Weeks, months, maybe years of planning for the perfect Disney vacation could be suddenly halted by an unexpected event. Whether it is a cancelled flight, a sudden illness, or unforeseen family emergency, it is actually quite common for guests to have to reschedule their travel dates. The disappointment surrounding the sudden change mixed with the emotions brought on by whatever has caused you to temporarily cancel your long-awaited vacation can bring on a lot of stress, but the best thing you can do is not panic! Disney has in many ways protected the thousands of dollars you have invested in their park tickets and resort stays, as long as you are willing to reschedule to new dates. Let’s explore how to reschedule your Disney vacation!
Rescheduling Park Tickets
Rescheduling your dates of use for your Disney park tickets is actually quite simple as long as you are attempting to do so before the first valid date on your single or multi-day ticket. Once logged into your account on the web or through the My Disney Experience or Disneyland app, choose Tickets and Passes from the Main Menu. There, you will see the option to “change ticket.” Select any additional members of your travel party and then use the calendar to choose the new dates to which to assign the ticket. If there is an increase in cost based on the new days that you select, you will be prompted to pay the difference. That’s it! Your tickets are rescheduled for your new travels dates.
Rescheduling Disney Resort Stays
Rescheduling your Disney Resort stay is almost just as easy as rescheduling your tickets; however, you must log in on the web as this cannot be done on either My Disney Experience or Disneyland app. Find “My Plans” under “My Disney Experience”. Click on your resort stay, and then modify. You will be brought to a screen where you can add new promotions to your vacation, change dates, resorts, and more. If you are having difficulty finding an available room for your desired dates, it may be best to communicate with a Disney cast member via the phone in order to discuss availability. If you are rescheduling your Disney resort stay within 30 days or less prior to your arrival, you will be charged a change fee of $50 per package as well as any price difference incurred due to the change of dates, which in the grand scheme of things, is very reasonable!
Rescheduling A Resort Stay With Points Rented From DVC Shop
If you have booked a Disney Resort stay by renting DVC (Disney Vacation Club) points from DVC Shop and need to reschedule at the last minute, you will also have options for rescheduling or receiving a portion of your money back. First, when renting points, it is always advisable to purchase “Classic: Cancel Anytime” trip insurance in the event of an unforeseen circumstance. When coverage is purchased, DVC Shop retains the following policy:
- Renter can request a name and detail change for a fee of $200 if done more than 15 days before check-in.
- If done less than 15 days in advance, DVC Shop will make every attempt to make the change based on the DVC member’s availability for a fee of $200
- If purchasing travel coverage, renter has the option for 1 free name change if done more than 15 days prior to check-in. At that point, the new guest would have the option of paying for their own coverage plan. The original plan is nontransferable.
If you don’t desire to purchase travel insurance from a third party, DVC Shop also offers a Point Protection Plan. At a cost of $2.50 per point, if something occurs which prohibits you from traveling on your scheduled dates, you will receive a refund or credit on the following scale:
- Cancel 60 days or more prior to check-in
Reimburse – $15 per point Cash Refund or $16 per point full credit towards another stay within 18 months of original check-in date - Cancel 45 days or more prior to original check-in
$12 per point Cash refund or $13 Credit per point full credit towards another stay within 18 months of original check-in date - Cancel 32 days or more prior to original check-in
$8 per point Cash refund or $10 Credit per point full credit towards another stay within 18 months of original check-in date - Cancel 15 days or more prior to original check-in
$3 per point Cash refund or $5 Credit per point full credit towards another stay within 18 months of original check-in date - Cancel 3 days or more prior to original check-in
$3 Credit per point full credit towards another stay within 18 months of original check-in date
Don’t Forget About Those Dining Reservations And Special Experiences!
After you have taken care of choosing new dates for your vacation and have rescheduled your park tickets and resort, do not forget to cancel any dining reservations and special experiences that you may have booked for your initial trip. If not cancelled within the specified window, you will be charged a per-person cancellation fee. Usually, the cancellation window is 24-48 hours in advance, but refer to your reservation confirmation to ensure you cancel within the specified time frame so that you don’t get charged!
When an unexpected event occurs right before your Disney vacation, making quick decisions to reschedule can be both disappointing and stressful. But know in the end, you have options to reschedule your park tickets and resort stay without losing the large investment that you have already paid. For a small, and sometimes no, fee, you can reschedule your dream vacation for a later date. Have you ever had to reschedule your Disney vacation at the last minute? Share your experience with us in the comments below!
Written by
Shelley Wehler
Contributing Writer
Shelley is a stay-at-home mother of two girls living outside of Charlotte, North Carolina. Her love of all things Disney has grown even more as she sees the magic come alive through the lens of her young daughters. She spends her free time keeping up with the latest in Disney news and daydreaming of her next trip to the parks!
