Disney World Payment, Change and Cancellation Polices (Including 2025 Changes)
If you’ve booked through a travel agent, you’ll need to contact them to make any changes. Also keep in mind that if you make any changes to your travel dates, your room rates may change, and more money may be required for your deposit if your room charges go up.
Disney offers two kinds of reservations, and they have different rules:
- A Package reservation.
- A Room Only reservation.
We’ll cover them both below. You’ll see that the change and cancellation policies for room only reservations are far more lenient.
As of this writing (July 2024), the policies for trips scheduled through the Walt Disney Travel Company have the following policies:
Disney World Vacation Package Rules
(for Room-Only reservations see below)
1. Payment and Booking for Disney World Vacation Packages
— When you book a package, you’ll have to put a deposit of $200 down within 3 days of booking, or immediately if you’re booking on Disney’s website.
— You must pay the remainder 30 days or more before your arrival. If you’re booking your package within that 30 days of your arrival, you’ll have to pay the entire amount when you book it.
2. CHANGES – Modification for Disney World Vacation Packages
— Any vacation package that is at least 31 days or more before your check in date can be modified with no penalty or fee from Disney. However there may be fees by third party hotels and suppliers. Disney will give you your money back, minus their fees, travel insurance premiums, and any other amounts owed.
— For changes made 30 days or less before your arrival date, there may be a $50 fee per package if your modification results in a change in your package price. If your new package price is higher, you’ll be responsible for that charge as well.
— Changes made 30 days or less before your arrival date may also cause change fees assessed by third party vendors such as hotels or other suppliers.
— For changes made 30 days or less to your flights, you’ll be responsible for any increase jn airfare your new flights require, and any penalties the airline charges for changing your flight.
Please keep in mind that some airlines, hotels and suppliers do not permit changes in certain situations. Check with Disney for specifics.
3. Cancellations of Disney World Vacation Packages.
— There is no penalty from Disney if you cancel 31 days or more before your arrival date. However there may be fees by third party hotels and suppliers. Disney will give you your money back, minus any cancellation fees hotels and suppliers charge, as well as travel insurance premiums, and any other amounts owed. If you’ve purchased flights, and the airline allows it, you will get money back on your airfare, minus their cancellation fees and minus any fees that Disney pays.
— For cancellations within 30 days to 2 days prior to your arrival date, you’ll receive your money back minus: A $200 penalty per package; cancellation fees assessed by other suppliers or hotels; travel insurance premiums; and any other amounts owed. There are no refunds on any personalized experiences or products. Airfare is non-refundable.
— If you need to cancel your reservation 1 day prior to your arrival date or on your arrival date, or if you’re a no-show, the full package price is non-refundable.
“As for airfare booked through Disney… airfare added to your reservation is also nonrefundable so if you cancel you are out of luck. That is a part of why I usually discourage clients from booking airfare through Disney. Also, direct through the airline if prices drop etc you can usually get a future flight credit for the difference.” Autumn Barnes, Travel Agent
(A bit thanks to Autumn for her help with this page!)
— For early departure from your hotel, there are no refunds. This includes meals and tickets.
— For missed flights there are no refunds.
Disney World Room Only Reservation Rules
1. Payment and Booking for Disney World Room Only Reservations
— You’ll pay for one full night as a deposit within 3 days of booking, or immediately if when you book the room on Disney’s website.
— You can pay the remainder on the day of your arrival at check-in. However if you’re booking online on Disney’s website within 30 days of your arrival, you’ll make full payment. Keep in mind that if you do participate in On-Line Check-In, your card may be charged the night before your arrival or the morning of your arrival.
2. CHANGES – Modification for Disney World Room Only Reservations
— You can modify a Room-Only reservation at any time with no penalties or fees.
3. Cancellations of Disney World Room Only Reservations.
— For a 2024 room-only reservation, you can cancel 5 or more days prior to your arrival with no penalty. It’s 6 days if you booked your vacation online on Disney’s site. For reservations in 2025, this is changing. They can be canceled without penalty until 8 days prior to arrival.
— For reservations in 2024, inside of 5 days (or 6 for online bookings), cancellation would result in losing your deposit (the first night’s stay plus tax). Again, you can modify your reservation any time prior to your arrival without penalty. If you don’t show up, that’s considered a cancellation and you lose your deposit.
For reservations in 2025, all of the above is true for cancellations made inside of 8 days.
Consider buying travel insurance for your trip.
Disney World offers travel insurance if you book a resort package through them. You can also purchase travel insurance through companies such as this one here. Many people feel it’s the wise thing to do. Be sure to review the terms of any travel insurance you purchase to make sure it will work well for you.
Do you have more tips or thoughts on cancellations?
Please feel free to post them in a comment below. We’d love your input.
For more Disney World planning tips, check out this page here:
Easy Steps for Planning Your Trip to Disney World
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