How To Get Disney Tickets Refunded | Guide, Tips & Policies
Getting a refund on Walt Disney World or Disneyland tickets can be a hard to achieve task with many different rules and requirements to consider before being eligible to receive any sort of refund.
Walt Disney World and Disneyland both have similar policies which we'll share in this guide, as well some tips to consider before purchasing your tickets which can help save you some time and hassle if you might need a refund on your tickets.
Reasons You May Be Seeking A Refund On Your Disney Tickets:
- Flight Cancellation
- Bad Weather
- Attraction Closures
- Ticket Purchased For Wrong Day
- Disney Is Closed!
- Illness or Injury
- Other Personal Reasons
Can I Get A Refund If My Flight Was Canceled?
First and foremost we would recommend trying to change your flight or getting on another flight if your original flight was canceled.
Refunds for Walt Disney World and Disneyland tickets due to airline cancellations are going to be very difficult, if not impossible, to get.
Before requesting a refund with Disney Guest Services check if the credit card you purchased your tickets with includes travel insurance which can make this process much easier.
You can find a list of Chase credit cards that include travel insurance here and American Express credit cards here.
We recommend booking all of your travel plans on a credit card that provides travel insurance to help you get compensated in the event of any travel delays or cancellations.
If your card does have travel insurance then we recommend getting in touch with their service line to see if you can file a claim to get your ticket purchase refunded.
If your card does not have travel insurance then you'll need to get in touch with Disney Guest Services as soon as possible to explain the situation you're in.
Disney will review all requests on a case-by-case basis and the reason your flight was canceled will play a big role in your eligibility to receive a refund.
If your flight was canceled because of a massive weather event closing an airport for days you'll have a much better chance of getting an opportunity than if a storm impact travel for a portion of the day.
More often than not Disney will likely offer you a credit towards new tickets eligible for a future date.
While this isn't a full refund, it also isn't a total loss of your money as you'll be able to eventually visit Disney World or Disneyland at a later date.
Does Disney Give Ticket Refunds For Bad Weather?
While Disneyland typically sees perfect weather year round, Walt Disney World on the other hand is impacted by heavy rainstorms and lightning throughout the summer months.
These rainstorms and lightning strikes will often close all outdoor attractions while most indoor attractions should continue to run without any sort of interruption.
In fact these weather conditions are so common at Walt Disney World that Disney actively lists in their terms and conditions that tickets are not eligible for refunds due to bad weather.
This includes any weather related closures that may close or delay the opening of certain attractions.
If bad weather is impacting your visit to a Disney park then you shouldn't expect to receive a refund on your tickets unless the weather forces Disney to close for the entire day - which doesn't happen very often.
Travel insurance may provide you with reimbursement in the event that weather causes a significant impact to your Disney trip, even if you were able to travel to the parks.
We recommend double checking the terms and conditions of the specific credit card you use for further guidance on this!
Will Disney Provide Refunds If Multiple Attractions Are Closed?
During slower times of year for Disneyland and Disney World you may find that multiple attractions are closed due to refurbishment.
There may also be circumstances where multiple attractions are unexpectedly closed for an unknown reason which can be a huge disappointment on your trip.
You will not be eligible for a refund if multiple attractions are closed due to a planned refurbishment.
However you might be eligible for a credit towards a ticket to visit Disney at a later date if multiple attractions are unexpectedly closed.
Multiple attractions will need to be closed in order to be eligible - Disney typically will not provide any sort of compensation if just one or two rides are closed. This credit is hard to come by though and typically only given in extreme circumstances (think 5+ rides close unexpectedly).
While Disney may be forgiving in these circumstances it is not guaranteed whatsoever and is evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Can I Get A Refund If I Purchased Tickets For The Wrong Day?
If you accidentally purchase a Disneyland or Walt Disney World ticket for the wrong day (or park) you will not be eligible for a refund.
Disney asks for you to confirm the dates you selected for your tickets are correct before purchasing and you are responsible for double checking the correct days have been chosen.
If you do make this mistake then we recommend reaching out to Disney Guest Services as quickly as possible.
Disney is usually flexible in these situations and will allow you to change the dates on your ticket if park reservations are available on those days.
Disney typically can't override a sold out date, so if no park reservations are available then you might be out of luck to receive any sort of compensation in this circumstance.
You will be responsible for paying any difference in price if your new ticket dates are more expensive.
On the flip side you won't be eligible for a refund for any difference in price if your new ticket dates are cheaper than the original dates.
Will I Get A Refund If Disney Is Closed?
If Walt Disney World or Disneyland is unexpectedly closed because of an extraordinary circumstance then you may be eligible for a refund.
Hurricanes at Walt Disney World is one reason Disney may have to close unexpectedly.
While still evaluated on a case-by-case basis unexpected closures of an entire Disney theme park is one of the most common situations in which you'll be able to get a refund on your tickets.
It's important to note you will likely only get a refund for the days you missed because the park was closed.
For example if the park was only closed for one day out of the four days your ticket is eligible then you'll only get a refund for that single day.
If the parks are closed for the entire duration of your visit then you have a much better chance at getting your entire ticket refunded.
Can I Get A Refund If I'm Sick?
Walt Disney World or Disneyland unfortunately does not provide refunds if you are too sick to visit.
While this is unfortunate, the best you can expect to get is a credit towards a future visit, but you won't be able to get a full refund due to an illness.
TIP: Travel insurance may provide you with reimbursement in the event if you are too sick to travel. Policies vary depending on the travel insurance provider, but you typically will need a doctor's note or proof of hospitalization for an eligible claim.
Other Personal Reasons
Any other personal reasons for not being able to visit Disneyland or Walt Disney World are evaluated on a case-by-case basis.
Your best bet is to contact Disney Guest Services as soon as you know you won't be able to use your tickets and see what options are available to you.
Waiting until the last minute before the dates your tickets are valid for will only decrease your likelihood of being able to get any sort of compensation from Disney.
More often than not though you will not be eligible for a refund, but Disney may be able to work with you on providing a credit towards an alternative visit to one of their theme parks.
While each theme park company has their own policies, it's important to keep in mind that these guidelines are mostly the same at the major theme park operators including SeaWorld and Universal Studios.
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