating its food to Second Harvest Food Bank of Orange County, an organization they’ve been working with closely since 2014. Excess inventory of dairy, fruit, vegetables, packaged goods and banquet meals will be donated to support the mission of ending hunger in Orange County. Last year alone, Disneyland Resort donated over 20,000 meals to Second Harvest.
©Disney
Read more about how Disney is giving back to the community during this difficult time here!
If my family has to cancel our upcoming trip to Disney World, how should we deal with it?
With lots of love and patience. We know how heartbreaking it is to have to cancel a vacation you’ve been looking forward to many months or maybe even years. But out of an abundance of caution, Disney has come to this decision which couldn’t have been easy for them to make.
They certainly know how disappointing and hard this is for their guests who were planning on visiting the parks in the next few weeks. But due to these unfortunate circumstances which are completely outside of their control, they’re working diligently with every guest to get trips rescheduled and get us back to our happy place as soon as possible.
Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge
Please continue to share with us your questions, comments, and concerns, as we’ll be continuing to add to this post going forward.
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What about items that are prepaid such as “Memory Maker”? Will we have a credit on our account to use at a future date or will we be reimbursed?
Are people the fastpasses just out of luck or might be able to turn them in for a any ride in the future? Example, I booked early to get a Mickey’s Runaway on March 28, but looking forward in late April, they have been all booked solid.
If tickets were purchased through AAA for a date in April is there a way to get refunded or extended to use later in the year?
TO CLARIFY PLEASE.
I have paid for 13 family members for a 5 day/6 night RESORT stay. I think I already CHECKED IN ONLINE. How do I make sure I will get a full refund without calling in? Can DISNEY CLARIFY “the checked in” meaning so I don’t get charged please. State if you have NOT ALREADY ARRIVED ?
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If I have a character meal at a WDW hotel scheduled for Monday, then as of this minute, it is still going to happen?
I got free dining with my UK holiday package for booking a year ago. My trip now is cancelled as the park is shut for all but 2 days of my two week holiday. If I want to rebook for another date will they roll over my free dining even though it’s no longer available?
We are staying off property and only have one day in Magic kingdom in early April. If the parks do happen to close during our visit, Is there any hope for a refund?
What is Disney doing about people that have reservations through dvc? What if a persons points were going to expire with this trip, what kind of extension is being given?
I’m so very sorry for vacationers. Hopefully this will be a once in a lifetime event. Stay safe.
What if you can’t reschedule your disney vacation? What is disney doing for those people? What if your not staying on disney property but have park hopper passes for april 10th and 13th? Thank you for any info
Hello. .I am a Florida passholder (silver) with blackout dates at Easter time, 2 months in the summer and Christmas time. What are the chances that they will lift the blackout dates for these passholders in April or any other blackout dates? It would seem that to make up for lost revenue, they would allow these guests to go back into the park.
Thank you for answering these questions.
We were using our DVC points for a trip during this period, will they put those points back where they came from, we were using some of next years points
Since I had to cancel and reschedule and the only time I could reschedule is when part of my trip has black out dates for the gold pass. Is Disney going to drop the black out dates for the guest that had to reschedule?
I have reserved a 1 bedroom unit at Saratoga springs for Check in on Monday the 16 checkout the 18th. Used dvc points. I can’t get a hold of anyone through dvc phone or dvc website. We want it cancelled but can’t do it, now what do we do to get our points back to our account.
Questions answered? Not a peep about DVC reservations?
It would be nice if Disney (WDW) would eliminate the block out dates (Gold pass holders) over Easter/spring break for people who are able to push their March vacations back to that time frame. Is that possible?
We have single-day tickets for April 1. Assuming the park opens that day and we decide not to go, will we be able to apply those unused tickets to a future purchase?
What about points used for resorts if parks are closed?
I have heard nothing mentioned about the water parks. Will they remain open ???
I purchased a memory maker photo package for our trip on 18 March 2020.
What happens to this?
We were supposed to come in March. One of my kids will turn 3 in April. Since a postponed trip will now require theme park tickets for the kid, my trip will now cost me several hundred dollars more even if all other items and prices are held constant. I know it’s a long shot, but any chance Disney might forgive those extra charges?
I had some really good fast passes booked for next week. If we reschedule, will the fast passes transfer? I’m looking into rescheduling for May and if I can get it, the 60 fast pass window will have already passed.
My family was supposed to today. I get a busy signal when I try to call to cancel my DVC reservations. I had to cancel my flights, so I won’t be showing up! I’m just hoping Disney will put my points back in the bank. Some had been banked with 2020 as their use year and I won’t be able to rebook in 2020. Such a mess!
B, you’ll have to ask Disney directly. I’ll pass your question along to the DFB team, too, in case anyone hears an answer and I can update you.
MicKay, working on this!
Karynne, as of now, it appears the answer is yes.
Teresa, you’re probably going to need to call Disney since you already checked in online.
Laurin, try calling AAA to see if they can answer this.
Fox, we’ll look into this, but I think your best bet is to call Disney about this.
Hi, all! Thank you for your questions. We’re working to find more answers, and we will keep updating this post with those answers. Please do check back, and let us know if you have additional questions. Also, for folks with DVC-related questions, Disney offered some info this afternoon. We just posted about it here: https://www.disneyfoodblog.com/2020/03/13/worried-about-losing-your-disney-vacation-club-points-with-the-coronavirus-outbreak-we-have-all-the-details-you-need-to-know/. Take care!
Will Disneyland annual passes be extended?
Wondering if they will be extending the Festivals that are currently going on at both DL and WDW when they reopen, I love the festivals and as an AP it would be a shame to miss those for 2 weeks, do you know will they extended DCA Food and Wine in Cali or Epcot Flower and Garden ?
Thank you, DisneyFoodBlog, for your constant updates! We have a trip to celebrate our 50th wedding anniversary in June and I’m sure thousands of families have similar celebrations planned and are anxious and disappointed. I feel sorry for the help-desk people who are struggling so hard to help us through this situation over which none of us have control. I am praying everyone will have great patience. Keep up the good work.
Me and my family were planning on booking a holiday to Disney this weekend for 2021 (from the U.K.). The outbreak should hopefully be contained by then, but then we are worried about those whose holidays are cancelled this year rebooking for next year and availability being limited. Would it be better to wait few months for the outbreak to calm down or do you think it’s safe to do so now?
I have single day tickets for 5 of us in April. You mentioned several days being refunded/vouchered. What about 1 day tickets?
Disney World should first allow its DCP cast members and other employees the chance to get food before donating elsewhere or disposing of it. Most stores are sold out of many items, etc. And it’s my understanding some of the employees won’t receive pay, For example the San Angel Inn restaurant employees (if that’s true). I just think it would be helpful to the cast members. One less thing to stress over.
We are scheduled to pay the balance on March 22 for our trip May 10-17. We have the total package, Hotel(2 rooms), tickets with park hopper , water park, full food package. If we pay the considerable full amount is there any refund even if the park is open at that time but travel is questionable? Thank for any info.
What about Disneyland rooms booked with the Disney Visa discount, will they let us rebook at the same rate?
Do you think the park closures will go well into the summer? I’m planning a trip by the end of the summer, my sister’s school canceled thier Gradnite trips. I’m very worried about how long this closure will go on for, I was really looking forward to doing a Disneyland trip for my birthday this year. Any advice will be helpful!
Do you have any information on what, if any, resort activities will still be in-going for guests that decide to keep their reservations during the park closures? I saw Disney had answered about paid experiences such as fireworks cruises will be refunded as they are cancelled, but what about things like the activities at Fort Wilderness (archery, Chip n Dale campfire,etc.) and things like art classes at AOA and tours at AKL? Trying to decide if we will have enough to do activity-wise if we decide to go.
If you are coming from England to Disney Florida and the parks are closed will the extension for renewal be longer than the end of the year? This is asked as not so easy to get there! 12 month extension would be more helpful as this is what the airlines are offering.
My holiday not booked until the end of June so fingers crossed all if well by then .
Thanks for your help
Will the “Donald Duck with Spike the Bee” magnet that was supposed to be available only from March 4-April 19 be available beyond April 19?
We are scheduled to be in WDW on 4/17, my final payment is due 3/18. I called this morning and they started they have put exceptions in place to extend the final due dates to 7 days out. But it doesn’t reflect that online. Feeling nervous that maybe I was given wrong information. Does anyone have any insight?
Thank you!
Raymond, no word on this, but I would guess yes.
Amanda, our initial information was that activities like Chip ‘n’ Dale’s Campfire would continue. Since the Resorts are now closing, activities are likely winding down or ending. However, we have not confirmed this.
Dani, no way to know yet.
Patricia, I think you’ll need to reach out to Disney to see what they say. Good luck!
Sorry, Rosie, we don’t have any info on that.
Im taking my family to disney world are they open in may and june